CEE-PHD - Civil and Environmental Engineering (PhD)
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Program Overview
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Stanford conducts fundamental and applied research to advance the civil and environmental engineering professions, educate future academic and industry leaders, and prepare students for careers in professional practice. Civil and environmental engineers work to protect and sustain the natural environment while creating and maintaining a resilient and sustainable built environment. Civil and environmental engineers are essential to providing the necessities of human life, including water, air, shelter, infrastructure, and energy, in increasingly more efficient and renewable ways. Combining rigorous coursework with novel research mentored by Stanford faculty, the PhD program enables students to develop as independent intellectual leaders working at the interfaces between engineering and sustainability.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
The PhD requires completion of a minimum of 135 units at the graduate level (100+). Students must achieve an average Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in the Stanford courses counted toward their degree. PE or MUSIC classes may not count towards this minimum unit requirement. The 135 units can be divided into three subgroups:
45 units from a previous MS degree in a related area of study
For a previous MS degree from Stanford in a related area of study, the MS units are credited automatically.
If completed while enrolled in the PhD program, the MS degree requirements can be fulfilled by satisfying the requirements for one of the five MS Programs in CEE (described here):
Alternatively, the MS degree requirements can be fulfilled by satisfying the general CEE MS requirements:
45 units of coursework in 100+ level classes 100+, with a coherent focus
At least 36 units must be taken for a letter grade
At least 30 units must be graduate level (200+)
At least 27 units must be CEE courses
A maximum of 3 units may be seminars
A maximum of 6 units may be independent study or research courses
No remedial English language, physical education or language classes may count
None of these 45 units may be double-counted towards a PhD minor, or towards the post-MS requirements
Course of study must be planned in collaboration with, and with the approval of, your CEE PhD advisor
To receive up to 45 units of credit for an MS degree from outside of Stanford, the student must fill out and submit a Graduate Residency Transfer Credit Application.
The MS degree does not need to be formally conferred; only the aformentioned requirements must be fulfilled.
Although the MS requirement must be fulfilled by the end of the third year of the PhD, PhD students are strongly encouraged to take sufficient coursework each quarter, until the General Qualifying Exam (GQE) is completed, to satisfy the requirements for a CEE MS degree by the end of the 6th non-Summer quarter of their PhD studies.
At least 12 post-MS units of lecture- or laboratory-style classes
These courses should consist of technical content that is related to the PhD dissertation research or advances the technical breadth of knowledge of the student.
All courses must be lecture (LEC) or laboratory (LAB) classes. Class type for each course is available in Navigate Classes and/or ExploreCourses (ENGR103 is the only exception).
All units must be 200+ level.
No 1-unit courses may count.
All units must be taken for a Letter Grade.
EFSLANG/ESOLLANG and technical writing units may not count.
Additional graduate coursework needed to reach a total of 135 completed units
All courses must be 100+ level.
Thesis units (CEE399 or 400) may be included.
Courses of all class types may be counted (including SEM, COL, INS, ACT, RES).
Additional CR/NC units may be counted.
Any units for a PhD minor not counted previously may be counted.
EFSLANG courses, if required or strongly recommended on the English assessment form, may be counted here, and must be completed before going TGR (or defending thesis).
Additionally, it is a general university policy that PhD students must complete 1 course of at least 3 units from each of 4 different Stanford Academic Council faculty members. These units can be counted toward any of the three subgroups above, including courses that are counted towards your MS degree at Stanford.
Because pedagogy, teaching, and learning are important to the careers of PhD graduates, three required steps focused on these topics (one orientation and two 1-unit courses) are required for all PhD candidates. PhD students cannot advance to TGR status until all 3 educational steps for TAing have been completed.
Orientation: The first step in the required educational process before serving as a teaching assistant (TA) is completion of the university’s TA Orientation, offered at the beginning of each quarter by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).
