Doctoral Program
- Objectives
- Electrical Engineering Core Requirements
- Doctor of Engineering Concentrations
- Research Requirement and Dissertation
- Credit and Admission Requirements
- Other Requirements and Plan of Study
- Qualifying and Oral Exams and Thesis Proposal
- Program Duration and Doctoral Handbook
- Graduate Catalog
Coordinator
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Prof. Dikshitulu Kalluri (BL 421C, Ext. 3318)
The primary goal of the doctor of engineering program is to develop research engineers with the ability to produce new engineering knowledge. A secondary goal is to develop an appreciation for the social and economic issues connected with the operation of a modern high-technology enterprise. The program includes advanced graduate coursework in electrical engineering and allied subjects, a non-technical component and research culminating in a doctoral dissertation.
Electrical Engineering Core Requirements
The core courses are the beginning graduate courses of the five focus areas of research activity in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department. They emphasize the fundamentals, concepts and analytical techniques relevant to electrical engineering. They also help students prepare for the qualifying examination.
To fulfill this requirement, students must take a minimum of three courses from the list given below:
16.507 Electromagnetic Waves and Materials
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 Communication Theory
16.561 Computer Architecture
16.573 16.573 Operating Systems and Kernel Design
16.584 Probability and Random Processes
16.503
16.602 VHDL/Verilog Synthesis and Design
Doctor of Engineering Concentrations
A concentration is defined by a coordinated and approved sequence of at least four graduate courses. Different concentrations are possible in each of the five broad focus areas of the ECE Department. Students can decide on a concentration either with the doctoral coordinator or with their academic advisor, but completion of a concentration is mandatory.
The course sequences in the concentrations serve as a starting point for establishing a program of study in consultation with students' academic advisors to meet their educational objectives. It is expected that the courses comprising the concentration will complement the work students will undertake to fulfill the research requirement.
Further guidance for course selection for a particular concentration can be obtained from the clusters of courses specified as certificates. A concentration in electro-physics is also available.
Research Requirement and Dissertation
Students are required to complete a research internship of at least one year in industry, government or at the University. The internship allows students to function as a responsible engineer and carry out the research work required for the dissertation. During the internship, students must maintain close contact with their academic advisor. A written thesis must be submitted and defended orally.
Please refer to the graduate catalog for information on credit, admission, and degree requirements.
Credit Requirements
The doctor of engineering 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:
Electrical Engineering and Allied Subjects 33CH
Thesis 21CH
Non-Technical Component 9CH
Total 63 CH
See the ECE Department doctoral program coordinator for assistance in selecting courses to meet the non-technical component of the Doctor of Engineering program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a B.S. or M.S. degree in EE or CpE 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) scores for verbal, quantitative, and analytical examinations. The TOEFL exam is required for students from abroad whose native language is not English.
Transfer Credit
Up to 24 semester credits in graduate courses in electrical engineering and allied subjects are transferable to the doctoral program upon approval by the ECE Department’s Doctor of Engineering Committee.
One year of full-time residence is required of all students in the program. To successfully complete the program, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 in all course work.
Qualifying Examination
A complete description of the doctoral qualifying examination is found in the ECE Department Doctoral Student Handbook. The qualifying examination is a written exam that is conducted annually in late November. Students accepted to the doctoral program must take the qualifying examination within one year of their acceptance.
Having passed the qualifying exam, the student may submit his or 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 area of research. On passing this examination, the student’s name will be submitted to the dean of the graduate school for acceptance as a candidate for the doctor of engineering degree. Admission to candidacy status does not guarantee the obtaining of the degree.
Program Duration
Full-time students should complete the doctoral program in a minimum of three and a half years to a maximum of five years after receiving a bachelor of science in engineering and a minimum of two and half years to a maximum of four years after receiving a master of science in engineering.
Doctoral Student Handbook
Further details regarding the doctoral program are listed in the ECE Department Doctoral Student Handbook, updated annually.
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