Graduate Studies in ECE at OSU

Ph.D. Program

The purpose of the Ph.D. program in Electrical and Computer Engineering is to produce graduates who can think independently and solve engineering problems based on first-principle scientific and mathematical concepts. The training to produce such a graduate involves the in-depth study of a challenging research problem that has not been previously solved or has not been solved to a desired level of effectiveness. The student is expected to work closely with a faculty advisor on the research problem (resulting in a dissertation), and it is expected that the overwhelming majority of his/her time in the Ph.D, program will be devoted to solving the research problem. Because of the emphasis of the ECE graduate program on research, a greater share of financial aid is reserved for those students pursuing the Ph.D. degree. Approximately 90% of the Ph.D. students are on either a fellowship (from the University or other external sources) or a Graduate Assistantship from the University. There are two tracks that lead to a Ph.D. degree depending on the highest degree obtained at the time of admission. Both tracks require 135 credits for completion.

Direct to Ph.D. from B.S.

This track is designed for students with B.S. degrees that ultimately want to obtain a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students in this track are required to take fewer courses than obtaining M.S. followed by a Ph.D. degrees and benefit from an uninterrupted research program. Students are required to take 45 credits of coursework and 90 credits of dissertation. Of the 45 credits, 30 credits must be graded ECE courses and 15 credits must be approved electives. Of the 30 ECE graded course credits, 9 must be associated with an area of concentration outside the student’s primary area of study. Of the 45 credits of coursework, 42 must be graded courses and 3 can be independent study. There are a number of exams that the student must pass in the process of obtaining the Ph.D. degree.  The student is expected to pass the qualifying exam within 18 months of start of program.  It is an oral exam given by 3 faculty members. This exam can be waived if the student  meets certain requirements (see ECE Graduate Handbook). After the student has done enough preliminary research for the dissertation (no later than the third year), he/she can take the candidacy exam, which has both oral and written components. Students passing the candidacy exam are automatically awarded the M.S. degree.

Ph.D. after M.S.

This track is mainly designed for students that already have an M.S. degree and want to pursue a Ph.D. degree in in Electrical and Computer Engineering. M.S. degree counts 45 credits toward the Ph.D. degree. Students in this track are required to take 21 credits of coursework, of which 18 must be graded coursework and 3 credits can be independent study. All 21 credits of coursework must be approved electives. Towards degree completion, students are also required to take 69 credits of dissertation. The student must have taken at least 30 quarter credits of ECE courses. These 30 credits can come from either the M.S. or Ph.D. program. 9 of the 30 ECE credits must be associated with an area of concentration outside the student’s primary area of study. The student is still expected to pass the qualifying exam.  It has both written and components given by 3 faculty members. This exam can be waived if the student  meets certain requirements (see ECE Graduate Handbook). After the student has done enough preliminary research for the dissertation, he/she can take the candidacy exam, which also has both oral and written components.