Program Overview
The PhD program in Electrical Engineering at Arizona State University emphasizes research excellence, offering specializations in six areas. The program requires 84 credit hours, including coursework, research, and a dissertation. Graduates are prepared for diverse careers in the field, including research, engineering, and management roles. International students may benefit from an optional practical training extension.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The PhD program in Electrical Engineering at ASU focuses on fostering excellence in research, culminating in a scholarly dissertation that contributes new knowledge to the field. The program offers specialization in six areas:
- Control Systems
- Electric Power and Energy Systems
- Electromagnetics, Antennas, and Microwave Circuits
- Electronic and Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
- Physical Electronics and Photonics
- Signal Processing and Communications
Outline:
The program requires a total of 84 credit hours, encompassing:
- 30 credit hours from a Master's degree (any accredited institution)
- 18 credit hours of doctoral coursework (including at least 9 credit hours of EEE courses)
- 12 credit hours of research (EEE 792)
- 12 credit hours of dissertation (EEE 799) The coursework allows for some flexibility, with 12 credit hours of electives and the option to replace some research hours with additional coursework upon approval of the supervisory committee.
Assessment:
The program utilizes various assessment methods to evaluate student progression and knowledge acquisition:
- A written comprehensive exam
- An oral comprehensive exam
- A prospectus defense
- A dissertation defense
Teaching:
The program benefits from the expertise of renowned faculty engaged in cutting-edge research across various electrical engineering domains. Teaching methods incorporate a mix of traditional lectures, seminars, and individual research guidance.
Careers:
Graduates of the program are well-equipped for diverse career paths in the field, including roles such as:
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer and Information Research Scientist
- Computer Network Architect
- Director of Engineering
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrical Engineering Researcher
- Energy Engineer
Other:
The program offers an optional practical training (OPT) extension for up to 36 months for international students on F-1 visas, facilitating practical experience in the U.S.
Entry Requirements:
For all applicants:
- Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in all undergraduate coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in all graduate coursework.
- Applicants must typically hold a master's degree before being admitted to the doctoral program. Direct doctoral admission is available for students graduating from an ABET-accredited electrical engineering program with a GPA of 3.60 (scale is 4.00 = "A") or higher.
- All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- International students seeking teaching assistantships must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English by scoring at least 26 on the speaking portion of the internet-based TOEFL or 50 on the ASU-administered Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit.
- A student whose master's degree is not from a U.S. ABET-accredited institution must score 156 or higher on the quantitative section of the GRE General Test. A good score on the writing portion is considered desirable.
- A student whose undergraduate degree is not in electrical engineering may need to take appropriate undergraduate courses to establish a baseline of knowledge in the discipline.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
For all applicants whose native language is not English:
- Applicants must provide proof of English proficiency by meeting one of the following requirements:
- A minimum score of 80 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT)
- A minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS
- A minimum score of 60 on the PTE Academic
Additional notes:
- The ASU-administered Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit may be used as an alternative to the TOEFL or IELTS for international students seeking teaching assistantships.
- Applicants with a master's degree from a U.S. ABET-accredited institution are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.
