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The Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (CE) is designed for advanced study in civil engineering. The degree is a terminal research degree and is the culmination of advanced civil engineering studies at Michigan Tech. Research opportunities are available in civil engineering materials, construction engineering and management, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation, and water resources engineering. The civil engineering program is committed to provide an intellectual environment and educational experience through which students and faculty members make significant contributions to society and the civil engineering profession through teaching, research, and practice.
The program is administered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Applications for admission are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/admissions/apply/ and forwarded to the PhD Admission Committee for review and approval. Further details about how to apply can be found at http://www.cee.mtu.edu/grad/gradinstruct.html.
Applicants must hold a degree in engineering, mathematics, or the natural or physical sciences, and their academic record must show superior achievement in coursework related to engineering. Usually, applicants will either hold or be working toward an M.S. degree, and the M.S. research must show superior research ability. While Ph.D. students typically obtain the M.S. degree, it is not mandatory for those students who choose to pursue the Ph.D. The Doctor of Philosophy degree at Michigan Technological University is a research degree and is awarded in recognition of demonstrated mastery of subject matter in engineering and proven competence in the conduct of individual research investigations that represent a significant expansion of knowledge in engineering.
Policies and procedures specific to the CE Ph.D. program are described below, but the most recent version of the graduate school policies and procedures take precedence over the CE Ph.D. program version if there is a conflict. See: http://www.gradschool.mtu.edu/policies/index.html.
Student-related Procedures
Admission Guidelines – Admission into this program is based on the applicant’s Graduate Record Exam, undergraduate and graduate GPA, a statement of objectives, and three letters of recommendation. In addition there is a TOEFL requirement consistent with Michigan Tech’s Graduate School requirements for applicants who do not possess a degree or academic history from a North American institution. Significant weight will be placed on the content of reference letters, the applicant’s statement of objectives, and post-baccalaureate professional experience. Financial assistance is available for some Ph.D. students. http://www.cee.mtu.edu/grad/gradfinance.html
Coursework Requirements – No formal coursework requirements are promulgated although about 40 semester credit hours of coursework (not including research credits) beyond the B.S. degree will usually be necessary for a properly prepared engineering graduate. Residency and total credit requirements follow those of the Michigan Tech Graduate School. http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/administration/academics/requirements/phd/
Preliminary Study Program – Within the spirit of the coursework requirements stated above, the study program should show that the student will have mastered a significant portion of that body of knowledge associated with the specialty area and prepared adequately to undertake meaningful research.
Comprehensive Examination – This examination is administered by the Advisory Committee. The entire Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty will be invited to submit questions. However, the final decision as to the use or non-use of any question is the decision of the Advisory Committee. The Advisor will coordinate the examination. Each Advisory Committee member must contribute questions for the exam. Since the Ph.D. is a specialized research degree, the exam should test the student on the principles of the specialty area in which the research will be performed. If the student fails the examination, he/she may retake the exam once with the majority approval of the committee. However, the second exam must occur within six months and these results are final. The exam and the student’s response thereto must be filed with the Program Chair to be made available to the entire graduate faculty and the Dean of the Graduate School upon request.
Dissertation Proposal – Immediately after successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student will begin preparation of the dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal is a substantial specific proposal and plan for the doctoral research project prepared with the aid of the Advisory Committee. The student must orally defend the proposed research project and, in doing so, demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the subject material and related literature. The proposal should normally be approved by the Advisory Committee no later than two semesters before the expected completion of the dissertation.
Final Examination and Dissertation Defense – A public, final, oral examination, primarily concerning the research and doctoral dissertation, will be given. The candidate should justify the validity of the methods and conclusions contained in the dissertation and should be familiar with the import of the particular investigations reported in the dissertation relative to the larger body of existing knowledge. The final examination shall be announced by the Graduate School to the Michigan Tech graduate faculty at least two weeks in advance. All Michigan Tech graduate faculty are invited to attend and participate in questions regarding the dissertation and its contribution to the field of civil and environmental engineering. Concurrence of at least three of the four Advisory Committee members is necessary for acceptance of the dissertation (i.e., a maximum of one dissent).
Definitions
CEE Ph.D. Faculty – Those faculty members or adjunct faculty members of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering who are members of the Michigan Tech graduate faculty.
Program Chair – The Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. This person has overall responsibility for the internal management of this Ph.D. program.
Advisor – The CEE Ph.D. faculty member who has the primary responsibility to guide a student’s individual program and progress. The Advisor is assigned by the Department Chair, based on recommendation of the faculty and consultation with the student. With the assistance of the Advisor, the student will assemble an Advisory Committee that must be approved by the Department Chair.
Advisory Committee – A committee composed of CEE Ph.D. faculty, members of the Michigan Tech graduate faculty, and, occasionally, a person or persons external to Michigan Tech. This committee is responsible for the student’s course plan, comprehensive examination, and dissertation proposal. As a minimum, this committee will consist of three members of the CEE Ph.D. faculty and one graduate faculty member from a cognate department. The advisor will act as chair of the Advisory Committee. See http://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/administration/academics/requirements/phd/ for more details.
Comprehensive Examination – An examination having a written component and possibly an oral component intended to evaluate the student’s knowledge and understanding of the specialty area and to determine the student’s ability to conduct a program of independent research. The Advisory Committee determines whether an oral component is necessary based on the outcome of the student’s written examination.
Doctoral Candidate – A student who has successfully completed the comprehensive examination.
Specialty Area – Any of the areas of concentration traditionally associated with civil engineering. They include, but are not limited to, civil engineering materials, construction engineering/management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, structural engineering, and transportation engineering.
Ph.D. Admission Committee – A group composed of at least six CEE Ph.D. faculty, including those faculty in the specialty area and others chosen by the specialty area faculty. The purpose of the Admissions Committee is to recommend to the Program Chair whether or not applicants should be granted admission to the program.
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