PhD in Electrical Engineering

The course offerings provide the student with an opportunity to broaden as well as to intensify his or her knowledge in a number of areas of electrical engineering. The student, with the aid of a faculty adviser, may plan a program in any one of a number of fields of specialization within electrical engineering or from the offerings of related departments in science and engineering.

Graduate study and research are offered in the areas of:

• Digital and Microprocessor/Controller Systems: Digital Signal Processors, Embedded Microcontrollers, Microprocessors, Advanced Microprocessor Systems
• Solid-State Devices, Circuits and Systems: Semiconductor Theory, Microwave Devices, and Circuits, Analog Electronics.
• Systems and Controls: Systems, Controls, Manufacturing, Discrete Event Control, Neural and Fuzzy Control, Nonlinear Modern Control, Biomedical Signal Processing and Instrumentation
• Electromagnetic Fields and Applications: Remote Sensing, Electromagnetic Fields, Propagation, Scattering, Radiation, and Microwave Systems.
• Digital Signal and Image Processing: Vision Systems, Neural Networks, Statistical Signal Processing, Nonlinear Image Processing, Virtual Prototyping, and Virtual Environments.
• Telecommunications and Information Systems: Information Transmission and Communication Systems
• Power Systems: Efficient Operation, Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Deregulation
• Optical Devices and Systems: Optics, Electro-optics, Diffractive Optics, Nonlinear Optics, and Lasers
• Nanotechnology and MEMS - Materials and Devices: Quantum Electronic Devices, Semiconductor Surfaces and Interfaces, Single Electron Devices, Sensors and Detectors, Carbon Nanotube Devices, Noise and Reliability in Nano-Electronic Devices, Microactuators, RF MEMS, Polymer Electronics, and Nanophotonics
• Renewable Energy Systems and Vehicular Technology: Power Electronics Engineering, Motor Drives, Renewable Energy Systems, Grid-Integration, and Vehicular Power Structure

The program is designed to satisfy the needs of students pursuing doctoral degrees and to provide for the student seeking to increase knowledge in areas of electrical engineering related to engineering practice. The courses offered will provide practicing engineers with advanced, up-to-date education in electrical engineering.

Admission Requirements

The admission process considers all of the application material including official transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. No single objective factor is used to finalize the decision for admission or to deny admission. It is expected that an applicant has a background in such areas as linear systems, dc and ac electronics circuits, static and dynamic electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, among the courses completed in a typical electrical engineering curriculum. Students with a BS in other fields are encouraged to apply, but they may be required to remedy a lack of required EE courses by taking some undergraduate EE courses. An attempt will be made to match the technical aspirations of the potential graduate students with the departmental resources in order to provide a stimulating academic environment for the students and their graduate education.

Criteria concerning (1) unconditional admission, (2) provisional admission, (3) deferred admission, (4) denial of admission, and (5) fellowship, are given below. Admission with Unconditional Status: A typical applicant who is "admitted" will have met the following admission requirements.

• The minimum undergraduate GPA requirement
  • For Ph.D. admission 3.5 based on MSEE or equivalent
• Relevance of the student’s undergraduate degree (background) to the EE curriculum.
• Rigor of the student’s Bachelor’s degree.
• Reputation of the University/College that the student received his/her previous degrees
• The publications in scholarly conferences/journals are optional but will improve both a student’s chances of securing admission and receiving financial support.
• Three recommendation letters from individuals who can judge the probability of success of the student’s graduate study.
• GRE scores of at least the following:
• Quantitative score
  = 720 (new scale: 156) for M.S.
  or
  = 750 (new scale: 159) for Ph.D.
• Verbal score = 400 (new scale: 146)
• Analytical Writing = 3 for M.S. or =3.5 for Ph.D
• For an International student, an additional requirement beyond those stated above:
• The applicant must meet the minimum university English language requirements as detailed in the general admission requirements section of the catalog. However, meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission. The program will give preference to students with a TOEFL score of 83 for the internet based test with a minimum of 19 in each of the four categories. Alternatively, IELTS scores of 6.5 in all categories will be viewed similarly.

Additional information about admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. is a degree with an emphasis on research. Requirements for the doctoral degree are described elsewhere in the general catalog section on Degree Offerings/Requirements. Permission to continue beyond the master’s degree will be based on the grade point average and GRE scores as described above. Approval to continue in the doctoral program is given by satisfactory completion of the following procedure:

1. Obtaining the approval of a dissertation adviser, and
2. Passing the Diagnostic Examination. This exam will be over the three Technical Proficiency areas selected by the student.

Review courses for the Diagnostic Examination should be completed during the M.S. degree or during the first 30 graduate hours required for entrance into the Ph.D. program.

This procedure must be completed within the year of coursework toward the Ph.D. A student not having attempted the Diagnostic Examination by this time will be allowed one more opportunity to take the examination during the next full semester.

The program of work is expected to include a minimum of 15 semester hours of advanced graduate level coursework beyond the master’s degree and sufficient dissertation semester hours as required to complete the dissertation. All graduate level courses are counted in the 15-hour minimum. Among the 15 hour minimum, a minimum of 6 semester hours of advanced graduate level coursework is required. In addition, 2 semesters of 1 semester hour seminar course (EE 5190) are required. The seminar course is not counted in the 15-hour minimum. The supervising professor may require additional coursework beyond the 15-hour minimum if deemed necessary to accomplish the research required for the dissertation. These courses may include graduate level mathematics, science, or engineering relevant to the student’s dissertation program, but only with the approval of the Graduate Advisor.

For the direct Ph.D. program, the program of work is expected to include a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree and sufficient dissertation semester hours as required to complete the dissertation. Among the 30 hour minimum, a minimum of 6 semester hours of advanced graduate level coursework is required. In addition, 2 semesters of 1 semester hour seminar course (EE 5190) are required. The seminar course is not counted in the 30-hour minimum.

The status of a doctoral candidate is approved for students who have passed an oral Comprehensive Examination (a comprehensive dissertation proposal) and submitted a Final Program of Work. The Comprehensive Examination will be required by the time the student has completed the required coursework. If the student fails the examination, he/she would be given one more chance to pass it no later than during the following semester. Upon completion of the Comprehensive Examination, the candidate should enroll in the dissertation course EE 6699 DISSERTATION or EE 7399. The student can only enroll in EE 7399 DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION one time. If the student does not graduate in the semester EE 7399 is used, all future semesters the student must enroll in EE 6699 until the dissertation is defended. 9 semester hours of Dissertation is required to graduate.

Tuition and Affordability

UTA Tuition and Affordability Information

Priority Application Dates

Fall | March 15
Spring | August 15
Summer | February 15

Applications are accepted after the published priority date for each term, but for guaranteed consideration of admission please submit the application and associated materials by the priority date. However, it is important to apply well in advance of your intended start date to be eligible for program-specific funding opportunities such as assistantships and fellowships. Keep in mind that departmental application processing times vary greatly and some programs require applications up to one year in advance.