Program Description

The Ph.D. in Engineering Program consists of 8 emphasis areas including Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computational Engineering, Civil Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geological Engineering.

Mission

To provide students with the necessary advanced knowledge, research skills, creativity, ethics, critical thinking, and problem solving to be able respond to engineering challenges and needs of our ever-changing world for professional competence and life-long and inquiry-based learning.

Objectives

The primary educational objective of the Ph.D. in Engineering Program is to produce engineers with terminal degrees to meet the needs for highly educated engineers with advanced technical and research skills in the workforces. The specific objectives of the seven emphasis areas are as following:

• Civil Engineering: to prepare students for continued professional and scholarly development consistent with their technical interests in civil engineering by conducting a major independent and original research study with critical thinking.
• Coastal Engineering: to prepare students with advanced knowledge and skills in coastal engineering, (including coastal natural disasters) and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in coastal engineering.
• Environmental Engineering: to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in the environmental engineering field and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in environmental engineering.
• Geological Engineering: to train students with advanced knowledge and scholarly development in geological engineering and produce graduates with competency in advanced original research in the area of geological engineering.
• Computer Engineering: to equip students with advanced knowledge in computer engineering and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in computer engineering.
• Telecommunications Engineering: to equip students with advanced knowledge in telecommunications engineering and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in telecommunications engineering.
• Electrical Engineering: to equip students with advanced knowledge in electrical engineering and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in electrical engineering.
• Computational Engineering: to equip students with advanced knowledge in computational engineering and produce graduates with competencies in advanced original research, education, and professional practice in computational engineering.

Admission Requirements

The applicants must meet all admission requirements set by the Division of Graduate Studies. In addition, the applicants must meet the following admission requirements.

1. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, computer engineering, or electrical engineering or closely related engineering disciplines from accredited colleges and universities, or a Master of Science (M.S.) in related engineering field.
2. Applicants who do not have a B.S. or M.S. in an engineering field will be required to satisfy the articulation courses.
3. Minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and minimum graduate GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale are required. In special cases, exceptional applicants with B.S. degrees in engineering will be considered. These applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
4. Applicants with Minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.90 on a 4.0 scale and minimum graduate GPA of 3.250 on a 4.0 scale may be considered for conditional admission. These applicants must achieve a minimum graduate GPA of 3.50 during the first year of the Ph.D. Program to be eligible for consideration for regular admission.
5. International students must meet the English requirements as outlined by the Division of Graduate Studies.
6. Applicant must submit three letters of recommendation from professionals who are knowledgeable with applicant’s credentials.
7. Applicant must submit a one-page statement on career goals and objectives, as well as research experience and interests.

Degree Requirements

The applicants must meet all degree requirements set by the Division of Graduate Studies. In addition, the applicants must meet the following degree requirements.

To obtain the Ph.D. in Engineering Degree, the students are required to complete a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond B.S. or 36 credit hours beyond M.S. degree. The program includes core courses, elective courses, and 24 hours of dissertation research. The adviser or the advising committee may recommend additional courses based on the students’ background and proposed research plan. Students have to maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0 or above to avoid academic probation.

A comprehensive qualifying exam is given to the student after six months of the study beyond the M.S. degree, but no later than after 2 years of study. Academic advisor and engineering faculty in a student’s area of research determine the coursework needed for a student to prepare for the comprehensive qualifying examination. The comprehensive qualifying examination includes a written part and oral exam. During the comprehensive qualifying examination, students must demonstrate a sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge in their major to pursue independent and original research. However, the student must consult with their advisor and/or the exam coordinator in the major area of study for the schedule and specific procedures. A signature form, verifying that a student has passed the comprehensive qualifying
exam, must be signed by the student’s advisor and returned to the departmental office. After passing the comprehensive qualifying exam, the students will be admitted to Ph.D. Candidacy. If a student fails to pass the comprehensive qualifying exam, he/she will be allowed to take it again between one and six months after the first attempt. If the student fails twice on this exam, he/she will be dropped from the PhD program.

When at least 80% of coursework is completed and the comprehensive qualifying exam is successfully passed, the students can take a preliminary exam administered by the advising committee and academic advisor. Students should take the preliminary exam within 3 years of residence beyond the MS degree and at least two semesters before their final dissertation defense. This exam is based upon an oral exam and a written proposal and a detailed plan to carry out the Ph.D. dissertation. Students must consult with their advisors for specific details of the requirements for the preliminary exam.

The defense of dissertation is the final exam of the Ph.D. program. An oral defense and a written Ph.D. dissertation demonstrating original and independent research and major contributions to an engineering field have to be approved by the advising committee before graduation. Recognizing the importance of high-quality graduates, each graduate is expected to publish at least 2 papers based on the results of his/her research in high quality refereed engineering journals. A summary of minimum degree requirements is shown below.

Summary of Minimum Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Engineering

Credit Hours

A minimum of 72 credit hours beyond B.S. or 36 credit hours beyond M.S. degree. Must complete 24 hours of dissertation research, the required core courses, and elective courses. The adviser or the advising committee may recommend additional courses based on the students’ background and the proposed research area.

Comprehensive Qualifying Exam

Successful completion of written and oral Comprehensive Qualifying Exam, given after six months of the study beyond the M.S. degree, but no later than after 2 years of study.

Preliminary Exam

Successful completion of the preliminary exam within 3 years of residence beyond the MS degree and at least two semesters before their final dissertation defense.

Final Dissertation and Defense

An oral defense and a written Ph.D. dissertation demonstrating original independent research and major contributions. Each graduate is expected to publish at least 2 papers based on the results of his/her research in high quality refereed engineering journals.