Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering with pass-through (en passant) Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering

Program Description

Many of the world’s grand engineering challenges can only be addressed through fundamental research that employs the design, analysis, and application of electrical and computer-based systems that spur discovery, invention and innovation. Grand challenges such as advancing the future of work through artificial intelligence and automation, designing intelligent and responsive urban infrastructure, advancing health informatics, securing cyberspace and harnessing the data revolution will require the tight integration of computer, data, network, electrical, and systems engineering. To address this need, Morgan has established the Ph.D. program in Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering, which emphasizes fundamental knowledge and research of solutions to complex software and electrical hardware application problems. Students engage in the design of integrated hardware, microelectronics and software solutions for computing, communications, cyber security, power, sensing and control applications. Furthermore, Morgan State University and its Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering (SOE) aspires to be the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and one of only a few universities nationwide, to address the workforce development needs attributed to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 incorporates Big Data and AI Analytics, Cloud Computing, Augmented Reality, Industry Internet of Things, Autonomous Robots, Electronic Systems, Control Electronics, Microelectronics and Cybersecurity.

The Ph.D. program in Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering targets highly motivated students who have already obtained a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and desire to pursue career opportunities in academia, commercial industry, defense, government laboratories, federal agencies, consulting, military, or research.

Program Objectives

The Program mainly targets highly motivated students who have already obtained the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and who also wish to pursue careers in research, university teaching, consulting or management positions to name a few.

General Requirements

Students enrolled in the Program will be required to satisfy the following requirements: 

1. Form a doctoral advisory committee by the end of the first year after admission, comprising of four members, among whom at least three of them should be tenured or tenure-track faculty members. The chair of the committee must be a member of the graduate faculty and the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) department. A minimum of two ECE faculty must serve on the committee. A minimum of one committee member outside the home department can serve on the doctoral advisory committee. The students form advisory committees no later than the end of the first year. The committee approves the student's program of study and guides the student's research activities.
2. Complete a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours (including 9 hours of dissertation-related research) of study beyond the Master's degree or complete a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours of study beyond the bachelor's degree (with a maximum of 33 hours of dissertation-related research).
3. Pass a written qualifying exam within the first two years of study (one attempt within the first year), doctoral candidacy examinations (no sooner than a year after passing the qualifying exam), administered by the dissertation committee, on the Foundational course subjects.
4. Develop and defend a dissertation proposal within the first four years of admission for students starting with Bachelor’s degree, and the first two years of admission for students entering with Master’s degree.
5. Complete and successfully defend a dissertation based on timely and original research in a relevant area of Electrical Engineering within the seven years of enrollment.
6. The dissertation committee chair must determine the original contribution of the dissertation work.

The qualifying exam is at the level of advanced undergraduate courses and introductory graduate-level courses. To maintain good academic standing and remain in the Program, the student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Failure to meet these requirements will lead to academic probation for one academic year.

Admission

The Program welcomes exceptional students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a scale of 4.0) for all undergraduate and graduate work completed. Other requirements include a resume or curriculum vitae documenting current and previous professional activities, achievements, planned career goals, a statement of research interest, and three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors familiar with the applicant's academic background. All application materials must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies through the application system for preliminary screening, it is then reviewed by the department committee Eligibility to be a student within the School of Graduate Studies is a prerequisite for admission into the Program.

NOTE: Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer admission should be made based on that review.

Candidacy

Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the Qualifying examination. Prior to achieving Candidacy, the student will enroll in EEGR 993 (Pre-Candidacy) if all required coursework has been completed. Once a student achieves candidacy, the student will be allowed to enroll in the Dissertation Research 1 – V courses (EEGR 905 – 925). After these required courses are completed, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring semesters for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review. The EEGR 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load). After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load). The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

Program Course Requirements

The required minimum coursework for the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering is 60 graduate credits beyond the Bachelor's degree and 36 graduate credits beyond the Master's degree. Up to four courses (not to exceed 12 credits) from other accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer towards the Ph.D. degree, assuming that students do not use transfer courses to satisfy the academic requirements of the former program. Transfer courses at a grade of B or above are reviewed and approved by the corresponding department as well as the School of Graduate Studies. Students can take up two foundation courses from outside of the department.

Pursuing a Ph.D. from the Bachelor’s Degree (60 Credits):

• Foundational Elective Courses (24 credit hours)

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

  EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

• Research Courses (15 credit hours)

EEGR 805: Pre-Candidacy Research I                        3

EEGR 810: Pre-Candidacy Research II                       3

EEGR 815: Pre-Candidacy Research III                      3

EEGR 820: Pre-Candidacy Research IV                      3

EEGR 825: Pre-Candidacy Research V                       3

• Dissertation Research (15 credit hours)

EEGR 905: Dissertation Research I                             3

EEGR 910: Dissertation Research II                            3

EEGR 915: Dissertation Research III                           3

EEGR 920: Dissertation Research IV                           3

EEGR 925: Dissertation Research V                            3

• Thesis/Dissertation Seminar (3 credit hours)

                EEGR 787:  Graduate Seminar                                     3

• Dissertation Defense EEGR 997/998 (3 credit hours)

                EEGR 997/998:  Dissertation Guidance/Defense 3*

*Note: Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation.  The EEGR 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load). 

 After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  EEGR 997 will not count toward curricular credits.  Other courses cannot be substituted for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance).  The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

 Pursuing a Ph.D. from the Master’s Degree (36 Credits):

• Foundational Elective or Research Courses (15 credit hours)

CHOOSE FROM:

Foundational Elective Courses

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

                EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

  EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course                  3

OR

Research Courses

EEGR 805: Pre-Candidacy Research I                        3

EEGR 810: Pre-Candidacy Research II                       3

EEGR 815: Pre-Candidacy Research III                      3

EEGR 820: Pre-Candidacy Research IV                     3

EEGR 825: Pre-Candidacy Research V                       3 

• Dissertation Research (15 credit hours)

EEGR 905: Dissertation Research I                             3

EEGR 910: Dissertation Research II                            3

EEGR 915: Dissertation Research III                           3

EEGR 920: Dissertation Research IV                            3

EEGR 925: Dissertation Research V                             3 

• Thesis/Dissertation Seminar (3 credit hours)

                EEGR 787:  Graduate Seminar                                   3

• Dissertation Defense EEGR 997/998 (3 credit hours)

                EEGR 997/998:  Dissertation Guidance/Defense 3*

*Note: Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation.  The EEGR 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).  After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  EEGR 997 will not count toward curricular credits.  Other courses cannot be substituted for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance).  The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).