Programs Graduate Program Sustainability and Green DesignGraduate program in Sustainability and Green DesignThe SGD group at the University of Pittsburgh is the next generation of interdisciplinary education and research in environmental and sustainability engineering and green design. SGD brings together forward-thinking and enthusiastic faculty with experience in coordinated interdisciplinary approaches towards research, education, and outreach. The program in Sustainability and Green Design addresses some of the most pressing concerns of the 21st century. We involve students in a comprehensive course of graduate study that addresses the multifaceted issues and challenges in sustainability. Education and research which cut across multiple disciplines is emphasized so that students learn innovative approaches to understanding and providing solutions to complex issues faced by today's society. The flexible and collaborative nature of the program allows students to focus on problems of interest to them, while drawing upon relevant knowledge from a variety of disciplines. Graduates emerge from SGD with a novel perspective and cutting edge skills directed towards environmental stewardship and sustainability. The graduate program in SGD prepares students for leadership roles in sustainability engineering practice, development and research. Students have unique opportunities to participate in national and international conferences and events, network with leaders in industry, government, and research, and collaborate with engineering faculty as well as other professionals. Graduates from our program are well equipped for careers in consultancy, education, research, local, state, and federal government, non-governmental organizations, industry, utilities, regulatory agencies, and many more. Masters ProgramThe Master of Science degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering are primarily designed for students with an undergraduate degree in engineering, although students with other backgrounds can be accommodated with specially designed programs. An MS degree can be pursued by a full-time or part-time student in one of three ways:
Students supported as graduate research assistants or teaching assistants and all students intending to continue for a Ph.D. degree are required to pursue the thesis option. All other students may elect to pursue either option, following consultation with the faculty advisor. Thesis and Project OptionsThe Thesis and Project options require a written thesis or project report and the passing of an oral defense of the thesis or project, respectively. At the discretion of the MS committee, a student may also be required to pass a written comprehensive examination. Masters students who elect the thesis option are required to have submitted at least one publishable paper, journal article, or peer reviewed entry in conference proceedings prior to their oral defense. Professional OptionThe professional track requires completion of 30 course credits (ten courses) at the 2000 or higher level with no research requirement. This track is best suited for the part-time student seeking an advanced degree and additional professional credentials. This program is not recommended for students considering a doctorate. Masters Student SupportMasters students who are supported by either a research assistantship (RA) or teaching assistantship (TA) or any other form of fellowship and scholarship are required to pursue the thesis option. *Requirements described above are subject to revision and changes over time. Doctoral ProgramThe plan of study for the PhD degree is prepared individually for each student according to their interests and intended research, in consultation with their advisor. The degree awarded at the completion of the program will be a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. However, students with backgrounds other than engineering are encouraged to apply and will be accommodated with specially designed programs. The PhD requirements include:
NB- Students who are admitted directly to the Ph.D. program from their bachelor's degrees can obtain a MSCE degree if they pass the Qualifying Examination and fulfill the requirements of the Masters Program (either the course work option or the thesis option). NB- Students who have already earned their MS degree may petition to apply a maximum of 30 relevant course credits from another institution toward their PhD. Qualifying ExaminationDoctoral students must pass a written Comprehensive Qualifying Examination, based upon graduate coursework and their defined area of research, in order to be considered a PhD candidate. This examination is scheduled by students individually and will typically be taken following the completion of the majority of required course work and prior to the Proposal Defense. Proposal DefenseThe Proposal Defense consists of an oral presentation of a research prospectus by the student. Prior to the examination, the student must submit a written research prospectus (10-15 pages) to the Examination Committee which constitutes four faculty members one of whom must be outside of the department. Students should complete their proposal defense following their qualifying examination, normally two years (but no more than three years) after the start of their program, to show their competence, their research plan, and initial research results to undertake research work in the area of their proposed dissertation. Students who pass the Qualifying Examination and the Proposal Defense will become Ph.D. candidates. If a student fails an examination, he or she will be granted one more chance, in each case, to be re-examined on all or part of the examination material. Dissertation DefenseA final dissertation defense in the form of a public oral examination is required. The student should pass the final dissertation defense, and the final dissertation should be approved by the dissertation committee which consists of four members with at least 1 faculty from an outside Department, to complete requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Graduates from our program are highly encouraged to present their thesis as a compendium of published papers. In addition to the objectives and competencies of the SGD graduate program, and the course and examination requirements, Ph.D. graduates will have demonstrated, through their dissertation, an advanced ability to formulate and execute a research plan resulting in new knowledge and/or a significant unique contribution in their field. Furthermore, Ph.D. students must have at least one peer-reviewed journal article in press (fully accepted) or in print prior to graduation. Doctoral Student SupportStudents are typically supported via one of four ways during their PhD studies (or by a combination of several of the following):
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