Dual Degree: Doctor of Philosophy - Electrical Engineering & Master of Science - Mathematical Sciences

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. A minimum 69 or 72 credits (including thesis and dissertation credits) is required for the DualElectrical Engineering Ph.D. and Mathematical Sciences M.S. which corresponds to the choice of completing a Mathematics comprehensive exam or thesis.
2. Two of the courses included in the degree program can be double counted in the Electrical Engineering Ph.D. and Mathematical Sciences M.S. degrees. Non-ECG courses must be applied towards non-ECG elective credits in the electrical engineering degree program pursued.

Mathematical Sciences M.S

1. Students completing a thesis must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
3. For the master’s degree 21 credits of mathematics course work must be at the 700-level (excluding thesis).
4. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
5. The Graduate College requires a minimum of 50 percent of the total credits required to complete the graduate degree, exclusive of transferred credits and/or the thesis, must be earned at UNLV after admission to a graduate degree program.
6. Students must complete a final examination. This will be either an examination to defend the thesis or a written comprehensive examination based on requirements 1 and 2.
7. If the thesis option is chosen: In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a dissertation committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Electrical Engineering Ph.D.

1. All Ph.D. students must satisfy the Ph.D. degree program admission requirements and be admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular status.
2. Complete a minimum of 27 credits of graduate level courses (excluding dissertation credits) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.20 and a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each class applied towards the 27 credits. The final division of major, minor, and elective credits will be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.
3. Of the 27 required credits, a minimum of 18 credits must be in 700-level courses. Of these 18 credits, a minimum of 15 must be from formal courses. The student’s doctoral advisory committee may add more requirements in accordance with the individual’s background and field of study.
4. No more than 3 credits may be from Graduate Independent Study together with Graduate Seminar. No more than 6 credits of a combination of informal courses such as Graduate Independent Study, Special Topics, and Seminar may be applied to the degree program.
5. Beyond the Bachelor degree, a Ph.D. student must complete a minimum of 15 credits in an approved ECE major field, 9 credits an approved ECE minor (primary minor) field, and 9 credits in a second approved open minor (secondary minor) field. Of the 15 credits required in the ECE major field, a minimum of 9 credits must be completed in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in the major field. Of the 9 required credits in each minor field, a minimum of 6 credits must be in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in each of the minor fields.
6. Informal courses (Graduate Independent Study, Graduate Seminar, and Special Topics) cannot be applied to the ECE major, ECE minor (primary minor) and the open minor (secondary minor) fields.
7. At the time of admission or no later than the first semester, the Ph.D. candidate must formally petition BOTH the graduate college and the ECE graduate committee to accept transfer credits and credits taken as a non-degree seeking graduate student to be applied to the Ph.D. program.
8. All regular (full graduate standing) status graduate students must select a faculty advisor in their first semester.
9. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20, must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.20 each semester, and must complete all graduate level courses that apply towards their degree with a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each course. Grades below B- cannot be applied towards the Ph.D. degree and must be repeated or replaced. A class grade below C (2.0) is grounds for initiating a program separation recommendation to the Graduate College. Ph.D. candidates who do not maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.2, who do not maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 each semester, or who earn more than one grade below B- will be placed on academic probation or expelled from the program. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Committee in conjunction with the Graduate College will determine the terms of the student’s probation based upon the student’s academic record and in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College.
10. All regular (full graduate standing) status graduate students must file an approved program before the completion of their third semester. This program must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator. All regular and provisional status graduate students must show satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree by completing at least six credits of their approved program per calendar year. If their progress towards their degree program is not satisfactory, students will either be put on probation or expelled from the program.
11. Before beginning a dissertation, students must have their dissertation topic approved by their advisor, and the necessary paper work including a dissertation prospectus must be filed with the Graduate College by the end of the third semester. The dissertation prospectus describes the dissertation topic and must include an introductory set of sentences, a well formed hypothesis or hypotheses (specifically italicized in the prospectus) accompanied by a motivation, objectives with major and alternative approaches to the studies, and conjectures of possible outcomes. Students are NOT allowed to take dissertation credits until their prospectus is approved. Credits taken before the approval date will NOT count towards the degree program.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. A minimum 93 or 96 credits (including thesis and dissertation credits) is required for the DualElectrical Engineering Ph.D. and Mathematical Sciences M.S. which corresponds to the choice of completing a Mathematics comprehensive exam or thesis.
2. Two of the courses included in the degree program can be double counted Electrical Engineering M.S.E and Mathematical Sciences M.S. degrees. Non-ECG courses must be applied towards non-ECG elective credits in the electrical engineering degree program pursued.

