1. Core Courses (courses taken by all students in the program);
2. Specialized Courses (courses taken by students in their respective specialization tracks in the program);
3. Elective Courses (courses taken by students from a list/basket of courses); and
4. Compulsory Courses (these include Directed Studies in CE, PhD Seminar, PhD Qualifying Exam, PhD Dissertation Proposal, and PhD Dissertation)

 

Requirements		Credits
Core Courses		12
Specialized Courses		6
Elective Courses		6
Compulsory Courses ​ ​ ​	Directed Studies in CE	1
	PhD Seminar	0
	PhD Qualifying Exam	0
	PhD Dissertation Proposal	3
	PhD Dissertation	18
Total		46

 

Graduation from the PhDCE Program requires completion of 46 credit hours. It also requires students to maintain a GPA of 3.00 and above out of 4.00. Students whose GPAs fall below 3.00 are subject to academic probation in accordance with the University By-laws. The By-laws provide appropriate procedures, actions and decisions to deal with students on academic probation.

The University of Sharjah implements a set of by-laws that govern all aspects of graduate studies at the University. These by-laws are published to the faculty, staff and students as appropriate. The by-laws also include a section regulating degree completion requirements for the PhD Programs. Some of these requirements (presented below) specify a certain GPA and duration of study.


The requirements for graduation from the PhDCE Program are:

The PhDCE Program is comprised of 46 credits allocated as shown earlier in the above Table. The University and the College of Engineering have not imposed any course requirements for graduate degrees. Therefore, all of these credits qualify as Program Requirements as noted below.
 
Core Courses (12 Credit Hours)
Students must take the following core courses shown in table below. These courses provide students with advanced mathematical and analytical techniques that are needed to build fundamentals for the other advanced courses and research in their area of specialization.
 
Core courses for the PhDCE Program

Course No.	Course Title	Credits	Prerequisite
0401702	Probability and Reliability in Civil Engineering	3	1440281 or equivalent
0401703	Life Cycle Assessment	3	None
0401704	Soft Computing Applications in CE	3	None
0401705	Design and Analysis of Experiments	3	1440281 or equivalent

 

Specialized Courses (6 Credit Hours)
The PhDCE Program comprised of three major tracks (i.e., general specializations): Structural Systems Engineering, Infrastructure Systems Engineering, and Construction Engineering and Management. Under these general specializations, there are areas of concentration where the student has the option to choose one of these concentration areas under his/her major track, as follows:

1. Structural Systems Engineering Track, with the following concentration areas:

2. Infrastructure Systems Engineering Track, with the following concentration areas:

3. Construction Engineering and Management Track

The specialized courses consist of two courses worth six (6) credit hours. The students must select from the following three lists of courses under the three tracks shown below
 
Courses in the structural systems engineering track

Course No.	Structural and Materials Engineering Concentration Courses	Credits
0401711	Bridge Engineering	3
0401712	Sustainable Construction Materials	3
0401713	Fracture Mechanics of Materials & Structures	3
Course No.	Geotechnical Engineering Concentration Courses	Credits
0401751	Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering	3
0401752	Theoretical & Computational Soil Mechanics	3
0401753	Unsaturated Soil Mechanics	3
0401754	Advanced Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory	3
0401755	Advanced Foundation Engineering	3

 

Courses in the infrastructure systems engineering track

Course No.	Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Concentration Courses	Credits
0401741	Coastal Processes and Management	3
0401742	Climate Change Science and Impacts on Water Management	3
0401743	Groundwater Hydrology	3
0401744	Integrated Water Resources Management	3
0401761	Experimental Research in Environmental Engineering	3
0401762	Membrane and Desalination Technologies	3
0401763	Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring	3
0401764	Air Quality Engineering	3
0401765	Nanomaterials in water and wastewater treatment	3
Course No.	Transportation and Pavement Engineering Concentration Courses	Credits
0401721	Traffic Flow Theory	3
0401722	Transportation Systems Analysis	3
0401723	Transportation Data Analysis	3
0401771	Advanced Airport Pavement Design	3
0401772	Pavement Performance and Management Systems	3
0401773	Modeling of Asphalt Materials	3

 
Courses in the construction engineering and management track

Course No.	Construction Engineering and Management Concentration Courses	Credits
0401731	Advanced Construction Law and Contracts	3
0401732	Infrastructure Maintenance and Management	3
0401733	Computer Integrated Construction Engineering Systems	3
0401734	Lean Construction Principles and Management	3

 

The student can select any course related to his/her track. However, for the student to qualify for a concentration area under a particular track, he/she should complete the two specialized courses in the desired area of concentration, in addition to completion of the dissertation in the same area of concentration.

