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Academics

Credit Requirements

The Engineering PhD program requires the completion of 62 credits. For the most up-to-date credit requirements, please check the Graduate Catalog and navigate to the Engineering program.

Tracks of Study

The Ph.D. in Engineering currently has four tracks of study. Students are expected to take six (6) approved credits within their track of study.

Infrastructure Systems

The Infrastructure Systems program focuses on innovative solutions that support the fundamental needs and functions of a society including food, water, transportation, communications, and energy. Students can conduct inter/trans-disciplinary research that include opportunities in both built and natural infrastructure systems supporting transportation (highways, waterways, and airways), water, energy and their interconnections.

  • CE 502 – Computational Techniques
  • CE 540 – Pavement Analysis and Design
  • CE 542 – Microstructure Properties of Concrete
  • CE 552 – Structural Steel Design
  • CE 560 – Geotechnical Engineering Design I
  • CE 562 – Geotechnical Engineering Design II
  • CE 566 – Ground Improvement Design
  • CE 567 – Advanced Soil Mechanics
  • CE 570 – Highway Systems Design
  • CE 572 – Transportation Planning
  • CE 575 – Traffic Systems Design
  • CE 597 – Infrastructure Monitoring

Water and Environment

Environmental and water systems are increasingly pressured by a myriad of natural and anthropogenic factors, impacting fundamentals of societal well-being and growth. Furthermore, natural systems are interdependent with built infrastructure, with compounding or attenuating impacts on one another. The Water and Environment Track adopts quantitative and qualitative methods from various fields of study to solve the most pressing natural resources issues of our time. The program offers great flexibility in designing an education course that fits student needs and is conducive to cutting edge, interdisciplinary scientific discovery and societal impact.

  • CE 538 – Water Resources Engineering
  • EEB 618 – Earth’s Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate Change
  • GEOG 570 – Earth System Science and Global Warming
  • GEOPH 522 – Data Analysis and Geostatistics
  • GEOS 516 – Hydrology
  • GEOS 620 – Coupled Land-Atmosphere Modeling
  • HES 500 – Foundations in Human-Environment Systems Science
  • MATH 527 – Introduction to Applied Mathematics for Scientists and Engineers
  • MATH 571 – Data Analysis

Energy Systems

This track focuses on modern energy systems, particularly on energy generation, energy and energy conversion technologies. This emphasis considers a wide range of scales from the material level all the way up to grid scale applications.

  • CE 538 – Water Resources Engineering
  • ECE 570 – Electric Machines
  • ECE 573 – Power System Analysis 1
  • ME 522 – Advanced Thermodynamics
  • ME 526 – Renewable Energy Systems
  • MSE 562 – Energy Materials

Mechatronics and Control Systems

This track deals with combinations of electronic, mechanical, and material systems to achieve a desired function or outcome. This multidisciplinary approach includes product design, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computing and materials science. Many applications are described as “smart” by the inclusion of sensors, actuators, and control systems directly.

  • CS 523 – Cyber-physical Systems
  • ECE 660 – Linear Systems
  • ME 561 – Control Systems
  • ME 566 – Dynamic Modeling and Control of Engineering Systems
  • ME 567 – Robotics and Automated Systems
  • ME 578 – Design and Analysis of Mechatronic Systems