Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Civil engineering is the oldest engineering program at KU. The first graduating class in 1873 included a civil engineer. Civil engineers design roads, water systems, bridges, dams, and other structures, providing nearly all the infrastructure needed by modern society. Civil engineers were the first engineers to address environmental issues and are the lead engineering discipline in treating water supplies to protect public health. In recognition of the significant issues concerning the environment, the department name was changed in 1992 to civil and environmental engineering.
The environmental and water resources engineering (EWRE) and environmental and water resources science (EWRS) graduate programs were created in 2019 by combining existing programs in environmental engineering and science and water resources engineering. These programs dated back to the founding of the Environmental Health Sciences program in 1961. Environmental and water resources engineers and scientists address the safety and supply of water, the interactions of water and the hydrological cycle with the environment, and the use of physical, chemical, and biological processes to solve environmental and water problems.
Architectural engineering combines study in architecture with engineering science and design courses in electrical, mechanical, construction, and structures to prepare students for building design projects of all kinds. Architectural engineering dates to 1913 at KU, and the first female graduate of the School of Engineering was an architectural engineering major. Architectural engineering merged with civil and environmental engineering in 2001 to form the the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering (CEAE).
Mission
CEAE’s mission is to provide students with an outstanding engineering education and be a leader in research and service. This mission is supported by the following 3 goals:
- Prepare students for productive engineering careers.
- Maintain and grow strong research programs.
- Serve the profession.
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Additional Graduate Program Admission Requirements
The department admits for all semesters. Students may pursue degrees full or part time. An ABET-accredited baccalaureate degree in engineering, or the equivalent from abroad, is required for admission to the Ph.D. degree program in civil engineering. Applicants are expected to have undergraduate grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for admission.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required for admission. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international applicants. Applicants should take the English Proficiency Tests as early as possible to expedite the admission process.
Graduate applications should be submitted online.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall Admission: December 2 (priority deadline). August 1 (final deadline).
Spring Admission: October 1 (priority deadline). December 16 (final deadline).
Summer Admission: December 2 (priority deadline). May 19 (final deadline).
The priority deadlines are for full consideration for fellowships, scholarships and research/teaching assistantships. Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered for funding on a case-by-case basis.
MINIMUM ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
Visit the full English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate study at: http://policy.ku.edu/graduate-studies/english-proficiency-international-students.
International students and students who indicated English as a second language are required to show proof of English proficiency for admission purposes and must check-in at the Applied English Center (AEC) upon arrival on campus for orientation. This process serves to confirm each student's level of English proficiency and determine whether English courses will be included as a requirement of the student’s academic program. Note: Students who demonstrate English proficiency at the waiver level are not required to check in at the AEC (see eligibility requirements on the Graduate Studies website).
APPLICATION FEES
Domestic: $65
International: $85
VISITING US
The graduate program staff is happy to work with all prospective students in determining the fit between the student and the program. We feel that visiting our campus in Lawrence is a very important step. In order to facilitate your visit to KU, there are two main options:
The first, and most preferred, option entails simply applying for admission to the program. All prospective students are welcome to attend our Graduate Open House in mid-October or mid-March. Eligible admitted students may be invited to participate in Campus Visit Days in February (prior to the fall semester of your intended matriculation). These organized visitation opportunities will allow you to gather a great deal of first-hand information which we hope will help you in making a final decision about whether to attend KU.
The second option is making arrangements to visit us on your own, outside of organized events. With early notification, we will do our best to work with you to provide information and schedule appointments with faculty when possible. Please contact us if you feel that this is the best option for you.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact the CEAE Graduate Program Coordinator at gradceae@ku.edu or (785) 864-3826, to schedule a visit or with questions about the application process.
The University of Kansas
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Graduate Administrative Assistant
Learned Hall
1530 W. 15th St., Room 2150
Lawrence, KS 66045
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering Degree Requirements
Requirements for the Ph.D. include coursework, a doctoral qualifying examination, research skills and residence requirement, a comprehensive examination, a dissertation, and a final oral examination.
