Program Overview

Electrical Engineering (Media Arts and Sciences), PhD

Program Description

The Electrical Engineering (Media Arts and Sciences) PhD program is a collaboration between the electrical engineering program at ASU and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. This concentration is available to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy students admitted to this program. Students take two-thirds of their coursework from the electrical engineering program and one-third from the media arts and sciences program.

At a Glance

• College/school: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

The program requires 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus, and a dissertation. The program includes:

• A comprehensive examination
• The dissertation defense
• A qualifying examination
• 10 courses, typically seven from EEE and three from AME
• 12 credit hours of dissertation, typically eight credits from EEE and four from AME
• 12 credit hours of research, typically eight credits from EEE and four from AME

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicant eligibility: Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• GPA requirements:
  • Applicants with a master's degree must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in their master's degree program.
  • Applicants without a master's degree must have a minimum GPA of 3.60 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last two years of undergraduate coursework and have graduated from an ABET-accredited undergraduate program.
• Application materials:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Statement of purpose
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Career Opportunities

Media arts and sciences graduates are able to generate and apply new ideas, theories, and systems related to the intersection of media arts and electrical engineering. Career examples include:

• Augmented and virtual reality researcher
• Computer systems engineer
• Electrical engineering professor
• Systems software engineer

Research Areas

Electrical engineering students in the media arts and sciences concentration undergo training toward integrating principles of digital signal processing, pattern recognition, computer vision, and multimedia computing with transdisciplinary objectives, with the goal of enabling new paradigms of human-machine experience that directly address societal needs and facilitate knowledge. Examples include media-based intelligent systems for health care and well-being, as well as promotion of environmentally sustainable practices.