Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering
The Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering is designed to provide specialized knowledge in selected technical areas of Civil Engineering. The educational objective of this program is to produce graduates who are capable of research and professional practice in a specialized area of Civil Engineering, namely environmental engineering, geo-environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. This program involves both coursework and a thesis, and it is designed to provide exposure to research that could possibly lead to subsequent doctoral study.
Admission Requirements
For unconditional admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements, in addition to the University-wide graduate admission requirements (refer to Student Policies, Admission Policies):
- An undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education, or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT minimum score of 79.
- A statement of research/specialization interest.
- A favorable recommendation by the Civil Engineering Graduate Studies Committee.
Degree Requirements
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree is 30. At least 24 semester credit hours must be taken at UT San Antonio. Elective courses may be chosen from 5000- to 7000-level courses offered in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) or outside the department, with approval from the Graduate Advisor of Record. Each candidate is required to pass a comprehensive examination during their thesis defense administered by his or her advisory committee.
Advisory Committee
Students must choose an Advisory Committee consisting of a chair and at least two additional graduate faculty members. Students must submit the names of their Advisory Committee to the CEE Graduate Studies Committee by the end of their first semester of study.
Program of Study
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| |
| Master's Thesis | |
| Master's Thesis |
| Master's Thesis |
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
Master of Civil Engineering Degree
The Master of Civil Engineering degree is designed to provide specialized knowledge in selected technical areas of Civil Engineering. The educational objective of this program is to produce graduates who are capable of professional practice in a specialized area of Civil Engineering, namely environmental engineering, geo-environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. It involves courses only and a seminar. It does not normally lead to subsequent doctoral study.
Admission Requirements
For unconditional admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements, in addition to the University-wide graduate admission requirements (refer to Student Policies, Admission Policies):
- An undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education, or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT minimum score of 79.
- A statement of specialization interest.
- A favorable recommendation by the Civil Engineering Graduate Studies Committee.
Degree Requirements
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree is 31. At least 21 semester credit hours must be taken at UT San Antonio. Elective courses may be chosen from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management (CEE) or outside the department, with approval from the CEE Graduate Studies Committee.
Students will be assigned an advisor and develop a degree plan that must be approved by the student’s advisor or the Graduate Advisor of Record by the end of the first semester.
Program of Study
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
CE 5991 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
or CE 6991 | Graduate Seminar in Civil Engineering |
or CE 6621 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
or ES 5981 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
Total Credit Hours | 31 |
Master of Science Degree in Facility Management
The Master of Science degree in Facility Management is a 100% online program, designed to educate and equip graduate-level facility management students with advanced facilities management knowledge and skills to enhance their performance and capabilities and to increase their professional qualifications. Students who complete the M.S. degree in Facility Management will be prepared to make an immediate positive impact that supports and advances the profession.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy University-wide graduate admission requirements.
A complete application package consists of the following:
- Completed application form,
- Official transcripts from all universities attended,
- Résumé detailing your facilities management experience,
- Two letters of recommendation (recommended),
- and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for international applicants whose native language is not English.
Applicants for this program must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, architecture, sciences, business, or other facility management-related field or discipline. Practicing facility managers with at least two years of experience in facility management and a bachelor’s degree in other fields will also be admitted to the program, with approval of the program coordinator.
Applicants may be admitted as unconditional or conditional degree-seeking graduate students, or as special graduate students. Admission as a special graduate (non-degree-seeking) student does not guarantee subsequent admission as a degree-seeking student; such students must reapply for degree-seeking status.
Degree Requirements
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the Master of Science degree in Facility Management, exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove deficiencies, is 30. The program is offered in a non-thesis option only.
