The Ph.D. in Civil Engineering

After receiving a PhD in civil engineering from Florida Tech, graduates are able to use their subject matter expertise to embark on any number of civil engineering careers.

Students in Florida Tech's doctoral program experience an intimate learning environment where professors mentor and collaborate with students as professionals. Class sizes are small, and students network with professors and classmates from around the world for a robust multicultural experience. The environment at Florida Tech promotes innovative, independent thinking to develop graduates with a PhD in civil engineering who are positioned for leadership roles in engineering consulting companies, universities, and government organizations.

Florida Tech Develops Leaders

Students seeking a PhD in civil engineering are dedicated researchers exploring topics currently important to the industry. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the research conducted at Florida Tech, students are knowledgeable professionals ready to immediately contribute in the workplace. The program prepares graduates for a career with advanced skills in mathematics, mechanics, materials, project management, leadership, and ethics.

Professional, Experienced Faculty

Their collective experience covers a variety of pertinent engineering research topics from wind and seismic engineering, risk modeling, hydraulic engineering, and transportation to geotechnical engineering, waste water management and environmental engineering. Faculty are also doing exciting research in field data collection and testing, laboratory data collection and analysis, construction of data acquisition systems, software development, and analytical and numerical modeling.

Our faculty offer a rich and varied background, including professional consulting and military experience. Professors work closely with students working toward a PhD in civil engineering to mentor their mastery of the curriculum and often collaborate on research projects. Through their strong personal and professional international experience in many different parts of the world including Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, Florida Tech's professors are able to share the values of cultural diversity within the workplace.

Degree Specialization

Six areas of specialization are offered to students earning a PhD in civil engineering. Prior to beginning the program, candidates map out their own course of study with a faculty mentor whose professional field is aligned to the student's career goals and interests. Specializations include:

• Construction Management
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering

Advanced Research Opportunities and Facilities

Hands-on experience is one of the most valuable parts of the experience at Florida Tech. Doctoral civil engineering students conduct extensive research, gaining real-world experience in and outside of the classroom.

High-tech laboratories and its position as a leading research university give Florida Tech a reputation as one of the best engineering schools in the country. Students have access to Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory (WHIRL), a computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory, surveying materials, a hydraulics laboratory, a geomaterials lab, and more. These facilities support research in many disciplines and afford students seeking a PhD in civil engineering every benefit to master cutting-edge curriculum and research methodology.

Students also collaborate with numerous organizations that provide research and employment opportunities including:

• National Science Foundation
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Florida Department of Transportation
• Johns River Water Management District
• Florida Department of Community Affairs
• Florida Sea Grant
• Florida Department of Emergency Management

5,000 High-Tech Companies Waiting for You

Florida Tech is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us). The area has one of the largest high-tech workforces in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities. Many graduates of the civil engineering master's program choose to work for a state or local government where they design and oversee the construction of roads, buildings, and bridges. Related work can also be found outside of government in the private sector at consulting or construction firms.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% employment growth for civil engineers between 2014 and 2024 due to aging infrastructure. While government funding is often the source for civil engineering projects, privately funded projects also continue to create job demand.