Doctoral program · Rossin College
PhD in Civil Engineering
The PhD in Civil Engineering at Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science trains you to lead original research on the performance and resilience of civil infrastructure, backed by large-scale structural testing facilities.
- Degree awardedDoctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
- DepartmentCivil and Environmental Engineering
- Typical time to degree5 to 5.5 years
- Credit hours72 minimum
- Fall deadlineDecember 15
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
- Application fee$50 USD
Overview
What the PhD in Civil Engineering is
Doctoral study here goes beyond coursework to include research and design experience, along with training in project management, scientific communication and leadership. Experiments range across scales, from electrokinetics and nanoparticles to sensor and communications technology and the physics and mechanics of full structural systems, so you can grow into a researcher who moves easily between laboratory science and real structures.
Facilities are a defining part of the experience. The ATLSS Research Center, whose name stands for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems, houses the largest three-dimensional dynamic testing machines in North America, and the Real Time Multi-Directional (RTMD) National Facility belongs to the NSF Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. Graduates are prepared to lead in industry, government agencies and universities.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering maintains the authoritative program detail. See the department page.
Research
Research that keeps infrastructure standing
Together, the department’s faculty and doctoral students take on some of the largest and most complex challenges facing the built environment: protecting communities from earthquakes and other hazards, extending the useful life of large structures, and keeping the infrastructure society relies on reliable and well maintained.
Resilience to Earthquakes and Multiple Hazards
Earthquakes and other hazards test the structures people depend on every day. Research in this area examines how structures respond to hazardous loading and develops ways to reduce the damage, supported by real-time dynamic testing facilities built for earthquake-resistant work.
Focus topics: Earthquake engineering, Multi-hazard mitigation.
Composites, Fatigue and Fracture
How long a structure can stay safely in service depends on how its materials behave under repeated loading and cracking. Work in this area studies fiber reinforced composites, fatigue and fracture, and the demands of shipbuilding, to build structures that perform longer and more safely.
Focus topics: Fiber reinforced composites, Fatigue and fracture, Shipbuilding.
Smart Structures and Infrastructure Performance
Infrastructure has to work reliably over decades of use. Researchers combine sensing and communications technology with performance analysis to develop structures that report on their own condition, and they study how reliability, maintenance and life-cycle performance shape long-term decisions.
Focus topics: Smart structures development, Infrastructure reliability, maintenance, and life-cycle performance.
Research facilities
ATLSS Research Center
Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems, home to the largest three-dimensional dynamic testing machines in North America, with specialized earthquake-resistant facilities for real-time dynamic testing.
Real Time Multi-Directional (RTMD) National Facility
NSF Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation.
Degree requirements
What the doctorate requires
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 48 credits if a prior technical master’s degree was earned at another institution. Lehigh publishes the following complete set of requirements.
- Credit hours
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 48 credits if a prior technical master’s degree was earned at another institution.
- Grade standards
All CEE graduate students, doctoral students included, follow the Rossin College grade standards: a C- or better in every class, a B- or better in at least 18 credits, and a B- or better in every 300-level CEE class. A student with more than four grades below B- in courses numbered 200 or higher becomes ineligible to qualify for the degree or to register for any other 400-level course, and no 200-level CEE course counts toward the PhD.
- Coursework
The program leaves room in your choice of courses but requires at least 20 credits of technical coursework. Technical electives run from 20 to 30 credits, selected from CEE or other relevant areas at the 300 and 400 level. The remaining credits toward 48 or 72 come from dissertation credits (CEE 499) or Maintenance of Candidacy credits (ENGR 499).
- Courses that do not count
Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, master’s thesis credits (CEE 491), the undergraduate-only 300-level courses CEE 364 (Advanced Project Management) and CEE 385 (Research Procedures Seminar), ENGR 492 (Summer Research) and ENGR 496 (Summer Work Experience) do not count toward the degree.
- Qualifying examination
A written exam and an oral exam, administered by the civil engineering faculty, cover a set of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. Students who already hold a graduate degree in the field take it at the first opportunity, typically in the first year. Direct PhD students may petition to take it after their first semester and must take it before their sixth semester. A student who does not pass may retake it once within 12 months.