Elective Courses (6 Credit Hours)
The number of elective courses to be completed consists of two courses with a total of 6 credit hours. The students should select appropriate courses to extend his/her knowledge of a particular area in Civil Engineering or to acquire additional knowledge necessary for the chosen research topic. Typically, the student would refer to his/her dissertation supervisor (or the Graduate Coordinator if a dissertation supervisor is yet to be selected) to assist in selecting the appropriate elective courses. The elective courses are selected from any one (or combination) of the following:

1. Graduate course(s) offered by the CEE Department
2. Graduate level courses from outside the CEE Department subject to department approval and following the recommendation of the dissertation supervisor (or the Graduate Coordinator if a dissertation supervisor is yet to be selected)
   

Compulsory Courses (22 Credit Hours)
A student in the PhDCE Program must successfully complete the following requirements:

Compulsory courses for the PhDCE program

Course No.	Course Title	Credits	Prerequisite
0401700	PhD Seminar	0	0401701 Directed Studies in CE
0401701	Directed Studies in CE	1	None
0401800	PhD Qualifying Examination	0	0401701 Directed Studies in CE (Pre/Co) and completion of all core and specialized courses
0401801	PhD Dissertation Proposal	3	0401800 PhD Qualifying Examination
0401802	PhD Dissertation	18	0401801 PhD Dissertation Proposal

 

Course Description

0401700             PhD Seminar                                                                                                                                                      (0-0:0)
Prerequisite: 0401701 Directed Studies in CE   

The PhD Seminar is intended to help student get exposed to various research topics and methodologies. PhD students are required to attend a minimum of 8 seminars that can expand over two terms. The typical seminar frequency is at least once in a month. Student is required to present at least one seminar on his/her proposed research topic in addition to attending seminars delivered by faculty members, visitors, and other graduate students. Student must submit a term report on the seminars they attended.

 

0401701             Directed Studies in Civil Engineering                                                                                                                   (1-0:1)
Prerequisite:  None

This course will provide the student an opportunity to pursue in-depth independent study related to his/her field of interest. The course intends to strengthen theoretical knowledge of the student while allowing him/her to develop research skills including research planning, reviewing literature, critical thinking, synthesis and analysis of the literature relevant to the selected topic. The study must not duplicate courses that exist as regular PhD course offerings. Registration in this course and selection of the topic should be approved in advance by the student's potential dissertation supervisor and/or the PhD Program Coordinator. The student will have to defend the findings on front of a specialized committee consists of faculty members in the Department approved by the PhD Program Coordinator.
 

0401702             Probability and Reliability in Civil Engineering                                                                                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  1440281 Introduction to Probability and Statistics or Equivalent

The course covers the role of probability and reliability in civil engineering.  Topics include: common probabilistic models, Reliability Methods, Concept of Reliability Index, First Order Reliability Method (FORM), Second Order Reliability Method (SORM), Transformations, System Reliability, Computer Based Simulations, Code Calibration, Time Varying Reliability Analysis, Reliability-Based Design and Optimization, Case Studies, Software Applications.


 
0401703             Life Cycle Assessment                                                                                                                                         (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  None

This course provides the student with effective tools to conduct environmental and financial feasibility studies for civil engineering systems and/or products. The course presents the fundamentals and advanced methodology pertinent to life-cycle assessment based on ISO guidelines. These include the main stages, namely goal and scope, life-cycle inventory, life-cycle impact assessment, and interpretation. The course covers life-cycle costing and gives hands-on experience on life-cycle assessment and costing software.

 

0401704             Soft Computing Applications in Civil Engineering                                                                                               (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  None

The course aims at introducing new computing paradigm for solving complex civil engineering problems. It equips student with the concepts of soft computing and computational intelligence techniques, such as fuzzy logic, artificial neural network, genetic algorithm, decision trees and hybrid systems. Emphasis will be given on the application of these techniques in various civil engineering problems, including but not limited to prediction, optimization, decision under uncertainty, and multi-attributed decision support methods.

 

0401705             Design and Analysis of Experiments                                                                                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  1440281 Introduction to Probability and Statistics or Equivalent

A study of the design and analysis of experiments. A model-based approach examines both theoretical and practical issues associated with experimentation. Topics include ANOVA, blocked designs, partially balanced incomplete designs, factorial designs, fractional factorial designs, nested designs, response surface methods and others.

