Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Environmental Engineering, Ph.D.


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Doctor of Philosophy


In addition to continued study of a broad range of environmental engineering fundamentals, candidates for the doctoral degree enjoy intensive exposure to a specific field of environmental engineering research.  Individual research is the major focal point for doctoral students, who are expected to expand the frontiers of knowledge in their area of endeavor.  Moreover, candidates learn and experience the general philosophy, methods, and concepts of research and scholarly inquiry.  Acceptance into the full-time Ph.D. program is generally accompanied by financial support.

A fast-track Ph.D. program (B.S. to Ph.D.), available to undergraduate students upon completion of a bachelor’s degree within that program, is also available in Environmental Engineering.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective.  Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.  All applicants must be approved by the Environmental Engineering Admissions Committee and the Associate Dean of Engineering for Graduate Programs.  Since a research dissertation is required of all Ph.D. candidates, it is highly recommended that a prospective Ph.D. student contact individual faculty members whose research programs are of interest and a match to the student’s skill sets to discuss the possibility of performing research under their guidance.

Admission Requirements (B.S. to Ph.D.)


  • A B.S. degree in engineering or in a science related to engineering from an accredited college or university or the foreign equivalent of an accredited American B.S. or M.S. degree in engineering.  Non-engineers with degrees in related fields may be considered for admission after certain prerequisite courses are completed (a list of pre-requisites and leveling courses can be found at: http://www.cive.uh.edu/programs/environmental-graduate/non-engineers).  Applicants with non-science bachelor’s degrees in fields such as technology, management, business, and the arts must obtain an accredited engineering degree before applying.
  • A minimum grade point average (GPA) of “B”, i.e., 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of course work attempted.
  • Satisfactory scores on the General Aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Quantitative + Verbal scores combined should be at least 1100 using the prior GRE scale (Verbal minimum is 450 and Quantitative minimum is 650) or 301 using the current GRE scale (Verbal minimum is 150 and Quantitative minimum is 151); however, this does not guarantee admission.
  • Satisfactory TOEFL scores for international students (requirements can be found at: http://www.uh.edu/admissions/apply/international/admissions-criteria/english-proficiency-toefl/)

Admission Requirements (M.S. to Ph.D.)


  • Met the requirements listed above for B.S. to Ph.D.
  • Completed an M.S. degree with thesis in Chemical, Environmental, or Civil Engineering with an Environmental emphasis with a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale from an ABET- accredited engineering program or a foreign equivalent thereof.  A copy of the title page, signature page, and thesis abstract as well as excellent letters of reference from faculty familiar with the research must be submitted with the application.

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