Doctoral Students
Program of Study
A student’s program of study will be determined in conjunction with their principal research advisor. The Graduate College’s requirements for PhD programs must be met by all students.
All students must successfully complete 13 credit hours of DEWSC PhD core courses. These 13 credit hours will consist of CON 700 Transdisciplinary Research Methods (3 credit hours) , CON 680 Teaching Practicum (1 credit hour), and any three of the following four courses (3 credit hours each – total of 9 credit hours):
| Course | Title |
| CON 730 | Construction Informatics |
| CON 740 | Sustainable Infrastructure |
| CON 750 | Facility Delivery in the Global Environment |
| CON 760 | Quantitative Analysis for Project Delivery |
Program requirements for post-master's degree:
| Description | Semester Hours |
| DEWSC PhD Core Courses | 13 hours |
| Elective Classes (500 and higher) or dissertation research credits * |
17 hours |
| Research and Dissertation (CON 792/799) | 24 hours |
| Total | 54 hours |
* At least 6 hours must be from outside DEWSC
Program requirements for post-bachelor's degree
| Description | Semester Hours |
| DEWSC PhD Core Courses | 13 hours |
| Additional Core Courses | 12 hours |
| Elective Classes (400 level)1 | Upto 6 hours |
| Elective Classes (500 level and higher) or dissertation research credits 2 |
At least 29 hours |
| Research Credits and Dissertation (CON 792/799) | 24 hours |
| Total | 84 hours |
* To acquire necessary interdisciplinary knowledge, students who come without a MS degree may need to take some additional 400 level courses that will not count toward the requirements of their graduate degree.
1 Courses may be from outside DEWSC
2 At least 6 hours must be from outside DEWSC
Examinations
Qualifying Examination: All incoming PhD students must successfully complete a qualifying examination during their first year of study in the PhD Program. This examination is administered by the DEWSC admissions committee and is intended to establish a baseline competency level for proceeding with the PhD program beyond the first year.
Comprehensive Examination: Upon completion of all course work on the approved program of study, students may apply to take the comprehensive examination. This examination is administered by the supervisory committee. PhD students must successfully complete the examination as the first step towards admission to candidacy for the PhD degree.
Defend Dessertation Prospectus: After completing the comprehensive examination, students may schedule the defense of their dissertation prospectus. The defense takes place before the student’s supervisory committee.
Admission to Candidacy: Upon successful completion of the dissertation prospectus defense, the student will receive a letter from the Graduate College verifying admission to candidacy for the PhD degree.
Additional Requirements
In addition to the above academic requirements, the student’s educational program will also include:
1. All PhD students must apply for participation in the 1st year Preparing Future Faculty program offered through the Graduate College.
2. All PhD students must successfully complete a teaching practicum (CON 680) as the primary teacher of a course under the
tutelage of a tenured or tenure-track faculty member. During this practicum the students are expected to develop and test their statement of teaching philosophy.
3. A research project presentation to a construction industry group.