Requirement for the Ph.D. Degree
Admission to Doctoral Study
Admission to doctoral study is restricted to applicants whose backgrounds show great promise of success on this, the highest level of academic endeavor. The formal requirements for admission to the doctoral program are a distinguished record in previous work (undergraduate and graduate) as evidenced by university transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a résumé, and a competitive score on the Graduate Record Examination.
Typically, students enter our doctoral program with master's degrees in electrical engineering. Students with graduate degrees in other branches of engineering or in the sciences may be accepted subject to completing specified preparatory (leveling) courses in electrical engineering.
Although nearly all students who seek the doctoral degree will complete a master's degree first, exceptionally well qualified students may, upon the recommendation of their Advisory Committee, proceed to doctoral study without obtaining the master's. For new graduate students who as yet have no Advisory Committee, permission of the Graduate Studies Committee is required in order to forego the master's degee.