Doctoral program · Rossin College
PhD in Environmental Engineering
The PhD in Environmental Engineering at Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science develops researchers who address environmental problems through interdisciplinary projects with faculty and industry collaborators.
- Degree awardedDoctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering
- DepartmentCivil and Environmental Engineering
- Typical time to degree5 to 5.5 years
- Credit hours72 minimum
- Study optionsFull-time or part-time
- Fall deadlineDecember 15
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
- Application fee$50 USD
Overview
What the PhD in Environmental Engineering is
Training extends beyond coursework to research and design experience, project management, scientific communication and leadership. The qualifying examination centers on core environmental engineering knowledge, with required questions in environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, and waste management plus a fourth area you choose, which gives every candidate a common technical foundation before dissertation work begins.
The department also offers master’s degrees with or without a thesis, and its doctoral program is open to students studying full-time or part-time. Environmental engineering sits alongside water resources, geotechnical and structural engineering in the department, and the program is affiliated with the Environmental Initiative at Lehigh, the Lehigh Earth Observatory, the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices and the Energy Research Center.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering maintains the authoritative program detail. See the department page.
Research
Research on the environment we all share
Collectively, the department’s faculty and doctoral students work on large, complex problems at the boundary between human activity and the natural environment: clean water and effective wastewater treatment, responsible waste management, air quality and public health, and the stability of the ground and structures we depend on.
Environmental Engineering
The program’s qualifying examination reflects the breadth of the field: environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, waste management, environmental microbiology, biological processes, biotechnology, air pollution, public health, and physical and chemical processes. Doctoral students apply this knowledge to interdisciplinary problems alongside professors and industry collaborators.
Water Resources Engineering
Water links public health, industry and the natural environment. This area connects to the water and wastewater treatment questions at the center of the qualifying exam and to the department’s work with industry collaborators on environmental problems.
Geotechnical Engineering
Soil and rock support infrastructure and shape how contaminants and water move through the environment. Geotechnical engineering is one of the department’s four stated research areas, and technical electives can be chosen from CEE or other relevant areas to build depth.
Structural Engineering
Structural engineering is the department’s fourth stated research area, studied in large-scale testing facilities such as Fritz Engineering Laboratory and the ATLSS Research Center, and it gives doctoral students in the department a neighboring field to learn from.
Affiliated centers and institutes
Environmental Initiative at Lehigh (EI)
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
Complete at least 72 credits beyond a prior bachelor’s degree. If you already hold a technical master’s degree from another institution, the minimum is 48 credits.
- Grade standards
The Rossin College grade requirements for master’s students apply to every CEE graduate student, doctoral students included: a C- or better in all classes, a B- or better in at least 18 credits, and a B- or better in all 300-level CEE classes. More than four grades below B- in courses numbered 200 or higher makes a student ineligible to qualify for the degree or to register for any other 400-level courses. No 200-level CEE course may be counted toward the PhD.
- Coursework
Course choice is flexible, but at least 20 credits of technical coursework are required. Technical electives total 20 to 30 credits drawn from CEE or other relevant areas at the 300 and 400 level, and dissertation credits (CEE 499) or Maintenance of Candidacy credits (ENGR 499) make up the rest of the 48 or 72 credits.
- Excluded courses
Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, master’s thesis credits (CEE 491), undergraduate-only 300-level courses such as CEE 364 and CEE 385, ENGR 492 and ENGR 496 cannot be counted toward the degree.
- Qualifying examination
A course-based exam administered by the environmental engineering faculty, it checks that a candidate has the intellectual ability, motivation and grasp of environmental engineering fundamentals to complete the program. Take it at the first offering, typically in January, after earning your master’s degree, or at the end of your first semester in residence at Lehigh if your master’s degree is from another university. The written part is two 3-hour open-book exams on two different days, with no computers, and you answer two questions each day. Three required questions cover environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, and waste management; the fourth comes from an area you choose, such as environmental microbiology, biological processes, biotechnology, air pollution, public health, physical and chemical processes, or mass and energy balances. The oral exam follows, normally within a week, lasts no more than 60 minutes and is open to all departmental faculty. The result is pass, pass conditionally or fail; a candidate who fails may petition for one second exam at the next offering, and a third is not permitted. Direct PhD students may petition to take the exam after their first semester and must take it before their sixth semester.
- Research plan defense
Your doctoral research plan is a tentative outline of the work you will do, written under your research advisor. It must be submitted within one year of forming your PhD committee and no less than twelve months before graduation. Distribute it to the committee at least one week ahead, present it orally, and secure the signatures of every committee member and the department chairperson before sending the completed program of study to the Rossin College.
