Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Full-time students, and both teaching and research assistants, are required to register for nine semester hours of coursework during each fall/spring semester. These nine hours may include special problems, seminar, thesis, and dissertation courses.

Master of Science in Engineering

Students who follow the 30-semester-hour plan with thesis must complete a major in civil engineering consisting of 18 to 24 semester hours, including the thesis course, and a minor of six to 12 semester hours outside the area of concentration. Included in the major and minor must be at least 18 semester hours in engineering. The courses must be logically related and the individual program must be approved by the graduate advisor.

A 30-semester-hour degree plan is also available under the report option, which includes a report prepared in Civil Engineering 398R according to procedures set by the Graduate School; and under an option that includes a report prepared in Civil Engineering 398D, or an approved program of coursework only, according to procedures set by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Majors for the master’s degree may be chosen in any area or combination of areas listed under Areas of Study.

Doctor of Philosophy

To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must pass a preliminary (qualifying) examination administered by a committee, appointed by the graduate advisor, of at least three members of the civil engineering faculty, two of whom may be in the major area. This examination must be taken before the student registers for the second semester beyond the Master of Science in Engineering degree. The student must also submit a Program of Work that is approved by the chair of the civil engineering Graduate Studies Committee and the graduate dean. All students must demonstrate proficiency in English.

When the student has been admitted to candidacy, a dissertation committee is appointed by the graduate dean. When the student has completed most of their coursework, the dissertation committee administers a comprehensive examination in the major.

The defense of the dissertation is the final examination of the Doctor of Philosophy degree program. This examination is scheduled after the members of the dissertation committee have received a final draft of the dissertation that has been approved by the supervising professor.

Dual Degree Program

The Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering offers the following dual degree program in cooperation with the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. More information is available from the graduate advisor in each program.

Major(s)	Degree(s)
Public affairs	Master of Public Affairs