Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The degree is offered under the authority of the Grove School of Engineering of the City College of the City University of New York. The Department of Civil Engineering offers doctoral programs of study in the following areas:

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• Water Resources Environmental Engineering
• Transportation

For admission information, please contact the Ph.D program advisor Dr. Nir Krakauer - ( nkrakauer@ccny.cuny.edu ) or visit graduate program page.

To be eligible for admission, an applicant must possess a bachelor's or master's degree in Civil Engineering or in a closely related area appropriate to the intended field of study from an accredited institution. The applicant's academic record must demonstrate promise of superior performance in advanced study and research. The general Graduate Record Examination is recommended.

For detailed information on admission please visit: General College Admission Requirements

General Application Due Dates:
For Fall:     May 1st
For Spring: November 15th
For Financial Aid Priority Consideration: February 1st

At least 60 credits of approved graduate work, consisting of 30 to 48 credits of course work and 12 to 30 credits for Dissertation Research, are required for the degree.

A student admitted to Ph.D. program with a Bachelor’s degree will be required to take 30 credits of course work, which may include required courses.  The student can take remaining 30 credits through dissertation research (CE J99xx courses).

A student admitted to Ph.D. program with a Master’s degree may receive up to 30 transfer credits in lieu of his/her Master’s degree at the other institution.  Some of these transfer credits may satisfy specialization specific requirements.  If specialization requirements are satisfied through transfer, these students will be required to take three additional courses in consultation with the dissertation mentor and Ph.D. Program advisor.  The student will take remaining 21 credits through dissertation research (CE J99xx courses).

Course credits listed above are minimum.  A student can take additional courses required to developed expertise in student’s dissertation research.  In that case, required dissertation research credits can be adjusted accordingly.

Required Civil Engineering Courses

The following course is required of all students:

Additionally,

The following courses are required based on the student's area of specialization. For each specialization, students must complete any of the four core courses listed under that specialization.

In addition, the Ph.D. advisor may approve an equivalent course offered by another institution in place of a listed course when the course is appropriate to the student's research focus.

Structural Engineering

Transportation:

Water Resources and Environmental Engineering:

Electives

There are no required electives. However, a student can take additional courses required to developed expertise in student’s dissertation research.

Doctoral Dissertation Research

PhD students must take a minimum of 12 (in case of a student taking additional courses beyond required) to a maximum of 30 dissertation research credits (CE 99XX and K900xx). The research credits when combined with graduate course credits must total at least 60 credits.

First Examination (Qualifying Examination)

In order to pass the First Examination, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Course Performance Requirement: A student must have overall minimum grade point of B to be eligible for qualifying examination. Students must satisfy require course requirement before being eligible for the qualifying examination.
   
• Oral Examination: Students must make an oral presentation in their dissertation research area highlighting key challenges, opportunities, and gaps in the field. This presentation will be evaluated for depth of understanding in science and engineering concepts and methods as they relate to the research area.

Second Qualifying Examination (Proposal Examination)

In the second Ph.D. examination, a candidate will make a comprehensive presentation on the Ph.D. thesis proposal under the mentorship of the advisor.  The proposal will be presented to a committee formed by the advisor. Before scheduling the second examination, the candidate will submit a 15-page Ph.D. research proposal to committee member to review. A candidate is considered to have passed the examination if a majority of committee members vote to pass.

Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)

This examination is the Ph.D. dissertation defense by the candidate to the Ph.D. dissertation committee. Presentation of the dissertation defense is open to the public. Cross-examining of the candidate by the committee is closed to the public.

Total Credits Required for the PhD(CE) program: 60

Professor Nir Krakauer (  nkrakauer@ccny.cuny.edu  )

All currently enrolled Ph.D. (Doctoral students) are required to complete the following questionnaire at the beginning of each academic semester. Advisors of all students are requested to ensure that the students have completed the form before being advised.

Civil Engineering PHD Student Questionnaire – Fill out form