Engineering, PhD

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Program Description:

The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers a program of graduate study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in engineering. The degree is awarded for demonstrated scholarly excellence in study and research that provides a significant contribution to specific areas in the field of engineering. In addition to faculty expertise, the program's strength lies in its unique multidisciplinary approach and outstanding opportunities for collaborative research.

Admissions Requirements:

To be considered for admission into the Ph.D. in Engineering Program, a student must first satisfy the admission requirements of the Graduate School. The student is also expected to meet the requirements for admission into the Program as described below:

• B.S. degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent, with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average; or an M.S. degree from an engineering program, with a minimum 3.5 grade-point average.
• Minimum GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) requirements: Verbal score of 145 or higher; Quantitative score of 156 or higher; Analytical Writing score of 3.0 or higher; or Combined Verbal + Quantitative scores of 301 or higher and Analytical Writing score of 3.0 or higher
• Statement of Objectives including the research focus area of interest, the research that was performed during undergraduate or graduate studies, and the name of the potential WSU DQF with whom the student will conduct his dissertation (but only if this has been mutually agreed upon)
• Three letters of recommendation
• For International students only: proof of English proficiency minimum requirements: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score 79 or higher; or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score 6.0 or higher; or Pearson PTE (Pearson Test of English) score 57 or higher; or satisfactory completion of LEAP (Learning English for Academic and Professional Purposes) level 4 TOEFL waiver track
• Letter of support from the potential dissertation advisor: Applicants are required to provide a letter of support signed by the WSU DQF with whom the student would like to do research. The letter should include a statement of support describing the commitment of the faculty member to advise the student, and all funding sources that will be used to support the student throughout his doctoral training.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• demonstrate capability to synthesize and integrate material as applied to a research area
• demonstrate mastery of research techniques

Facilities:

Modern laboratory facilities provide ample equipment for instructional support and research in a number of areas. The college manages and maintains a number of computer systems and laboratories that are available to students. These include Oracle servers, Linux servers, a Linux-based high performance computing cluster, a Linux-based supercomputer, and numerous networked Linux and Windows PC's. Access is also available to the Ohio Supercomputer Center; the University's OSC Campus Champion is one of the College's systems administrators.

Computer labs (many open 24 hours, 7 days a week) provide access to not only desktop productivity applications, but also specialized software applications for the various disciplines in the College. Some of the labs also feature computer-connected hardware used for specific courses and projects, such as laser cutters, 3-D printers, oscilloscopes, and torsional testing equipment.

Faculty:

The program is a collaborative effort in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Program faculty at Wright State reside in the departments of biomedical, industrial and human factors engineering; and mechanical and materials engineering.

For additional information:

• Engineering, PhD
• Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering
• Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• College of Engineering and Computer Science

Program Requirements:

To obtain the Ph.D. in Engineering degree, the student must complete an approved program of study containing at least 90 semester graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent degree, or 60 semester graduate credit hours beyond a master’s degree in engineering. Utilization of transfer credit from other institutions is governed by Graduate School policy.  The program must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

To meet the 90 semester graduate credit hours required for the Ph.D.in Engineering degree, a student with a B.S. degree must:

• Complete at least 45 semester hours of graduate courses (6000-level and above), distinct from dissertation research hours.
  • Completed graduate courses must include at least 18 semester credit hours of major courses (7000-level and above) from within the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
  • Completed graduate courses must include at least 6 semester credit hours of graduate (6000-level and above) courses in mathematics (MTH) or statistics (STT).
  • May include no more than 3 semester credit hours of independent study.
• Complete between 30-45 semester credit hours of dissertation research.
• Give a 50-minute research presentation in an announced college seminar, or present a paper at a peer-reviewed conference hosted by a recognized professional society. For a conference paper presentation, the student must be both the primary author and the presenter of the research, and the student’s paper must be included in the conference proceedings
• Submit at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal.
• Complete the Candidacy Examination satisfactorily.
• Complete the Research Proposal Defense satisfactorily.
• Complete the Dissertation Defense satisfactorily.
• Complete the final dissertation satisfactorily, as judged by the student’s Dissertation Committee and the Graduate School.
• Complete the exit interview with the Program Director.

Note: Students having non-engineering backgrounds are required to successfully complete the equivalent of the relevant math and science sequences required for an undergraduate engineering degree appropriate for their focus area. These courses cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Graduate Courses Distinct from Dissertation Research: 45 Credit Hours Minimum

Select at least 45 credit hours from:

• BME 6000-7999
• CEG 6000-7999
• CS 6000-7999
• EE 6000-7999
• IHE 6000-7999
• ME 6000-7999
• Graduate courses numbered 6000 and above from outside CECS as approved

CECS Major courses: 18 Credit Hours Minimum

Select at least 18 credit hours from one of the following: 

• BME 7000-7999

OR

• IHE 7000-7999

OR

• ME 7000-7999
• Other CECS courses numbered 7000 or higher as approved

Math or Statistics courses: 6 Credit Hours Minimum

Select at least 6 credit hours from:

• MTH 6000-7999
• STT 6000-7999

Independent Study: 3 Credit Hours Maximum

• Maximum of 3 credits total of any combination of the following:

BME 6990, BME 7990, BME 8930, IHE 6990, IHE 7990, IHE 8930, ME 7990

Dissertation research: 30-45 Credit Hours

Select 30-45 credit hours of one of the following:

• BME 8950

OR

• IHE 8950

OR

• ME 8950

Total: 90 Hours

Research/Areas of Expertise:

The program supports research in four focus areas: 

• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

  • The study of mechanical and aerospace engineering (MAE) covers a wide range of topics: thermal fluids sciences. solid mechanics, design and  optimization,  computational modeling, control sensors and control and renewable energy.

• Materials Science and Engineering

  • Engineering applications call for materials with specific sets of properties, which are determined by material structure, composition, and processing history. At the doctorate level, relevant length scales can range from nanometers for advanced materials, to microscopic for critical microstructural concerns, up to the macroscopic for traditional engineering. Faculty in the Materials focus area perform research in the areas of design and development of metallic, ceramic, and polymeric materials and their composites, nanoscale characterization and processing, energy-related materials and devices, theoretical modeling and simulation, the study of chemical and mechanical effects at interfaces, enhanced natural and bio-geo inspired solids, and bio-medical materials.

• Biomedical Engineering

  • This focus area prepares students for the increasing demand for cutting-edge medical equipment, devices, and therapeutic approaches, by applying the principles of engineering and applied science to problems in biology and medicine, to understand the dynamics of living systems, and to develop biomedical systems, devices, and alternative therapies for chronic conditions such as organ failure, severe tissue damage. The focus area in biomedical engineering emphasizes biomedical imaging, biomechanics, tissue engineering, nanomedicine, human-computer interaction, neuroscience, and neuroengineering. This joining of the diverse scientific fields is complemented by strong academic and research collaboration with other Wright State departments and collaborating institutions.

• Industrial and Human Factors Engineering

  • This focus area is interdisciplinary in nature and contributes to societal needs by applying principles, methods, and tools from wide area of applications such as industrial & systems engineering, human factors engineering, human-computer interaction, neuroengineering, cognitive sciences & psychology, systems physiology, engineering education, healthcare, and computation.

Recent and current sources of research support include federal agencies, military agencies, the Ohio Third Frontier, and local industries. Research at Wright State is not limited to on-campus facilities. Several industrial laboratories, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base laboratories, the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the laboratories of other local and regional universities are involved in joint research efforts with Wright State University.