American University of Beirut

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PHD)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The concentration areas and specialized tracks of the PhD programs in CE are consistent with the fields of expertise and research interests of the faculty members and the existing research and laboratory facilities. The specialty areas are as follows: 

Structural and Materials Engineering 

  • Advanced design and behavior of concrete, steel structures, and fiber-reinforced composites
  • Strengthening and rehabilitation of structural systems, and structural health monitoring
  • Advanced concrete technology including plain, hot-weathered, and high-strength concrete
  • Petrographic, chemical, and mechanical properties of sands and aggregates 
  • Seismic evaluation and assessment, and earthquake engineering design • Numerical modeling and computer-aided structural engineering 

Construction Engineering and Management 

  • Pre-project planning and design management for construction projects • Construction estimating, planning, and scheduling
  • Construction technologies, methods, equipment, and safety
  • Construction project delivery, management, and contracts 
  • Construction contract administration and dispute resolution
  • IT and BIM applications in construction
  • Construction systems analysis and lean applications
  • Sustainability issues related to building design and construction • Construction business environment and risks 

Geotechnical Engineering 

  • Land reclamation and site improvement
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) used in decision making and expert tool applications 
  • Geo-environmental engineering with reference to waste disposal and site contamination
  • Geotechnical earthquake engineering, geo-hazards and risk assessment
  • Behavior of soils 

Transportation Systems 

  • Urban transportation planning and modeling (transport and mobility considerations in urban universities; characterization of uncontrolled traffic conditions and walkability in urban areas; travel demand modeling)
  • Public transport (operational planning and market arrangement implications in mass transit systems)
  • Transportation and the environment (modeling and estimation of traffic induced emissions)
  • Road safety (modeling and simulation of aggressive driver behavior)
  • Maritime transport (maritime shipping; Optimization of container terminal operations)
  • Project evaluation (feasibility assessment and project delivery of transport infrastructure projects) 

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Regular PhD Program Requirements 

The regular PhD program requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work beyond the master’s degree and 24 credit hours of thesis work. The course work consists of 

  • a minimum of 12 credits in the area of concentration, 
  • 6 credits in a related area, and 
  • 6 credits in an area other than the candidate’s field of research, which can be taken inside or outside the department. 


Accelerated PhD Program Requirements 

The accelerated PhD program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree and 42 credit hours of thesis work. The course work consists of 

  • a minimum of 21 credits in the area of concentration, 
  • 9 credits in a related area, and 
  • 6 credits in an area other than the candidate’s field of research, which can be taken inside or outside the department.

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