PhD Requirements

Get your doctorate at Lassonde

The graduate program in the Department of Civil Engineering fosters research in infrastructure, resilience, and sustainability through the established sub-disciplines of Structures, Geotechnical Engineering, Geo-Environmental and Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, and Transportation.

Cutting edge research is being carried out in our state-of-the-art facilities, which are located in the new Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence. The facilities include a 350m² Structures Laboratory that houses a 6 m-high L-shaped reaction wall. In addition, our facilities include over 400m² of dedicated laboratory space to conduct research in Transportation and Construction Materials, Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. Our graduate students also have access to a Computational Modelling Lab.

Detailed information on 2022-2023 Program Requirements can be found under the “Degree Requirements” tab.

I) COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Option 1:  A PhD student with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from York University:  The requirement is three half courses, two of which are required to be technical electives plus one open elective.  These courses must be different from those taken by the student as part of the student’s master’s degree program.

Option 2:  A PhD student with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering (or a closely-related discipline) not from York University: The requirement is three half courses, two of which must be core courses plus one technical elective.

Option 3:  A PhD student who has transferred from the MASc degree program to the PhD degree program: The requirement is two half courses, one of which must be a technical elective and the other an open elective.  These two required courses must be different from those taken by the student in fulfilling the requirements of the student’s master’s degree program.

In addition to credit courses, PhD students are required to fulfill the following requirements:
– register CIVL 6001 0.0 PhD in Civil Engineering Thesis Civil Engineering for every term during their study,
– register and participate CIVL 6000 0.0 Graduate Seminar Series in Civil Engineering,
– complete ENG 6000 0.0 Engineering and Academic Ethics, unless the student has previously taken this course as part of the student’s MASc program at York University.

2) COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

PhD student is required to pass a PhD comprehensive examination within the first 12 months of the PhD program. Any exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

3) PhD RESEARCH PROPOSAL

PhD student is required to present and defend a PhD research proposal to an examination committee within the first 24 months of the student’s PhD program in the form of a formal written document and open seminar format. Any exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

4) ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

An annual progress report must be submitted to the program office.

Option 1: MASc in Civil Engineering from York

Must complete 3 one-term courses

Option 2: MASc in Civil Engineering (or closely related discipline) NOT from York.

Must complete 3 one-term courses

Option 3: A PhD student who transferred from MASc to PhD within York.

Must complete 8 one-term courses (combined for the duration of the student’s registration in the Master’s and PhD programs)