Civil Engineering PhD Program | Michigan Technological University

Civil Engineering—PhD

The PhD in Civil Engineering is a terminal research degree designed for the pursuit of advanced studies in civil engineering. The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering is committed to providing 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.

Students may pursue their own studies in one of six current areas of research and education:

Civil engineering materials
Construction engineering and management
Geotechnical engineering
Structural engineering
Transportation engineering
Water resource engineering
Geospatial engineering

Graduate Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements

Department Procedures for a PhD in Civil Engineering

PhD Requirements: Civil Engineering

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

A detailed explanation of degree requirements can be found on the Graduate School's Doctor of Philosophy requirements page.

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Resume / Curriculum vitae
GPA — All grade points are considered and applicants will be admitted at the discretion of the program.
GRE not required
No Additional Documents Accepted

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Score of 6.5 overall

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Minimum bachelor's overall GPA of 3.0 at graduation
Resume/curriculum vitae
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

All majors