Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy - Electrical Engineering

About

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNLV offers a program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Engineering in the Field of Electrical Engineering. Specific major areas of study currently available include: Communications, Control System Theory, Digital Design and Computer Systems, Electromagnetics and Optics, Electronics, Intelligent Systems and Robotics, Photonics and Quantum Engineering, Power Systems, Signal Processing, and Solid State Electronics.

Learning Outcomes

The Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering program strives to provide a learning centered environment where accomplished faculty share their experience and knowledge with students so that graduates of the program can:

1. Demonstrate a strong technical knowledge in their field so that they can lead and direct engineering and scientific industry teams in their chosen field of study.
2. Demonstrate the ability to learn independently and generate new knowledge in their chosen field of study.
3. Reach the highest academic level with the potential to become a leader and an authority in Electrical Engineering.

Career Possibilities

A Ph.D. in electrical engineering specifically prepares graduates for a research career in the electrical engineering field. Most students who purse a Ph.D. in electrical engineering have a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in electrical engineering. Obtaining a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering allows graduates to specialize in particular electrical engineering disciplines and engage in research in one or more of these disciplines. A Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering can also help graduates establish a career in teaching electrical engineering.

Requirements

Post-Master's subplan

• Have a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering or a closely related field with an M.S. thesis component. The M.S. thesis must be completed prior to admission.
• Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 (A = 4.00) for their M.S. degree and a 3.00 for their B.S. degree.

Post-Bachelor's subplan

• Have a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering or a closely related field.
• Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 (A = 4.00) for their B.S. degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering a closely related field.

Post-Bachelor's Integrated BS-PHD subplan

• Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 (A = 4.00) for their B.S. degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering at UNLV.
• Have completed up to a maximum of 9 credits of formal Graduate College curriculum approved 600/700 level courses (which excludes informal courses such as Graduate Independent Study, Graduate Seminar, and Special Topics) which were applied towards the student's B.S. degree. Each graduate level course must have been completed with a minimum grade of B (GPA) of 3.2 (A = 4.00).

Plan Requirements

Subplan 1: Post-Master's

• Total Credits Required: 45
• Course Requirements:
  • Major Field Courses – Credits: 6-15
  • Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 6-18
  • Elective Courses – Credits: 0-15
  • Dissertation & Prospectus – Credits: 18

Subplan 2: Post-Bachelor's

• Total Credits Required: 69
• Course Requirements:
  • Major Field Courses – Credits: 15
  • Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 18
  • 700-Level Elective Courses – Credits: 12
  • Elective Courses – Credits: 6
  • Dissertation & Prospectus – Credits: 18

Subplan 3: Post-Bachelor's Integrated BS-PHD

• Total Credits Required: 60-66
• Course Requirements:
  • Major Field Courses – Credits: 6-15
  • Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 9-18
  • Elective Courses – Credits: 9-18
  • Dissertation & Prospectus – Credits: 18

Degree Requirements

• All Ph.D. students must satisfy the Ph.D. degree program admission requirements and be admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular status.
• Complete a minimum of 27 credits of graduate level courses (excluding dissertation credits) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.20 and a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each class applied towards the 27 credits.
• Of the 27 required credits, a minimum of 18 credits must be in 700-level courses. Of these 18 credits, a minimum of 15 must be from formal courses.
• No more than 3 credits may be from Graduate Independent Study together with Graduate Seminar. No more than 6 credits of a combination of informal courses such as Graduate Independent Study, Special Topics, and Seminar may be applied to the degree program.
• Complete a minimum of 15 credits in an approved ECE major field, 9 credits an approved ECE minor (primary minor) field, and 9 credits in a second approved open minor (secondary minor) field.
• Informal courses (Graduate Independent Study, Graduate Seminar, and Special Topics) cannot be applied to the ECE major, ECE minor (primary minor) and the open minor (secondary minor) fields.
• Maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20, must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.20 each semester, and must complete all graduate level courses that apply towards their degree with a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each course.

Graduation Requirements

• During the first semester, a Ph.D. student must select a faculty advisor.
• Students admitted on provisional and/or conditional status are not allowed to take the qualifying exam until their provisions and/or conditions have been met.
• Pass the Qualifying Exam within 2 semesters of being admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular (full graduate standing) status.
• After successfully completing all required course work and the Qualifying Exam, the candidate must pass the Preliminary Exam.
• Complete a minimum of 12 credits of Dissertation and complete a dissertation (with B- and above grade) containing original research.
• The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires that the Ph.D. degree be completed within a period of six years from the time the candidate is fully admitted to the Ph.D. program.