Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering at the University of Kansas equips students with advanced knowledge and skills to address critical environmental and water resource challenges. Through coursework, research, and assessments, students develop expertise in water safety, hydrology, and environmental problem-solving. The program prepares graduates for careers in environmental consulting, water resource management, research, and academia.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering is a graduate program offered by the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas. This program emerged from the merging of the existing environmental engineering and science and water resources engineering programs in 2019, building on the foundation of the Environmental Health Sciences program established in 1961.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with comprehensive knowledge and skills to tackle critical environmental and water resource challenges. This includes:

• Understanding the safety and supply of water.
• Examining the interactions between water, the hydrological cycle, and the environment.
• Employing physical, chemical, and biological processes to solve environmental and water problems.

Assessment:

• Qualifying Examination: Aspirants for the Ph.D. degree must pass a qualifying examination, typically after completing their Master's degree work or at an equivalent level for non-Master's students.
• Research Skill Requirement: The program mandates the acquisition of a research skill distinct from, but complementary to, dissertation research.
This could involve foreign language proficiency, computer science, mathematics, statistics, specific laboratory skills, or skills in physical or biological sciences.
• Responsible Scholarship Requirement: Students must demonstrate responsible research practices by attending a Responsible Scholarship Training Seminar held annually.
• Comprehensive Examination: Candidates must pass a comprehensive examination before being admitted to their dissertation defense.
• Dissertation Defense: The final stage of the program involves defending the dissertation research.

Careers:

The program prepares students for careers addressing environmental and water resource issues, including:

• Environmental consulting
• Water resource management
• Research and development
• Academia

Other:

• Plan of Study: Candidates must submit an approved Plan of Study by the beginning of their second semester.
• Residency Requirement: The program has a residency requirement that must be met before the comprehensive examination.
• ABET Accreditation: An ABET-accredited baccalaureate degree in engineering is required for admission to the Ph.D. program.