Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ELCD)

Advising: Department Chair or a Faculty Member/Advisor listed on Admission Letter
B-236 Floyd Hall (Parkview Campus)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering is designed to provide students advanced electrical/computer engineering education and research opportunities. The program will engage doctoral students in independent research in the field of electrical/computer engineering which will prepare them for research and development positions in the rapidly growing information and electronics sectors.

Current research areas in the department include real-time embedded systems, computer architecture and systems, biomedical engineering, signal processing, image processing, sensors and nanotechnology, biological neural networks, fuzzy logic, energy conversion, power electronics systems, communications and networking, semiconductor materials and devices, printed electronics and devices, flexible hybrid electronics, and control systems. The department has seven instructional laboratories in electric circuits, digital logic, energy conversion systems, microcomputer systems, programmable digital systems, senior design, and digital/analog electronics. In addition, there are eight labs for student and faculty research. These labs include a digital image and signal processing lab, a power equipment simulation and design lab, a computer architecture and system research lab, a neurobiology and non-linear systems engineering lab, a RF communications and RFID lab with radio frequency shield rooms, an intelligent fuzzy controllers lab, molecular and beam epitaxy lab, and a smart sensors and structures lab.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Ph.D. program, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

Satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate College.
Possess a Bachelor of Science in electrical or computer engineering, with a minimum 3.2 grade point average, or a Master of Science in electrical or computer engineering, with a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Exceptional applicants with a master’s degree in other closely related quantitative fields such as engineering, mathematics, physics, or computer science will be considered on a case by case basis, after completing a prescribed set of prerequisite courses.
Three (3) recommendation letters from faculty familiar with the student’s work.
A personal statement of intended research goals, intended academic fields(s) of interests, and any previous research experiences written by the applicant.

All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within seven (7) years preceding the date on which the degree is conferred.

Program Requirements

The credit hour, course work, and general program requirements include:

1. Minimum of 50 credit hours beyond the master’s degree to include:

d. A minimum of 21 hours of graduate course work approved by the doctoral dissertation committee

At least 12 hours of which should be ECE courses.

2. Minimum of 80 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree to include:

a. 15 hours of:

ECE 7300 - Doctoral Dissertation Credits: 1 to 15 hours

b. A maximum of 18 hours of:

ECE 6970 - Problems in Electrical and Computer Engineering Credits: 1 to 6 hours
or
ECE 7000 - Master’s Thesis Credits: 1 to 6 hours
or
ECE 7100 - Independent Research Credits: 2 to 6 hours

c. A minimum of 2 hours of:

ECE 7250 - Doctoral Research Seminar Credits: 2 to 6 hours

d. A minimum of 45 hours of graduate course work approved by the doctoral dissertation committee

At least 39 hours of which should be ECE courses.

e. Students may acquire a Master’s Degree en route to the doctoral degree based on the procedure outlined by the graduate college.

f. Students who choose to discontinue their doctoral studies after completing a minimum of 30 to 33 graduate credits and meet the master’s degree requirements in electrical or computer engineering, may be awarded a master’s degree.

3. Ph.D. Qualifying Examination:

a. For those entering with an M.S., the QE is to be taken within the first year after admission.

b. For those entering with a B.S., the QE is to be taken within the first three years after admission.

4. Comprehensive Examination administered by the doctoral dissertation committee

To be taken before a student becomes a doctoral candidate.

5. The general graduation requirements of the Graduate College.

6. At least one-half of the credits earned for the doctoral degree must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.

7. Presentation/publication requirements as specified by the doctoral dissertation committee.

8. Research Tools:

Completion (with a “B” or better grade) of at least six hours in engineering, science, or mathematics at the graduate level designated as research tools by the doctoral dissertation committee.

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ELCD)

Program Requirements

1. Minimum of 50 credit hours beyond the master’s degree to include:

a. 15 hours of:

b. A maximum of 12 hours of:

c. A minimum of 2 hours of:

d. A minimum of 21 hours of graduate course work approved by the doctoral dissertation committee

2. Minimum of 80 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree to include:

a. 15 hours of:

b. A maximum of 18 hours of:

c. A minimum of 2 hours of:

d. A minimum of 45 hours of graduate course work approved by the doctoral dissertation committee

e. Students may acquire a Master’s Degree en route to the doctoral degree based on the procedure outlined by the graduate college.

f. Students who choose to discontinue their doctoral studies after completing a minimum of 30 to 33 graduate credits and meet the master’s degree requirements in electrical or computer engineering, may be awarded a master’s degree.

3. Ph.D. Qualifying Examination:

a. For those entering with an M.S., the QE is to be taken within the first year after admission.

b. For those entering with a B.S., the QE is to be taken within the first three years after admission.

4. Comprehensive Examination administered by the doctoral dissertation committee

5. The general graduation requirements of the Graduate College.

6. At least one-half of the credits earned for the doctoral degree must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.

7. Presentation/publication requirements as specified by the doctoral dissertation committee.

8. Research Tools:

9. A one-year residency during which the student will conduct research.

10. Final dissertation defense and approval by committee.