Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering graduate advising

Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering

Graduate programs

A broad range of theoretical, computational and experimental research programs have been established in civil and environmental engineering to prepare graduate students for careers in professional practice and research. If an admitted student does not have an undergraduate degree in civil/environmental engineering, they may be assigned deficiency courses specific to their specialty area.  Students must earn a grade of B or better in each deficiency course.

All graduate students are admitted to one of the specialty areas:

Specialty areas

• EnvironmentalThe Environmental engineering program has two general themes: environmental processes occurring in arid regions of the world and multidisciplinary sustainability related projects to address societal issues in developing urban environments. Environmental 3 year teaching plan.
• Geotechnical/geoenvironmental The Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering program at ASU is focused upon biogeotechnical engineering, unsaturated soil mechanics, and waste mechanics. Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental 3 year teaching plan
• Hydrosystems engineering The Hydrosystems engineering encompasses the technical areas of hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources engineering with sustainable considerations of water policy, management, and environmental remediation. Hydrosystems 3 year teaching plan.
• Structures/materialsThe Structural and materials engineering program encompasses a multitude of methodologies pertaining to analysis, design, stability, and lifeline of structures made of all materials. Structural and materials 3 year teaching plan.
• Sustainability engineering Faculty in the Sustainability engineering specialty area study topics at the intersection of multiple fields, including alternative energy, transportation, earth systems and the environment. Sustainability 3 year teaching plan.
• Transportation/materialsThe Transportation engineering program has two general themes: transportation systems, and pavements and materials. Transportation/materials 3 year teaching plan.
• Construction engineering (PhD only)The Construction engineering graduate program is a multidisciplinary program encompassing the areas of geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and construction engineering and management-related topics.

Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering, Master of Science (MS)

The MS program is designed to bridge the gap between knowledge of engineering sciences and creative engineering practice while at the same time increasing the depth and breadth of knowledge in selected areas of emphasis. It enhances the knowledge gained in undergraduate engineering programs by requiring the students to understand and practice fundamental concepts in engineering, mathematics and the basic sciences. The Master of Science degree program requires completion of one of the following: 24 credit hours of course work and six credit hours of thesis, 27 credit hours of course work and three hours of applied project or 30 credit hours of course work and a written comprehensive exam. Review the catalog description

Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The doctoral program offers a broad range of theoretical, computational and experimental research programs to prepare graduate students for careers in professional practice and research. The programs are constantly evolving with the changes in society and the profession, and many are multidisciplinary in nature. The doctoral degree requires completion of 84 credit hours beyond the undergraduate degree (30 hours can be from the master’s degree) and successful defense of a dissertation. This degree also requires a comprehensive exam and approval of the dissertation prospectus to be eligible for doctoral candidacy. After entering candidacy, students complete their research, write and defend their dissertation. Review the catalog description

It is important for all doctoral students to read the Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering PhD program manual.

Master’s in passing: Students who are admitted directly to the PhD program without a master’s degree have the opportunity to pursue a master’s in passing.  Once students have completed 30 credit hours of coursework, they may take the MS written comprehensive exam (conducted once a semester) in order to earn the master’s degree.  Students should notify both their faculty advisor and the graduate advisor if they intend to pursue a master’s in passing.