Environmental and Water Resources Engineering PhD

Research conducted in environmental engineering aims to gain a deeper understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that influence the health of our environment. In water resources engineering, research may focus on understanding extreme droughts, flooding, and broader water cycle dynamics across the natural environments, built infrastructure, and human systems. Students in the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering PhD program acquire a comprehensive understanding of these processes and apply their knowledge to develop innovative engineering solutions for pollution prevention and treatment, environmental restoration, water allocation, hazard mitigation, and sustainable resource management. Additionally, PhD students engage in original research to expand the scientific knowledge base and drive advancements in engineering practices.

Curriculum

Required Core (6 credits)

Select two from the following:

CIE 532LEC - Statistical Methods in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Credits: 3
CIE 546LEC - Env Fluid Mechanics Credits: 3
CIE 556LEC - Physical and Chemical Processes for Water Reuse Credits: 3
CIE 562LEC - Environmental Fate and Transport of Pollutants Credits: 3

Elective Courses (30 credits)

CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3 : Ethics of Engineering Sustainability
CIE 541LEC - Groundwater Engineering Credits: 3
CIE 543LEC - Water Quality Modeling Credits: 3
CIE 550LEC - Hydrologic Engineering Credits: 3
CIE 556LEC - Physical and Chemical Processes for Water Reuse Credits: 3
CIE 563LEC - Air Pollution Credits: 3
CIE 564LEC - Chemical Principles in Environmental Engineering Credits: 3
CIE 565LEC - Biological Principles in Environmental Engineering Credits: 3
CIE 569LEC - Brownfield Restoration Credits: 3
CSE 503LR - Computer Science for Non Majors Credits: 3
EAS 521LEC - Prin Eng Mngt I Credits: 3
EE 571LEC - Sustainable Energy Credits: 3
EEH 521LEC - Global Health Credits: 3
EEH 550LEC - Environmental Health Credits: 3
EEH 575LEC - Epi Appl to Environ Hlth Credits: 3
GEO 506LLB - Geographical Informat Sys Credits: 4
GEO 515LEC - Conservation Biogeography Credits: 3
GEO 549LEC - Fluvial Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEO 553LLB - Remote Sensing Credits: 4
GEO 559LAB - GIS for Environ Modeling Credits: 1
GEO 559LLB - GIS for Environ Modeling Credits: 4
GEO 561LEC - Ecohydrology Credits: 3
GEO 570LEC - Integr Environment Mgmt Credits: 3
ERT 514LEC - Hydrogeology Credits: 3
ERT 530LEC - Groundwater Modeling Credits: 3
ERT 560LEC - GIS for Earth Scientists Credits: 3
ERT 562LEC - Aqueous Geochemistry Credits: 3
ERT 565LEC - Environmtl Remote Sensing Credits: 3
IE 507LEC - Design & Analysis of Experimnt Credits: 3
MAE 519LEC - Turbulent Flow Credits: 3
MAE 550LEC - Optimizat in Engrg Design Credits: 3
MTH 537LEC - Intro Numeric Analysis 1 Credits: 3
MTH 538LEC - Intro Numeric Analysis 2 Credits: 3
PMY 626LEC - Toxicology Princ Practice Credits: 3
URP 505LEC - Climate Justice & Resilience Credits: 3
URP 578SEM - Environmental Planning Methods for Sustainability Credits: 3

Dissertation (36 credits)

CIE 660TUT - Dissertation Credits: 1 - 12

Total Credit Hours: 72

3.0 Degree GPA required

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

1) Students will have in-depth knowledge in the areas of environmental and water resources engineering, as well as the knowledge needed to integrate these fields.

2) Students will have the critical thinking skills to define a research question and an appropriate strategy for developing a viable research proposal.

3) Students will learn how to identify environmental and water resources problems and apply the appropriate tools to develop cost-effective engineering solutions, including theoretical, experimental, and/or computational approaches.

4) Students will have the ability to clearly write and verbally present advanced scientific concepts.

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).