Nov 24, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2022-2023 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

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

Plan Description

The dual Ph.D. EE and M.S. MAT program of study is designed for those who want to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or a career in Electrical Engineering with emphasis in applied mathematics. The program prepares graduate students with complementing educational components covering electrical engineering and mathematics, which is the basis of all engineering.

The culminating experience in the Ph.D. program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is centered about developing new knowledge focused around a specific theme embodied in the form a well-written and orally defended dissertation. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNLV offers a number of program options leading to the Ph.D. degree in the Field of Electrical Engineering. Specific major areas of study currently available include: Communications, Computer Engineering, Control System Theory, Electromagnetics and Optics, Electronics, Power Systems, Signal Processing, and Solid State Electronics and Photonics.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Learning outcomes for each degree can be found below:

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Applicants must satisfy the minimum requirements of the Ph.D. – Electrical Engineering program, and the M.S. – Mathematics program. If denied by one program, the applicant will have the option of proceeding with a single degree program with departmental approval.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Post-Master’s

Subplan 2: Post-Bachelor’s

Subplan 3: Post-Bachelor’s Integrated BS-PHD

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Master’s

Total Credits Required: 69-72

Course Requirements

Total Credits Required for the Mathematical Sciences M.S.: 30-33

Required Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 21-24

Students completing the exam option must complete a minimum of 24 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), and students completing the thesis option must complete a minimum of 21 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712). Other graduate-level courses may be taken with advisor-approval.

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Complete 6 credits from one of the following courses:

Total Credits Required for the Electrical Engineering Ph.D.: 45

Major Field Courses – Credits: 6-15

Complete 6-15 credits of coursework in an approved major in a single area in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minimum overall average GPA of 3.33.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 6-18

Select two advisor-approved minor fields and complete coursework in each single area totaling 6-18 credits, with a minimum overall average GPA of 3.33. The secondary minor can be from a field outside Electrical Engineering.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
Elective Courses – Credits: 0-12

Complete 0-12 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT, PHY, AST, CEE, CEM, ECG, EGG, CS, ME, or other advisor-approved courses.

Dissertation – Credits: 18

  •  

    Total Credits Shared: 6

    Two courses can be counted between 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.

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 counted between 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 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credits 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 their 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.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s

Total Credits Required: 93-96

Course Requirements

Total Credits Required for the Mathematical Sciences M.S.: 30-33

Required Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 21-24

Students completing the exam option must complete a minimum of 24 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), and students completing the thesis option must complete a minimum of 21 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712). Other graduate-level courses may be taken with advisor-approval.

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Complete 6 credits from one of the following courses:

Total Credits Required for the Electrical Engineering Ph.D.: 69

Major Field Courses – Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of coursework in an approved major in a single area in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minimum overall GPA of 3.33. A minimum of 9 credits must be in 700-level courses.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 18

Select two advisor-approved minor fields and complete 9 credits of coursework in each single area with a minimum overall average GPA of 3.33. A minimum of 6 credits in each area must be in 700-level courses. The secondary minor can be from a field outside Electrical Engineering.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
700-Level Elective Courses – Credits: 12

Complete 12 credits of 700-level MAT, PHY, AST, CEE, CEM, ECG, EGG, CS, ME, or other advisor-approved courses.

Elective Courses – Credits: 6

Complete 6 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT, PHY, AST, CEE, CEM, ECG, EGG, CS, ME, or other advisor-approved courses.

Dissertation – Credits: 18

  •  

    Total Credits Shared: 6

    Two courses can be counted between 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.

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 counted between 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 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credits 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 their 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 subplan 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.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s Integrated BS-PHD

Total Credits Required: 84-93

Course Requirements

Total Credits Required for the Mathematical Sciences M.S.: 30-33

Required Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 21-24

Students completing the exam option must complete a minimum of 24 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712), and students completing the thesis option must complete a minimum of 21 credits of MAT or STA elective courses (excluding MAT 711 & 712). Other graduate-level courses may be taken with advisor-approval.

