Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering

The Ph.D. program provides students with research-level expertise in a focus area within electrical and computer engineering and breadth of knowledge in areas related to the focus area. In addition to taking a set of courses in a chosen area of concentration, a key aspect of the doctoral degree is the student's research dissertation. Each dissertation is expected to be a significant original contribution on research on a chosen subject, leading to one or more archival publications. Successful doctoral candidates learn how to acquire advanced knowledge from published research articles, identify research problems, formulate plausible approaches to solve them, analyze and evaluate proposed solutions, and present technical material orally and in writing. The program prepares graduates for contributing to the generation of new knowledge and results in the field.

Applicants are encouraged to read the Graduate School's admissions page first to understand the general requirements for admission to a Ph.D. program at UNC Charlotte. In addition to meeting the general requirements as stated above, admission to the Ph.D. program is dependent on the applicant's demonstrated evidence of academic preparation and motivation to pursue research in the chosen field of study, as perceived from the application package. These are evaluated on the basis of the following:

Academic preparation: A master's degree in electrical and/or computer engineering or a closely allied field, demonstrating strong academic background for performing research in a chosen area of interest. The applicant should have a proven track record with undergraduate and Masters level GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Additional academic credentials, such as other attempted post-baccalaureate studies undertaken, if applicable, may also be submitted. Exceptional students with only a baccalaureate degree who are motivated to pursue a Ph.D. may also be considered for direct admission to the Ph.D. program. Applicants with degrees in fields other than electrical and computer engineering (e.g. physics, mathematics, computer science, etc.) may be considered for admission, if satisfactory evidence on the aptitude to pursue graduate studies in electrical and computer engineering is demonstrated. If additional preparatory courses are required, such courses should be taken before applying for M.S.E.E..
GRE scores: Applicants must earn satisfactory scores on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE. Although there is no minimum acceptable score for GRE, it is expected that a successful applicant would have a minimum of 700 in the quantitative (155 in the new GRE format) and 500 in the verbal (153 in the new GRE format) sections of the GRE.
TOEFL: International students from non-English speaking countries should also obtain the minimum required score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum requirements for TOEFL at UNC Charlotte are 83 for the Internet-based test, 220 for the computer-based test, and 557 for the paper-based test. Other official English proficiency tests such as MELAB and IELTS may also be acceptable, as explained in the Graduate School's admissions page.
Letters of recommendation: Applicants must provide three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members who are aware of the applicant's academic performance.
Statement of purpose: The applicant must write an essay stating the intended research area, the motivation for selection of that area, future goals, and any other information that reflects the applicant's objective for applying to the M.S.E.E. program.