Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering - Water

The program information below was valid for the winter 2019 term (January 1, 2019 - April 30, 2019). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Collaborative
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A Master's degree, an 80% average in coursework and evidence of ability to pursue independent research.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    at least 2 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete 5 one-term courses (0.50 unit weight) (600 or 700 series) acceptable for graduate credit by the Department with an overall average of 70%, 2 of which must be satisfied by taking WATER 601 and WATER 602. An overall average of 70% is required for WATER 601 and WATER 602.
• This degree is offered through the Collaborative Water Program. This program, jointly offered by a range of departments across several academic faculties, promotes the development of interdisciplinary perspectives on water. Collaborative Water Program students complete their specialist training in their respective home departments, while working with colleagues from a variety of other departments in core interdisciplinary courses (WATER 601 and WATER 602).
• Students who have already completed WATER 601 and WATER 602 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the following course requirement:
  • 1 graduate level water course from outside the student’s home Faculty agreed to by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director.

Link(s) to courses

• Civil Engineering (CIVE) courses
• Water (WATER) courses

Research Principles and Applications

• Seminar attendance: students are required to attend 20 seminars (for example, Master’s Seminar, PhD Comprehensive Examination, Defense or External Seminar).
• Students are also required to attend and complete the Graduate Skills Workshop.

Collaborative Research Seminar I

• Students are required to present a seminar on their thesis or major paper research proposal and, if appropriate, early stage results to current and past Water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of WATER 601 and WATER 602. Seminars will provide the opportunity for students to discuss how learnings from Water courses were applied in, or influenced, research proposals or research work in the student’s home department. Seminars will normally be poster presentations at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis or paper; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.

Collaborative Research Seminar II

• Students who have completed the Collaborative Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Research Seminar 2.

• Students are required to present a seminar on their PhD thesis proposal to current and past water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of required courses and the comprehensive exam. Seminars should present how learnings from the Collaborative Water Program were applied in, or influenced, thesis proposals. Seminars will normally be poster presentations or talks at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis proposal; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.

Collaborative Academic Contribution

• Students who have completed the Collaborative Water Program Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Academic Contribution milestone.

• Students are required to make an academic contribution to the Collaborative Water Program. The proposed contribution will be documented by the student and approved by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director. Potential contributions may include, but not be limited to:

  • Development of new or improved curricula or course content;

  • Delivery of a lecture(s);

  • Preparation of a publication;

  • Preparation of a case study;

  • Mentorship of a group of students.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Satisfactory performance in a Comprehensive Examination. The examination consists of the following two parts:
  • An examination of the research proposal that the student intends to develop into a successful PhD research thesis.
  • An examination of the breadth of the student's knowledge in the field of research.

PhD Thesis

• Students must submit and orally defend a thesis, embodying the results of original research.