Tesla stands out as one of the most accessible institutions for online engineering studies in the region. For this doctoral program, we maintain the same online tuition rates, regardless of your residency status. If you compare, you’ll notice that Tesla is more affordable than other universities offering four-year doctoral programs.
Earning a PhD in Environmental Engineering provides you with the experience, knowledge, and credentials you need to develop innovative approaches to today’s environmental challenges. The curriculum is fully customizable, allowing you to conduct research in the areas that interest you most, and includes industry-relevant topics such as advanced drinking water and wastewater treatment, surface and groundwater hydrology, sustainable water supply for remote communities, chemical reaction engineering, and more. Most full-time doctoral students typically receive financial support while pursuing their graduate studies. Funding options for those pursuing a doctoral degree include research and teaching fellowships.
A Doctor of Environmental Engineering (PhD) is a degree that involves advanced study focused on developing sustainable solutions to preserve health and protect the environment. This includes comprehensive coursework, original research in both the laboratory and the field, as well as the writing of a thesis on topics such as pollution control, water and waste management, and the effects of climate change. This program typically lasts four to five years, starting with a master’s degree, and prepares graduates for leadership positions in academia or industry, tackling complex challenges related to water, air, waste, and energy.
Once you complete this program, you will be prepared for a career in sectors such as:
• Environmental engineering at all levels of government, NGOs, consulting, or manufacturing and extractive industries, locally and internationally.
• Sustainability planning and design
• Environmental policy-making
• Infrastructure design, management systems, and information systems.
• Realización de evaluaciones de impacto (que abarcan evaluaciones regulatorias, de sostenibilidad, ambientales, sociales y de riesgos).
Doctor of Environmental Engineering (PhD)
PLAN DE ESTUDIOS — CURRICULUM PLAN
6 Semestres · 120 Créditos Académicos
PLAN DE ESTUDIOS DETALLADO / DETAILED CURRICULUM PLAN
Semestre 1: Fundamentos Avanzados
Primer semestre: Fundamentos avanzados
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-701 | Fundamentos avanzados de ingeniería ambiental | Advanced Environmental Engineering Foundations | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-702 | Ecología de Ecosistemas y Servicios Ambientales | Ecosystem Ecology and Environmental Services | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-703 | Estadística Avanzada y Modelación Ambiental | Advanced Statistics and Environmental Modeling | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-704 | Política Ambiental Internacional y Derecho Ambiental | International Environmental Policy and Law | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-705 | Metodología de Investigación Doctoral | Doctoral Research Methodology | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
Semestre 2: Gestión de Recursos Hídricos y Suelo
Segundo semestre: Gestión de los recursos hídricos y del suelo
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-711 | Hidrología Avanzada y Gestión de Cuencas | Advanced Hydrology and Watershed Management | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-712 | Calidad del Agua y Tratamiento de Efluentes | Water Quality and Effluent Treatment | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-713 | Remediación de Suelos Contaminados | Contaminated Soil Remediation | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-714 | Cambio Climático: Mitigación y Adaptación | Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-715 | Diseño de Proyectos de Investigación Ambiental | Environmental Research Project Design | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
Semestre 3: Gestión Ambiental Empresarial y Tecnología
Third Semester — Corporate Environmental Management and Technology
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-721 | Sistemas de Gestión Ambiental (ISO 14001) | Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-722 | Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental y Análisis de Ciclo de Vida | Environmental Impact Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-723 | Tecnologías Limpias y Economía Circular | Clean Technologies and Circular Economy | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-724 | Riesgo Ambiental y Gestión de Desastres | Environmental Risk and Disaster Management | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-725 | Seminario de Investigación Doctoral I | Doctoral Research Seminar I | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
Semestre 4: Especializaciones Temáticas
Fourth Semester — Thematic Specializations
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-731 | Contaminación Atmosférica y Control de Emisiones | Atmospheric Pollution and Emissions Control | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-732 | Biodiversidad y Conservación de Ecosistemas | Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-733 | Energías Renovables y Transición Energética | Renewable Energy and Energy Transition | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-734 | Electiva Avanzada I: Minería Sostenible y Recursos Naturales | Elective I: Sustainable Mining and Natural Resources | 4 | Elec. |
| IMA-735 | Seminario de Investigación Doctoral II | Doctoral Research Seminar II | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
Semestre 5: Investigación Aplicada y Tesis
Fifth Semester — Applied Research and Thesis
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-741 | Electiva Avanzada II: Derecho Ambiental Comparado | Elective II: Comparative Environmental Law | 4 | Elec. |
| IMA-742 | Desarrollo Sostenible y Objetivos ODS | Sustainable Development and SDGs | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-743 | Gestión de Proyectos Ambientales con Financiamiento Internacional | Environmental Project Management with International Funding | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-744 | Trabajo de Investigación Doctoral I | Doctoral Research Work I | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-745 | Ética Ambiental y Responsabilidad Corporativa | Environmental Ethics and Corporate Responsibility | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
Semestre 6: Disertación y Grado Doctoral
Sixth Semester — Dissertation and Doctoral Degree
| Código | Asignatura (Español) | Subject (English) | Créd. | Tipo |
| IMA-751 | Trabajo de Investigación Doctoral II | Doctoral Research Work II | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-752 | Tesis Doctoral: Redacción y Defensa | Doctoral Thesis: Writing and Defense | 8 | Oblig. |
| IMA-753 | Publicación Científica Internacional | International Scientific Publication | 4 | Oblig. |
| IMA-754 | Internacionalización y Redes de Investigación Ambiental | Internationalization and Environmental Research Networks | 4 | Oblig. |
| TOTAL CRÉDITOS DEL SEMESTRE / TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS: | 20 | |||
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
General Objective
To train PhDs in Environmental Engineering with the research, analytical, and proactive skills needed to design, implement, and lead high-impact projects in the environmental field, contributing to sustainable development in local, regional, and international contexts.
GRADUATE PROFILE
Graduates of Tesla’s Doctor of Environmental Engineering program will be able to:
- High-Level Research: Design and carry out original research projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in environmental engineering.
- Leadership in Environmental Policy: Analyze, propose, and evaluate public policies and regulatory frameworks related to the environment at the national and international levels.
- Technological Innovation: Develop and implement clean technologies, environmental management systems, and circular economy solutions.
- Natural Resource Management: Plan and manage water resources, soil, biodiversity, and the atmosphere in a sustainable manner.
- Scientific Publication: Produce academic knowledge validated by the international scientific community through publications in indexed journals.
- Teaching and Social Impact: Share specialized knowledge and generate a positive impact on communities and organizations through outreach and cooperation projects.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the degree of Doctor of Environmental Engineering, the candidate must meet the following requirements:
1. Have completed and passed all 120 credits of the curriculum with a minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0.
2. Submit, defend, and successfully pass the doctoral thesis before an interdisciplinary examining committee.
3. Have published or have at least one (1) scientific article accepted for publication in a journal indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in English at the academic level (minimum B2 according to the Common European Framework).
5. Have participated in at least one international academic event (congress, symposium, or conference).
6. Meet all administrative and financial requirements established by Tesla Educational Group
