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Doctorate in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering program fortifies students with valuable skills in critical thinking, research acumen, innovation, and leadership, thereby unlocking a myriad of enriching and fulfilling career trajectories across technical and non-technical domains.

Highlights

  • A skillset applicable to interesting and lucrative fields of engineering
  • Faculty with a broad and deep range of expertise
  • STEM-designated Program
  • GRE not required for admission

This degree opens up a wide range of possibilities and opportunities in academia, industry and the government sector, such as research scientist, research engineer, consulting, government or non-profit work, academia and entrepreneurship.

View this program in the University Catalog

Course Outcomes

The Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering program curriculum develops your skills as a researcher, engineer and leader, granting you opportunities to pursue a future career in professions up to and including:

  • Research scientist
  • Research engineer
  • Consultant
  • Government or non-profit work
  • Academia
  • Entrepreneurship

Program Information

  • Application Requirements
    • Submit the FIU Graduate Admission Application.
    • Official transcripts of all previously earned college or university credits
    • An applicant statement or letter of intent—must include your area(s) of research interest
    • Three letters of recommendation
    • Resume or CV
    • A bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, computer science, mathematics, computer or electrical engineering, or a related field as judged by the School’s Graduate Committee. Degrees must have been earned at a regionally accredited university.
    • An applicant with a bachelor’s degree must have a GPA score of 3.0/4.0 or higher in either the overall undergraduate degree or the last 60 credit hours.
    • An applicant with a master’s degree GPA of at least 3.3/4.0 in the master's program.

    Credentials of all other applicants will be examined by the Graduate Admission Committee on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the departmental requirements, all students must satisfy the University's Graduate Policies and Procedures.

    For all Admissions Requirements, please consult the University Catalog.

  • Funding

    Ph.D. applicants may be considered for teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships depending on qualifications and performance within the program. For more information regarding funding opportunities and deadlines, please visit the University Graduate School Funding page.

  • International Students

    International students should refer to the FIU International Admissions site for additional instructions on how to apply or enroll as a first-time or transferring international student.

  • STEM Designation

    The Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering is a STEM-designated program. After program completion, international students have the opportunity of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students to work within the U.S. for up to 36 months (one year of OPT + two years of STEM OPT) for STEM designated programs.

Requirements for Awarding of Degree

Students must maintain high-level performance and demonstrate graduate knowledge acquisition in several incremental stages to be awarded a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. For more information on degree and credit requirements, please consult the University Catalog.

  • Identification of Research Area

    Within 12 months upon acceptance into the Ph.D. program, the student has to identify an area of research of his or her interest by contacting and being accepted by a professor willing to guide dissertation research.

    If no such professor can be found, the student will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program. Contact the department for a list of the faculty members with Dissertation Advisor status and their research interests.

  • Ph.D. Course Breadth Requirements

    Students must complete at least 6 credits in two different breadth areas (a grade of B or better in each course). The appropriate areas of study and specific courses are determined by the dissertation advisor.

    Students majoring in Electrical Engineering should have one minor in computer engineering, and those majoring in Computer Engineering should have one minor in Electrical Engineering.

    The student must submit information about how the breadth requirement has been satisfied to the Graduate Program Director at the time he/she signs up for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.

  • Qualifying Exam

    To be eligible for the qualifying examination, the student must have satisfied the Ph.D. course breadth requirements in his or her area of specialization and in two other areas. The students can take the qualifying examination no later than the semester in which all the required coursework for the degree is completed. Failure to do this is causation for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

    One of the following two options will be selected by the student with the approval of student’s major advisor for the oral qualifying exam:

    1. Research paper based
    2. Course based

    Failing any part of the exam implies the failure of the entire examination. The exam must be retaken the next time it is offered. Failing a second time is a cause for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

  • Dissertation Proposal and Defense

    Admission to Candidacy

    Candidacy status indicates that a doctoral student is ready for the completion of the dissertation. A student is admitted to candidacy upon successfully completing all required coursework and passing the qualifying examination.

    Deadline for Proposal Defense

    Proposal defense must be taken within one semester after the satisfactory completion of the qualifying examination.

    Oral Defense and Submission of Dissertation

    A dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctoral degree. A proposal must be submitted to the student’s Dissertation Committee for approval, following the general guidelines in the “Regulations for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation”. A student must enroll for dissertation credits in the semester in which he or she expects to be admitted to candidacy, and must maintain continuous enrollment for not less than 3 credits of EEL7980 every semester, including Summers, until the semester in which the doctoral degree is awarded.

    Upon completion of the dissertation, the degree candidate will submit to the Dean of the Graduate School an application for dissertation defense signed by the student’s Dissertation Committee with sufficient time to allow for publishing a notice in the monthly calendar of the dissertation and these defenses to invite members of the university community to observe the defense.

    Following the successful defense of the dissertation, as determined by a majority vote of the student’s research committee, the dissertation must be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing and the Dean of the Graduate School for their approval.

    All dissertations submitted in fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees must conform to University guidelines (see “Regulations for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation”).

    One final, approved copy of the dissertation must be delivered to the Chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Library copies must conform to University guidelines, also published in “Regulations for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation”.

    Any exception to the program requires the department’s approval.

    For more information on guidelines and deadlines for the dissertation process, please consult the University Graduate School’s Current Students website.

Apply to FIU

Interested students are encouraged to apply to FIU as early as possible. Applicants must submit transcripts from all schools attended, as well as any other supporting documentation required by their program of interest.

Apply