 

0401711             Bridge Engineering                                                                                                                                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401416 Prestressed Concrete Design or Equivalent    

Introduction to history of bridge-building, including types of bridges, aesthetics, and materials for modern bridges; Loadings on bridges; Serviceability criteria including deflection and fatigue; Design of reinforced concrete bridges, steel bridges, and prestressed concrete bridges; Bridge maintenance including inspection and rehabilitation; Software Applications.

 

0401712             Sustainable Construction Materials                                                                                                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  0401703 Life Cycle Assessment   

Sustainability is one of the major concerns for the construction industry as governments and society moves towards a low carbon future. This course on sustainable construction materials aims at serving professionals involved in construction in helping to achieve a sustainable environment. The construction materials that are addressed in this course include: aggregates, binders, masonry, timber, metals, glass, natural fibers, and waste rubber. Keeping in mind the requirements of the region, emphasis is placed on aggregates and binder and issues related to their sustainability. Application of latest advances in nanotechnology and its effect of durability of materials will also be addressed.

 

0401713             Fracture Mechanics of Materials & Structures                                                                                                     (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401202 Mechanics of Materials and

0401233 Materials for Civil Engineers or Equivalents    

This course deals with the fracture mechanics of both metallic and cement-based materials such as: steel, concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete. Student will be introduced to the phenomenology of crack initiation, crack growth, and unstable fracture in various structural materials; analytical methods of analysis; experimental measurements; and design philosophies used in dealing with the cracking and fracture of engineering structures. Applications in the civil engineering field will be emphasized.  Major topics include linear-elastic fracture mechanics: stress approach, linear elastic fracture mechanics: energy approach, non-linear fracture mechanics, fracture mechanics of metallic materials and fracture mechanics of cement-based materials.

 

0401721             Traffic Flow Theory                                                                                                                                              (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321 Transportation Engineering or Equivalent

The course provides basic concepts and theories that form the foundation for understanding a variety of traffic flow characteristics and the associated analytical techniques. The course is organized in two parts: the first is concerned with the microscopic and macroscopic characteristics of the three traffic flow parameters; flow, speed, and density. The second part deals with analytical techniques used in traffic analysis such as traffic stream models, shock wave analysis, queuing theories, and capacity analysis.

 

0401722             Transportation Systems Analysis                                                                                                                        (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321 Transportation Engineering or Equivalent

Fundamental skills and concepts of quantitative techniques of operations research for modeling system performance and optimization of transportation systems and services. Topics covered include: linear programming, integer programming, transportation network optimization (shortest paths, minimum spanning trees, minimum cost network flows, maximum flows), queueing systems, and other heuristics, probabilistic, and optimization techniques. Emphasis on the application of these techniques to transportation.

 

0401723             Transportation Data Analysis                                                                                                                             (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 1440281 Introduction to Probability and Statistics or Equivalent

The course discusses methods and techniques for the acquisition and analysis of data at various aspects of transportation systems. The course covers a full range of data analysis topics from introductory level (exploratory data analysis, sampling, survey design), through more generally used techniques (hypothesis testing), to advanced analysis and statistical modelling techniques (various regression, ANOVA, Time series), supported through the use of a statistical software package.

 

0401731             Advanced Construction Law and Contracts                                                                                                        (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401536 Construction Law and Contracts or Equivalent        

Critical review on the international standard forms of contract, operation and administration of standard forms of contracts, modern construction procurement principles such as PFI, partnering, E-Procurement, Advanced public infrastructure procurement methods such as PPP and its variants, legal aspects of modern procurement methods  on infrastructure projects, construction contract policy, legal complexities  and  commercial  risks  in  privatization  of  public  infrastructure  projects,  design liability, limitation, sub-contracting, contribution and contributory negligence, insurance, insolvency, management of dispute resolution procedures, statutory adjudication in the UAE, arbitration.

 

0401732             Infrastructure Maintenance and Management                                                                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: None 

Infrastructure management, condition rating, level of service, deterioration and performance modeling, decision support, ranking and prioritizing, budget optimization, rehabilitation and maintenance strategies, sustainable management.

 

0401733             Computer Integrated Construction Engineering Systems                                                                                  (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: None 

Conventional project delivery process, role of software in effective project delivery, islands of automation and limitations, geometric vs. parametric modeling, need for interoperability, interoperability standards for computer integrated construction engineering systems; such as STEP, Express & IFC, practical challenges in achieving interoperability. Principles of integrated project delivery methods. Technology adoption models towards integration of engineering, construction planning, monitoring and control through management of information systems; Discussions on lessons learned from case studies, findings from case-study experiences, and relevance to real world projects.

