The Environmental Engineering PhD program focuses on pollution control, pollution prevention, and the correction of pollution effects on natural and man-made environments. The PhD in Environmental Engineering is a research-oriented degree intended for students with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related discipline. The program requires specialized course work combined with intensive research. Areas of study include drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, atmospheric pollution control and modeling, environmental water resources, and stormwater management. The program's mission is to prepare students for careers in environmental engineering with consulting firms; with industry; within federal, state, and local governments; and/or in higher education.
The PhD in Environmental Engineering degree offers the following gateways into the program:
- A PhD in Environmental Engineering for students who are admitted into the PhD program with a BS in Environmental or Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline (e.g. Engineering, some STEM degrees). Students with less related degrees can still be admitted but they may have to take articulation courses (discussed later). These students may obtain a MS degree in Civil Engineering along-the-way to their PhD. The requirements for the along-the-way MS are the same as they are for the Environmental MS program that is selected: 1) The MS Environmental Engineering (MSEnvEngr) degree (thesis or non-thesis), or 2) the MS in Environmental Engineering Sciences track (thesis or non-thesis). The student and academic advisor must determine which program is most appropriate. Generally, students with an Engineering BS will take the MSEnvEngr program, while students with a non-engineering BS will take the MS in Environmental Engineering Sciences program, but the final decision should be based on a consensus between the student and advisor. This is equally true of the thesis vs. non-thesis decision.
- Students with an MS degree in Environmental or Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline (e.g. Engineering or STEM), are advised to apply for the Post-Master's Track for the PhD. However they can apply to this program, and they must transfer their master's courses on a course-by-course basis according to current College of Graduate Studies policy.
The Environmental Engineering PhD requires completion of 72 credit hours, of which 42 credit hours minimum must be formal coursework, exclusive of directed research (XXX 6918), thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919), and independent study (XXX 6908), and 15 credit hours minimum of dissertation research (XXX 7980). No more than 15 credit hours combined of thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be taken toward fulfilling the degree program of study coursework requirements. Thesis hours (XXX 6971) are limited to 6 hours, and independent study is limited to 3 hours. Doctoral research is limited to 15 hours. Directed research (XXX 6918) is not permitted in a PhD program of Study.
Total Credit Hours Required: 72 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree; 42 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree
Program Prerequisites
A Master's or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related discipline. Those with a non-related BS or MS degree(s) will need to take articulation courses (i.e., undergraduate courses to prepare students for engineering graduate classes). Articulation classes are meant to be taken in the first semester and beyond depending on how many hours each student is assigned. The list of possible articulation courses (the maximum possible) is shown below:
Calculus and Differential Equations.
- MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1 (C or higher)
- MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 2 (C or higher)
- MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 3 (C or higher)
- MAP 2302 Ordinary Differential Equations 1 (C or higher)
Senior Level Design Courses in Environmental Engineering (5 courses)
- ENV 4531 Environmental Engineering Operations and Processes (3 hrs.: C or higher)
ENV 4561 Advanced Environmental Engineering Operations and Processes (3 hrs.); Note- ENV 4531 is a prerequisite.
- ENV 4120 Air Pollution and Hazardous Waste Control (3 hrs.)
- CWR 4202C Hydraulics (3 hrs.)
CWR 4120 Hydrology (3 hrs.); Note - CWR 4202C is a prerequisite.
Degree Requirements
Degree Details
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- Degree Details The Doctor of Philosophy degree in this field requires successful completion of a minimum of 72 credit hours at the graduate level and the successful defense of a PhD dissertation. Specifically, the Environmental Engineering PhD requires: (1) 42 credit hours minimum must be formal coursework, exclusive of directed research (XXX 6918), thesis (xxx 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919), and independent study (XXX 6908). (2) 15 credit hours minimum must be dissertation research (XXX 7980). (3) No more than 15 credit hours combined of thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be taken toward fulfilling the degree program of study coursework requirements. (4) Successful completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination. (5) Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination. (6) Successful completion of defense of the doctoral dissertation.
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- ENV6015 - Physical/Chemical Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3)
- ENV6016 - Biological Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3)
6 Total Credits
- Complete 2 of the following
Waste Treatment/Water Treatment/Industrial Treatment - Complete at least 1 of the following:
- ENV6558 - Industrial Waste Treatment (3)
- ENV5410 - Water Treatment (3)
- EES5318 - Industrial Ecology (3)
Air Quality Modeling/Air Pollution Control - Complete at least 1 of the following:
- ENV6106 - Theory and Practice of Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (3)
- ENV6126 - Design of Air Pollution Controls (3)
Water Resources- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- ENV5636 - Environmental and Water Resources Systems Analysis (3)
- ENV6047 - Environmental Informatics and Remote Sensing (3)
- OR any CWR course at the 5000 or 6000 level may be used as well.
