The request to revise Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems

Date: April 11, 2016
To: College of Engineering
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: March 24, 2016
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Spring 2017

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems is awarded for completion of scholarly research that advances the knowledge base in the field of that research. Evidence of this is demonstrated by a successful dissertation defense. In addition, recipients of the degree should demonstrate a mastery of relevant subject matter and a potential for success in research and teaching.

As summarized below, the INES Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 72 post baccalaureate (semester) credit hours (a minor in this program is not applicable). A master’s degree in an appropriate field, that is consistent with the admission requirements, may count up to 30 hours of transfer credit into the INES Program upon recommendation of the Program Director and upon approval by the Graduate School.

Minimum Credit Hours to Degree Required for Master’s Entrants (42 credit hours)

INES Core (12 credit hours)

Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Seminars (3 credit hours)

Specialized Electives (12 credit hours)*

  • INES 8090 and INES 8000-level courses (9-12 credit hours)
  • CEGR/ENGR/ESCI/GEOL/GEOG/EMGT/ARCH/ECON/MEGR/ITCS/CHEM/BIOL for graduate students only, as needed

Directed Studies (0-30 credit hours)*

  • Accepted transfer courses (0-30 credit hours)
  • CEGR/ESCI/GEOL/GEOG/EGMT/ARCH/ECON/MEGR/ITCS/CHEM/BIOL/CMET/STAT for graduate students only, as needed
  • INES 8890 for a maximum of 9 credit hours

*Based on a maximum of 30 credit hours transferred from a master’s program. Less than 30 credit hours transferred into the INES Program results in a higher number of credit hours to be completed at UNC Charlotte.

Dissertation Research (18 credit hours)

Total Credits beyond Master’s Degree = 42 Credit hours*

Minimum Credit Hours to Degree Required for Bachelor’s Entrants (72 credit hours)

INES Core (12 credit hours)

Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Seminars (3 credit hours)

Specialized Electives (12 credit hours)

  • INES 8090 and INES 8000-level courses (9-12 credit hours)
  • CEGR/ENGR/ESCI/GEOL/GEOG/EGMT/ARCH/ECON/MEGR/ITCS/CHEM/BIOL for graduate students only, as needed

Directed Studies (additional courses/research) (30 credit hours)

  • CEGR/ESCI/GEOL/GEOG/EGMT/ARCH/ECON/MEGR/ITCS/CHEM/BIOL/CMET/STAT for graduate credits
  • INS 8890 for a maximum of 9 credit hours

Total Credits beyond Bachelor’s Degree = 72 credit hours

Dissertation Research (18 credit hours)

Graduate Course Requirements

All courses taken for credit in the INES Ph.D. program shall be graduate level courses (6000-level and 8000-level: graduate students only), and the majority shall be at the Ph.D. level (8000-level: Ph.D. students only). Core courses and seminar courses (all designated INES 8000-level courses) are open only to Ph.D. students. All 6000-level courses available as specialized electives are open only to graduate students (Master’s and Ph.D.). No credit is given in the INES Program for graduate coursework completed at the combined undergraduate-graduate level (5000-level at UNC Charlotte).

For students entering the INES Ph.D. Program who have completed a master’s degree, the minimum number of hours specified below in each category will be adjusted based on the number of transfer credits awarded to the student for his/her master’s work.

INES Core Courses + Seminars (12 credit hours)

INES Ph.D. students participate in interdisciplinary activities throughout their program of study. Students begin with a set of interdisciplinary core courses that teach them about key aspects of infrastructure and environmental systems present in all applications of INES. These common aspects are reflected in four core offerings (3 2 core courses, 1 interdisciplinary electives and 1 continuous seminar). Students must complete 3 2 core courses in their first year of study and, throughout the program, students participate in interdisciplinary seminars. The interdisciplinary elective shall include INES 8110/8113/8201 or PPOL/ECON/EGMT/STAT for graduate students only.

Specialized Elective Courses (12 credit hours minimum)

It is recognized that doctoral degree study requires advanced knowledge of issues, the breadth of which depends on the context and objectives of the academic program. Both the infrastructure and the environment involve broad and multi-faceted issues. Beyond the core, a student needs to support doctoral research with enrollment in particular courses related to his/her research. For this reason, a minimum of 12 credit hours have been reserved for specialized electives. The objective of these specialized electives is to provide an opportunity for students, their advisors, and their doctoral committee to select a complementary set of specialized courses intended to support the student’s area of interest and research.

Specialized Elective courses come from many fields and sub-fields of various academic disciplines to address the program’s focus of INES design/technology, science, and management. Many acceptable courses are offered in various departments (ARCH, BIOL, CEGR, CHEM, ECON, ESCI, EMGT, ENGR, and GEOG) at the master’s level and Ph.D. levels. Selected courses must be approved by each student’s advisor and doctoral committee.