Degree candidates must complete the following 30 semester credit hours of coursework:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
FM 5003 | Facilities Management Professional Trends | 3 |
FM 5113 | Operations and Maintenance: Management of Built Assets | 3 |
FM 5213 | Project Management: Planning and Execution of Projects | 3 |
FM 5313 | Finance and Business: Financial Aspects of Facilities Management | 3 |
FM 5413 | Leadership and Strategy: Facilities Management Leadership and Excellence | 3 |
FM 5513 | Energy, Utilities and Environmental Stewardship: Energy Management and Sustainable Facilities | 3 |
FM 5613 | Human Factors and Resources in Facilities Management | 3 |
FM 5713 | Quality, Productivity and Technology in Facility Management | 3 |
FM 5813 | Environmental Health, Safety, Risk Management, and Business Continuity in Facility Management | 3 |
FM 5903 | Graduate Capstone Project - Solving Problems in Facilities Management | 3 |
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
To maintain enrollment in the Master of Science degree program, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their tenure in the program.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering
The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management (CEE) offers the opportunity for advanced study and research leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering. The educational objective of this program is to produce graduates who are capable of conducting original research in industry or academia, as well as assuming a leadership role in their chosen employment field. The program has six separate tracks: (1) Geotechnical Engineering, (2) Structural Engineering, (3) Transportation Engineering, (4) Water Resources, (5) Building Performance, and (6) Construction Science and Management. The Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering is awarded to candidates who display an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and demonstrate the ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in their field of specialty.
The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to General Academic Regulations in Student Policies, and Doctoral Degree Regulations in the Graduate Catalog).
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements, in addition to satisfying the University-wide graduate admission requirements (refer to Admission Policies in Student Policies):
- A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in upper-division and/or graduate courses. The degrees should be in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Science and Management, or other related disciplines.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic potential.
- A letter of research/specialization interest.
- A résumé/curriculum vita.
Applications must be submitted to the UT San Antonio Graduate School online at https://graduateschool.utsa.edu/. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Acceptance to the program is determined by the Department Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), contingent upon available funding. Full-time students accepted to the program are eligible for financial support in the form of competitive teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or research fellowships. Note that admission is competitive, and satisfying these requirements does not guarantee admission.
Degree Requirements
The Doctoral program in Civil Engineering requires that students complete a minimum of 50 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree. This coursework includes courses that have been designed to provide advanced instruction in areas considered to form the foundation for the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Construction Science. Enrollment in the Graduate Seminar is required for a minimum of 2 semester credit hours. A minimum of 15 semester credit hours of Doctoral Research and 15 semester credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation must be completed prior to graduation. With the approval from the chair of their Dissertation Committee, students can apply up to 12 semester credit hours of graduate coursework to elective courses (see below), if not applied toward their master’s degree. Students with only a baccalaureate degree are required to have a minimum of 74 semester credit hours to graduate. Additional degree requirements include passing a written and/or oral qualifying examination, writing a doctoral dissertation, and passing a final examination/dissertation defense.
A minimum of 18 semester credit hours of required courses beyond the master's degree, or 42 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, must be selected by each student according to his/her selected track of study, as defined below. These need to be approved by the student’s Dissertation Committee. These elective courses may be offered by departments in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, the College of Sciences, or by other departments at UT San Antonio.
Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Water Resources Track Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses based on the completion of a master's degree or bachelor's degree. Faculty advisors will develop a plan of study based on the career goals and dissertation objectives of the students. The plan of study will include courses that build the fundamental knowledge required to complete the dissertation and may include courses outside of traditional areas for students involved in multidisciplinary research.
Students who have obtained a master's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Graduate Seminar in Civil Engineering (repeated) | |
| Graduate Seminar |
| Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
| Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 50 |
Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Graduate Seminar in Civil Engineering (repeated) | |
| Graduate Seminar |
| Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
| Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 74 |
Building Performance Track Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses based on the completion of a master's degree or bachelor's degree. Faculty advisors will develop a plan of study based on the career goals and dissertation objectives of the students. The plan of study will include courses that build the fundamental knowledge required to complete the dissertation and may include courses outside of traditional areas for students involved in multidisciplinary research.
Students who have obtained a master's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Urban Transportation | |
| Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| Special Topics in Structures | |
| Special Topics in Transportation | |
| Special Topics in Environmental Engineering | |
| Global Change | |
| Independent Study | |
| |
| |
| Doctoral Seminar in Architecture (repeated) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 50 |
Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Urban Transportation | |
| Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| Special Topics in Structures | |
| Special Topics in Transportation | |
| Special Topics in Environmental Engineering | |
| Global Change | |
| Independent Study | |
| |
| |
| Doctoral Seminar in Architecture (repeated) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 74 |
Construction Science and Management Track Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses based on the completion of a master's degree or bachelor's degree. Faculty advisors will develop a plan of study based on the career goals and dissertation objectives of the students. The plan of study will include courses that build the fundamental knowledge required to complete the dissertation, and courses outside of traditional areas for students involved in multidisciplinary research.
