Doctoral Program (PhD) in Electrical & Systems Engineering

The successful completion of the Ph.D. program in ESE requires the satisfaction of the following requirements:

  1. Qualifying Examination
  2. Course Structure Requirement
  3. Teaching Practicum
  4. Research Proposal Examination
  5. Thesis Defense

The above requirements apply to all Ph.D. students in ESE that entered the program starting September 2002. Each doctoral requirement is described below.

1. Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is a written examination and consists of the following eight areas:

Qualifying Examination Areas

1. Linear Systems
2. Probability
3. Electromagnetics and Optical Fields
4. Solid State Physics and Devices
5. Communications
6. Networking
7. Optimization
8. VLSI and Microelectronics

Each area corresponds to a 90-minute written examination designed to evaluate the students understanding of the fundamentals in the area. The material for each exam area is precisely defined in the Qualifying Examination Syllabus, where sample textbooks and graduate courses per area are suggested. It should be noted that each exam area is related (though not fully) to the material typically covered in the graduate courses listed in the Qualifying Examination Syllabus. Students are advised to use the Qualifying Examination Syllabus in preparing for the exam, and not rely solely on the material that was taught in a particular course. The department typically offers the suggested graduate courses on an annual basis.

The exam is offered during the last week of every May. In the beginning of the Spring semester, each student must declare 3 exam areas in which he or she will be examined in May of their first year in the PhD program. Students may be re-tested in the failed areas during a 2nd attempt which will be in May of their 2nd year. If a student has not passed all three declared areas after the 2nd attempt, the student will be required to leave the PhD program. If a student fails all 3 areas during the first attempt, the student may be asked to discontinue his/her PhD studies. Students who are admitted during the Spring, must complete the requirement within 3 semesters. They must take the exam after the 1st (first attempt) and 3rd (second attempt) semester of their study. Changes in the examined areas may be requested by petition to the Graduate Group Chair.

2. Course Structure Requirement

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 20 course units including graduate level courses, independent study (899) courses, and research units. A minimum of sixteen course units must be graduate level courses that are not research units. This includes no more than two independent study (899) units. The coursework is structured in order to emphasize both depth in the research area of the student as well as breadth in their education. The coursework of each Ph.D. student must be grouped in one major, two minors.

Depth Major: At least five graduate level courses in areas supporting the research of the Ph.D. student.

Breadth Minor: At least two graduate level courses which are distinct from the major research area. The courses may be thematically linked in a 500-600 sequence, or may represent two 500 level courses, both distinct from the major research area. Independent studies cannot be used in this category.

Mathematics Requirement: At least two graduate level courses satisfying formal mathematical reasoning. Courses that satisfy this requirement include graduate courses in Mathematics, Engineering Mathematics, Statistics, or Discrete Mathematics. Independent studies cannot be used in this category.

The remaining course units may be added to the above groups or may simply be grouped in a free electives category. The grouping of the courses will be outlined by the students in consultation with their advisors in a proposed Ph.D. Planning Guide. The Ph.D. Planning Guide will be updated every April throughout their Ph.D. career in order to reflect changes in courses, course offerings, and research focus. This will allow (every May) the Graduate Group to offer feedback to both the student and their advisor regarding Ph.D. requirements. The approval of the final Ph.D. planning guide will be performed by the Committee of the Research Proposal Examination and the Graduate Group Chair.

Full-Time Status: Doctoral students are considered to be full time students if they are registered for four course units in the Fall and Spring semesters, and for two course units in the summer. Students assisting in teaching as part of their teaching practicum requirement can be considered as full-time students if they are registered for three course units in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Residency Requirement: Twelve course units must be completed at the University of Pennsylvania. Every Ph.D. student spend at least one year in residence at the University of Pennsylvania (which means two consecutive semesters of full-time status while being at the University of Pennsylvania, exclusive of summer courses).

Minimum grade point average: A 3.0 cumulative average must be maintained as a PhD student.

Transfer of credit: Ph.D. candidates are permitted to transfer up to eight courses from other programs. Transfer of credit must be approved by the Graduate Group Chair and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Courses counted towards an undergraduate degree will not be considered for graduate credit unless in an approved submatriculation program.

Registration: Before registering every semester, Ph.D. students must also complete the Faculty Advisor Sign-Off Form, which allows advisors to guide as well as monitor the coursework of their Ph.D. students.

Duration: All doctoral work for full-time and part-time candidates, including the dissertation, must be completed within ten years from the student's matriculation as a graduate student at Penn.

995 Registration: Students who have completed four years of full-time status are eligible for 995 courses which allow full-time status with reduced tuition fees. To be eligible to register for 995, a student must have completed the equivalent of four years of full-time study (4 course units each semester and both summer sessions) equal to 40 courses. If he or she came to Penn Engineering with a Master's degree, up to eight of those credits can be transferred to the Ph.D. program upon the approval of the Graduate Group Chair. A student may take 995, which also carries full-time status with 0 credit units, up to eight semesters.

3. Teaching Practicum

All Ph.D. students must complete a two-semester teaching practicum requirement by the end of their Ph.D. career. Even though it is preferable to satisfy this requirement early in their career, the teaching practicum may be completed at any time during the Ph.D. career of the student. Great effort will be made to have teaching practicum assignments in a manner that is consistent with the students research and teaching interests and the teaching needs of the Department. It should be noted that the teaching practicum requirement must be completed by all Ph.D. students, independent of their funding support.

4. Research Proposal Examination

All Ph.D. students must pass the Research Proposal Examination. This exam is administered by the Research Proposal Committee that consists of three members, including the Committee Chair. The Committee must be proposed to and approved by the Graduate Chair. The research advisor of the student, who is part of the committee, cannot serve as the Chair of the Committee.

The recommended time for the Research Proposal exam is the third year of study. Prior to the exam, the students must submit a 3-page proposal to the Committee which provides a high level description of the nature of research, goals and impact of the proposed research, related work, existing results, references, and coarse plan of attack. The students must also submit to the Committee the most current version of their Course Planning Guide (obtained from the Grad Group Administrative Assistant).

The examination consists of a 45-minute oral presentation where the student must provide evidence to the committee that there is a research problem that needs to be addressed, and that the student is capable of addressing the problem. The Committee must assess the research quality, potential, and ability of the student to perform research. In addition, the Committee reviews and approves the most current version of the students Course Planning Guide. The outcome of the Research Proposal Examination is:

1. Pass: Research Proposal Examination requirement completed.
2. Fail: In rare circumstances, the student may fail the exam and may be asked to retake it.
3. Defer: Based on the students performance and Course Planning Guide, the Committee may make personalized recommendations. If necessary, the Committee may request reexamining the student after the student implements specific suggestions provided by the committee.

5. Thesis Defense

The thesis defense examination is administered by Thesis Defense Committee that consists of three members in addition to the research advisor of the student. One member must be outside the ESE Graduate Group. The Committee must be proposed to and approved by the Graduate Chair. The research advisor of the student cannot serve as the Chair of the Committee. Every Ph.D. student must write a dissertation conforming to the rules of Penn's Doctoral Dissertation Manual. The doctoral dissertation will be evaluated and approved (by majority vote) by the Thesis Defense Committee.