The PhD program requires the same core courses as the MS program and a total of 42 credit hours in coursework. PhD students must also successfully complete qualifying exams, write and defend a dissertation proposal and write and defend a doctoral dissertation. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be devoted to this research, which is expected to fundamentally advance the state of the art and be disseminated via scholarly journals and industry periodicals. PhD candidates are also expected to complete a three-month internship or, alternatively, complete an industry-focused research project via independent study.<br>Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering (UCTE) is an interdisciplinary field primarily involving civil engineering, geological engineering, and mining engineering, and secondarily involving mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, geophysics, geology, and others. UCTE deals with the design, construction, rehabilitation and management of underground space including caverns, shafts and tunnels for commercial, transportation, water and wastewater use. UCTE is a challenging field involving complex soil and rock behavior, groundwater conditions, excavation methods, construction materials, structural design flow, heterogeneity, and very low tolerance for deformation due to existing infrastructure in urban environments. Students pursuing a graduate degree in UCTE will gain a strong and interdisciplinary foundation in these topics.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering

At Colorado School of Mines

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