Doctor of Engineering

The Doctor of Engineering degree is a research-focused degree designed to prepare engineers to study complex engineering problems and to develop solutions addressing the future engineering issues. Competitive scholarship and assistantship may be available for highly qualified students with research interests compatible with those of Engineering faculty.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the General Requirement in the College of Graduate Studies, the College of Engineering sets the following admission requirements:

The general requirements for admission to the
A bachelor’s degree in engineering equivalent to a 4-year engineering degree program in the US; or a Master’s degree after a bachelor degree equivalent to a 4-year engineering degree program in the US
Official transcripts from higher education institutions where degrees were earned and most recently attended institution (if different from the institutions where degrees were earned) with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or a graduate GPA of 3.5*
GRE score (students graduated from ABET-Accredited engineering program may waive the GRE score upon request)*
Three reference letters (optional, but encouraged for assistantships/scholarships consideration)
Resume (optional, but encouraged for assistantships/scholarships consideration)
Personal statement of educational goals (optional, but encouraged for assistantships/scholarships consideration)
For applicants without a degree in the appropriate discipline, the department graduate advisor will determine a plan of study that will facilitate successful completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree. This may include additional coursework, independent study, or other means to enhance the student’s knowledge of key elements in this field

Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. (International Students) must submit the following as part of the application:

TOEFL or IELTS score (waived if student has completed a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited university located in the United States or in another country in which English is both the language of instruction and the only official language of the country. All years of the degree must be completed in the qualifying country.)
Proof that the applicant has the financial resources to attend 91��̳. As part of the application process, international students must submit a written Confirmation of Financial Resources form that contains personal, family, and/or sponsor financial information and a bank verification of financial holdings. All international students are required to have health and accident insurance for themselves and all their dependent family members in the United States. Insurance may be purchased at the university during the registration period.

Degree Requirements

All College of Graduate Studies
Complete 27 course credit hours of doctoral preparatory courses beyond the master’s degree or 45 course credit hours of doctoral preparatory courses beyond the bachelor’s degree. The preparation includes completion of one semester of Justification of Engineering Project (ENGR 6320 or equivalent).
Complete a residency of at least one year for the student admitted with a master’s degree or complete a residency of at least two years for the student admitted with a B.S. degree.
Complete 4 credit hours of Professional Seminar (ENGR 6110 or equivalent).
Pass a qualifying examination designed by the student’s dissertation committee. Students who pass the qualifying examination are admitted to candidacy, while the students who fail it are allowed to schedule a re-examination within 6 weeks after the first attempt. Failing to pass the qualifying exam for the second time will remove the student from the D.E. program.
After the student is admitted to candidacy, a research proposal must be presented to the doctoral dissertation committee within six months after passing the qualifying examination. Upon committee approval of the proposed engineering research through an oral defense, the research work is initiated.
Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of D.E. dissertation courses (ENGR 6603 and ENGR 6604) and satisfactory defend the D.E. dissertation.

Hours: 61/79