Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering - Environmental Engineering and Science

Environmental engineering and science is concerned with the quality and availability of environmental resources (for example, water, air, soil), and with the waste streams that impact them. The field is dynamic and has evolved to also encompass sustainability science, alternative energy sources, and environmental biotechnology.The environmental engineering and science group at UW-Madison is recognized internationally for its strengths in the areas of wastewater treatment, water treatment, microbial ecology, modeling of microbial interactions, and the detection of air pollutants. Our core faculty have particular strength in the biological aspects of environmental engineering, as well as water chemistry and air quality, and in the emerging areas of bioinformatics and biofuel production. We conduct applied and fundamental research in both the natural and built environments. Laboratory experiments, field methods, molecular biology tools, pilot-scale treatment systems, analytical chemistry, and modeling approaches are combined to address scientific and engineering questions leading to a more sustainable water environment and better air quality.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school. A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 credit hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. The Graduate School will take into consideration different grade scales from institutions that do not have 4.00 scales (e.g., institutions outside the United States of America).