Academics
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PhD Program
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Geotechnical Engineering Specialization
Curriculum & Requirements

PhD Requirements

PhD students are required to take 10 to 12 courses beyond their MS coursework. These courses should be taken to broaden the student's background in geotechnical engineering and to complement and support the student's research.

All students in geotechnical engineering must take the following courses:

These are the only required courses for PhD students who have not taken them or their equivalent.

A comprehensive oral preliminary exam and one qualifying exam are administered as part of the course of study. Preliminary exams are typically taken after one year of PhD study. The oral exam is administered by a committee of faculty members who are selected by the student in consultation with their research advisor. Once the student has decided upon a research topic, a formal proposal defense is required for the qualifying examination.

PhD Handbook

Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students must maintain a minimum GPA in accordance with Graduate School rules (3.00). Any student supported by research assistantship funding must satisfy project needs. Students will attend weekly group meetings. The required thesis must satisfy the principal advisor and at least one additional geotechnical reviewer.

Candidacy

  1. A PhD student should be considered for Admission to PhD Candidacy no earlier than the end of the first academic year (3 quarters) and no later than the end of the second academic year. PhD students must have a research advisor who has agreed to supervise their PhD studies before consideration.
  2. For each PhD student, the Program Areas conduct a Qualifying Exam that the student must pass before consideration. The Program Areas are free to choose the form of the Qualifying Exam.
  3. Once a quarter, the Program Areas forward a list of the PhD students to be considered for Admission to PhD Candidacy by the CEE Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee will review the records of all students, and discuss their research potential, and issue approvals. PhD students will be admitted to PhD Candidacy only upon this final approval by the Graduate Committee.

Prospectus

The prospectus process typically involves development of a written research proposal that will culminate in the dissertation. This research proposal is also typically delivered in oral form to the prospectus committee.

Dissertation Defense

Students in the geotechnical engineering program must perform innovative, high-quality research and write a dissertation.   See research  for descriptions of recent research projects. All students who are supported with research assistantship funding must satisfy continuing project needs. Meetings are required every week or every other week with a supervisor as a group or individually. In addition, students must make one or two presentations on thesis work at geotechnical seminars during the winter and spring quarters. Average completion time is four to five years after BS.