CEE 379B: Seminar on Teaching for TAs
CEE200A or B or C: Teaching of Civil & Environmental Engineering
This one-unit seminar, offered every Autumn quarter, introduces students to effective teaching practices and engineering pedagogy for Teaching Assistants. This course is the 2nd step in the required TA educational process for all PhD students, and should be completed by Autumn of year 2.
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This one-unit class, offered Aut/Win/Spr, is the final step in this requirement. It should be taken concurrently with the first time serving as a teaching assistant at Stanford.
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This one-unit seminar course, offered every Autumn quarter, will include faculty research presentations; presentations and discussion on career development; discussion on how to successfully conduct research during rotations; and the GQE requirements for all PhD students. Completion of this seminar course is required for all PhD students in Autumn quarter of Year 1 of their PhD.
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Entering Candidacy: General Qualifying Exam (GQE)
Admission to the CEE PhD program confers on a student the status of being a PhD student but does not imply having been admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree. The designation of “PhD candidate” is reserved for students who have passed the General Qualifying Exam (GQE) and have submitted an approved program of PhD coursework using the CEE Coursework Proposal for Doctoral Degree form.
The GQE is designed to ensure that students have an in-depth understanding of the fundamental aspects of relevant graduate-level coursework, a thorough knowledge of the literature in their proposed area of research, a concrete research agenda, and the ability to communicate their research effectively in both written and oral form. The GQE is an oral exam administered by a committee of at least three Academic Council faculty members lasting a total of no more than 180 minutes. It consists of a written literature review and research proposal that is presented to the GQE committee in private. This presentation is followed by a private questioning session from the GQE committee. Students must pass the GQE to advance to candidacy.
Scheduling the GQE
The GQE must be completed by the end of the 6th non-Summer quarter as a PhD student at Stanford. Students should be aware that the GQE may be taken before this deadline, and should consult with their advisor as to the most appropriate time for completing the GQE. No extensions to this milestone are allowed by the university for leaves of absence, except for pregnancy and parental leaves and mandatory military leave.
Paperwork needed for the GQE
CEE PhD students are empowered to keep track of GQE deadlines, to anticipate what deliverables must be prepared, and to remind advisors about scheduling the GQE. Therefore, all deadlines and required paperwork are strictly the responsibility of the student.
At least one (1) quarter prior to the scheduled GQE examination date, students must submit the following through the CEE PhD Application for Candidacy (GQE) Portal:
The CEE GQE Form with the advisor’s signature. A draft of the CEE Coursework Proposal for Doctoral Degree Form with the advisor’s signature (to allow the examiners to assess the adequacy of the proposed PhD coursework plan in supporting the proposed research). If relevant, list the courses being taken at Stanford to fulfill the CEE MS degree requirements. Prior to candidacy (that is, completion of the GQE), the University requires that at least 3 units of coursework must be completed with each of four Stanford faculty members.
A copy of the MS Program Proposal if the MS was conferred from a different department at Stanford.
GQE Format
Written Proposal
The primary objectives of the written dissertation proposal are for the student to demonstrate a strong understanding of the field(s) relating to the potential focus of the dissertation and the relationship between existing literature and the proposed research plan. Knowledge of the literature forms the basis for the work that the student proposes for the dissertation.
The written proposal portion of the GQE consists of a document outlining the proposed PhD research and a review of the relevant literature. The proposal is limited to a maximum of 15 pages of text (not including citations) that is similar in format to an NSF-style proposal. Details of the format should be discussed with the PhD advisor.
Although in many cases the candidate will have performed original research leading up to the dissertation proposal, it is not necessary to demonstrate this research in the proposal in its own section (i.e., a section on “Existing work”). If the student would like to present original research results to date, they should be discussed within the “proposed work” section of the proposal. In cases where the proposed research has already been published (or is awaiting publication), this research can be discussed in the literature review section. Work that has been submitted for publication should be included as an appendix to the proposal (and is not part of the 15-page limit).
