The Ph.D. degree is a research degree granted on the basis of broad knowledge of Civil Engineering and in-depth study in a specific area leading to a dissertation reflecting original work by the doctoral candidate. The Department of Civil Engineering offers core graduate specialization in the following areas: civil engineering materials, construction engineering and project management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering and water resources engineering. However, research and study at the doctoral level is interdisciplinary. Consequently, doctoral research and study utilize courses from other departments and such inter-departmental programs are encouraged. Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Mining Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Public Policy, Computer Science, Geology, Biology, and Chemistry are among some of the departments whose offerings contribute to the doctoral research programs in Civil Engineering. The research programs provide financial assistance for graduate students. Financial assistance is available in the forms of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.
Admission Requirements
All applicants seeking admission to the Graduate programs in Civil Engineering must have an equivalent cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) or at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants who have been awarded a baccalaureate from an Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET/EAC) engineering program are not required to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for consideration for admission to the Graduate programs in Civil Engineering. Applicants who hold non-ABET accredited engineering degrees must have a combined verbal and quantitative scores of GRE as follows: 300 for Masters and 315 for Ph.D. degree applicants. No minimum requirements exist for the analytical portion of GRE. An applicant whose native language is other than English must score at least 550 (paper-based TOEFL), 213 (computer-based TOEFL), 80 (internet-based TOEFL), or 6.5 (IELTS).
Degree Requirements
There is no minimum number of courses or required courses for the Ph.D. The number of courses required varies, depending on the background of the student and the topic of the student’s research. Ph.D. students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework to meet residency requirements beyond a Bachelor’s degree. Ph.D. students with a Masters degree typically received 18 hours of coursework credit toward the 36 hour requirements. Generally, at least one full-time coursework (or equivalent) at University of Kentucky beyond a Masters degree will be required before the student is allowed to the take the Qualifying Examination. The student must pass the Qualifying Examination before entering candidacy.
Foreign Language Requirements
There is no language requirements for the PhD degree in Civil Engineering.
Return to: