Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ph.D. Program

Graduate Handbook

All students are expected to be familiar with the latest version of the graduate handbook. It covers general requirements, the supervisory committee for the program of study, course requirements, probation and dismissal, residence requirements, thesis and reports, and final examination. Requirements specified in the handbook supersede department requirements. An electronic copy of the graduate handbook is available on the graduate school's website.

Graduate Seminar

All on-campus graduate students are required to attend the departmental graduate seminar and will be required to give a seminar presentation on their research. Enrollment in the zero-credit hour seminar course, ECE 896, is required each semester.

Graduate Committee/Program of Study

Before the end of the second semester of graduate study, ECE students should choose a major advisor (or two co-major advisors), and then in consultation with the the advisor(s), select a graduate committee and develop a tentative plan of study for a graduate program in the ECE department. The program of study must be completed and forwarded to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester of enrollment.

Credit Hours Requirements

(PhD Students with Master's Degree)

For students who have a master’s degree, a total of 60 graduate credit hours of work are required beyond the master’s degree. The doctoral Program of Study should normally follow these guidelines:

  • A minimum of 30 hours of doctoral research credit.
  • A minimum of 15 hours of graded coursework at the 800-level or above.
  • No more than 6 hours of credit/no credit or pass/fail course work may appear on the program of study for the doctoral degree, exempting research credits.
  • All ECE 600-level and above courses can be taken for credit. No more than 6 credit hours of 500-level courses outside ECE outside ECE can count toward the Ph.D. degree (Graduate Handbook, 3.D1.b).
  • Transfer credits are allowed within the conditions specified by the Graduate Handbook.

Credit Hours Requirements

(Direct PhD Students)

For students who enter the doctoral program without a master’s degree, total of 90 graduate credit hours of work are required beyond the bachelor’s degree. The Direct Doctoral Program of Study should normally follow these guidelines:

The doctoral program of study normally requires the following:
  • A minimum of 30 hours of doctoral research credit.
  • A minimum of 30 hours of graded coursework.
  • No more than 6 hours of credit/no credit or pass/fail course work may appear on the program of study for the doctoral degree, exempting research credits.
  • A minimum of 15 hours of graded coursework at the 800-level or above.
  • All ECE 600-level and above courses can be taken for credit. No more than 12 credit hours of 500-level courses outside ECE can count toward the Ph.D. degree (Graduate Handbook, 3.D1.c).
  • Transfer credits are allowed within the conditions specified by the Graduate Handbook.

Preliminary Examination (Dissertation Proposal)

Once the program of study is on record, the timing for the preliminary examination (dissertation proposal) can be determined by the supervisory committee. The preliminary examination must be completed at least 7 months before the final oral examination (PhD defense). ECE PhD students are encouraged to schedule the dissertation proposal after the second year or completion of the course work. Once the supervisory committee and the student decide when the examination is to be taken, the student should notify the Graduate School one month before the scheduled date with a completed Preliminary Examination form (pdf).

Final Examination

The request for final examination must be filed in accordance with the requirements of the Graduate Handbook.

Publication

PhD candidates in the ECE department are strongly encouraged to disseminate their dissertation research through publication in prestigious academic journals recommended by their major academic advisor(s).