While pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in civil engineering, the student will take graduate-level courses and conduct research with a faculty advisor and observe how these studies will lead to key engineering innovations and societal impacts in the field of civil engineering. Equipped with complementary and state-of-the-art computational and experimental facilities, the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) Department has active research programs in the following four disciplinary groups; Construction Engineering and Management, Structural Engineering and Materials, Environmental and Water Resources, and Transportation Systems Engineering. Faculty teach graduate-level courses and conduct research in these areas. Graduate courses in these same areas, in addition to the general core graduate courses, provide the foundation for earning a PhD degree in civil engineering. Additionally, the student demonstrates mastery of the selected study area through qualifying exams, the proposal of a research topic, and the defense of a research-based dissertation.
Qualified students in the Department’s undergraduate programs at The University of Alabama are eligible for early admission into the PhD program through the Accelerated Masters Program (AMP). This program allows students to double-count up to 9 hours of graduate credit toward their undergraduate degree.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an applicant should have earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) of ABET Inc. Applications who are graduates of a non EAC/ABET-accredited program will be considered.
Curricular Requirements
A total of 72 hours is required for the degree, including a minimum of 48 hours of coursework beyond the baccalaureate and 24 hours of dissertation research. A maximum of 24 hours of approved transfer credit is allowed, with approval of the Graduate School on the form for Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit. The link to the Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit is https://graduate.ua.edu/current-students/forms-students/. Students initiate this form.
Students need to contact the department office for the submission of the Plan of Study and Candidacy forms. These Graduate School forms go through the UA DocuSign system.
Code and Title | Hours |
| Statistical Applications | |
| Constr. Accounting & Finance | |
| Construction Scheduling | |
| Statistical Applications | |
| Advanced Structural Mechanics | |
| Structural Dynamics | |
| Statistical Applications | |
| Hydrology | |
| Statistical Applications | |
| Sustainable Transportation | |
| Traffic Engineering | |
| |
| Advanced Project Management | |
| Engineering Mangement | |
| Horizontal Construction Method | |
| Construction Cost Estimating | |
| Safety Engineering | |
| Legal Asp. of Eng and Const. | |
| NDT of Structures | |
| Matrix Analysis of Structures | |
| Concrete Materials | |
| Reinforced Concrete Struct II | |
| Struct Steel Design II | |
| Prestressed Concrete Design | |
| Foundation Engineering | |
| Special Problems | |
| Exper. Mthds in Struc Dynamics | |
| Structural Reliability | |
| Adv. Infrastructure Materials | |
| Wind Engineering | |
| Groundwater Mechanics | |
| EWR Proposal Writing | |
| Process Hydrology | |
| Constructn Site Erosion Contrl | |
| Roadway/Intersection Design | |
| Traffic Safety and Security | |
| Intelligent Transportation Sys | |
| Urban Transportation Planning | |
| Traffic Flow Theory | |
| Traffic Engineering | |
CE 699 | Dissertation Research | 24 |
Total Hours | 72 |
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Doctoral Plan of Study Requirement
The student’s adviser and supervisory committee will work with the student to define an appropriate plan of study that meets all degree requirements, including any prerequisite or preparatory work and a core set of courses as required and specified by each specialty area. After approval by the department the PhD Plan of Study is submitted to the Graduate School for final approval. All doctoral students must have a completed Plan of Study approved by the Graduate School no later than the semester during which the student will complete 30 semester hours of UA and/or transfer credit for the doctoral degree. Otherwise, a "hold" may be placed on future registration.
Additional Graduate School information on the Doctoral Plan of Study.
Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination
Students are required to pass a preliminary examination that includes both written and oral components, a proposal defense, and a final dissertation defense administered by the student’s supervisory committee.
Graduate School information on Comprehensive and Qualifying Examinations.
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
After passing the comprehensive (preliminary) examination, the student should complete and submit an Admission to Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree to the department for approval. A department-approved candidacy form will be forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval.
Continuous Enrollment Policy
Graduate School information on Continuous Enrollment Policy.
Dissertation Requirements
Graduate School information on Dissertations.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Student Progress Requirement
Graduate School information on Student Progress.
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Scholastic Requirements
Graduate School information on Scholastic Requirements.
Graduate School Deadline Information
Graduate School information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Graduate School information on the Application for Graduation.