 

0401734             Lean Construction Principles and Management                                                                                                (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: None 

Overview of Integrated project delivery systems in Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) & Fast Track Project; Productivity Measurement Systems, Level of Effort, Productivity - Forecasting & Earned Value (EV); Introduction to Lean Concepts ; Core Concepts in Lean Thinking; Lean Tools in construction - Work Sampling; Last Planner (Collaborative Planning System); Value Stream Mapping; Crew Balance Chart; Flow & Airplane Game; Enabling;  Lean through Information Technology; Variability, Uncertainty, Parade of Trade game; Collaborative Planning; Supply chain management for lean project delivery.

 

0401741             Coastal Processes and Management                                                                                                                 (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  0401343 Fluid Mechanics or Equivalent

This course focuses on physical processes operating in the coastal environment. It covers theories of coastal water waves and their applications, coastal hydrodynamics, beach processes, governing equations and modeling, coastal structures, coastal development issues, management principles, and shore protection strategies.

 

0401742             Climate Change Science and Impacts on Water Management                                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  1440281 Introduction to Probability and Statistics or Equivalent

This course explores the science of climate change and its impacts. It advances climate prediction, uncertainty and risk scenarios and analysis techniques. It also explains broad overview of climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation strategies.

 

0401743             Groundwater Hydrology                                                                                                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  0401343 Fluid Mechanics or Equivalent

Studies of hydrologic, geologic and environmental factors controlling quantitative and qualitative groundwater movement and occurrence. After an overview of the fundamentals of groundwater problems, emphasis on environmental factors affecting groundwater, aquifer parameters estimation and testing, groundwater quality and contaminant transport, groundwater modeling, and groundwater management concepts and processes are covered.

 

0401744             Integrated Water Resources Management                                                                                                         (3-0:3)
Prerequisite:  None

The course explores theoretical and practical underlying principles and methods to implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at national and regional levels. The course will cover the principles of modeling and management of drought, flood and water quality issues. Modelling will cover application of GIS and remote sensing as well as optimization using AI methods. Formulation and application of legal aspects including water policy, laws, regulations and principles of water governance and water sustainability will be also underlined.

 

0401751             Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering                                                                                                                 (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401351 Geotechnical Engineering or Equivalent 

Seismic hazard analysis; dynamic soil properties; site amplification and attenuation; ground response analysis; liquefaction potential; seismic slope stability. Application of commercial software  for  earthquake  analysis  and  immediate  disaster  response  is  introduced  and emphasized.

 

0401752             Theoretical & Computational Soil Mechanics                                                                                                      (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401351 Geotechnical Engineering and

0401405 Numerical Methods or Equivalents

Critical state soil mechanics and its limitations, nonlinearity of stiffness, behavior of ideal materials, behavior of natural soils, constitutive models, discrete and continuous materials, failure criteria, partially saturated soil mechanics, anisotropy.

 

0401753             Unsaturated Soil Mechanics                                                                                                                               (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401351 Geotechnical Engineering and

1440261 Differential Equations for Engineering or Equivalents 

Identification and classification of expansive and collapsing soils, effective stress concepts and stress state variables, matric and osmotic suction, collapse, heave and strength characteristics of unsaturated soils, flow through unsaturated soils. Laboratory evaluation of swell pressure and swell potential, tests to evaluate collapse potential. Measurements of soil suction in the laboratory and the field, Non- Isothermal analysis.     

 

0401754             Advanced Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory                                                                                               (2-1:3)
Prerequisite: 0401351 Geotechnical Engineering and

 0401355 Geotechnical Engineering Lab or Equivalents  

Identification and classification of soils. The ability to conduct index properties testing of soils, consolidation test, direct shear tests, triaxial drained and undrained testing (static and cyclic), torsional shear testing, subsurface exploration, field testing like SPT, CPT, etc.. In addition, student will learn planning, drilling and sampling techniques and in situ field tests, relevant theoretical concepts and data interpretations for determination of engineering properties of soils, and their application to geotechnical design.

 

0401755             Advanced Foundation Engineering                                                                                                                    (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401358 Foundation Engineering 1 or Equivalent 

Design of special shallow and deep foundation including shallow foundation on slopes and inclined foundation. Laterally loaded piles; battered piles; Load calculation of pile groups, settlement of deep and shallow foundations, deep soil excavation, bracing systems, cofferdams.