Thesis – Credits: 6 (Optional)

Complete 6 credits from one of the following courses:

Total Credits Required for the Electrical Engineering Ph.D.: 60-66

Major Field Courses – Credits: 6-15

Complete 6-15 credits of coursework in an approved major in a single area in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minimum overall GPA of 3.33.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
Minor Fields Courses – Credits: 9-18

Select two advisor-approved minor fields and complete coursework in each single area totaling 9-18 credits, with a minimum overall average GPA of 3.33. The secondary minor can be from a field outside Electrical Engineering.

Communications
Computer Engineering
Control Systems Theory
Electromagnetics and Optics
Electronics
Power Engineering
Signal Processing
Solid State Electronics and Photonics
Elective Courses – Credits: 9-18

Complete 9-18 credits of 600- or 700-level MAT, PHY, AST, CEE, CEM, ECG, EGG, CS, ME, or other advisor-approved courses.

Dissertation – Credits: 18

  •  

    Total Credits Shared: 6

    Two courses can be counted between 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.

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 subplan.
  2. Two of the courses included in the degree program can be counted between 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 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
  2. Students completing the comprehensive exam must complete a minimum of 30 credits 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 their 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.

Plan Graduation Requirements

  1. Students cannot graduate from one portion of the dual degree until the requirements for both are met. Students must apply to graduate from both programs for the same semester.
  2. Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Mathematical Sciences M.S

  1. The student must successfully complete a culminating experience.
  2. If the exam option is chosen, the student must successfully pass a final comprehensive examination.
  3. If the thesis option is chosen, the student must:
    1. Submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
    2. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Electrical Engineering Ph.D.

