Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
The technological advances that have made our society what it is today considerably credited largely to the efforts of electrical engineers, computer engineers, and computer scientists. Among these advances are radio, television, telephones, wireless and mobile communications, personal computers, workstations, mainframe computers, aircraft avionics, satellite electronics, automobile electronics, office machinery, medical electronic equipment, video games, electric power generation and distribution systems, telecommunications, computer networks (including the Internet), personal entertainment products, radar, defense electronics, artificial intelligence, and a variety of computer software.
Vision and Mission
The vision of the EECS department is to provide a stimulating and challenging intellectual environment, including:
- To have classes populated by outstanding students;
- To be world class in an increasing number of selected areas of research; and
- To have faculty members with high visibility among their peers.
The mission of the EECS department is:
- To educate the next generation of electrical engineers, computer engineers, and computer scientists;
- To discover, apply, and disseminate knowledge; and
- To be an asset to the community and to society.
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Graduate Program Admission to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Admission is open to college and university graduates whose previous records indicate an ability to succeed with graduate work in the chosen discipline. Applicants with strong academic credentials may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. Electrical Engineering program without an M.S. in the requisite field.
Applicants must demonstrate evidence of aptitude for graduate work, as shown by suitable performance in undergraduate and any graduate course work, by aptitude test scores on the Graduate Record Examination, and by academic letters of reference.
Unless the applicant’s native language is English or the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education, he or she must meet the department’s standard for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is higher than the general KU requirement. Applicants for graduate teaching assistantships must earn satisfactory scores on the Test of Spoken English.
Application Information & Deadlines
Fall Priority Deadline: December 15
Spring Priority Deadline: October 1
Applications will be accepted after the priority deadlines listed above, but those applicants may not be considered for fellowships and assistantships. All application materials must be submitted by April 1 for fall and November 1 for spring to be considered for admission. See the Graduate Studies website for the application procedure and fees.
International students and students who indicated English as a second language, are required to show proof of English proficiency for admission purposes and must check-in at the Applied English Center (AEC) upon arrival on campus for orientation. This process serves to confirm each student's level of English proficiency and determine whether English courses will be included as a requirement of the student’s academic program. Note: Students who demonstrate English proficiency at the waiver level or who have earned a degree from one of the specified English-speaking countries are not required to check in at the AEC (see eligibility requirements on the Graduate Studies website).
Application Materials
- Online Application
- Statement of objectives and resume
- Official transcript
- Letters of recommendation
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students)
- Financial statement (international students only)
- (Optional) GRE scores (school code 6871)
All application materials should be submitted online.
GTA and GRA Eligibility
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) eligibility requirements are different from admission requirements. Additional information on eligibility for graduate teaching assistants and graduate research assistants may be found in the GTA, GRA, and GA Appointments: General Guidelines and Eligibility.
Visiting Us
The graduate program staff is happy to work with all prospective students in determining the fit between the student and the program. In order to determine this, we feel that visiting our campus in Lawrence is a very important step. In order to facilitate your visit to KU, there are two main options:
The first, and most preferred, option entails simply applying for admission to the program. All prospective students are welcome to attend our Graduate Open House in mid-October or mid-March. Eligible admitted students may be invited to participate in Campus Visit Days in late February (prior to the fall semester of your intended matriculation). These organized campus visit opportunities will allow you to gather a great deal of first-hand information which we hope will help you in making a final decision about whether to attend KU.
The second option is making arrangements to visit us on your own, outside of organized events. With early notification, we will do our best to work with you to provide information and schedule appointments with faculty when possible. Please contact us if you feel that this is the best option for you.
Contact Information
Please contact the EECS Graduate Program Coordinator at eecs_graduate@ku.edu, to schedule a visit or with questions about the application process.
The University of Kansas
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Graduate Office
Eaton Hall
1520 W. 15th Street, Suite 2001E
Lawrence, KS 66045
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Candidacy Course Work Requirements | ||
| EECS 802 | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Colloquium and Seminar on Professional Issues | 1 |
| Students complete 12 courses (36 hours) from the EECS graduate course list below. No more than two courses at the 500/600 level may count toward the degree. Students may petition a maximum of two courses outside of the EECS department to count toward the degree. | 36 | |
| Note: | ||
| Students admitted to the program with their M.S. degree may use up to 6 courses (18 hours) from their prior M.S. degree to fulfill Ph.D. coursework requirements. This reduction of coursework would typically allow students with an M.S. in a related degree program to reduce their required coursework for the Ph.D. program to 6 courses (18 hours). | ||
| Total Hours | 37 | |
EECS Ph.D. Graduation Requirements
- Select a major advisor and a doctoral committee in the first semester
- Submit plan of study to be approved by committee
- Qualifying examination
- Annual Ph.D. Activity Report (PHAR)
- Comprehensive examination
- Dissertation
- Final oral examination
Major Advisor & Doctoral Committee Selection
During the first semester of the program, Doctoral students must take EECS 802 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Colloquium and Seminar on Professional Issues and they must have an approved Plan of Study on file. Additionally, in the first semester, the student must select a major advisor and a committee. The student’s committee consists of a minimum of 5 graduate faculty members and is chaired by the major advisor. The advisor and at least two other members of the committee must be tenured or tenure-track members of the graduate faculty in the EECS Department, and one committee member must be the Graduate Studies Representative, which is a regular University of Kansas (KU) graduate faculty member outside of the EECS Department (for more information, see the policy here).
