Admission to the PhD program requires that the applicant has an appropriate M.S. degree and has demonstrated a high potential for research.  The minimum admission requirements and documents are the same as for the M.S. program, including the submission of GRE scores.

The School of Engineering offers a PhD in Engineering with a concentration in Civil Engineering.  It requires a minimum of 48 credits of course work.  Generally an M.S. degree completed at another university counts for a maximum of 30 credits of course work.  At least 24 credits must be taken at UNM and at least 18 credits must be completed after admission to the PhD program in Civil Engineering.  In addition, 18 credits must be earned at UNM in courses numbered 500 or above.  PhD students must complete the M.S. core course requirements established in their area of specialty.

The areas of specialty are:
Construction Engineering and Management
Environmental
Geotechnical
Hydraulics and Water Resources
Structures
Transportation

A PhD student must pass a Qualifying Examination during the first or second semester as a PhD student.  This exam consists of both written and oral components and is intended to examine the student’s preparedness for graduate work at the advanced level.  After the qualifying exam is passed, the student should form a Committee-on-Studies which, in most cases, becomes the Dissertation Committee.  After approximately the first year in the doctoral program, the student will take the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination.  When this exam is passed, the student should complete the Application for Candidacy which lists the coursework that will be included in the student’s doctoral degree program.  At this time students can register for dissertation credits.  When the student has finished work on the dissertation, the Dissertation Defense should be scheduled.  Any revisions to the dissertation must be approved by the Dissertation Committee. 

Complete information regarding graduate degrees can be found in the UNM Catalog  and at the Office of Graduate Studies.