Students who have obtained a master's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering | |
| Finite Element Methods | |
| Transportation Engineering | |
| Foundation Engineering | |
| Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| Special Topics in Hydraulics and Hydrology | |
| Special Topics in Structures | |
| Special Topics in Environmental Engineering | |
| Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering | |
| Independent Study | |
| |
| Construction Practice in a Global Setting | |
| Building Information Modeling for Construction Management | |
| Sustainable Construction and Delivery | |
| Advanced Topics in Construction Systems | |
| Advanced Topics in Project Controls and Scheduling | |
| Construction Safety Planning and Management | |
| Technology and Project Management | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management | |
| Independent Study | |
| Independent Study | |
| Special Topics | |
| Special Topics | |
| Decision-Making in Construction Management | |
| Resiliency within the Built Environment | |
| Research Methods | |
| Construction Graduate Seminar (repeated) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 50 |
Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering | |
| Finite Element Methods | |
| Transportation Engineering | |
| Foundation Engineering | |
| Sustainable Energy Systems | |
| Special Topics in Hydraulics and Hydrology | |
| Special Topics in Structures | |
| Special Topics in Environmental Engineering | |
| Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering | |
| Independent Study | |
| |
| Construction Practice in a Global Setting | |
| Building Information Modeling for Construction Management | |
| Sustainable Construction and Delivery | |
| Advanced Topics in Construction Systems | |
| Advanced Topics in Project Controls and Scheduling | |
| Construction Safety Planning and Management | |
| Technology and Project Management | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management | |
| Independent Study | |
| Independent Study | |
| Special Topics | |
| Special Topics | |
| Decision-Making in Construction Management | |
| Resiliency within the Built Environment | |
| Research Methods | |
| Construction Graduate Seminar (repeated) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research | |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Research |
| Doctoral Dissertation | |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
| Doctoral Dissertation |
Total Credit Hours | 74 |
Dissertation Committee
Students must choose a Dissertation Committee consisting of at least four members. The chair of the committee must be a member of the graduate faculty from the CEE School, and the remaining members must be members of the graduate faculty. For the Building Performance Track and the Construction Science and Management Track, the chair of the committee must be a member of the graduate faculty from the School of Architecture and Planning, and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Science and Management, respectively. A minimum of one committee member must be a graduate faculty member from a different technical area within the CEE department, from a different department at UT San Antonio, or an external member not affiliated with UT San Antonio. Students must submit the names of their Dissertation Committee to the Graduate Advisor of Record (GAR) by the end of their second semester of study.
Advancement to Candidacy
Ph.D. students advance to candidacy after completing their written and/or oral qualifying examinations. First, students must complete fundamental courses and then take the written or oral qualifying examination. Full-time students must take the written qualifying examination by the end of their second semester of study. Part-time students need to take the written qualifying examination at a time dictated by the CEE graduate studies committee. The qualifying examination may include questions on fundamentals and applied topics related to the six technical areas, namely structures, geotechnical, transportation, water resources, building performance, and construction science and management. In addition, the students may be asked to carry out a critical review of engineering or other relevant research publications. A written qualifying examination will be administered by the CEE graduate studies committee (GSC) with input from the faculty participating in the program. The qualifying examination for the Building Performance Track and the Construction Science and Management Track will include questions on fundamental and applied topics related to Building Performance and Construction Science and Management, respectively. Students will be allowed to take an oral qualifying examination in lieu of the written exam. Oral qualifying examinations will be administered by the student’s Dissertation Committee. No more than two attempts to pass the qualifying examination are permitted. Students who fail the qualifying examination twice are terminated from the program.
Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, students are allowed to take Doctoral Research credit hours. Students must take their oral comprehensive examination within two semesters after passing their qualifying examination. The oral comprehensive examination is a dissertation proposal defense. The dissertation proposal should describe the topic, the literature review, the proposed methodology and approach, as well as highlight the novelty and potential contribution of the topic to the scientific field. The student’s Dissertation Committee chair must approve the student’s research proposal before scheduling the oral examination. No more than two attempts to pass the comprehensive examination are permitted. Students who fail the comprehensive examination twice are terminated from the program. Upon successful completion of the oral comprehensive examination, students advance to Ph.D. candidacy and are allowed to take Doctoral Dissertation credit hours.
