Program Requirements
The Department of Civil Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Within these degrees, there are six primary emphasis areas: Applied Fluid Mechanics, Construction Materials, Geotechnical Engineering, Project Management, Structural Engineering and Transportation Systems.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy degree program is open to all individuals who have a baccalaureate degree and preferably a Master’s degree in engineering. Except for the core courses required by different disciplines, there are no formal course requirements for students pursuing a PhD degree; however, each student must complete 18 hours of dissertation research (CE 9910 ).
The purpose of the PhD research dissertation is to afford the student the opportunity to participate in independent specialized engineering research that can advance the state of the art. The research is conducted under the direction of a member of the faculty who will normally serve as chair of the student’s academic advisory committee. The research should be sufficiently demanding technically so as to demonstrate the student’s ability to assimilate knowledge from several subject areas for the advancement of engineering knowledge.
Student Evaluation -During the first two semesters in residence, a PhD student must select a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor may assign the student specific duties outside normal coursework requirements that include, but are not necessarily limited to, preparing research proposals and literature surveys, conducting classroom lectures, formulating computer models and executing data collection and analysis. The advisor may, at any time, withdraw as the student’s faculty advisor if these assigned duties are not performed consistent with the expectations of the faculty advisor. During this initial two-semester period, an advisor should make a determination as to whether a student is capable of completing the requirements for the PhD degree.
Comprehensive Examination -The PhD comprehensive examination is generally scheduled after all coursework has been completed and the dissertation proposal is ready for approval by the student’s graduate committee. The examination, therefore, consists of two parts: (1) a written and/or oral examination by the advisory committee on the student’s preparation to complete the proposed research and (2) presentation of the proposed research. The PhD comprehensive examination should be completed within two years of entering the PhD program. The written and/or oral examination may include consideration of graduate coursework, preliminary research and/ or other demonstration of the ability to conduct the proposed research. After passing this examination, the student is officially admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.
Dissertation Defense-As required by the Graduate School, the candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must pass a final oral examination (dissertation defense). The examination consists of a presentation of the student’s doctoral research and an assessment by the committee of the research approach, the significance of the findings and the contribution to the advancement of civil engineering.
More information about the Department of Civil Engineering is available at www.ce.clemson.edu or by phone at (864) 656-3000.