The role of this member as the Graduate Studies Representative is to assure the appropriate standard of fairness, professionalism, judgment, and skill are applied throughout the examination process for the benefit of the institution and in the best interest of the student. As an independent participant observer, this member should have no personal or professional duality/conflict of interest with other members of the committee or the student that would prevent him or her from the unbiased fulfillment of these responsibilities. This committee guides the student’s selection of courses, participates in the comprehensive and final examinations, and helps the student select a topic for research leading to the dissertation. Should the student’s interests change, the committee membership may be changed accordingly with the approval of the department’s Graduate Studies Committee.
Plan of Study
During the first semester of the program, Doctoral students must take at least one semester of EECS 802 , they must have an approved Plan of Study on file. The Plan of study must be consistent with the identified degree and goals. The Ph.D. Plan of Study includes the following:
- EECS Colloquium (EECS 802), to be taken in the first semester
- Minimum of 36 credit hours of approved course work (see course list below)
- Students admitted with M.S. degree may transfer up to 6 courses (18 hours) from their prior M.S. degree to their Ph.D. program
- Minimum of 30 credit hours of course work must be EECS numbered 700 or higher, excluding Directed Graduate Reading (EECS 801), Graduate Problems (EECS 891), Master's Thesis (EECS 899), and Post-Master's Research (EECS 998)
- Minimum of 18 semester credit hours of EECS 999 (dissertation hours can only be counted toward degree after passing the Comprehensive Examination)
- EECS 999 hours can only be counted toward degree after passing the Comprehensive Examination
Ph.D. Activity Report
Students are required to submit an annual Ph.D. Activity Report (PHAR), which is used to assess academic progress. A student who receives a second unsatisfactory evaluation will be placed on academic probation. Academic probation will be
removed upon substantial progress as documented in the student's next PHAR; without substantial progress toward the degree, the student's Ph.D. status will be terminated.
Research Skills & Responsible Scholarship
The University requires that every doctoral student receive training in responsible scholarship pertinent to the field of research and obtain research skills pertinent to the doctoral level of research in their field(s). These requirements must be completed by the end of the semester that the student takes the oral comprehensive exam. For students in the EECS Department, the responsible scholarship requirement is satisfied by completion of EECS 802 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Colloquium and Seminar on Professional Issues. The research skills requirement is satisfied by completion of the Qualifying Examination.
Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
Each doctoral student must pass a doctoral qualifying examination, which also meets the research skills requirement. This is an assessment of the student’s ability to conduct Ph.D.-level scholarship based on classroom performance, written research and an oral examination to be given by a committee of tenured/tenure track graduate faculty members.
Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
Each doctoral student must take the doctoral comprehensive examination after passing the qualifying examination, completing the research skills and responsible scholarship requirements, and completing at least ¾ of the coursework requirement beyond the M.S. The student must complete the comprehensive examination before detailed work on the Ph.D. dissertation begins. Before the examination, the student must submit in writing to the committee a detailed proposal for a possible Ph.D. dissertation. In the comprehensive examination, the student is examined upon the proposal and on knowledge and insight in the specialization, and a dissertation committee is formed.
Enrollment Requirements Post-Comprehensive Exam
Starting the semester following successful completion of the oral comprehensive exam, students must enroll in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies’ Doctoral Candidacy Policy. This enrollment includes, but is not limited to, at least 1 dissertation hour every semester until graduation. See the Doctoral Candidacy policy for more information about this University level requirement.
Additionally, the Electrical Engineering Ph.D. requires a minimum of 18 dissertation hours overall for program approval to graduate.
Ph.D. Final Dissertation and Oral Defense
Following completion of the Ph.D. dissertation, the candidate must defend the dissertation in an oral final examination. The examining committee is once again constituted as in the comprehensive oral examination.