Results of the written and/or oral examinations must be reported to the GSC and the Dean of the Graduate School. Admission into the Doctoral program does not guarantee advancement to candidacy. After advancement to candidacy, the student’s Dissertation Committee can be changed at the student’s request and with the approval of the chair of the GSC.
Dissertation
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research by completing an original dissertation. The Dissertation Committee guides, critiques and finally approves the candidate’s dissertation. The format of the dissertation must follow the doctoral degree regulations of the Graduate School as documented in this catalog.
Final Oral Dissertation Defense
The final oral defense consists of a public presentation of the dissertation work by the doctoral candidate followed by a question/answer period by his/her Dissertation Committee. The student must notify the Graduate School in writing two weeks prior to the final scheduled oral defense. Results of the oral defense are reported to the Dean of the Graduate School. Awarding of the degree is based on the approval of the candidate's Dissertation Committee and the recommendation of the Dean of the Graduate School, who certifies the completion of all University-wide requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering
The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Management (CECM) offers the opportunity for advanced study and research leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE). The educational objective of this program is to produce graduates who are capable of conducting original research in industry or academia as well as assuming a leadership role in their chosen employment field. This is a multidisciplinary program administered by CECM in the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID). It encompasses faculty and facilities from the College of Sciences (COS) and the KCEID. The COS faculty from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) and the Department of Integrative Biology (IB) supervise students enrolled in the ESE PhD program.
The program has four separate tracks: Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, and Geoscience. The Ph.D. degree in ESE is awarded to candidates who display an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and demonstrate the ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in their field of specialty.
This Ph.D. program draws on the resources of the KCEID and COS. Faculty share responsibilities for providing courses, research supervision, and facilities for this program. Areas of research emphasis include hydrology, water quality, water pollution control, waste disposal, environmental quality, remediation, ecology, conservation, restoration, contaminants, air pollution control, global change, atmospheric chemistry, environmental geochemistry, environmental microbiology, microbial geochemistry, volcanic hazards, tectonics, seismic hazards, and planetary science. Students are strongly encouraged to contact potential advisors prior to applying.
The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to Student Policies, General Academic Regulations, and the Graduate Catalog, Doctoral Degree Regulations).
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the university-wide graduate admission requirements. Applicants must also satisfy the following program-specific requirements:
Applications must be submitted online at https://future.utsa.edu/programs/doctoral/environmental-science-engineering/. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Acceptance into the program is decided by the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS), comprised of graduate faculty members selected from CECM and the COS, contingent upon available funding. Full-time students accepted for the program are eligible to apply for financial support in the form of competitive teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and/or research fellowships.
Students are initially accepted into the program as doctoral students. After the completion of the written qualifying exam and oral comprehensive exam, students advance to candidacy and become doctoral candidates.
Degree Requirements
Students are expected to graduate from the program within five years. Part-time students should discuss their timeline to completion of the degree with their advisor in line with their non-academic duties. Accomplishing milestones permits students to stay on track. Students must report progress toward graduation to their Research Advisor and Graduate Advisor of Record (GAR).
The ESE Ph.D. program requires that students complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree. This coursework includes courses that have been designed to provide advanced instruction in areas considered to form the foundation for the disciplines of Environmental Science and Engineering. Students should complete CE 5001 Process and Ethics in Thesis/Dissertation Research Development or GEO 6031 Ethical Conduct of Graduate Research during their first year in the program. Enrollment in a departmental graduate seminar is required for a minimum of 2 semester credit hours. A minimum of 15 semester credit hours of Doctoral Research and a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation must be completed prior to graduation. With the approval from the chair of their Dissertation Committee, students can apply up to 12 semester credit hours of graduate coursework to elective courses (see below) if not applied toward their master’s degree. Students with only a baccalaureate degree are required to have a minimum of 75 semester credit hours to graduate. Additional degree requirements include passing a written and/or oral qualifying examination, writing a doctoral dissertation, and passing a final examination/dissertation defense. Progress should be recorded using the ‘Program of Study’ form available from the GAR; it is recommended that students start using the Program of Study form in the first semester of the program and submit it to the GAR of the student’s Dissertation Advisor's college as part of the package to request advancement to candidacy. Students can register for doctoral research courses as soon as they start in the program; however, they must advance to candidacy before they can register for a doctoral dissertation.