 

0401761             Experimental Research in Environmental Engineering                                                                                        (2-1:3)
Prerequisite: 0401705 Design and Analysis of Experiments    

The course provides students with hands-on experience in environmental sampling and analysis, and building and operating laboratory or field demonstration models for contaminated water, soil and air treatment and pollution control. The models are based on biological treatment technology, physiochemical treatment technology, waste containment and stabilization technology; and water treatment membrane technology.

 

0401762             Membrane and Desalination Technologies                                                                                                        (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401345 Introduction to Environmental Engineering or Equivalent

The course introduces the theoretical and practical aspects of water desalination. The course covers the description, design, process selection criteria, relevant operational issues, and economics of widely used desalination technologies, including thermal distillation, membrane-based processes, as well as future trends. The course focuses particularly on the membrane technology and its various applications and advancements.

      

0401763             Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring                                                                                                  (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401429 Introduction to GIS for Civil Engineers or Equivalent  

This course uses satellite observations and multispectral remotely sensed information to derive quantitative and qualitative measurements of the environment. Topics include floodplain mapping, harmful algal blooms monitoring in coastal waters, assessment of CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere, spatio-temporal assessment and classification and monitoring water body conditions and soil moisture.

 

0401764             Air Quality Engineering                                                                                                                                      (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401345 Introduction to Environmental Engineering      

This course covers fundamental and advanced topics of air quality and pollution control. Topics covered include: air pollution sources, public and environmental impacts, measurements, emission estimates, and monitoring methods. The course discusses the meteorological processes, transformations of pollutants in the atmosphere, global atmospheric changes, dispersion modeling, indoor air quality modelling and control, as well as air pollution control technologies and future trends.

 

0401765             Nanomaterials in Water and Wastewater Treatment                                                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401345 Introduction to Environmental Engineering      

This course covers the synthesis, characterization and use of select functional nanomaterials in water and wastewater treatment.     The course includes a review of recent development in nanotechnology for water and wastewater treatment and covers select applications such as adsorption, filtration, catalysis, disinfection, sensing and monitoring and other applications.  The course includes both a theoretical component as well as laboratory experimentation component.

 

0401771             Advanced Airport Pavement Design                                                                                                                   (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401426 Highway Design or Equivalent   

Introduction to airport engineering; aircrafts characteristics related to pavement design; airfield traffic loading; characterization of paving materials; traditional and advanced airfield pavement design procedures for flexible and rigid pavements; advanced airfield pavement design computational tools and design software.

 

0401772             Pavement Performance and Management Systems                                                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401437 Construction Engineering or Equivalent 

Pavement performance and   distresses; principles   of   pavement   management   including inventory, condition assessment, performance models, prioritization analysis, and optimization needs; budget analysis; case studies; computer programs computational tools.

 

0401773             Modeling of Asphalt Materials                                                                                                                          (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: None 

Introduction to Performance; Modeling of Asphalt Rheology and Its Applications; Viscoelastic Models and Applications; Stiffness Characterization of Asphalt Mixtures; Constitutive Modeling of Asphalt Materials; Rutting Performance Models; Fatigue Performance Models; Low-Temperature (Thermal) Cracking Models; Computer Applications.

 

0401800             PhD Qualifying Examination                                                                                                                            (0-0:0)
Prerequisite: Completion of all core and specialized courses

Pre/co-requisite:      0401701 Directed Studies in CE

The PhD Qualifying Exam aims at measuring the student's ability to understand and demonstrate a general understanding of his/her discipline, show the ability of critical, analytical, and creative thinking and employ them in solving problems and proposing potential solutions. The qualifying exam consists of two written parts and may include an oral exam.

 

0401801             PhD Dissertation Proposal                                                                                                                                (0-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401800 PhD Qualifying Examination

Students must submit a research proposal topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The PhD Proposal should lay out the literature survey of related work to the proposed research topic to be undertaken. Methodology and expected results should be presented in the proposal. The proposal should be approved by the supervisor and defended before an examination committee. Recommendation of the committee should be considered in the implementation phase of the dissertation.

 

0401802             PhD Dissertation                                                                                                                                             (0-0:18)
Prerequisite: 0401801 PhD Dissertation Proposal

The student has to undertake and complete an independent experimental-oriented and/or theoretical research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The dissertation work should provide the student with in-depth perceptive of a particular research problem in his/her chosen field of specialization.   It is anticipated that the student be able to carry out his research independently under the direction of his/her supervisor.