Elective Courses
30 Total Credits
- Earn at least 30 credits from the following types of courses: Earn at least 30 credits from XXX 5000- or XXX 6000-level elective courses approved by the student's adviser. The electives can be from Engineering and Computer Science courses, where XXX is EAS, EEE, EEL, COP, CEN, CIS, COT, CDA, CNT, CAP, EGM, ESI, BME, EML, EIN, CGN, CWR, TTE, CEG, CES, CCE, ENV, EES, EMA, or OSE; or from course prefixes outside the College, where XXX can be CHM, CHS, PHY, PHZ, GIS, ANG, POS, SYA, CCJ, BCH, BSC, HMG, HSC, MAA, MAD, MAP, MAS, MAT, MCB, MTG, PAD, PCB, STA, or ZOO. Suggested elective courses from within our department are included below: ENV5505 - Sludge Management Operations in Environmental Engineering (3) ENV5517 - Engineering Chemical and Biological Processes (3) ENV6046 - Membrane Mass Transfer (3) ENV6030 - Environmental Biotechnology (3) ENV6519 - Aquatic Chemical Processes (3) ENV6558 - Industrial Waste Treatment (3) ENV6558 - Industrial Waste Treatment (3) ENV6616 - Ecological Engineering and Receiving Water Impacts (3)
Doctoral Research/Independent Study Hours
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: A maximum of 15 credit hours combined of thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919), and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be used toward fulfilling the degree program of study coursework requirements. The thesis hours are limited to 6 hours. Independent study is limited to 3 hours. Doctoral research is limited to 15 hours.
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: ENV 7980
Examinations
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- Students must pass three examinations.
Qualifying Examination
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- The first is the PhD qualifying examination. This examination must be taken near the end of, or just after, the first year of admission into the PhD program (i.e., after a minimum of 5 courses are completed or under-way). It may be attempted no more than twice.
Candidacy Examination
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- Students must pass a Candidacy Examination. The candidacy examination is normally taken after, or near, the end of the course work and Doctoral Research (ENV 7919) combined. The examination consists of a written and oral presentation of a research proposal based on the student’s dissertation topic and possibly some preliminary data. The examination may include additional written or oral questioning by the committee, and committee members have the authority to require additional coursework if they see deficiencies that can be addressed in this way. A copy of the written examination will be kept as part of the student's official record.
Dissertation Defense Examination
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- The Dissertation Defense Examination is an oral examination taken as defense of the written dissertation. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all dissertation defense announcements be approved by the student's adviser and posted on the college's website and on the College of Graduate Studies Events Calendar at least two weeks before the defense date. The two-week deadline is strictly enforced, and if late the defense date will have to be rescheduled to meet this obligation.
Admission to Candidacy
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- The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours. Evidence of meeting these requirements must be received by the College of Graduate Studies on the Friday before the first day of classes for those who wish to enroll in dissertation hours in that semester. • Completion of all but 6 hours, or less, of course work, except for dissertation hours. • Successful completion of the candidacy examination. • The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars. • Submittal of an approved program of study.
Grand Total Credits: 72
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
- Elective courses must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser and the graduate director.
- Students that have no MS degree should complete the core courses for the MS degree in the respective focus area.
- Doctoral Research (XXX 7919) - 15 credit hours maximum (more than 15 research credit hours can be taken, but only a maximum of 15 credit hours will be counted toward the program of study).
- Independent Study (XXX 6908) - 3 credit hours maximum.
- Directed Research (XXX 6918) is not permitted in a PhD program of study.
Master’s Along the Way
Students not having an MS degree can get an MS degree “along-the-way”. The MS degree can be thesis or non-thesis and can be for any of the Environmental MS programs (i.e., the MS Environmental Engineering MSEnvE, or the MS Environmental Engineering, MS Environmental Engineering Sciences Track). For this to take place the student must take all the required courses (core courses) in the MS Track that is chosen and a thesis defense or (for a non-thesis MS) a final portfolio/exam.
Equipment Fee
Full-time students in the Environmental Engineering PhD program pay a $16 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $8 per semester.
Independent Learning
The Independent Learning Requirement for the PhD is met by successful completion of the student's candidacy and dissertation defense examinations.