Students develop their individualized Plan of Study and research with the advice and supervision of their faculty advisor and committee.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CE 820 | Responsible Scholarship in CEAE | 1 |
| 0-3 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Hours | 25-52 |
Plan of Study
All graduate students must have an approved Plan of Study on file by the beginning of their second semester of study. The Plan of Study is approved by the student's advisory committee and must list the following:
- The course work to be completed. The amount of course work required for the doctoral degree depends on the student’s needs and level of preparation. The student’s advisory committee will decide how many credit-hours of course work are needed and may require specific courses. The course-work requirement may not be less than 24 credit-hours beyond the master’s degree, or 48 credit-hours beyond the bachelor’s degree for students without a master’s degree.
- No more than 6 hours of courses numbered between 500-699 (of which only 3 hours may be within the department) my be applied toward the degree without approval of the department's graduate advisor.
- One proposed foreign language or research skill. Any course work taken to satisfy the foreign language or research skill requirement shall be in addition to the course work required above.
- The student's dissertation topic or the general area proposed for the dissertation.
Research Skills and Responsibile Scholarship
The University requires that every doctoral student receive training in responsible scholarship pertinent to the field of research and obtain research skills pertinent to the doctoral level of research in their field(s). These requirements must be completed by the end of the semester that the student takes the oral comprehensive exam. For students in Civil Engineering, the responsible scholarship requirement is satisfied by the completion of CE 820. The responsible scholarship requirement serves to ensure that students are trained in responsible research practices and is fulfilled by attending the seminar offered each fall semester.
The research skill requirement provides the aspirant with a research skill distinct from, but strongly supportive of, the dissertation research. One research skill is required. Possible research skills include foreign language, computer science, mathematics, statistics, specific laboratory skills, and specific skills in the physical or biological sciences. The foreign language skill can be obtained by taking a 2-course sequence in the selected language or demonstrated by passing an examination. The selected research skill must be listed on the Plan of Study form. A separate statement attached to the Plan of Study must list the work to be completed to obtain the research skill.
Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
The student must pass a qualifying exam to the satisfaction of a faculty advisory committee. A doctoral qualifying exam may be a written exam and/or oral exam. This committee shall consist of the proposed dissertation advisor and at least two other members of the graduate faculty. At least two of the committee members must be CEAE faculty members holding regular graduate faculty status.
A student with a master's degree should take the qualifying exam within their first year of doctoral studies. Students admitted to the doctoral degree program directly from the bachelor's degree should take the qualifying exam withing their first two years of doctoral studies. Doctoral students must take and pass the qualifying exam before they are eligible to sit for the comprehensive exam. The final examination for a master's degree granted by the KU CEAE Department may also serve as the qualifying exam for the doctoral degree. In this case, the examining committee would make two separate pass/fail decisions: one for the master's exam and another for the doctoral qualifying exam.
Enrollment Requirements Post-Comprehensive Exam
Upon passing the comprehensive examination, the student becomes a candidate for the Ph.D. degree and is approved to proceed with their dissertation research and project. Starting the semester following successful completion of the oral comprehensive exam, students must enroll in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies’ Doctoral Candidacy Policy.
A minimum of 6 hours of research credit (CE 991 and CE 999) are required. The student should enroll in CE 991 before passage of the comprehensive exam and CE 999 thereafter. The student’s enrollment in research hours should reflect the demand on the research advisor’s time.
Dissertation & Final Oral Examination
The dissertation must be an original work of research that advances the field of Civil Engineering and complies with the Office of Graduate Studies’ Doctoral Dissertation policy. The doctoral candidate's esearch is expected to be of sufficient quality to permit publication in reputable scientific journals.
Upon approval by the students committee that the student’s dissertation research and written document is complete, the student must defend the dissertation before all committee members in the “final oral examination,” or dissertation defense. The final dissertation defense includes a public presentation of the dissertation research by the candidate and concludes with a period of questioning by the committee, faculty, and public in attendance. After posing questions to the student about the dissertation work, committee members deliberate and vote on a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. A grade of Satisfactory requires a majority vote, and may be contingent on the completion of specific revisions by a designated due date.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Acquire and integrate new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- Solve engineering problems by applying fundamental principles of mathematics, science, and engineering and relevant technologies.
- Effectively communicate advanced civil engineering concepts.
- Produce independent, publishable, and impactful research that makes a new contribution to the field of civil engineering.