- Research plan defense
You write a tentative plan for your doctoral research under the supervision of your research advisor. Submit it within one year of forming your PhD committee and no less than twelve months before graduation, and give it to the committee at least one week before the meeting at which you present it orally. Each committee member and the department chairperson sign it, and you then submit the completed program of study to the Rossin College.
- General examination
Administered by your PhD committee, this exam asks you to prepare and defend an NSF-style research plan on a topic closely related to, but distinct from, your dissertation research. Take it preferably at least one year before your expected graduation; you must pass it at least seven months before the degree is awarded. The result is normally Pass or Fail, though the committee may continue the exam for up to three months. After a failure you may try once more, not sooner than five months later.
- Admission to candidacy
You are admitted to candidacy once you have successfully defended your research plan.
- Dissertation and defense
Each candidate presents the results of original research in a public dissertation defense, and the audience is invited to ask questions. The PhD committee then continues the examination in a private session and decides whether the dissertation has been successfully defended.
Careers
Where civil engineering graduates work
Civil engineering alumni design, build, manage and teach about the structures and systems society depends on.
Lehigh civil engineering alumni work primarily in engineering design and consulting, construction, utilities, government and higher education. Typical roles include design engineer, project engineer, project manager and senior engineer, with many advancing to principal, vice president and president. Others become faculty members or university administrators, and doctoral training in original research, advanced analysis and leadership prepares graduates for each of these paths.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- WSP
- Langan
- Philadelphia Water Department
- Thornton Tomasetti
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Modjeski and Masters
- GPI / Greenman-Pedersen
- Bohler Engineering
Alumni also work at Socotec Usa, Kansas State University, Bechtel, Unops, City of Philadelphia, University of Houston and Western Michigan University.
Based on current employers of Lehigh civil engineering alumni, all degree levels, who graduated between 1996 and 2025.
Funding
Financial support
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. Funding covers PhD tuition and a stipend.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering does not publish program-specific stipend or assistantship figures; ask the graduate contact below what funding looks like for this program.
- PhD applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit a complete application no later than December 15 for a fall semester start.
- Named opportunities open to Rossin College doctoral students include the Rossin Research Scholars program, Pasteur PhD Partners (P3), and the SEED-EF NSF National Research Traineeship, see special opportunities for Lehigh PhD students.
- Financial aid for Lehigh’s graduate programs consists mainly of fixed-rate federal student loans through the Office of Financial Aid.
- Loan eligibility requires enrollment at least half-time, six credits during the academic year, three credits in summer.
- Emergency loans and grants are available through the Graduate Life Office.
Admissions
How to apply
Applications for admission, all semesters, all levels, are completed online. Applications open September 1; PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration.
Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
What to submit
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts (with English translation for international applicants)
- Statement of purpose / essay
- Letters of recommendation (typically three)
- Résumé or CV
- Application fee of $50 USD
Civil and Environmental Engineering requirements
- Prior degree: At least a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution of higher education, by the time you enroll.
- GPA: A GPA (US equivalent) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and GPA standards for international institutions are followed accordingly. A trend of strengthening core grades during your final semesters of study is taken into account.
- Deadline: December 15 for a summer, spring or fall start.
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
English proficiency minimums
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 81 (old scale) / 4 (new scale); Speaking 22/4, Writing 20/4, Reading 20/4, Listening 16/4 |
| IELTS | Overall 6.5; Speaking 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6.5, Listening 6 |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 125; Speaking 125, Writing 120, Reading 125, Listening 110 |
| Cambridge | Overall 176; Speaking 176, Writing 169, Reading 176, Listening 169 |
| Pearson (PTE) | Overall 68, with 53 or higher on each band |
Scores expire two years from the test date. MyBestScore and One Skill Retake formats are not accepted. Waivers are available for applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of an English-speaking country, earned a U.S. degree with two or more years of in-person study, earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country, or studied or worked full-time in an English-speaking country for two or more years within the last five.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the PhD in Civil Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a research doctorate offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Coursework is paired with research and design experience, and students also receive training in project management, scientific communication and leadership. The degree prepares graduates for leadership roles in the private sector, the public sector and academia.
