Graduate and research programs are organized within this framework into six focus areas: environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, mechanics of materials, transportation engineering, and water resources/coastal engineering. All areas have excellent research facilities and equipment to conduct basic and applied research. Projects of local, regional, national and international importance are underway.

The PhD program in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University requires passing a qualifying examination. Students entering the program with a bachelor?s degree are required to earn 42 credit hours of approved coursework, nine hours of dissertation credit (CE 9000), plus one credit hour of CE 7750. Students entering the program with the master?s degree are required to earn 18 credit hours of approved coursework plus one credit hour for CE 7750, exclusive of thesis and dissertation credit. In addition to the coursework requirements, students must pass a qualifying examination within one year of enrollment, the general examination, prepare a dissertation, and pass a final examination on the dissertation.?