The dissertation must be an original work of research that advances the field of EECS and complies with the Office of Graduate Studies’ Doctoral Dissertation policy. Upon approval by the student's committee that the student’s dissertation research and written document is complete, the student must defend the dissertation before all committee members in the final dissertation defense. The final dissertation defense includes a public presentation of the dissertation research by the candidate and concludes with a period of questioning by the committee, faculty, and public in attendance. After posing questions to the student about the dissertation work, committee members deliberate and vote on a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. A grade of Satisfactory requires a majority vote, and may be contingent on the completion of specific revisions by a designated due date. The committee may also recommend that a student earning a satisfactory grade be considered for Honors by the Department. Honors are conferred at graduation by the Department, reflecting outstanding work in all aspects of the doctoral program.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EECS 510 | Introduction to the Theory of Computing | 3 |
| EECS 512 | Electronic Circuits III | 3 |
| EECS 545 | Electric Energy Production and Storage | 3 |
| EECS 547 | Power System Analysis | 3 |
| EECS 562 | Introduction to Communication Systems | 4 |
| EECS 563 | Introduction to Communication Networks | 3 |
| EECS 565 | Introduction to Information and Computer Security | 3 |
| EECS 568 | Introduction to Data Mining | 3 |
| EECS 569 | Computer Forensics | 3 |
| EECS 592 | Cybersecurity Design | 3 |
| EECS 611 | Electromagnetic Compatibility | 3 |
| EECS 622 | Microwave and Radio Transmission Systems | 3 |
| EECS 623 | Interdisciplinary Collaborations | 3 |
| EECS 628 | Fiber Optic Communication Systems | 3 |
| EECS 630 | Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| EECS 639 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| EECS 643 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| EECS 644 | Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EECS 645 | Computer Systems Architecture | 3 |
| EECS 649 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| EECS 658 | Introduction to Machine Learning | 3 |
| EECS 662 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| EECS 665 | Compiler Construction | 4 |
| EECS 666 | Introduction to Network Security | 3 |
| EECS 670 | Introduction to Semiconductor Processing | 3 |
| EECS 677 | Advanced Software Security Evaluation | 3 |
| EECS 678 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 4 |
| EECS 683 | Introduction to Hardware Security and Trust | 3 |
| EECS 685 | Introduction to IoT Security | 3 |
| EECS 687 | Mobile Security | 3 |
| EECS 690 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-3 |
| EECS 695 | Software Reverse Engineering | 3 |
| EECS 700 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| EECS 713 | High-Speed Digital Circuit Design | 3 |
| EECS 721 | Antennas | 3 |
| EECS 723 | Microwave Engineering | 3 |
| EECS 725 | Introduction to Radar Systems | 3 |
| EECS 727 | Photonics | 3 |
| EECS 728 | Fiber-optic Measurement and Sensors | 3 |
| EECS 730 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| EECS 739 | Parallel Scientific Computing | 3 |
| EECS 740 | Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| EECS 743 | Advanced Computer Architecture | 3 |
| EECS 744 | Digital Signal Processing Implementation in Programmable Logic Devices | 3 |
| EECS 750 | Advanced Operating Systems | 3 |
| EECS 752 | Modern Computer Organization and Design | 3 |
| EECS 753 | Embedded and Real Time Computer Systems | 3 |
| EECS 755 | Software Modeling and Analysis | 3 |
| EECS 759 | Estimation and Control of Unmanned Autonomous Systems | 3 |
| EECS 762 | Programming Language Foundation I | 3 |
| EECS 764 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| EECS 765 | Introduction to Cryptography and Computer Security | 3 |
| EECS 766 | Network Security | 3 |
| EECS 767 | Information Retrieval | 3 |
| EECS 768 | Virtual Machines | 3 |
| EECS 769 | Information Theory | 3 |
| EECS 777 | Advanced Software Security Auditing | 3 |
| EECS 780 | Communication Networks | 3 |
| EECS 781 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| EECS 782 | Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| EECS 783 | Hardware Security and Trust | 3 |
| EECS 785 | Internet of Things Security | 3 |
| EECS 786 | Digital Very-Large-Scale-Integration | 3 |
| EECS 787 | Mobile Security | 3 |
| EECS 795 | Software Reverse Engineering | 3 |
| EECS 800 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| EECS 801 | Directed Graduate Readings | 1-3 |
| EECS 802 | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Colloquium and Seminar on Professional Issues | 1 |
| EECS 812 | Software Requirements Engineering | 3 |
| EECS 820 | Advanced Electromagnetics | 3 |
| EECS 823 | Microwave Remote Sensing | 3 |
| EECS 828 | Advanced Fiber-Optic Communications | 3 |
| EECS 835 | Advanced Data Science | 3 |
| EECS 836 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| EECS 841 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| EECS 843 | Programming Language Foundation II | 3 |
| EECS 844 | Adaptive Signal Processing | 3 |
| EECS 861 | Random Signals and Noise | 3 |
| EECS 862 | Principles of Digital Communication Systems | 3 |
| EECS 863 | Network Analysis, Simulation, and Measurements | 3 |
| EECS 865 | Wireless Communication Systems | 3 |
| EECS 866 | Network Security | 3 |
| EECS 868 | Mathematical Optimization with Applications | 3 |
| EECS 869 | Error Control Coding | 3 |
| EECS 891 | Graduate Problems | 1-5 |
| EECS 899 | Master's Thesis or Report | 1-6 |
| EECS 965 | Detection and Estimation Theory | 3 |
| EECS 998 | Post-Master's Research | 1-6 |
| EECS 999 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad knowledge in their discipline.
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in (at least) one area of expertise in their discipline.
- Conduct independent, publishable and impactful research.
- Document and communicate a compelling, focused, and logical technical argument in writing and orally at a professional level.