Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Ph.D. degree is designed so that it:

• offers students the theoretical, practical, and professional knowledge that will enable them to pursue discovery of new knowledge;
• allows students to conduct visible high-quality research that will advance the state of knowledge; and
• serves to train, motivate, and inspire our graduates to become leaders in their fields.

 

 

The minimum GRE requirement is 310 (verbal plus quantitative) for the B.S. to Ph.D. track, and 305 for the M.S. to Ph.D. track. Other requirements are identical to the CoE requirements. The transfer policy complies with the rules of the graduate school.

The  average grade of course works should be B or better, and no grade can be below C. Other requirements are identical to the CoE requirements. 

The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is held twice a year, one week prior to the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. The applicant must select four subject areas listed in the following:

Computer Engineering (CE) Program
CE1 Programming Languages and Algorithms
CE2 Computer Networks
CE3 Computer Architecture and Digital Systems
CE4 Database and Distributed Systems
CE5 Analytical Techniques

The criteria for subject selection are as follows:

• Select the PROGRAM (CE or EE) (in consultation with Research Advisor).
• Select FOUR subjects as follows:
  • THREE from the selected PROGRAM
  • ONE from the other PROGRAM

Subject matter in CE5 and EE5 are identical, and both CE5 and EE5 cannot be selected in one sitting.

Requirements for satisfactory completion of the Ph.D. qualifying examination are:

• Taking the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination:
  • The first attempt must be within two semesters (summers excluded) of initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program.
  • Any student failing to pass the examination during the first attempt, can retake the examination a second time during its immediate next offering (see Passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination section below).
  • Any student failing to pass the examination a second time will have his/her Ph.D. status terminated.
• Passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination: To pass the examination, a student's grades must satisfy the following criteria:
  • Criterion 1: Average grade of "B" (3.000) or better for the entire 4-subject examination: a student failing to meet this criterion will be required to repeat the whole examination during its immediate next offering. The student may change the subject areas selected.
  • Criterion 2: Grade of "C" (2.000) or better for each subject: each subject failing to meet this criterion will have to be repeated during the immediate next offering of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. No change in the subject area is allowed and the average grade computed with the re-taken subject together with the remaining subject areas previously taken must satisfy Criteria 1 and 2 to successfully pass the examination.

An oral defense of a dissertation proposal on an original research topic before the dissertation committee is required.

Requirements are identical to the CoE requirements.