Engineering PhD
Program Description
The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering program is designed to provide the engineering student with a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of the engineering profession.
The program addresses the engineering profession's need for mature minds that can translate basic knowledge into practical solutions to the engineering problems associated with our rapidly changing environment. This is accomplished through a unique integration of engineering science within a basic area of concentration.
The Ph.D. program is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach to engineering. A single doctoral program for agricultural and biosystems engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering provides students with both general knowledge and in-depth understanding of one major area of concentration. Students are able to develop individualized programs of study that emphasize different areas of interest.
Each individualized program consists of three functional areas. The first, the cognate and minor area, includes course work considered to be of special importance to the student's future progression in any of the other areas. Second is the concentration area, including courses contributing to a specialization area. The student's dissertation makes up the third segment of the Ph.D. program.
Admissions Requirements
The Ph.D. program in Engineering is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must
- Hold a baccalaureate degree and preferably a master's degree from an educational institution of recognized standing.
- Have adequate preparation in engineering, and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
- Have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses of at least 3.0 or equivalent at both the baccalaureate level and the graduate level.
Financial Assistance
Applicants must first be admitted to the Graduate School to become eligible for consideration for an assistantship. Both research and teaching assistantships are available to qualified students. Applicants are considered on the basis of scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study and research.
To be considered for an assistantship, a completed Graduate School application, official transcripts, and three letters of reference must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than March 15. International students must also submit a TOEFL score as well as GRE general test scores. The GRE scores are preferred but not required for domestic students.
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering program requires the completion of 90 credit hours of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. The total credit hours are made up of 12 to 30 credit hours in the cognate and minor area, 24 to 54 credit hours in the area of concentration, and 30 to 40 credit hours of a research-based dissertation.
A preliminary comprehensive written examination and oral examination are required of the student after completion of the greater portion of the course work phase of the Ph.D. program. The comprehensive written portion is based on course work questions submitted by appropriate faculty. During the oral examination, the student presents a research proposal for dissertation research. After passing this exam, the student is formally admitted as a candidate for the Ph.D. degree.
The final examination, primarily concerned with research work, is taken after the candidate has completed all course work and the dissertation. The dissertation must show originality and demonstrate the student's capacity for independent research. It must embody results of research constituting a definitive contribution to knowledge.
Research Facilities
The PhD program in Engineering utilizes facilities and laboratories in agricultural and biosystems engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering. Laboratory facilities include a bio-medical engineering laboratory, an internal combustion laboratory, a hydraulics laboratory, an automatic manufacturing laboratory, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, and others.
Faculty
Iskander Akhatov, Ph.D.
Lomonosov University of Moscow, USSR, 1983
Research Interests:
Dynamics of bubbles, bubble clouds and bubbly liquids
Donald A. Andersen, Eng.D.
Texas A & M University, 1982
Research Interests:
Transportation
John R. Cook, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1991
Research Interests:
Human Factors, Design of Man-Machine Systems, Management of Technology
Kambiz Farahmand, Ph.D.
University of Texas at Arlington, 1992
Research Interests:
Adverse environment protecting garment, thermal physiology, cooling systems, hypothermia, and respiratory heat and mass transfer
David C. Farden, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, 1975
Research Interests:
Signal Processing
Dinesh Katti, Ph.D.
University of Arizona, 1991
Research Interests:
Geotechnical
Kalpana Katti, Ph.D.
University of Washington, Seattle, 1996
Research Interests:
Biomedical engineering, polymer materials
Eakalak Khan, Ph.D.
University of California at Los Angeles, 1997
Research Interests:
Biodegradable Solid Wastes, Industrial Wastes
Charles McIntyre, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University, 1996
Research Interests:
Construction, CAD
Sudhir I. Mehta, Ph.D.
I.I.T., Bombay, 1982
Research Interests:
Mechanical, Instrumentation, Controls, Data Acquisition, Robotics
G. Padmanabhan, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1980
Research Interests:
Civil Engineering, Water Resources
David A. Rogers, Ph.D.
University of Washington, 1971
Research Interests:
Microwave Engineering, Electromagnetics, Fiber Optics
Gary Smith, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1986
Research Interests:
Quality Control, Decision Analysis and Modeling Techniques, Digital Imaging in Construction
Dean D. Steele, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1991
Research Interests:
Irrigation, Environmental Engineering
Amiy Varma, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1993
Research Interests:
Transportation Systems, Traffic Engineering Airports, Infrastructure Management
David L. Wells, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Rolla, 1996
Research Interests:
Materials and Process Engineering, Manufacturing Operations
Dennis D. Wiesenborn, Ph.D.
Rice University, 1989
Research Interests:
Food and Value Added Process Engineering
Frank Yazdani, Ph.D.
University of New Mexico, 1987
Research Interests:
Civil Engineering, Structures
Subbarayo Yuvarajan, Ph.D.
I.I.T., Madras, 1981
Research Interests:
Power Electronics
For additional graduate faculty, see Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