Mathematical Sciences M.S

1. Students completing a thesis must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
3. 21 credits of mathematics course work must be at the 700-level (excluding thesis).
4. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
5. The Graduate College requires a minimum of 50 percent of the total credits required to complete the graduate degree, exclusive of transferred credits and/or the thesis, must be earned at UNLV after admission to a graduate degree program.
6. Students must complete a final examination. This will be either an examination to defend the thesis or a written comprehensive examination based on requirements 1 and 2.
7. If the thesis option is chosen: In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a dissertation committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Electrical Engineering Ph.D.

1. All Ph.D. students must satisfy the Ph.D. degree program admission requirements and be admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular status.
2. Complete a minimum of 51 credits (24 M.S.E. credits + 27 Post-Master’s Track credits) of graduate level courses (excluding dissertation credits) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.20 and a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each class applied towards the 27 credits.
3. Of the 51 required credits, a minimum of 33 credits must be in 700-level courses. Of these 33 credits, a minimum of 30 must be from formal courses. The student’s doctoral advisory committee may add more requirements in accordance with the individual’s background and field of study.
4. No more than 6 credits may be from Graduate Independent Study together with Graduate Seminar. No more than 12 credits of a combination of informal courses such as Graduate Independent Study, Special Topics, and Seminar may be applied to the degree program.
5. Complete a minimum of 15 credits in an approved ECE major field, 9 credits an approved ECE minor (primary minor) field, and 9 credits in a second approved open minor (secondary minor) field. Of the 15 credits required in the ECE major field, a minimum of 9 credits must be completed in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in the major field. Of the 9 required credits in each minor field, a minimum of 6 credits must be in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in each of the minor fields.
6. Informal courses (Graduate Independent Study, Graduate Seminar, and Special Topics) cannot be applied to the ECE major, ECE minor (primary minor) and the open minor (secondary minor) fields.
7. At the time of admission or no later than the first semester, the Ph.D. candidate must formally petition BOTH the graduate college and the ECE graduate committee to accept transfer credits and credits taken as a non-degree seeking graduate student to be applied to the Ph.D. program.
8. All regular (full graduate standing) status graduate students must select a faculty advisor in their first semester.
9. Students on academic probation may be transferred to the M.S.E. Program depending on the student’s academic record. In such a case, the M.S.E. Program requirements must be satisfied. For example, only 6 credits of the informal courses may be applied to the M.S.E. degree program with the further constraint that up to 3 credits total of Independent Study in combination with Graduate Seminar may be in the 6 credits.
10. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20, must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.20 each semester, and must complete all graduate level courses that apply towards their degree with a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each course. Grades below B- cannot be applied towards the Ph.D. degree and must be repeated or replaced. A class grade below C (2.0) is grounds for initiating a program separation recommendation to the Graduate College. Ph.D. candidates who do not maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.2, who do not maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 each semester, or who earn more than one grade below B- will be placed on academic probation or expelled from the program. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Committee and/or the Graduate College will determine the terms of the student’s probation in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College.
11. All regular status graduate students must file an approved program before the completion of their third semester. This program must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator. All regular and provisional status graduate students must show satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree by completing at least six credits of their approved program per calendar year. If their progress towards their degree program is not satisfactory, students will either be put on probation or expelled from the program.
12. Before beginning a dissertation, students must have their dissertation topic approved by their advisor, and the necessary paper work including a dissertation prospectus must be filed with the Graduate College by the end of the third semester. The dissertation prospectus describes the dissertation topic and must include an introductory set of sentences, a well formed hypothesis or hypotheses (specifically italicized in the prospectus) accompanied by a motivation, objectives with major and alternative approaches to the studies, and conjectures of possible outcomes. Students are NOT allowed to take dissertation credits until their prospectus is approved. Credits taken before the approval date will NOT count towards the degree program.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Course Requirements

Degree Requirements

1. A minimum of 84, 87, 90, or 93 credits (including thesis and dissertation credits) of graduate work is required for the Dual Electrical Engineering Ph.D. and Mathematical Sciences M.S. which corresponds to the choice of completing a Mathematics comprehensive exam or thesis, and the number of credits of formally approved graduate level courses applied toward the B.S. degree and used in the Electrical Engineering Integrated BS-PHD Track.
2. Two of the courses included in the degree program can be double counted Electrical Engineering M.S.E and Mathematical Sciences M.S. degrees. Non-ECG courses must be applied towards non-ECG elective credits in the electrical engineering degree program pursued.