Twenty-one (21) semester credit hours of required elective courses must be selected by each student according to their selected track of study, as defined in the tables below. These elective courses need to be approved by the GAR of the college and the student’s Dissertation Advisor, and reviewed by the student’s Dissertation Committee. These elective courses may be offered by departments in the KCEID and COS or by departments in other colleges at UT San Antonio. A maximum of 6 semester credit hours of Independent Study courses can count toward the degree as "other electives."
Finally, university-wide requirements stipulate that to receive a doctoral degree from UT San Antonio, the following minimum requirements must be met:
1. All completed coursework included in the final program of study must have been taken within the preceding eight years, including successful completion and defense of the dissertation.
2. The student must formally apply to graduate with the degree to the Office of the Registrar no later than the deadline for the semester in which they intend to graduate (for deadlines, see the One Stop website: https://onestop.utsa.edu/graduation/applying-for-graduation/).
3. The student must meet the grade-point-average requirement of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in all work counted toward the degree program.
4. No courses in which grades of less than “C” (below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) are earned may be applied to a doctoral degree.
5. The majority of graduate coursework must be completed at UT San Antonio.
Students who have obtained a master's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| Process and Ethics in Thesis/Dissertation Research Development | |
| Ethical Conduct of Graduate Research |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Environmental Statistics |
| Applied Statistics |
| Applied Statistics for Geoinformatics |
| Experimental Design and Analysis | |
| Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering |
| Applied Multivariate Statistics for Ecological Data |
| Multivariate Analysis |
| Spatial Statistics |
| |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Global Change | |
| Global Change | |
| Geographical Information Systems | |
| Global Change | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
CE 6621 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering | |
or ES 5981 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
or GEO 5991 | Graduate Seminar in Geosciences |
| |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or CE 7212, or CE 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or CE 7312, or CE 7311) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or ES 7212, or ES 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or ES 7312, or ES 7311) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or GEO 7212, or GEO 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or GEO 7312, or GEO 7311) | |
Total Credit Hours | 60 |
Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree are required to complete the following courses:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| Process and Ethics in Thesis/Dissertation Research Development | |
| Ethical Conduct of Graduate Research |
| Advanced Civil Engineering Statistics | |
| Environmental Statistics |
| Applied Statistics for Geoinformatics |
| Experimental Design and Analysis | |
| Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering |
| Applied Multivariate Statistics for Ecological Data |
| Multivariate Analysis |
| Spatial Statistics |
| |
| Global Change | |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| Global Change | |
| Geographical Information Systems | |
| Global Change | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
CE 6621 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering | |
or ES 5981 | Graduate Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering |
or GEO 5991 | Graduate Seminar in Geosciences |
| |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or CE 7212, or CE 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or CE 7312, or CE 7311) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or ES 7212, or ES 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or ES 7312, or ES 7311) | |
| |
| Doctoral Research (or GEO 7212, or GEO 7211) | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (or GEO 7312, or GEO 7311) | |
Total Credit Hours | 75 |
Dissertation Committee
Students must choose a Dissertation Committee consisting of a chair and at least three additional graduate faculty members. Fixed-Term Track (FTT) faculty can be part of the Dissertation if they are elected special members of the graduate faculty. This committee must include a minimum of one faculty member from CECM and one from the COS. The Dissertation Committee Chair is the student’s Dissertation Advisor; when the Dissertation Advisor is an FTT, tenure-track, or tenured faculty they must serve as the Dissertation Committee Chair. Students must submit the names of their Dissertation Committee to their GAR by the end of their second year of study using the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form available on the Graduate School website; the completed form must be routed to the GAR of the student’s Dissertation Advisor’s college, who will sign and route it for further approval, during the semester before they plan to defend their dissertation proposal.
Experts in the field of study who are not affiliated with UT San Antonio (e.g., research scientists from Southwest Research Institute) can serve as dissertation committee members if appointed as special members of the graduate faculty. An initial appointment can take up to two months to be finalized and cannot be made during the summer semester. A list of current special and adjoint members of the graduate faculty is available on the Graduate School website, as well as guidelines for requesting the election of a new special or adjoint member of the graduate faculty.
Advancement to Candidacy
Ph.D. students advance to candidacy after completing their written qualifying examination and their oral comprehensive examination. Results of the written and oral examinations must be reported to the COGS and the Dean of the Graduate School using the Completion of Qualifying Exam form available on the Graduate School website. Students must work with their GAR to complete these forms and gather the signatures of the committee members. The GAR will route the form to the program administrative staff for further approval. The Application for Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree can be found on the Graduate School website. Admission into the doctoral program does not guarantee advancement to candidacy. After advancement to candidacy, the student’s Dissertation Committee can be changed at the student’s request and with the approval of the GAR of their Dissertation Advisor’s college.
