WPI’s PhD in civil engineering immerses you in rigorous studies and research, pushing you to cross boundaries even as you define an area of focus, be it construction project management, environmental engineering, highway infrastructure, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering.
One-on-one faculty mentoring helps assure your success as you work together to customize a program of study. You’ll have state-of-the-art equipment at your disposal, including access to civil and engineering labs and computers labs, many of which are located within the department’s home building.
Curriculum for PhD in Civil Engineering
As a part of the PhD in Civil Engineering at WPI, you’ll divide your time between in-depth research and classroom study, with specialized courses such as Advanced Design of Steel Structures, Structural Design for Fire Conditions, Hazardous Waste: Containment, Treatment and Prevention, and Open Channel Hydraulics.
You’ll also pursue a minor field of study outside of civil engineering, which may be established by three courses in the area you choose. Popular areas include Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Materials.
Research
As a graduate student in WPI’s Civil & Environmental Engineering department, you’ll work in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities both on campus and at project centers around the globe. You’ll have access to advanced instrumentation not found at other universities, including a device that can characterize novel bioinspired materials and structures and help construct advanced infrastructure systems.