Mathematical Sciences M.S

1. Students completing a thesis must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
3. 21 credits of mathematics course work must be at the 700-level (excluding thesis).
4. A student will be placed on academic probation if a minimum of 3.00 GPA is not maintained in all work taken in the degree program. A grade of C or less in one graduate-level course will cause a student to be placed on academic probation and will elicit a critical review of the student’s program by the Graduate Studies Committee.
5. The Graduate College requires a minimum of 50 percent of the total credits required to complete the graduate degree, exclusive of transferred credits and/or the thesis, must be earned at UNLV after admission to a graduate degree program.
6. Students must complete a final examination. This will be either an examination to defend the thesis or a written comprehensive examination based on requirements 1 and 2.
7. If the thesis option is chosen: In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a dissertation committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.

Electrical Engineering Ph.D.

1. All Ph.D. students must satisfy the Ph.D. degree program admission requirements and be admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular status.
2. Total credits required depends on the total number of approved graduate-level course work taken as technical electives (with a grade of B or better) during the senior year.
3. Complete a minimum of 60, 63, or 66 credits (including dissertation credits) respectively corresponding to 9, 6, or 3 credits of formally approved graduate level courses applied toward the B.S. degree yielding a total of 69 course credits. The final division of major, minor, and elective credits will be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.
4. Of the 69 required credits, a minimum of 33 credits must be in 700-level courses. Of these 33 credits, a minimum of 30 must be from formal courses. The student’s doctoral advisory committee may add more requirements in accordance with the individual’s background and field of study.
5. No more than 6 credits may be from Graduate Independent Study together with Graduate Seminar. No more than 12 credits of a combination of informal courses such as Graduate Independent Study, Special Topics, and Seminar may be applied to the degree program.
6. Complete a minimum of 15 credits in an approved ECE major field, 9 credits an approved ECE minor (primary minor) field, and 9 credits in a second approved open minor (secondary minor) field. Of the 15 credits required in the ECE major field, a minimum of 9 credits must be completed in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in the major field. Of the 9 required credits in each minor field, a minimum of 6 credits must be in 700-level courses. A minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) must be obtained in each of the minor fields.
7. Informal courses (Graduate Independent Study, Graduate Seminar, and Special Topics) cannot be applied to the ECE major, ECE minor (primary minor) and the open minor (secondary minor) fields.
8. All regular (full graduate standing) status graduate students must select a faculty advisor in their first semester.
9. Students on academic probation may be transferred to the M.S.E. Program depending on the student’s academic record. In such a case, the M.S.E. Program requirements must be satisfied. For example, only 6 credits of the informal courses may be applied to the M.S.E. degree program with the further constraint that up to 3 credits total of Independent Study in combination with Graduate Seminar may be in the 6 credits.
10. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20, must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.20 each semester, and must complete all graduate level courses that apply towards their degree with a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B-) in each course. Grades below B- cannot be applied towards the Ph.D. degree and must be repeated or replaced. A class grade below C (2.0) is grounds for initiating a program separation recommendation to the Graduate College. Ph.D. candidates who do not maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.20, who do not maintain a GPA of 3.20 each semester, or who earn more than one grade below B- will either be placed on probation or expelled from the program. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Committee and/or the Graduate College will determine the terms of the student’s probation in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College.
11. All regular status graduate students must file an approved program before the completion of their third semester. This program must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator. All regular and provisional status graduate students must show satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree by completing at least six credits of their approved program per calendar year. If their progress towards their degree program is not satisfactory, students will either be put on probation or expelled from the program.
12. Before beginning a dissertation, students must have their dissertation topic approved by their advisor, and the necessary paper work including a dissertation prospectus must be filed with the Graduate College by the end of the third semester. The dissertation prospectus describes the dissertation topic and must include an introductory set of sentences, a well formed hypothesis or hypotheses (specifically italicized in the prospectus) accompanied by a motivation, objectives with major and alternative approaches to the studies, and conjectures of possible outcomes. Students are NOT allowed to take dissertation credits until their prospectus is approved. Credits taken before the approval date will NOT count towards the degree program.

Graduation Requirements

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.