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DEGREE Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD

Doctoral degree in civil and environmental engineering

As a PhD student in civil and environmental engineering, you’ll not only advance your knowledge in your area of interest, but you’ll also enhance your teamwork abilities, communication, leadership, entrepreneurship, and creative research skills. Within our department, you’ll be able to specialize in areas that include construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, geo and pavement engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources and environmental fluid mechanics.

At a glance

Civil and environmental engineering department

30Plus
Professors of practice who mentor our students
10
civil engineering graduate ranking among public universities
9
environmental engineering graduate ranking among public universities

Learn more about what information you need to apply.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline December 15
Spring Deadline September 1
Summer Deadline December 15
GRE (Graduate Records Examinations) Not required.
English Proficiency Test Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency).
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

All applicants must meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements to be considered for admission. The application deadline is December 15 for the fall term and September 1 for the spring term. Late applications may not be reviewed for funding opportunities.

In addition, applicants must also meet the department’s more stringent admission requirements listed below to be considered for admission:

  • Grades: A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) is required for domestic applicants. A strong academic performance comparable to an average of B or above grades for all undergraduate course work is required for international applicants.
  • Degree: A bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program or from a recognized international institution is recommended. 

A complete graduate application is required before an application will be reviewed by the faculty. A complete graduate application contains the following:

  • Graduate School Application Form and application fee: Applicants must submit an online application to the UW–Madison Graduate School. See Graduate School Admissions to apply.
  • Statement of purpose: A statement of purpose for graduate study must be submitted through an applicant’s online UW–Madison Graduate School application. Please limit this important document to 1,000 words.
  • Letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation must be submitted through an applicant’s online UW–Madison Graduate School application.
  • Transcripts: Upload the most recent copies of your transcripts to the electronic application, from each institution attended.  Study abroad transcripts are not required if coursework is reflected on the degree granting university’s transcript. If the application is recommended for admission then we will follow-up with instructions for official transcript submission.
  • English proficiency scores: Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term. See Graduate School Admission Requirements for more information on the English proficiency requirement.
    • TOEFL scores may be sent to institution code 1846 from ETS

Tuition

Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).

View tuition rates

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Financial support is available through fellowships, project/program assistantships (PA), research assistantships (RA), and teaching assistantships (TA). Faculty will contact successful applicants directly regarding funding opportunities. Admission is not a guarantee of funding.

Civil and environmental engineers are changing the world. Aging infrastructure. Climate change. Clean water and air. Natural hazards. Energy. These are just a few of the grand challenges facing civil and environmental engineers, and our research is leading the way toward sustainable solutions.

View our research

Minimum graduate school requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Minimum Credit Requirement 51 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 32 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244).
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
This program follows the Graduate School’s GPA Requirement policy
(https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203).
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations Doctoral students are required to complete a qualifying exam to demonstrate a sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge in their major to pursue original research, usually after the first year of study. Students must consult with their advisor and/or the exam coordinator in the major area of study for the schedule and specific procedures.

Doctoral students are required to take a comprehensive preliminary/oral examination after they have cleared their record of all Incomplete and Progress grades (other than research and thesis). In order to qualify for the preliminary examination, students must have completed 32 credits in residence and their Ph.D minor.

Deposit of the doctoral dissertation in the Graduate School is required.
Language Requirements No language requirements
Graduate School Breadth Requirement Doctoral students must complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate. Students will discuss minor and certificate options with the faculty advisor. Course must be approved before, or by the time, the student has completed 6 of the total credits for the minor or certificate.

Basic requirements for a Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering include: (1) Ph.D. major coursework; (2) qualifying examination; (3) Ph.D. minor coursework; (4) preliminary examination; (5) dissertation research; and (6) final oral examination. Advanced coursework in a major area of civil and environmental engineering is required. The academic program for each doctoral student is planned on an individual basis with their advisor. 32 credits and minor coursework must be completed prior to achieving dissertator status (for students who have earned an M.S. degree, credits accumulated for the M.S. can be applied toward this requirement). All graduate students must register for a 1-credit seminar course per academic year; students will discuss seminar options with faculty advisors.

Seminar course options; must discuss seminar options with faculty advisor.

CIV ENGR 579 Seminar-Transportation Engineering1
CIV ENGR/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  717 Water Resources Management Practicum Planning Seminar I1
CIV ENGR/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  718 Water Resources Management Practicum Planning Seminar II2
CIV ENGR 909 Graduate Seminar – Environmental Chemistry & Technology1
CIV ENGR/​ATM OCN/​BOTANY/​ENVIR ST/​GEOSCI/​ZOOLOGY  911 Limnology and Marine Science Seminar1
CIV ENGR 919 Seminar-Hydraulic Engineering and Fluid Mechanics1
CIV ENGR 929 Seminar-Environmental Engineering1
CIV ENGR 939 Geotechnical Engineering Seminar1
CIV ENGR 949 Seminar-Structural Engineering1

Admission Inquiries
ceegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu
3182 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706

Christina Remucal, Director of Graduate Study
remucal@wisc.edu
141 Water Science & Engineering Lab; 660 N Park St

View the Graduate Guide for program-specific information on admission, coursework, policies, rules and regulations.

Civil and environmental engineering news

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