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must complete the core curriculum courses and then take the written qualifying examination. Full-time students should take the qualifying examination by the end of their first year in the program. Part-time students need to take the written qualifying examination at a time dictated by the COGS.
The committee administering the written qualifying examination includes three members: two instructors of core courses taken by the student and the Dissertation Advisor. Thus, it does not need to be the same as the Dissertation Committee, which gives students more time to finalize their Dissertation Committee. The written qualifying examination may include a total of three questions. Two questions are asked by the core course instructors and may cover one or more of the six core areas (statistics/spatial data science, biology, chemistry, environmental engineering, geoscience, and water resources). The Dissertation Advisor may ask one question on a topic related to the student’s doctoral research. Students should spend no more than six hours per day, for three individual days within a 7-day span, to answer all the questions; the written qualifying examination is a take-home exam. Students are expected to show in-depth knowledge of the topics pertaining to their track of study. The written qualifying examination tests the student’s undergraduate background, their degree of understanding of the material presented in graduate courses, as well as their critical thinking and written communication skills. No more than two attempts to pass the written qualifying examination are permitted; a student who fails the written qualifying exam on their first attempt must wait until the next semester to take that exam again. Students who fail the qualifying examination twice are terminated from the program. Students are notified of their results by a letter from the GAR of their Dissertation Advisor’s college. Students who pass the written qualifying exam are eligible to enroll in Doctoral Research hours.
Oral Comprehensive Examination
Full-time students should take their oral comprehensive examination within one year of passing their written qualifying examination; part-time students may discuss a timeline with their advisor and/or GAR. The oral comprehensive examination is a dissertation proposal defense. The dissertation proposal consists of both a written proposal and an oral defense of the student’s proposed research. The written dissertation proposal should describe the topic, the existing literature, the proposed methodology and approach, and highlight the novelty and potential contribution of the topic to the scientific field. It should be formatted in typical NSF or NASA style and be no more than 15 pages (including figures and captions, but not including references cited).
The committee administering the oral comprehensive examination is the Dissertation Committee, which should consist of at least four members. Students should request written approval from the ESE Program for their Dissertation Committee members and Dissertation Advisor selection using the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee form available on the Graduate School website; the completed form must be routed to the GAR of the student’s Dissertation Advisor’s college, who will sign and route it for further approval, no later than six months before they plan to defend their dissertation proposal.
Full-time students must develop a dissertation proposal during their second year in the program; part-time students may discuss a timeline with their advisor and/or GAR. The student’s Dissertation Advisor must approve the student’s research proposal before scheduling the oral examination. Students should submit their dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee members at least two weeks before the defense. The dissertation proposal defense consists of an oral presentation ranging from 25 to 45 minutes in duration, followed by a question-and-answer session that involves all Dissertation Committee members and is orchestrated by the student’s Dissertation Committee Chair. The student decides if the oral presentation is public, while the question-and-answer session must be private. No more than two attempts to pass the oral comprehensive examination are permitted, and two attempts cannot be taken during the same semester. Students who fail the oral comprehensive examination twice are terminated from the program. After successful completion of the oral comprehensive exam, students become Doctoral Candidates and may enroll in Doctoral Dissertation hours.
Dissertation
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research by completing an original dissertation. The Dissertation Committee guides, critiques, and finally approves the candidate’s dissertation. The format of the dissertation must follow the doctoral degree regulations of the Graduate School as documented under the Completing the Degree section of the UT San Antonio Graduate Catalog.
Students in the ESE doctoral program must submit a dissertation that includes at least three chapters that correspond to published, submitted, or planned manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion. By the time of the final oral dissertation defense, at least one of the student's first-authored manuscripts should have been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Final Oral Dissertation Defense
The student can defend their thesis after approval from their advisor. The student must notify the Graduate School in writing two weeks prior to the final scheduled oral defense; the student may email the administrative staff from their Dissertation Advisor’s academic unit, who will route the information to the Graduate School. The final oral dissertation defense should be advertised with flyers and emails distributed to the ESE Program community by COS and KCEID administrative staff. The final oral defense consists of a public presentation of the dissertation, followed by a closed oral defense during which Dissertation Committee members ask questions of the doctoral candidate. Questions aim to probe students' mastery of their field of research. Successfully defending the dissertation includes passing the oral examination and satisfactory revisions in response to written comments. Students who fail the dissertation defense can have a second opportunity to defend and pass.
