Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, PhD
Explore the intersection of infrastructure and ecology through advanced research and interdisciplinary collaboration in this innovative doctoral program. You learn to develop creative solutions to complex environmental challenges and help shape the future of sustainable engineering.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, PhD description
A wide variety of theoretical and experimental research programs have been established in civil and environmental engineering to prepare you for careers in professional practice and research. These programs are constantly evolving with the changes in society and the profession, and many are transdisciplinary in nature.
The pattern of coursework in the Doctor of Philosophy in civil, environmental and sustainable engineering program can be tailored for you, although it must conform to the general guidelines for subject matter content for the degree (as outlined here and in the program's graduate handbook).
You have the opportunity to study a specialty area within engineering:
- environmental
- geotechnical
- hydrosystems
- structural
- sustainable
- transportation
Why earn your civil, environmental and sustainable engineering doctoral degree at ASU?
Put your learning into practice by completing an internship, joining a research team, or serving as a teaching or research assistant in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. Every semester, the school hosts career fairs, organizes mixers with the Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and opens doors to work with industry professionals through student organizations and projects.
Additional details
Get involved with the American Society of Civil Engineers at ASU, Engineers Without Borders, Engineering Projects in Community Service, and more than 100 engineering-focused student organizations.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
All candidates are required to complete 84 approved graduate credit hours; of these, 30 can be from the previously awarded master's degree. Additional graduate credit work may be assigned by the graduate supervisory committee, depending on the background of the candidate. The graduate credit hours must include a minimum of 12 credit hours of research and 12 credit hours of dissertation work. This program also requires written and oral comprehensive examinations and approval of the dissertation prospectus for the student to be eligible for doctoral candidacy. After entering candidacy, the student completes the research and writes and successfully defends a dissertation. A final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is required for all students.
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a master's degree in engineering or a closely related master's degree program from a regionally accredited institution. Exceptionally qualified students with a bachelor's degree may be admitted to the doctoral program. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information A student whose undergraduate or master's degree is not in civil engineering is required to take appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses in order to establish a base of knowledge in the discipline. The additional courses required for admission to the program are specified at the time of admission, and details can be obtained from the graduate studies section of the program's website. Prospective students should note that GRE scores are used in the admission decision. The average scores for those admitted to the graduate programs over the last five years were 732 for MS or MSE and 751 for PhD (GRE General Test), and 157 for MS or MSE and 159 for PhD (GRE revised General Test) in the quantitative section. Average combined quantitative and verbal scores were 1203 for MS or MSE and 1239 for PhD (GRE General Test), and 308 for MS or MSE and 311 for PhD (GRE revised General Test). More information regarding how to send official GRE scores to Graduate Admission Services can be found on the FAQ page. ASU does not accept the GRE General Test at home edition. Students' credentials for admission are evaluated by the graduate program chair and a committee chaired by the specialty area coordinator.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Those seeking a teaching assistantship must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English with a score of 55 or higher on the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit or a score of 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/01 | Priority* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 07/01 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this civil, environmental and sustainable engineering doctoral degree prepares you for
Graduates in professional practice become civil engineers who typically focus on large projects such as buildings, bridges, subway systems, dams and water supply networks. Graduates also go into research and higher education.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Eng Program
|
HLMK 437
sebe.advising@asu.edu
480-965-0595
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
