Graduate Program: Electrical & Computer Engineering (PHD)

General Information

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Ph.D. Minimum Admission Requirements

There are two options in the Ph.D. program: the post-M.S. option and the direct option.

 

The minimum admission requirements for the Ph.D. program are as follows:

• Admission to the Post-M.S. Option requires a master’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, or Optics.

• Admission to the Direct Option requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, or Optics. An exceptional record is required for admission into the Ph.D. Direct Option. This option is not available to students who have already completed at least one semester under the UA ECE master’s program. This option is not available to students who have already completed a master’s degree in Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, or Optics.

• Grade-point average must be competitive.

• GRE scores must be competitive (incl. Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing). Exceptions for the PhD program requirement may be made for applicants who have completed a BS or MS degree in ECE or a related field at a U.S. university.

• Applicants whose native language is not English are required by the Graduate College to submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (213 CBT). See the UA Graduate Catalog for a discussion of exemptions.

• 3 letters or recommendation are required, the letter must be on letterhead and signed by the recommender.

 

Standardized Tests

GRE scores must be competitive (incl. Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing).GRE scores must be competitive (incl. Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing). Exceptions for the PhD program requirement may be made for applicants who have completed a BS or MS degree in ECE or a related field at a U.S. university.

TOEFL for international students.

 

Funding Opportunities

Graduate Research assistantships
Graduate Teaching assistantships
Fellowships and scholarships

 

Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

• Fall: Applications may be submitted at any time. However, please allow at least six weeks of processing time after all required documents have been submitted before an admission decision is made. Most applications for Fall admission are received in December, admission decisions usually begin near the end of January,
  and offers of financial support usually begin near the end of February. After that time, the availability of funding diminishes. Therefore, the recommended deadline for receipt of the application is as follows:  Recommended Deadline for Applicants Seeking Financial Support: Spring-July 15:  Fall-December 15.
• Spring: July 15

International Applicants:

• Fall: Applications may be submitted at any time. However, please allow at least six weeks of processing time after all required documents have been submitted before an admission decision is made. Most applications for Fall admission are received in December, admission decisions usually begin near the end of January,
  and offers of financial support usually begin near the end of February. After that time, the availability of funding diminishes. Therefore, the recommended deadline for receipt of the application is as follows:  Recommended Deadline for Applicants Seeking Financial Support: Spring-July 15:  Fall-December 15.
• Spring: July 15

 

International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information

The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832

NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

66 

Core Coursework Requirements

Post-M.S. Option

Major Coursework
Must submit the Draft Plan of Study by the end of first semester.
36 units of graduate coursework (5xx or 6xx)* subject to the following limitations:

• At least 12 units completed at the UA after an ECE master’s degree.
• At least 9 units for a regular grade completed at the UA after an ECE master’s degree.
• A maximum of 3 units of ECE 900 Research after the master’s degree can be counted.
• Dissertation - 18 units of dissertation (ECE 920).

Qualifying Exam: Consists of oral questions related to coursework. Must take this exam before the end of the
3rd semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Minor Written Comprehensive Exam: Must take this exam before taking the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. The ECE Minor Written Comprehensive Exam is waived for ECE students.

ECE Written Comprehensive Exam: This is a written research proposal. Must be submitted to the Comprehensive Exam committee at least two weeks before the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Oral Comprehensive Exam: This includes an oral presentation of the research proposal, questioning about the research proposal, and comprehensive technical questioning in the broader field related to the proposed research. Must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.

Paper Requirement: Must submit at least two papers to a refereed journal (not counting papers submitted in the
master’s program), with an ECE faculty member as a co-author.

Final Defense: Must pass an oral defense of the dissertation. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.
 

Direct Option

Major Coursework

Must submit the Draft Plan of Study by the end of 1st semester.
36 units of graduate coursework (5xx or 6xx)* subject to the following limitations:

• At least 24 units must be completed at the UA.
• A maximum of 3 units of ECE independent study.
• Non-ECE independent study does not apply toward the coursework requirement.
• A maximum of 9 units of non-ECE graduate coursework. All non-ECE coursework must be pre-approved by the Graduate Studies Committee prior to registration.
• A maximum of 6 units of ECE 900 Research can be counted. If receiving the M.S. nonthesis degree along the way, then only 3 units of ECE 900 may be counted.
• Dissertation 18 units of dissertation (ECE 920).

