Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Ph.D.
Our complex world faces many challenges, including contaminated water supplies, hazardous wastes, an increasing population and limited resources. The Ph.D. program in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences provides interdisciplinary study, consisting of coursework in areas of basic, applied, and engineering sciences. This results in a more thorough understanding of the earth and environment to develop better solutions for the critical problems now and in the future. Graduates will utilize principles of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics and engineering.
Career Pathways
- improve and protect air, water and soil quality,
- ensure public safety and health,
- evaluate and design products and processes for a more sustainable future,
- develop sustainable approaches to energy and resource management, and
- better understand the natural processes and human influences that shape our planet.
-
EEES Curriculum
This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the master's degree and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 12 credit hours of non-research coursework and a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation research are required. All resident Ph.D. students must register for EES 9610 - Environmental Engineering and Science Doctoral Student Seminar for each available term. Each student's Ph.D. curriculum and research program is tailored to suit their personal and professional goals.
Ph.D. students must complete a well-founded dissertation based on original research, demonstrating they have a grasp of the subject matter and are competent in planning and conducting research. Qualifying, comprehensive, and final examinations are required. Ultimately, only the student's advisory committee can certify that the student has earned this degree.
-
Applying to the Ph.D. Program
Graduate Degree
Pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences (EEES) takes time and effort. Applicants should reach out to professors in the EEES department with similar research interests as themselves. It is essential to find a research advisor who will guide the Ph.D. student well. Visit the profile page of each professor and send an email to those involved in areas of interest. For questions about this process, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
For admission to the Ph.D. program, an applicant should have a grade point ratio/average (GPR/GPA) of at least 3.0 out of 4.0. The applicant must have a faculty member who has agreed to be the research advisor before final admission.
How to Apply
Students with a baccalaureate or master’s degree in a related science or engineering field may apply directly to the Ph.D. EEES program. Students with exceptional records and experience in research will be considered for the Ph.D. degree without a master's degree. However, most students admitted to the Ph.D. program will have previously earned their M.S. degree. Qualified students from Clemson University also may be accepted for continued study from either the M.S. Hydrogeology degree program or the M.S. EES program.