Oral Presentation
During the oral presentation portion of the GQE, the student will present the written proposal to the GQE committee in private. The presentation is then followed by questioning from the GQE committee. The presentation and questioning must be done in-person. The total time of the exam may not exceed 180 minutes.
The examiners for the GQE will seek to ascertain that:
The content of the proposed research is relevant to an area of study approved by the advisor
The justification for the proposed research is adequate
The student has developed a suitable strategy for pursuing the subject
The student has a thorough knowledge of the relevant literature
The proposed research is original and will contribute to knowledge in the proposed area of study
In addition, the examiners may also ask the student to demonstrate their knowledge of coursework needed to pursue their proposed research.
During the GQE, the examiners may recommend adjustments to the proposed program of study, which should be discussed and incorporated into the final version of the application for candidacy.
Examiners for the GQE
The GQE must be administered by at least three members of the Academic Council. A faculty member from the CEE Department must serve as either the primary advisor or co-advisor, and must be one of the examiners. The committee should have sufficient expertise in the proposed area of research to serve as effective examiners, and therefore the composition of the committee must be approved by the primary advisor.
On occasion, the department may allow an individual who is not on the Academic Council to serve as one of the three GQE committee members if that person is particularly well-qualified to consult on the dissertation topic and holds a PhD or foreign equivalent. Such approval must be requested on the Petition for Non-Academic Council Doctoral Committee Member form. Guidelines for non-Academic Council committee members are listed at the top of this petition. Petitions are not required for emeritus Stanford Academic Council members.
Advancement to Candidacy
Students must pass the GQE to advance to candidacy. A decision on the outcome of the GQE is given immediately upon completion of the private portion of the exam. The decision of passing or failing will be based upon all relevant information, including performance on the GQE and academic record as a PhD student. Passing the GQE signifies that a student may enter PhD candidacy and continue study toward the PhD degree. Regardless, the GQE must be successfully completed by the end of the second year of the PhD, in accordance with university expectations.
Changing the Coursework Proposal
If coursework changes after submitting the CEE Coursework Proposal for Doctoral Degree Form, students must submit a revised version (approved by the faculty advisor) to the CEE Assistant Director of Graduate Degree Progress. This form must be submitted at least twice, once before the GQE and once before the first Terminal Graduate Registration Status (TGR) quarter. With approval from your advisor, the revised list of courses becomes the official program of study for the Doctoral degree.
It is recommended to apply for TGR status as soon as a student is eligible. To be eligible for TGR status, a Doctoral Degree student must have:
Entered Candidacy by passing the department GQE
Satisfactorily completed all courses on the CEE Coursework Proposal for Doctoral Degree Form; if the program has changed a new form must be approved by the advisor and submitted to the CEE Assistant Director of Graduate Degree Progress.
Completed 135 units of residency prior to the TGR start quarter and completed residency requirement for all active and completed degree programs
Submitted the Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee form to the CEE Assistant Director of Graduate Degree Progress
Completed the PhD educational requirements (CEE379A; CEE 379B; CEE 200A, B or C taken concurrently with TAing a class; the university’s TA Orientation offered by CTL)
When preliminary requirements have been fulfilled, the required information and forms must be submitted through the CEE TGR Portal. This request must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the posted deadline for the first quarter as TGR status.
Students with TGR status should enroll in CEE 802 Thesis Project using the section number assigned to their principal advisor and should continue to enroll in CEE 802 every quarter, including the graduation quarter, until conferral of the degree.
Each quarter, the principal advisor will evaluate the thesis work as a measure of continued academic progress, and will assign one of the following grades:
N or S indicating satisfactory progress prior to the final quarter of TGR status and graduation.
N- indicating unsatisfactory progress prior to the final quarter of TGR status and graduation. In the final quarter of TGR, in order to graduate, a grade of S is needed.
