A civil engineering student posing on heavy equipment

Civil Engineering Doctoral Program

Program Details

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

School

Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science

Department

Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering

Available

On campus

Contact

Graduate Admissions1.888.511.1306[email protected]

Apply Now

Develop the specialized civil engineering expertise you need to solve the major infrastructure and geotechnical challenges facing the world today.

Stevens’ civil engineering Ph.D. program emphasizes interdisciplinary research in a wide variety of testbeds and laboratories. Here, you’ll collaborate with renowned faculty and fellow scholars to develop innovations in many areas of civil engineering, including smart structural systems, sustainable and resilient construction materials, hazard mitigation, infrastructure rehabilitation and many more.

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering offers dynamic opportunities to explore leading-edge research within a close community of faculty mentors. You'll be able to study under a faculty mentor in the area that you find most exciting:

Advanced Construction Materials
Structural Health Monitoring
Structure Design and Analysis
Geotechnical Engineering

The Stevens Advantage

Our location in the heart of the New York City metropolitan area gives Ph.D. students unparalleled insight into the ways civil engineers play a role in shaping the world’s largest urban environments. Our doctoral graduates routinely receive job offers even before graduating, as their knowledge and experience are in high demand.

More Advantages to Our Program

High-level academic offerings that integrate the latest knowledge of structural engineering, construction materials and geotechnical engineering
Emphasis on interdisciplinary research in a collegial atmosphere
National and international collaboration with other universities and research centers
Involvement in state-of-the-art research projects that receive federal funding
Networking events, job fairs and potential internships with companies in the metropolitan area

Concentrations

Structural Engineering
Construction Materials
Geotechnical Engineering

See courses in the Academic Catalog

Additional Information

Admissions Requirements

Curriculum Overview

Civil Engineering Doctoral Program Curriculum Overview

The civil engineering doctoral degree is an advanced graduate program with an emphasis on design.

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

Conduct research (experimental and analytical work) themselves
Write high quality technical reports or papers
Use tools (software: Matlab, Abaqus, Midas, etc.) to solve civil engineering problems
Independently design and analyze civil infrastructure

Degree Requirements

Completion of the doctoral program requires 84 credits of graduate work in an approved program of study beyond the bachelor's degree. Up to 30 credits obtained in a master's program can be included in this program. Of the remaining 54 credits, 15 to 30 credit hours of coursework, as well as 30 to 45 credit hours of dissertation work, are required. The preliminary requirements for the doctorate are regarded not as ends in themselves, but rather as preparation for the dissertation in which the student demonstrates ability.

Each Ph.D. curriculum must also adhere to the institute-wide standards listed in the academic catalog.

VIEW REQUIREMENTS >

Qualifying Examination

Within two years from the time of admission, a student must take a qualifying examination that tests his/her basic knowledge and ability to critically analyze the research literature. Upon satisfactory performance in the qualifying examination, and completion of the required course work, (s)he must take an oral preliminary examination. This examination is primarily intended to evaluate the student’s aptitude for advanced research and examine his/her understanding of the subjects associated specifically with the dissertation topics.

Doctoral Dissertation and Advisory Committee

Upon satisfactory completion of the preliminary examination and all course work, a student will become a doctoral candidate and start his/her dissertation research. Doctoral research work must be based on an original investigation and the results must make a significant, state-of-the-art contribution to the field, and must be worthy of publication in current professional literature. At the completion of the research, a student must defend his/her thesis in a public presentation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS >

If you have existing graduate credits or experience in this area of study, contact [email protected] to discuss opportunities to include it in the curriculum.

A Tech Forward Education

At Stevens, you’ll be supported by strong mentorship from renowned faculty members who are major grant recipients, multiple patent holders and editors of prestigious journals.

Yi Bao

Weina Meng

Rita Sousa

Rita Sousa, assistant civil, environmental and ocean engineering professor, harnesses machine learning techniques to make tunnel-building safer, less expensive and more time-efficient.

Rita Sousa