Civil Engineering, PhD
Become an expert in the subdiscipline of civil engineering that interests you the most by obtaining a PhD. Delve into the cutting-edge research and practical application of studies that fascinates you. No matter if you want to improve roadways for the masses or design drainage systems for cities, you’ll be an innovator of the future.
Program overview
Civil engineering is a varied discipline, offering opportunities in a number of areas. Through our PhD program, you will focus your research in a specialized field, ranging from construction to environment to public works. During your time in our program, you will have access to state-of-the-art research centers and institutes, internationally-renowned faculty members, and a flourishing professional network.
Concentrations
You must declare a concentration when acquiring a PhD in civil engineering. The options include:
- Climate Impacts Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Energy Science and Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Geotechnical/Materials Engineering
- Public Works Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
Why Study Civil Engineering at UT?
Without civil engineering, mankind wouldn’t be as advanced as we are. We wouldn’t have structured roadways, sturdy bridges, waste systems, or any of the other modern structures society uses on a daily basis. When you join our PhD program, you’ll become a part of a leading research program that strives to expand the possibilities for future generations.
What can you do with a PhD in Civil Engineering after graduation?
After the dedication of graduating with your PhD, you may wonder what comes next. Depending on what subdiscipline of civil engineering you studied, you could go on to work for a utility company, consulting firm, or telecommunication business. You could also work for manufacturers, governments, or in academia.
Featured Courses
Below are some of the courses that students in our program can choose to take. For a list of all courses in civil engineering, visit the Graduate Catalog.
CE 521 Pavement Design
In this class, you’ll learn about empirical and theoretical based methods of pavement design and analysis, strengthening existing pavements, pavement distress, and economical design alternatives.
CE 548 Sustainable Transportation
Sustainability in the context of the transportation system including all aspects of sustainability that focus on environment, equity, and economy. Relative merits of transportation demand management, technologies, land use, and alternative fuels are compared. For the environmental analysis, a full life cycle accounting approach, teaching specific approaches, data, and tools to assess environmental impacts through all phases of vehicles, fuels, and infrastructure life cycles.
CE 551 Traffic Engineering Characteristics
This course covers the characteristics of human, vehicle, and roadway in transportation systems.
ENVE 511 Environmental Chemistry
Learn about the fundamental and quantitative treatment of chemical processes that govern the formation, fate, and treatment of pollutants in natural and engineered systems.
Related Programs
Check out a list of related programs to look into based on your interest in aerospace engineering:
Admissions and Aid
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