Graduate programs leading to M.Eng., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees are available in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Transportation Engineering. The selection of a graduate program and degree is based on student interest, the area of graduate concentration, and the satisfaction of prerequisites. This research degree includes the preparation of a dissertation that carefully documents the original contribution of the student's research. The Ph.D. program consists of a total of 72 credit hours beyond the Bachelors degree, with a maximum of 30 credit hours for the dissertation and a minimum of 42 course credit hours. If the student holds a Masters degree, 24 course credit hours can be applied towards the 42 course credit hours requirement.<br><br>Rensselaer's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering prepares students to provide for the world's constructed facilities and the infrastructure on which modern civilization depends.<br><br>Rensselaer civil and environmental engineers develop a full range of skills in design, analysis, fabrication, communication, management, and teamwork. Rensselaer's civil and environmental engineering students are broadly trained and able to deal with the latest technologies. The growing panoply of sensors, instrumentation, intelligent facilities, and new materials highlights the high-tech character of the discipline, creating new educational challenges and redefining the skill set that civil and environmental engineers need to succeed. Environmental Engineering at Rensselaer has roots that date back to the late 1800s, with a full degree program in Environmental Engineering introduced in the mid-1950s.