- General examination
Your PhD committee gives this exam once you have essentially finished coursework and before you are deep into your dissertation. Aim to take it at least one year before your expected graduation; it must be passed at least seven months before the degree is awarded. The written part normally lasts five calendar days and consists of open-ended problems set by the committee, at least one of which tests your ability to do independent research. The oral part follows one to three weeks later, focuses on defending your ideas before a group, and normally runs no more than 90 minutes. The result is normally Pass or Fail, but the committee may continue the exam for up to three months. After a failure you may try again, not sooner than five months later.
- Admission to candidacy
Successfully defending your research plan makes you a candidate for the degree.
- Dissertation and defense
You present your results at a public dissertation defense and answer questions from the audience. Your PhD committee then examines your work in a private session, decides whether you have defended the dissertation successfully and completes the paperwork.
Careers
Where environmental engineering graduates work
Environmental engineering alumni protect water, land and air, and they carry the same analytical skills into consulting, research and technology.
Lehigh environmental engineering alumni work in environmental consulting and engineering, government, higher education, natural resources and manufacturing, and many apply their analytical training in data science, strategy consulting and entrepreneurship. Typical titles include environmental engineer, project engineer, senior consultant, research scientist, postdoctoral researcher and professor, along with senior data scientist and co-founder.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Geosyntec Consultants
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Lafayette College
- DOCOMO Innovations
- atalanta climate
- STEPS Ventures
- Chevron
- Duke University
Alumni also work at The ELM Group, Stetson Engineers, Kuraray, University of Missouri-Columbia, AES Drilling Fluids, Office of Naval Research and pa department of environmental protection.
Based on current employers of Lehigh environmental engineering alumni, all degree levels, who graduated between 1996 and 2024.
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: A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution of higher education, held by the time you enroll.
- GPA: A GPA (US equivalent) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with international GPAs judged by the same standard. Reviewers also look for a strengthening trend in core grades over your final semesters.
- 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 will I study in the PhD in Environmental Engineering?
You complete technical coursework, original research and a dissertation while building skills in project management, scientific communication and leadership. Research projects are interdisciplinary and address environmental problems, and you work on them with professors and industry collaborators.
Which department at Lehigh offers the PhD in Environmental Engineering?
The PhD in Environmental 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/environmental-engineering-ms-phd
How long does the PhD in Environmental 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 Environmental 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.
Is a master’s degree required before I apply?
No. Applicants need at least a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time they enroll. The credit minimum is 72 beyond a bachelor’s degree, or 48 for students who already hold a technical master’s degree from another institution.
Can I study part-time?
Yes. The department describes the doctoral program as flexible, accommodating full- and part-time students from a variety of fields.
What are the GPA expectations?
A GPA (US equivalent) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and international GPAs are judged by the same standard. A trend of strengthening grades during your final semesters counts in your favor.
Is the GRE required for the PhD in Environmental 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 Environmental 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 Environmental Engineering funded?
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department.
What is on the environmental engineering qualifying exam?
The written part consists of two 3-hour open-book exams on different days. Required questions cover environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, and waste management, and you choose a fourth question from areas such as environmental microbiology, biotechnology, air pollution or public health. An oral exam follows within about a week. Candidates may petition for one second exam if they fail, and a third is not permitted.
When do I take the qualifying exam?
Take it at the first offering, typically in January, after earning your master’s degree, or at the end of your first semester in residence at Lehigh if your master’s degree is from another university. Direct PhD students may petition to take it after their first semester and must take it before their sixth semester.
What does the general examination involve?
It has a written part of normally five calendar days and an oral part one to three weeks later that runs no more than 90 minutes. You take it once coursework is essentially finished, preferably at least one year before graduation, and you must pass it at least seven months before the degree is awarded.
Which centers and institutes are connected to the program?
The program is affiliated with the Environmental Initiative at Lehigh, the Lehigh Earth Observatory, the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices and the Energy Research Center.
What kinds of jobs do environmental engineering graduates hold?
Alumni work in environmental consulting, government agencies, universities, natural resources, manufacturing and technology. Titles include environmental engineer, senior consultant, research scientist, postdoctoral researcher and professor.
Who do I contact about the PhD in Environmental 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 Environmental Engineering?
Courses students can choose from include Reaction Kinetics in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Risk Assessment, Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Environmental Separation and Control, Aquatic Chemistry, and Environmental Biotechnology, 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
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