Which department at Lehigh offers the PhD in Civil Engineering?
The PhD in Civil Engineering is offered by Lehigh University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Full program detail, faculty and current requirements are maintained on the department’s own page: https://engineering.lehigh.edu/cee/graduate/civil-engineering-ms-phd
How long does the PhD in Civil Engineering take?
5 to 5.5 years. Students who enter with a prior technical master’s degree from another institution need a minimum of 48 credits rather than 72.
How many credits does the PhD in Civil Engineering require?
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 48 credits if a prior technical master’s degree was earned at another institution.
Do I need a master’s degree to apply?
No. You can apply with a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, which you must hold by the time you enroll. The credit requirement is a minimum of 72 beyond a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 48 if you have already earned a technical master’s degree at another institution.
What GPA and background do I need to be admitted?
A GPA (US equivalent) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and international GPAs are evaluated against that standard. Reviewers also consider whether your grades strengthened during your final semesters of study.
Is the GRE required for the PhD in Civil Engineering?
No. GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate program.
What is the application deadline for the PhD in Civil Engineering?
December 15 for a summer, spring or fall start. At the college level, PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration, and applications open September 1. Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
Is the PhD in Civil Engineering funded?
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department.
How does the qualifying exam work?
The qualifying exam has a written part and an oral part, covers undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework, and is administered by the civil engineering faculty. Students who already hold a graduate degree in the field take it at the first opportunity, typically in the first year. Direct PhD students may petition to take it after their first semester and must take it before their sixth semester. A student who does not pass may retake it once within 12 months.
What milestones come after the qualifying exam?
You write a research plan for your doctoral work under your advisor and present it to your PhD committee, submitting it within one year of forming the committee and at least twelve months before graduation. Passing that defense admits you to candidacy. You then take a general exam, in which you prepare and defend an NSF-style research plan on a topic closely related to, but distinct from, your dissertation. The final step is a public dissertation defense followed by a private examination by your committee.
What coursework do doctoral students take?
The program requires at least 20 credits of technical coursework, with technical electives running from 20 to 30 credits at the 300 and 400 level in CEE or other relevant areas. The rest of your 72 or 48 credits comes from dissertation credits and Maintenance of Candidacy credits. You need a C- or better in every class and a B- or better in at least 18 credits, and no 200-level CEE course counts toward the PhD.
What research areas can I work in?
Faculty research covers earthquake engineering, multi-hazard mitigation, fiber reinforced composites, fatigue and fracture, smart structures development, shipbuilding, and infrastructure reliability, maintenance, and life-cycle performance.
What testing facilities can doctoral students use?
Students conduct experiments in the ATLSS Research Center, which houses the largest three-dimensional dynamic testing machines in North America, and the Real Time Multi-Directional (RTMD) National Facility, part of the NSF Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation.
What can I do with a PhD in civil engineering?
Lehigh civil engineering alumni work in engineering design and consulting, construction, utilities, government and universities. Titles include project engineer, project manager, water resources engineer, principal, vice president and professor.
Who do I contact about the PhD in Civil Engineering?
Julie DeMotte, jud200@lehigh.edu is the graduate contact for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The department can be reached at incee@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-3530. General Rossin College graduate inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.
What courses do students take in the PhD in Civil Engineering?
Courses students can choose from include Mechanics and Behavior of Structural Members, Structural Reliability of Components and Systems, Analysis and Design of Steel and Composite Structural Members, Analysis and Design of Ductile Steel Structural Systems, Structural Behavior Laboratory, and Life-Cycle of Structural Systems, among others. Coursework is planned with your advisor and doctoral committee, and the Lehigh course catalog carries the current requirements.
Contact
Talk to the department
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Graduate contact
Julie DeMotte · jud200@lehigh.edu
Address
Fritz Engineering Laboratory
13 East Packer Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18015-3176
Phone and email
(610) 758-3530
incee@lehigh.edu
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
19 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem, PA 18015
engineering@lehigh.edu
More from the department