Two researchers working inside the UAlbany College of Engineering and Applied Sciences lab.

Doctor of Philosophy

Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

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Advance Your Expertise in Sustainable Engineering Solutions

Identify new challenges and make theoretical contributions to protect human health and the environment through the PhD in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering (ESE) program at UAlbany.

You will learn to conduct and supervise research in one of four concentration areas: water and wastewater, air quality, human health and the environment, and sustainable engineering. By deepening your understanding in your area of expertise, you will be prepared to teach as well as design and report on your own experiments that explore the most critical environmental concerns.

Program of Study

programofstudy

If you apply to the PhD ESE with an MS ESE from UAlbany, courses taken from the MS program will be applied directly to the course requirements for the PhD. 

75 credits minimum as follows:

Core Courses (12 credits)

  • Environmental Physical and Chemical Processes
  • Biological Treatment Processes
  • Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering
  • Air Pollution Control

Electives (27 credits)

  • Concentration-area courses (9 credits)
  • Math/Science courses (12 credits)
  • Courses outside your concentration area (6 credits)


Dissertation Research (36 credits)


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

Course Catalog

For more information, contact [email protected].

Research

researchphdese

You will conduct and supervise research to address problems of societal significance in areas including water and wastewater engineering, air quality and control, energy and environment, human health and the environment, and sustainable engineering. This will lead to advanced expertise in your field of specialization while you find solutions to broad environmental challenges.  

You will learn to lead and work collaboratively on research projects from forming hypotheses and designing experiments to analyzing data and reporting scientific findings.

UAlbany Environmental and Sustainable Engineering researchers study how enzymes degrade charcoal from fires in Albany's Pine Bush preserve.

Career Outcomes

career

You will be prepared to become a researcher and instructor in your area of engineering expertise. In addition, you will be equipped to address critical environmental concerns through sustainable approaches on local, national and global scales.

Potential job titles for a PhD degree in environmental and sustainable engineering:

  • Professor
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Test Engineer
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Research Engineer
  • Chemical Engineer
A researcher working with test tubes in the UAlbany CNSE lab.

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Admissions Requirements
Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

  • Fall: Rolling
  • Spring: Rolling
  • Summer: Rolling

Departmental Assistantship Consideration is subject to availability of funds and student credentials.


 No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

  • Fall: Rolling
  • Spring: Rolling
  • Summer: Rolling
Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • GRE (Optional)

Applicants are expected to have a master's degree or an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related field. Applicants from other areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

For students entering the PhD program without engineering degrees, but from quantitative science backgrounds such as chemistry, physics, meteorology, etc., they would need to take at least three (3) 400-level ESE courses specifically related to their research projects or chosen concentration areas. A grade of B or above for each course is required in order to be fully admitted to the PhD program. For students entering the PhD program without engineering degrees, but from less quantitative backgrounds such as biology, public health etc., they would need to take two (2) 300-level ESE courses and three (3) 400-level ESE courses specifically related to their research projects or chosen concentration areas. A grade of B or above for each course is required in order to be fully admitted to the PhD program.

admissions
Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

PhD
  • Teach to a broad audience on subjects in which you are an expert
  • Educate yourself to expand your knowledge base and deepen your understanding in those fields in which you specialize
  • Conduct and supervise research including forming hypotheses, designing experiments, analyzing data, drawing conclusions and reporting scientific findings
  • Write technical reports, papers and proposals
  • Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
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Program Educational Objectives 

PhD
  1. Breadth. Graduates will be able to contribute technically to solving broad environmental problems by applying fundamental scientific concepts and sound engineering principles.  
  2. Depth. Graduates are highly knowledgeable and skilled in their chosen field of interest.  
  3. Teamwork. Graduates will be able to work collaboratively with people from different background to solve critical environmental problems through sustainable approaches. 
  4. Professionalism. Graduates will maintain high professional and ethical standards and stand out as examples for their peers.  
  5. Lifelong Learning. Graduates will excel in their chosen profession through lifelong learning and become leaders in their professional service. 

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