Directed Studies (30 credit hours minimum)

In recognition of varying backgrounds, preparation, interests, and goals, each student may complete additional credits through directed studies (transfer credits, courses, research, or individual study), with the consent of his/her advisor and doctoral committee. This category may include courses within a student’s specialized area as well as courses outside the specialized area. Within the directed studies category, a student may complete a maximum of 9 credits of independent study toward the Ph.D. degree.

Dissertation Requirement (18 credit hours)

The INES doctoral program includes a minimum maximum of 18 hours of dissertation credit (INES 8999). The number of research credits taken each semester must be approved by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee. If more than 18 hours of dissertation credit are needed, students should register for INES 8998.

Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s doctoral committee. The dissertation must be of high quality and represent an original piece of research that advances the body of knowledge in infrastructure and environmental systems. Oral presentation and successful defense of the dissertation before the student’s doctoral committee in a forum open to the public is required.

A copy of the student’s dissertation is made available to the graduate faculty of the program at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The dissertation must be written in a format acceptable to the Graduate School and shall satisfy all requirements and deadlines specified by the Graduate School. Students are strongly encouraged to publish in a refereed journal before graduation.

Student Advising

Upon acceptance into the INES Ph.D. Program, a student will be assigned an interim advisor by the Program Director. Within the first year in the Program, each student selects a permanent doctoral research advisor. This selection is approved by the Program Director and Dean of the Graduate School. At any time, a student may request a change of initial supervisor or research advisor. These requests are submitted to the Program Director for consideration and action.

Other Requirements

Requirements for grades, transfer credits, residency, and time limits for completion match those described generally for the university. Various forms must be submitted to the Graduate School at various times by each INES student. Those forms include: Application for Transfer of Credit into a Graduate Degree Program, INES Plan of Study, Appointment of Doctoral Committee, Application for Qualifying Examination, Qualifying Examination Report, Graduate School Petition for Topic Approval, Application for Candidacy, Application for Degree, and Dissertation Defense Report for Doctoral Candidates. Refer to the appropriate sections of this Catalog and to the INES and Graduate School websites for details.

Qualifying Examination

Each student must complete a three-part qualifying examination: two written parts and one oral part comprising (1) written examinations and (2) oral defense of the research proposal. The first written examination covers two INES core courses. The written examinations include (a) an exam for each of the two core courses INES 8101 and INES 8102 and (b) a comprehensive examination based on specialized elective courses and research areas of the student. The comprehensive written examination is administrated by the student’s doctoral committee. The oral defense of the research proposal is also administrated by the student’s doctoral committee and requires a presentation and defense by the student of his or her proposed research topic. The second written examination covers specialized elective areas selected by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee. The third examination is an oral examination and is administered by the student’s doctoral committee and requires a presentation and defense by the student of his or her proposed research topic. Students who enter the Ph.D. Program directly from a baccalaureate program generally sit for the written examinations before the end of their third post-baccalaureate year in the program; students who enter from a master’s degree program must sit for both written parts the written examinations before the end of their second year in the program. To sit for these examinations, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must have removed all conditions deficiencies upon admission.

A student may attempt to pass each part of the qualifying exam no more than twice. Failure of any of the three parts these examinations a second time results in termination of enrollment in the Ph.D. Program.

Doctoral Committee

Each student’s Doctoral Committee contains five members. One committee position is filled by a UNC Charlotte Graduate Faculty member appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The remaining four members are recommended, before the completion of the student’s first year in the program, by the student’s Doctoral Research Advisor, with input from the Program Director. Recommended faculty members should have expertise in the student’s area of research interest. The Program Director approves, with subsequent concurrence by the Dean of the Graduate School, the four recommended faculty members to serve on the Committee. The doctoral program committee of each student is chaired by the student’s Doctoral Research Advisor.

At least three of the Doctoral Committee members must be INES Program Faculty members. At least one of the four members must come from a different academic department, in order to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the program. The inclusion of one member from outside the University of North Carolina Charlotte is strongly encouraged, and this person must also be a member of the UNC Charlotte Graduate Faculty.

Application for Degree

Each student should make application for his/her degree by completing the online Application for Degree through Banner Self Service no later than the filing date specified in the University Academic Calendar.

Research Opportunities

INES faculty members reside in two primary departments (Civil & Environmental Engineering and Geography & Earth Sciences) and six supporting departments (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Finance, Systems Engineering & Engineering Management, and the School of Architecture). INES Faculty members in these departments currently conduct research in their specialized areas of interest as well as in interdisciplinary areas (see current areas of research listed at the beginning of this catalog section). Several international universities collaborate with INES to implement joint supervision of doctoral research.