Doctoral Programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering
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DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS
Doctor of Philosophy Program in ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)
Doctor of Philosophy Program in COMPUTER ENGINEERING (CP)
DOCTOR of ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
Doctor of Engineering Program in ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)
Doctor of Engineering Program in COMPUTER ENGINEERING (CP)
There are two types of doctoral degrees, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.). The former is more research oriented while the latter is more industrially oriented. The primary difference between the two types of doctoral degrees is the requirement of 9 management credits for the D.Eng degrees. There may also be differences in the content of the dissertations.
Objective
The primary goal of the Doctoral programs is to develop research engineers with the ability to produce new engineering knowledge. A secondary goal for the Doctor of Engineering programs is to develop an appreciation for the social and economic issues connected with the operation of a modern high technology enterprise. The programs include advanced graduate coursework in Electrical/Computer Engineering and allied subjects, a non-technical component (in the case of the Doctor of Engineering programs), and research culminating in a doctoral dissertation.
A complete description of the doctoral programs are found in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Doctoral Student Handbook which is updated annually and available from the department office.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or their equivalent from a recognized college or university with an acceptable quality of prior academic work. Applicants must submit official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate courses. Each applicant must submit an official report of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores. The TOEFL exam is required for students from abroad whose native language is not English.
Plan of Study
Each student entering the program must develop a plan of study in consultation with his/her advisor.
Residency Requirement
One year of full-time residence is required of all students in the program.
Program Duration
The time for graduation for full-time students is expected to range from a minimum of three and a half years to a maximum of five years after BS Engineering and a minimum of two and a half years to a maximum of four years after MS Engineering.
Transfer Credit
Up to 24 semester credits in graduate courses in Electrical/Computer Engineering and allied subjects are transferable to the doctoral program upon approval by the Doctoral Committee of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Candidacy Requirements
1. Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination is a written exam which is conducted annually on the Tuesday after Spring break in March. Students accepted to the Doctoral Programs must take the qualifying examination within one year of their admissions.2. Thesis Proposal and Oral Exam in Area of Concentration
Having passed the qualifying examination, a student may submit his/her dissertation proposal and defend the proposal before the Doctoral Committee. The proposal examination will also include an oral examination on topics connected with the student’s area of research. On passing this examination, the student’s name will be submitted to the College Doctoral Committee and the Registrar's Office for acceptance as a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Engineering 51ÊÓƵ. Admission to candidacy status does not guarantee the obtaining of the degree.
Academic Requirements
1. Credit Requirement
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree requires completion of a minimum of 63 semester hours of academic credit beyond the Bachelor of Science degree. A typical program consists of the following:
ECE and Allied Subjects 42
Thesis 21
____________________________
Total credit hours 63
The Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) degree requires completion of a minimum of 63 semester hours of academic credit beyond the Bachelor of Science degree. A typical program consists of the following:
ECE and Allied Subjects 33
Thesis 21
Non-Technical Component 9
____________________________
Total credit hours 63
The Doctoral Program Coordinator of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will assist students in selecting courses to meet the non-technical component of the Doctor of Engineering program.
2. Core Requirement
16.584 Probability and Random ProcessesThe core courses are beginning graduate courses. They emphasize the fundamentals, concepts, and analytical techniques relevant to Electrical/Computer Engineering. They also help the student prepare for the qualifying examination.
Required Core Courses for Ph.D. and D.Eng degrees in Electrical Engineering: (choose three courses)
16.507 Electromagnetic Materials and Waves
16.508 Quantum Electronics for Engineers
16.509 Linear Systems Analysis
16.513 Control Systems
16.515 Power Electronics
16.520 Computer-Aided Engineering Analysis
16.543 Introduction to Communications Theory
16.595 Solid State Electronics
Students in Electrical Engineering must take three courses of the above courses.
Required Core Courses for Ph.D. and D.Eng degrees in Computer Engineering: (choose three courses)
16.553 Software Engineering
16.561 Computer Architecture and Design
16.562 VHDL/Verilog Synthesis and Design
16.573 Operating Systems and Kernel Design
Students in Computer Engineering must take three courses of the above courses.
3. Grade-Point Average (GPA) Requirement
To successfully complete the program, a student must achieve a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.25 in all course work.
4. Research Requirement and Dissertation
Each student is required to do a research internship for at least one year in industry, government, or at the University. The purpose of the internship is to place the student in a realistic engineering setting in which he/she will function as a responsible engineer and carry out the research work required for the dissertation. During the internship, the student must maintain close contact with his/her academic advisor. A written thesis must be submitted and defended orally.