Why Pursue a PhD in Environmental Science & Engineering
This PhD program draws on the resources of the College of Sciences and the College of Engineering and Integrated Design. Faculty share responsibilities in providing courses, research supervision, and facilities for this program. Areas of research emphasis include water resources, environmental quality, environmental remediation, pollution control, conservation ecology, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and natural hazards. This degree is awarded to candidates who display an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and demonstrate the ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in their field of specialty.
Dissertation research focuses on hydrology, water quality, water pollution control, waste disposal, environmental quality, remediation, ecology, conservation, restoration, contaminants, air pollution control, global change, atmospheric chemistry, environmental geochemistry, environmental microbiology, microbial geochemistry, volcanic hazards, tectonics, seismic hazards, or other anthropogenic changes. Overall, students will be educated in the fundamental areas of Environmental Science and Engineering.
Facilities
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has state-of-the-art laboratories for each major technical area. Housed in the Engineering Building and Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, these laboratories are used for hands-on research training of graduate students. In addition, computer labs are available for demonstrating cutting-edge application software similar to the ones used by practicing engineers.
Advanced Visualization Laboratory
The Advanced Visualization Laboratory (VizLab), the core facility of the Center for Simulation Visualization and Real-Time Prediction, allows researchers from all disciplines of art, science and engineering to conduct simulation and visualization research to better understand complex phenomena and translate data into images on large-scale and high resolution visualization walls or other display devices.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| Environmental Science and Engineering (PhD) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | Completed adequate credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
|
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Resume | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time) | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Environmental Science and Engineering (PhD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a fixed basis. Applicants can expect to receive an admission decision after August 1st. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2026 | Not Available | October 1 | October 1 |
| Summer 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Fall 2026 | February 1 | June 1 | August 1 |
| Spring 2027 | Not Available | October 1 | October 1 |
| Summer 2027 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
Funding Opportunities
All doctoral applicants applying for full-time status may compete for up to $20,000 stipend support per academic year. Other funding opportunities, such as teaching assistant and research assistant positions are available. Scholarships are available from a variety of sources, while graduate students may be fully supported through research and teaching assistantships.
For information about graduate student funding, click below.
Learn MoreCareer Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
Most, if not all, classes are offered in the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PhD in ESE at UT San Antonio offers both theoretical and practical aspects of broad areas of environmental science, earth and planetary science, and environmental engineering.
The PhD in ESE at UT San Antonio has four concentrations:
- Environmental Engineering
- (typically with an advisor in Civil Engineering; College of Engineering)
- Environmental Science
- (typically with an advisor in Biology, Health & Environment; College of Sciences)
- Geoscience
- (typically with an advisor in Earth & Planetary Science; College of Sciences)
- Water Resources (could be an advisor in any of the departments indicated above)
This program typically takes about 3-5 years to complete.
Graduates may choose to pursue a career in industry, federal/state/local government agencies or academia. Previous graduates have become professional research scientists, engineers and university professors.
Most applicants have a Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited college or university in the United States, or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. GPA must be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Occasionally, exceptional students with BS degrees but no MS degree may also be admitted into the program. Departments may consider GPA of the last 60 semester credit hours.
All incoming graduate students will be automatically considered for a competitive scholarship, and if awarded will be qualified for in-state tuition (about 1/3 of out-of-state tuition). All Ph.D. students are encouraged to contact individual professors in the area of research of your interests prior to applying to the program. Students may be offered financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantship (GTA), Research Assistantship (GRA) or Monthly Stipend, and most financial support comes directly from research grants to faculty. Students are also encourage to apply for federal fellowships (through NASA, NSF, etc).
