Policies

Refer to the Graduate Residency Transfer Credit page for more information. opens in a new tab

The department strongly encourages CEE PhD students who enroll without a prior Master’s degree to take sufficient coursework each quarter, until the GQE is completed, to satisfy the requirements for a CEE Master’s degree by the end of their 6th non-summer quarter of PhD studies. PhD candidates should develop individually tailored study plans and expected-progress timetables in consultation with their faculty advisors. 

Units completed for a Master's degree at Stanford may be applied to the 135-unit residency requirement for the PhD degree. At least 90 units must be completed at Stanford and applied toward the PhD.  If a student completes a CEE-MS, CEE-ENG, AND a CEE-PhD degree, then the units from each degree can be counted towards the 135 unit CEE PhD residency requirement. To take advantage of this reduced residency benefit all three graduate degrees must be in the CEE Dept, no exceptions.  If a student is pursuing both an Engineer Degree and a PhD Degree, the theses must be distinct from one another. All units counted towards graduate degrees in CEE must be from courses at or above the 100-level.

Requests for Deviation  
Requests for deviation from the requirements for the PhD degree must be submitted in writing to both your primary advisor and the CEE Department at least one quarter prior to the planned deviation. Deviations must be approved by both your primary advisor and the CEE Directors of Graduate Study.

Requirements for Remaining in Good Academic Standing in CEE

• PhD students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students enrolled for 11 or more units must pass at least 8 units per term that count toward their degree by the end of each term. Those registered for 8-10 units must pass at least 6 units per term that count toward their degree by the end of each term.

• PhD students are expected to conduct research supervised by a CEE faculty member each quarter.

• By the end of the fourth quarter in the PhD program (the Summer quarter - for those who began in the Autumn), students must align with a CEE faculty member to serve as a permanent faculty advisor.

• By the end of the 5th non-summer quarter (Winter quarter of year 2 for those who began in Autumn), students must complete and submit the required GQE information and materials through the CEE GQE portal opens in a new tab. The deadline for passing the GQE is by the end of the 6th non-summer quarter ( Spring quarter in year 2 for those who began in Autumn). Per university policy, leaves of absence, except for pregnancy and parental leaves and mandatory military leave, do not extend this deadline.

• PhD students are not permitted to take a Leave of Absence from their program until they advance to candidacy, except for pregnancy and parental leave and mandatory military leave.

• If a PhD student does not already have a Master’s degree, the student is strongly encouraged to  take sufficient coursework each quarter, until completing the GQE, to satisfy the requirements for a CEE Master’s degree by the end of the 6th non-Summer quarter of PhD studies. This coursework may be either within a CEE MS program or for a general CEE MS (see next bullet). The student may fill out paperwork to have an MS degree conferred, although this is not required. Units taken beyond these 45 may count towards the post-MS requirements.

• All requirements for the PhD degree must be completed before candidacy expires. Candidacy is valid for five calendar years (through the end of the quarter in which candidacy expires), unless terminated by the department (for example, for unsatisfactory progress). The time limit is not extended by a student’s leave of absence, except for pregnancy and parental leaves and mandatory military leave.

Notification of not meeting Graduate Study Minimum Progress in CEE: Students are responsible for ensuring that they are meeting the minimum progress requirements. Students who do not meet the requirements in a given quarter will receive a Below Minimum Progress Notification warning letter from the CEE Department during the subsequent quarter. 

Students who do not meet the minimum progress requirements for two consecutive quarters will receive a departmental hold on their enrollment, and CEE faculty committee will review the case for potential dismissal.

Fellowships & Assistantships

Financial aid administered by the department includes fellowships and assistantships for research and teaching. Question about the type or amount of financial aid should be directed to the faculty advisor or student service.