PhD Program in Civil Engineering

The objective of the Doctor of Philosophy program is to identify and train young scholars with an aptitude for research and teaching.  The program is intended to serve as a catalyst for promoting not only fundamental research, but also research aimed at ameliorating some of the pressing problems faced by the construction industry in the Kingdom.  Such an approach helps fulfill the objective of attaining self-reliance in dealing with the multitude of civil engineering problems arising as a result of accelerated development in an environment not conducive to conventional design and construction.

The program leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy involves advanced studies in Civil Engineering and related areas.  Formal study in terms of advanced courses coupled with independent research prepares the student for leadership in the option of Structures, Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or Transportation. The program is administered under the general regulations of the Deanship of Graduate Studies with regard to admission, residence, examinations, and the dissertation.

All students who have been admitted to the Ph.D. program with full standing will have to take an Entrance Examination in their major area to demonstrate their competence and identify areas of deficiencies. The results of the Entrance Examination are used in drawing up the student's program and to remedy certain deficiencies if the need arises.  This examination will be offered twice a year, one each semester.  Students with full standing, must take the examination no later than the second semester following their admission to the Ph.D. program.

Students who perform satisfactorily in the Entrance Examination may proceed with their approved program which requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of courses, beyond the M.S. degree, with  a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or more at all times.  Of the 30 credit hours, 18 should be in his major area of interest and 12 in related minor area(s).  Within the minor area(s), at least six credit hours should be completed outside the Civil Engineering Department.

Upon successful completion of all course work, a candidate will be required to take a written and oral Comprehensive Examination.  On the basis of the Comprehensive Examination, a student may be admitted to the Doctorate Degree Candidacy.  A graduate student will only be allowed to take the Comprehensive Examination twice.

A candidate who successful passes the Comprehensive Examination may proceed with his research work under the supervision of his dissertation advisor and in consultation with his dissertation committee.  Independent research in one of the declared options in Civil Engineering or related applied science is the central requirement of the Doctoral Program.  The candidate, upon completion of his research work, will defend his dissertation before the thesis committee and in public.  The Ph.D. degree will be conferred only upon the recommendation of his dissertation committee. A typical degree plan for the PhD program is given below.

Degree Plan for the PhD Program in Civil Engineering (page 215 in Graduate Bulletin)