Qualifying Exam: Consists of oral questions related to coursework. Must take this exam before the end of the 5th semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Minor Written Comprehensive Exam: Must take this exam before taking the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 7th semester. The ECE Minor Written Comprehensive Exam is waived for ECE students.

ECE Written Comprehensive Exam: This exam is a written research proposal. Must be submitted to the Comprehensive Exam committee at least two weeks before the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 7th semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam. Mid-Degree Paper Prior to scheduling the Oral Comprehensive Exam, must submit a paper to a refereed journal or conference. Note: To receive an M.S. degree along the way, complete all M.S. (thesis option) degree requirements including passing an oral defense of the thesis.

Oral Comprehensive Exam: This includes an oral presentation of the research proposal, questioning about the research proposal, and comprehensive technical questioning in the broader field related to the proposed research. Must be taken before the end of the 7th semester. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.

Paper Requirement: Must submit a total of three technical papers with an ECE faculty member as a co-author: at least two papers to a refereed journal, and one additional paper to a refereed journal or refereed conference. This three-paper requirement includes the Mid-Degree Paper.

Final Defense: Must pass an oral defense of the dissertation. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.

* A cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher must be maintained on all coursework taken for graduate credit. A grade of C or higher is required for a course to be used to satisfy the degree requirements (A or B for transfer credits).

 

Elective Coursework

Major

Coursework

Must submit the Draft Plan of Study by the end of first semester.

36 units of graduate coursework (5xx or 6xx)* subject to the following limitations:

• At least 12 units completed at the UA after an ECE, or equivalent, master’s degree.
• At least 9 units of UA ECE course work completed for a regular grade after an ECE, or equivalent, master’s degree.
• A maximum of 3 units of ECE 900 Research after the master’s degree can be counted.

Minor

Coursework

At least 9 units of graduate coursework (5xx or 6xx)*. subject to the following limitations:

• Minors may be in Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, Optical Sciences, or other areas approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.
• All non-ECE coursework must be pre-approved by the Graduate Studies Committee prior to registration.
• ECE 501B, ECE 502, and ECE 503 may not be included in the minor.
• Independent study is not allowed in the minor.
• Warning: Check with the minor department for possible additional restrictions.

 

Additional Requirements

Qualifying Exam

Consists of oral questions related to coursework. Must take this exam before the end of the 3rd semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Minor Written Comprehensive Exam

Must take this exam before taking the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. The ECE Minor Written Comprehensive Exam is waived for ECE students.

ECE Written Comprehensive Exam

This is a written research proposal. Must be submitted to the Comprehensive Exam committee at least two weeks before the Oral Comprehensive Exam, which must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. Warning: Cannot take the ECE Written Comprehensive Exam until 12 months after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Oral Comprehensive Exam

This includes an oral presentation of the research proposal, questioning about the research proposal, and comprehensive technical questioning in the broader field related to the proposed research. Must be taken before the end of the 5th semester. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.

Papers

Must submit at least two papers to a refereed journal (not counting papers submitted in the master’s program), with an ECE faculty member as a co-author.

Final defense

Must pass an oral defense of the dissertation. Warning: Cannot take the Final Defense until 9 months after passing the Oral Comprehensive Exam.

 

Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program

Minor Coursework for Post-M.S. Option and the Direct Option
At least 9 units of graduate coursework (5xx or 6xx)*. subject to the following limitations:

• Minors may be in Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, Optical Sciences, or other areas approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.
• All non-ECE coursework must be pre-approved by the Graduate Studies Committee prior to registration.
• ECE 501B, ECE 502, and ECE 503 may not be included in the minor.
• Independent study is not allowed in the minor.
• Warning: Check with the minor department for possible additional restrictions.

 

Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

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