The results of the oral defense must be reported to the Dean of the Graduate School by the GAR of the student’s Dissertation Advisor’s college using the Certification of Completion of Dissertation Requirements for a Doctoral Degree form. The student and their Dissertation Advisor can complete the form, gather signatures, and route the form to their GAR, who will route it for further approval. The awarding of the degree is based on the approval of the Dissertation Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School certifies the completion of all university-wide requirements.
Graduate Certificate in Construction Engineering, Science and Management
The Graduate Certificate in Construction Engineering, Science and Management (CESM) is designed to prepare individuals with important practical knowledge necessary for successful careers in the construction industry. It certifies to employers that the individual who received the CESM graduate certificate has completed coursework essential to be a valuable asset to companies. The CESM graduate certificate courses will provide students with working knowledge in the areas of Project Controls and Scheduling, Construction Safety Planning and Management, Cost Estimating, Building Information Modeling, Sustainable Construction and Delivery, Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management, Decision-Making in Construction Management, Resiliency within the Built Environment, and Leadership.
Admission Requirements
The requirement for admission to the certificate program includes at least a senior level of a four year undergraduate degree in either engineering, architecture, business, or other related disciplines. Students admitted to the program will be required to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Additionally, 0.1 will be added to the overall GPA for applicants for each full-time year of construction experience. For example, if an applicant has a 2.5 overall GPA and five years of construction industry experience, the finalized GPA would be 3.0, and the applicant would meet the minimum requirement for admission. Students who do not meet the admission requirements might be accepted conditionally by registering in additional leveling courses as indicated by the Chair of the CESM Graduate Certificate Committee and must obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the first 6 semester credit hours in order to be in good standing.
Applications containing official transcripts and a résumé must be submitted online through the UT San Antonio Graduate Admissions application portal. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Acceptance to the CESM graduate certificate program is determined by the CSM faculty graduate committee.
Currently enrolled graduate students should fill out the UT San Antonio Graduate Certificate Form and send to debaditya.chakraborty@utsa.edu.
Certificate Program Requirements
A minimum of 15 semester credit hours are required for completion of the graduate CESM certificate program. Students are expected to complete 3 semester credit hours of CSM 6943 Construction Internship. In exceptional cases, and with the approval from the Chair of the Graduate CESM certificate committee, CSM 6973 Special Topics might be approved as a replacement course for CSM 6943. The remaining 12 semester credit hours will be selected from prescribed elective courses below.
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| Construction Internship | |
| Special Topics |
| Construction Cost Estimating | |
| Construction Practice in a Global Setting | |
| Building Information Modeling for Construction Management | |
| Sustainable Construction and Delivery | |
| Advanced Topics in Construction Systems | |
| Advanced Topics in Project Controls and Scheduling | |
| Construction Safety Planning and Management | |
| Technology and Project Management | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management | |
| Independent Study | |
| Special Topics | |
| Decision-Making in Construction Management | |
| Resiliency within the Built Environment | |
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Graduate Certificate in Facility Management
The Graduate Certificate in Facility Management is a 100% online, 15-semester-credit-hour certificate program, designed to educate and equip graduate-level facility management students with advanced facilities management knowledge and skills to enhance their performance and capabilities and to increase their professional qualifications. Students who complete the Facility Management graduate certificate will be prepared to make an immediate positive impact that supports and advances the profession.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for this program must have at least a bachelor's degree. Applicants will apply for admission to the certificate as a special (non-degree-seeking) graduate student according to UT San Antonio's admission requirements for certificate programs (see Certificate Program Regulations in this catalog). Additionally, applicants will be required to submit a résumé detailing their facilities management experience.
Certificate Program Requirements
To satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Facility Management, students must complete 15 semester credit hours as follows:
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| 15 |
| Facilities Management Professional Trends | |
| Operations and Maintenance: Management of Built Assets | |
| Project Management: Planning and Execution of Projects | |
| Finance and Business: Financial Aspects of Facilities Management | |
| Leadership and Strategy: Facilities Management Leadership and Excellence | |
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
To maintain enrollment in the certificate program, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their tenure in the program.