If a student receives an N- or I grade for any quarter, they should meet with the advisor and agree on a satisfactory plan for completing degree requirements. Subsequent N- or I grades may be grounds for dismissal.
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The University Oral Exam
Passing the University Oral Examination is a requirement of the PhD program in the CEE Department. The Oral Exam is a dissertation defense, presented upon completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation work, subject to approval by the advisor. The examination is intended to verify that the research represents an original contribution to knowledge and to test candidate's understanding of the research.
The candidate and the advisor prepare for the examination by identifying a committee chair and four examiners. In most instances, all five members are on the Academic Council (at minimum four of five). If the student will be receiving a PhD minor, one of these members must be from the student’s minor department. The participation of a single non-academic council member as an examiner may be approved by the department chair (Petition for Non-Academic Council Doctoral Committee Members) if that person contributes an important area of expertise not readily available from the department faculty.
The chair of a Stanford oral examination is appointed to represent the interests of the university for a fair and rigorous process. The chair must be a member of the Stanford Academic Council and may be a Professor Emeritus. The chair may not have a full or joint appointment in the advisor's or student's department, but may have a courtesy appointment. The chair can be from the same department as any other member(s) of the examination committee and can be from the student's minor department provided that the student's advisor does not have a full or joint appointment in the minor department.
Minimum CEE Faculty Participation
At least two of the four examiners must be CEE faculty members on the Academic Council, including the student’s advisor or co-advisor in CEE. Including more than a total of four examiners must be approved by the CEE Directors of Graduate Study to ensure proportional representation by CEE faculty.
Other Conditions for the Oral Examination
Candidacy must be valid and the student must be registered in the quarter in which the University Oral Examination is taken. At least two weeks prior to the exam date, the candidate must submit all required information and forms through the CEE University Oral Exam Portal. CEE student services will email the university oral exam form and university guidelines for the exam to the committee prior to the exam.
The student must provide draft copies of the dissertation to members of the examination committee at least one week before the exam.
The examination normally begins with a presentation by the PhD candidate during which time clarifying questions may be asked. This part of the examination is typically open to the public. After a brief recess, the examination continues in a private session, with only the candidate and members of the examining committee in attendance. The exam may not exceed three hours in length.
Dissertation Reading Committee
A dissertation reading committee consists of three members: the principal dissertation advisor and two additional readers. At least two of the three Reading Committee members must be Stanford Academic Council members. At least one member must be from the CEE Department. A reader may not be a University Chair for the candidate’s oral exam committee.
All members of the reading committee must be faculty at Stanford or tenure-track faculty at another university. All members of the reading committee must approve the completed dissertation to complete this milestone.
As soon as the dissertation reading committee is established, students must complete a Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee form which must be signed by all members of the committee. The completed, signed form must be submitted to the CEE Assistant Director of Graduate Degree Progress. The department chair will then review and sign the form after which CEE Student Services will process it in the university system. Students are responsible for keeping the reading committee form up to date with CEE student services. Students must submit a Change of Reading Committee Member form before they apply for degree conferral so that student records can be updated. Failure to file this form will result in a denial of the dissertation submission.
Annual Dissertation Reading Committee Reviews
Upon advancing to candidacy, PhD students must continue to demonstrate satisfactory progress in their PhD research. It is strongly recommended that progress should be evaluated at least annually by meeting with the members of the dissertation reading committee, either individually or as a group. PhD students are empowered to take the initiative to schedule meetings with the reading committee members, either annually, or more often if desired, in consultation with their advisor.
Dissertation Submission
Information for preparing an electronic doctoral dissertation can be found at the Registrar's page on Preparing Dissertations for Submission. Students are encouraged to review the Format Requirements page.
Questions should be directed to Student Services or via help request.
The final version of the dissertation must be submitted no later than the posted deadline for the desired degree conferral quarter. Students are strongly encouraged to work backwards from this deadline when planning the defense and submission of the dissertation.