Civil and Environmental Engineering (DE)

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  Program Learning Outcomes

  Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. analyze and design a complex engineering system or component (Technical Competence)
  2. independently investigate an engineering topic and make conclusions about its effect on designs (Research Skills)
  3. present an engineering solution (Effective Communication)
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  Admission Requirements

  Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended since high school are required for admission to the program.  Recommended (but not required) items to be considered in admission to the DE program are: completion of a master’s thesis, a high GPA, successful completion of courses in advanced engineering math and design of experiments, recommendation letters, and good performance on graduate level placement exams.

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  Degree Requirements (81 credit hours)

  The Doctor of Engineering with a major in Civil and Environmental Engineering is divided into three parts: Coursework, Dissertation, and Examination.

  Coursework

  Coursework consists of 51 post-baccalaureate course credit hours at the graduate level. Up to 30 graduate credit hours may be transferred but at least 21 additional graduate credits must be accrued at Detroit Mercy. Coursework is divided into:

  • Doctoral Core (6 credits)
  • Discipline Specific - CIVE (9 credits)
  • Electives from CIVE, ENGR, MENG and/or AEV (36 credits) 

  There are two Doctoral Core courses (or equivalent): ENGR 5020 Design of Experiments (or EMGT 5470 Six Sigma II) and ENGR 5300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics. Discipline Specific courses (CIVE) are those from the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering department that pertain closely to the student's dissertation topic. Electives may be selected from CIVE, ENGR, MENG and/or AEV. (Courses from additional departments may be permissible with written approval of the advisor.)  The Discipline Specific and Elective courses must be agreed upon by the student's advisor and the Department. 

  Note: Students are expected to have a GRE Analytic Writing Section score of 3.5 out of 6, TOEFL Writing score of 4 out of 6, TOEFL iBT Writing score of 24 out of 30, or have their Master thesis evaluated for writing proficiency. Some students not meeting these requirement may be required to take up to three additional courses in writing such as English as a Second Language (ESL).

  Dissertation

  Dissertation credits consist of research credits accrued under the guidance of a Doctoral Dissertation committee headed by a faculty member who acts as the supervisor. Although Doctoral research is independent, novel, and advances the state-of-the-art, the committee members can provide guidance, advice, and technical expertise. A minimum of 30 dissertation credits is required for the Doctor of Engineering degree. Dissertation credits may only be taken after passing the Qualifying Examinations.

  Examinations

  Examinations comprise three stages: Qualifying, Dissertation Topic, and Final.

  The Qualifying Examination consist of two parts: Mathematics and Discipline Specific (in this case, Civil and Environmental Engineering topics relevant to the individual examinee). The Qualifying Examinations must be taken as soon as possible after the student has complete the Doctoral Core courses (early in the student's program). Students passing the Qualifying Examinations are allowed to advance in the Doctoral program. Students may not register for dissertation credits until they have passed both parts of the Qualifying Examination. Students can repeat each part of the qualifying exam once.  Students failing any Qualifying Examination for the second time are dismissed from the Doctoral program.

  The Dissertation Topic Examination consists of the formal presentation of the dissertation topic to the supervisory committee. The committee provides feedback to the student regarding scope, depth, and relevancy of the topic. With approval of the committee, the student can proceed with the research and subsequent accrual of dissertation credits.

  The Final Examination consists of the formal and public presentation of the dissertation results. The written dissertation must also be approved and accepted by the supervisory committee and the Dean of the College. The Final Examination, in concert with submission of the approved version of the written dissertation, constitutes the last step in completion of the Doctor of Engineering degree.

  Information about:

  • Mathematics Qualifying Exam
  • Masters and Doctoral Thesis guidelines