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.

 

 

Admission requirements to the PhD program in ECE 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. 

FORMAT OF THE EXAMINATION: The examination consists of two parts, Part 1 is a written test and Part 2 is an oral test.

• Part 2 is required only if the student fails Part 1.
• The examination is offered once a year at the beginning of Fall semester (during the week before classes begin, usually in August). If the student initially enrolls in the PhD program in the Summer or Fall, the first attempt must be in the Fall of next calendar year; if initial enrollment is in the Spring, the first attempt can be in the Fall of either the same or next calendar year. The examination will be offered at the beginning of Spring semester (during the week before classes begin, usually in January) for those who are re-taking the examination for the second and final time.
• A student has only two opportunities to pass the examination. Any student failing to pass the examination a second time will be terminated from the PhD program.

 

SUBJECT AREA SELECTION CRITERIA: Subjects are offered in two program areas, Computer Engineering (CE) Program and Electrical Engineering (EE) Program.

CE Program:

• CE1. Programming Languages and Algorithms
• CE2. Computer Networks
• CE3. Computer Architecture and Digital Systems
• CE4. Databases and Distributed Systems
• CE5. Analytical Techniques

 

EE Program:

• EE1. Signals and Systems
• EE2. Communications
• EE3. Circuits and Electronics
• EE4. Solid-State Physics and Devices
• EE5. Analytical Techniques

 

Select two (2) subjects from the subject areas that are shown in the table above according to the following criterion:

• One (1) subject from each PROGRAM (CE or EE). Question papers for CE5 and EE5 are identical, and both CE5 and EE5 cannot be selected in one sitting.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR SATISFACTORY COMPLETION:

• To pass Part 1 (Written Test), two criteria must be satisfied:
  • Average grade of “B” (GPA >= 3.000) or better for the entire 2-subject examination.
  • Grade of “C” or better (GPA >= 2.000) for each subject. 
• A student failing to meet these criteria must take Part 2 (Oral Test). It will be conducted by a committee of faculty members and it will be based only on the subjects for which the grade obtained in Part 1 is lower than or equal to a “C” (GPA <= 2.0). 
• A student failing both Parts 1 and 2 must re-take the complete examination during its immediate next offering. The student may change the subject areas selected. 

Dissertation Committee

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.