Electrical Engineering, PhD

Return to: John A. Swanson School of Engineering

http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/ECE/Graduate/Electrical/Programs/

A student showing unusual proficiency in graduate course work and independent research will be recommended for doctoral study. The objective of the PhD program in electrical engineering is to attain a high degree of competence in one major field, as well as some understanding of a minor or cognate field. A minimum of 72 credits beyond the BS degree is required, including 18 credits of dissertation work. In addition to the general regulations, the department has specific requirements as described below:

PhD Preliminary Evaluation

This is an oral and written presentation on a subject mutually agreed upon by the student and the advisor in the field of the student’s interest. The examination is to demonstrate the student’s initiative and ability to do independent work.

Program Conference

During the first year of registration in the PhD program, the student must meet with a faculty committee and present a program of study for its approval. The committee consists of the student’s faculty advisor, who chairs the committee, and two other faculty members from the department.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

To complete the Comprehensive PhD exam, a student must obtain a minimum GPA of 3.3 in the four courses assigned by the PhD program conference committee no later than the first two years of enrollment in the PhD program. If the student fails to achieve this requirement, he/she must pass an oral exam that takes place at the same time as the PhD Proposal exam and answer general questions related to his/her research area. If he/she fails this oral exam, the student may take it once more three months later.

PhD Proposal Examination

In this examination, the student presents and defends a proposal for dissertation work to a doctoral committee consisting of at least five members, four of whom must be graduate faculty, with one from outside the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

PhD Final Oral Examination

In this examination, administered by the doctoral committee, the student defends the validity of the dissertation and the contributions that are made in the work. Results from the dissertation must be submitted to a refereed journal for publication.