Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management

The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management (PhDEM) is a graduate program designed for students interested in researching engineering management and those seeking managerial and leadership positions in public and private organizations characterized by innovation and technological advances.

Program Overview

The program aims to equip students with the ability to define, evaluate, design, improve, and manage complex human-technological systems, optimizing objectives while considering various interrelated factors, including economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health, and safety disciplines.

Program Educational Objectives

The main goals and objectives of the doctoral program in Engineering Management are:

• To prepare graduate engineers for successful research careers combining depth in engineering research methodologies with broad knowledge of socio-economic implications associated with major engineering decisions and technology innovations.
• To prepare graduate engineers to assume leading roles in researching current and new approaches to effectively manage change and leverage technological innovations.
• To enhance students' creative abilities and confidence in finding original solutions to pressing and complex problems.
• To raise students' awareness of long-term sustainability factors associated with adopting new engineering processes or technologies.
• To prepare students to be leaders in disseminating new knowledge and imparting new concepts and ideas to the public.

Study Plan

The study plan applies to students joining in September and consists of a total of 54 credit hours, including 18 credit hours of compulsory courses, 9 credit hours of elective courses, and 27 credit hours for a PhD thesis.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this program, students are expected to:

1. Apply knowledge of mathematics and science, and specialized engineering concepts to design, develop, and produce proper solutions in a chosen area of Engineering Management.
2. Integrate the relevance of seminal, current, and emerging management theories and practices from an interdisciplinary and social-change perspective.
3. Conduct research independently across multidisciplinary areas and contribute to the advancement of the scientific body of knowledge.
4. Effectively write and present research output in international journals, conferences, patents, research proposals, and other scientific venues.
5. Communicate effectively to academic and general stakeholders the results of original research that advances the field of knowledge in management and chosen specializations, contributing to positive social change.
6. Practice leadership skills and take initiative to bring about positive change in academic, professional, and personal contexts.
7. Analyze ethical concerns specific to their field of research and the impact of engineering decisions on society, including elements of equity, concepts of sustainable development, and environmental stewardship, and public and worker safety.

University Requirements

• Satisfactory completion of 54 credits of course and research components.
• The course component includes 18 credits of compulsory courses, 9 elective credits, and a zero-credit seminar.
• The research component consists of passing the research proposal and 27 credits for a PhD thesis.

College Requirements

• The program requires a minimum CGPA of 3 out of 4 for the mandatory courses.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of all mandatory courses with a minimum CGPA of 3 out of 4.
• Passing the qualification exam.
• Approval of the research proposal.
• Completion of the PhD thesis.

Course Description

The program consists of the following compulsory courses:

• Leadership and Innovation Management
• Total Quality Management
• Engineering Modeling and Optimization
• Advanced Engineering Management Research Methodologies
• Engineering Design of Experiments
• Decision Making and Analysis
• PhD Seminar
• Qualification Exam
• PhD Thesis

Elective courses include:

• Data Analytics
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Advanced Engineering Project Management
• Management of Technology
• Special Topics in Engineering Management
• Independent Studies in Engineering Management

Career Path

The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management program prepares students for successful research careers and leadership positions in public and private organizations. Graduates can make an impact in various fields, including engineering management, innovation, and technology.

Research Areas

The program focuses on engineering management, including areas such as:

• Operations Research
• Statistics
• Production Systems
• Human Factors
• Information Systems
• Engineering Management
• Infrastructure and Construction
• Special Topics

Program Procedures

The program procedures include:

• Selecting a supervisor and research topic
• Qualification exam
• PhD thesis proposal
• PhD thesis and defense

PhD Thesis and Defense

The PhD thesis is an independent, industrial-oriented, and/or theoretical research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to submit a thesis documenting their research and defend it in an oral examination before a committee. The thesis work must make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of engineering management and innovation. Students are required to produce at least two refereed journal publications (at least class B) of their work before defending the thesis.