Doctor of philosophy (civil engineering) plan of study
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For the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, the following credits are required:
- Minimum of 72 credits (including dissertation research)
- Minimum of 33 credits of formal course work (including not more than six credits of CE 590/CE 690 – Special/Advanced Topics)
- Minimum of 16 credits of dissertation research (CE 699 – Research)
- Research credits for M.S. degree program earned at ISU or at another institution are generally not transferable
- Minimum of 36 credits of 500-level courses or above, including research credits
- Minimum of nine credits of formal courses outside of the department
- Courses from outside the department must be approved by the program of study (POS) committee
- These credits are counted in the 33 credits above
- Maximum of six credits of 400-level formal course credits within the department, but outside the specialization area (see list below)
Candidates for this degree must complete a minimum of 72 credits of acceptable graduate work, including dissertation research. Dissertation research must account for at least 16 credits.
Approved civil engineering (C E) courses for minor graduate credit outside specialization area
Civil engineering materials
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
Construction engineering and management
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
- CE 460 – Foundation Engineering
Environmental engineering
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
- CE 460 – Foundation Engineering
Geotechnical engineering
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
Structural engineering
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 460 – Foundation Engineering
- CE 467 – Geomaterials Stabilization
Transportation engineering
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
- CE 460 – Foundation Engineering
Intelligent infrastructure engineering
- CE 417 – Land Surveying
- CE 428 – Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
- CE 446 – Bridge Design
- CE 448 – Building Design
- CE 460 – Foundation Engineering
Transfer credits
Applicable graduate credits received from Iowa State University for the master of science degree can be included as part of a doctor of philosophy program, subject to approval of the program of study (POS) committee. Graduate credits received elsewhere may be included in a doctor of philosophy program subject to the approval of the student’s POS committee and the ISU Graduate College. At least 36 graduate credits, including all dissertation research, must be earned at ISU. Research credits for M.S. degree earned at ISU or at another institution are generally not transferred.