Civil & Environmental Engineering (Ph.D.)

Civil & Environmental Engineering (Ph.D.) | Graduate

From improving the durability and optimization of geotechnical and structural systems and harnessing microbial communities to improve a city's water supply to designing intelligent transportation systems, civil and environmental engineers are pioneering advances to address the 21st-century challenges of protecting and preserving natural and engineered environments.

The Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard's Graduate School prepares a new generation of engineering graduates to engage in high-impact research addressing engineering and environmental problems. Our Ph.D. program will prepare you, like so many of our graduate alumni, for a career in research, government, university teaching, or industry. Howard's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department has established research strengths in environmental and water resources engineering, structural and earthquake engineering, transportation engineering, and geotechnical engineering. You'll learn to formulate, interpret, and analyze problems in engineering practice and effectively communicate your research results to decision-makers. You'll also gain practical training in large-scale experimental testing, simulation, and modeling techniques. As a student in Washington, D.C., you'll have access to a strong research community, including public and private sector agencies. In addition, you will work closely with faculty who are committed to your professional development. Our faculty is notable for its expertise in geotechnical engineering, computational materials science, intelligent transportation systems, contaminant hydrology, energy/environment interactions, remote sensing, and systems modeling. Our faculty serve as consultants to private and public sector agencies, including the World Bank, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United Nations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Science Foundation (NSF). 

Program Snapshot

      ❱  72 credit hours 
      ❱  Full-time
      ❱  On-campus format
      ❱  Degree: Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2026 entry: 
     ❱  Nov. 15* (final deadline)

Fall 2026 entry: 
     ❱  Dec. 1* (early deadline)
     ❱  Feb. 15 (priority deadline)
     ❱  Apr. 15 (final deadline)

*Dec. 1 refers to the 2025 early deadline for Fall 2026 entry/admission. For example, prospective students applying by the early deadline for Fall 2026 entry must apply by December 1, 2025.  Nov. 15 refers to the 2025 deadline for Spring 2026 entry, which is November 15, 2025.

*Eligible Ph.D. applicants who wish to be considered for the Graduate School's Competitive Funding must meet the early admissions deadline. Applicants must submit a separate application for this funding opportunity along with their application for graduate admissions.

Applicants have until the final deadline to apply. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. Applicants should submit their applications as early as possible for earlier consideration of departmental funding opportunities. 

Transfer credits accepted (reviewed by committee; 24 credit hours from a master’s degree can be transferred to the Ph.D.)

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: Ph.D.

Application for Admission   

• Online EngineeringCAS application
• Statement of purpose / Statement of academic interest (500-1,000 words) (Guidance here)
• GRE scores not required
• Official transcripts sent to EngineeringCAS
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement (500-1,000 words) (Guidance here)

GRE Required?

• No

GRE Preferred Minimums

• GRE Verbal Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Quantitative Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Analytical Writing: N/A

GPA Required Minimums

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.2
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.2

Reference Requirements

Evaluator type accepted:

• Professor (Required)
• Supervisor/Manager

Evaluator type not accepted:

• Friend
• Family Member
• Coworker
• Clergy
• Other