  1. During the first semester, a Ph.D. student must select a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor does not have to be the one to whom the student was assigned upon entering the Ph.D. program. In coordination with the faculty advisor, the student must also form a doctoral advisory committee. A doctoral advisory committee is composed of at least four members of the UNLV Graduate Faculty. Three of the faculty must be from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The fourth from a relevant supporting field having Full Graduate Faculty Status as recognized by the Graduate College.
  2. Students admitted on provisional and/or conditional status are not allowed to take the qualifying exam until their provisions and/or conditions have been met. Students taking the exam while on provisional or conditional status will be required to retake the exam regardless if one or all areas of the exam have been passed.
  3. Provisional status students must complete all required supplementary work within one calendar year from the time of admission into the program with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course.
  4. Pass the Qualifying Exam within 2 semesters of being admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular (full graduate standing) status. The Qualifying Exam is offered once every fall semester and once every spring semester. This exam cannot be taken more than twice.
    1. The Qualifying Exam tests the student’s general undergraduate knowledge of electrical engineering and computer engineering. To register for the Qualifying Exam, eligible students must notify the graduate coordinator no later than one month prior to the examination date.
    2. All students must pass the Qualifying Exam within the first two semesters (excluding the summer semester) upon being admitted to the Ph.D. program on a regular status. If a student is required to take the qualifying exam and is not present to sit the exam, an automatic FAIL is assigned. Students who have not passed the Qualifying Exam within this timeframe will be terminated from the Ph.D. program. Students who have not passed the Qualifying Exam by their second attempt will be terminated from the Ph.D. program. Students in the Direct Ph.D. program who fail the Qualifying Exam on their second attempt within the two semester timeframe may elect to pursue a M.S. Degree by completing all of the requirements listed for that degree.
    3. The Qualifying Exam is a four and one-half hour exam covering questions in the following undergraduate electrical and computer engineering fields:
      1. Communications
      2. Control System Theory
      3. Electromagnetics and Optics
      4. Electronics
      5. Power
      6. Signal Processing
      7. Solid State
      8. Digital Logic Design
      9. Computer Architectures
      10. Embedded Systems
      11. Computer Communication Networks
    4. To pass the qualifying exam requirement, the student must successfully complete any four of the eleven areas with a grade of PASS to complete the qualifying exam requirement within two sittings. If the student passes less than four areas on the first attempt, the student will receive a PASS for those individual areas successfully completed and will not be required to retake these areas on the second attempt. The exam is a closed note, closed book exam.
    5. For more details on course specifics, exam logistics, appeal rights and procedure, and protocols regarding the qualifying exam, refer to the ECE department’s Electrical Engineering Graduate Program Document.
  5. In all Post-Bachelor’s subplans, a Ph.D. student must complete a minimum of 15 credits in an approved ECE major field in a single area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 9 credits in an approved ECE minor field (primary minor) in a single but different area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and another 9 credits in a second approved minor (secondary minor) field. Currently, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNLV offers Communications, Computer Engineering, Control System Theory, Electromagnetics and Optics, Electronics, Power Systems, Signal Processing, and Solid State Materials and Devices as major fields. Specific courses that can be applied to specific fields are listed in detail in the Electrical Engineering Graduate Program Document.
    1. Of the 15 credits required in the ECE major field, a minimum of 9 credits must be completed in 700-level courses. To complete the ECE major field requirement, the applied 15 credits of ECE major course work must attain a minimum overall GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30).
    2. Each student must complete two minor fields. To complete a minor field, a student must complete a minimum of 9 credits in a minor field and have an overall minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+=3.30) for the 9 minor field credits. Of the 9 required credits in each minor field, a minimum of 6 credits must be in 700-level courses. Courses that can be applied to specific minor fields are listed in detail in the Electrical Engineering Graduate Program Document. These courses may be applied to any designated field but may only be counted once. With the written approval of the major advisor and the student’s advisory committee, the secondary minor may be a mixed minor field. A mixed minor field may be formed with courses inside and/or outside of the Electrical Engineering Department’s approved fields (e.g., mathematics and physics, computer engineering and computer science, physics, mechanical engineering, solid state and electromagnetics) A mixed minor may not be composed of courses in the Electrical Engineering Department that satisfy course work in the major and the other minor field. The only exception is when a course may be used in more than one field. In this case, the course may not be counted twice but may be used for either minor area. However, the student must complete at least one minor field (primary minor field) in Electrical Engineering in a single area.
  6. After passing the Qualifying Exam, successfully completing all courses for a major field, and successfully completing all courses for the ECE minor field, students are eligible to take the Comprehensive Exam. All students must have passed the Comprehensive Exam within two semesters after successfully completing all required course work except for the 18 credits Dissertation. [NOTE: Up to 6 credits of Dissertation taken prior to the successful completion of the Preliminary Exam may count towards the degree program.] The Comprehensive Exam cannot be taken more than once per semester and cannot be taken more than twice.
    1. The Comprehensive Exam tests the candidate’s depth of knowledge in the candidate’s chosen ECE major field and chosen ECE minor (primary minor) field. All students must have passed the Comprehensive Exam within two semesters after successfully completing all required course work (except for the 18 credits of Dissertation). The Comprehensive Exam is offered once every fall semester and once every spring semester. The Comprehensive Exam cannot be taken more than twice. Candidates who have not passed the Comprehensive Exam within this timeframe (two consecutive sittings) will be terminated from the Ph.D. program. Candidates who have not passed the Comprehensive Exam following their second attempt will be terminated from the Ph.D. program.
    2. Before a student is eligible to register for the Comprehensive Exam, the candidate must have obtained regular (full graduate standing) admission status, passed the Qualifying Exam, and must have successfully completed all of the course requirements for the ECE major field and the ECE minor (primary minor) field. The student must have acquired a minimum GPA of 3.33 in both the major and minor fields separately. If the minor field GPA is less than 3.33 and/or the major field GPA is less than 3.33, then the minor and/or minor field requirement has not been successfully completed. The candidate will not be allowed to take the Comprehensive Exam until both the major and minor 3.33 GPA requirements are fulfilled. Further, the student must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 and must have satisfied all other Ph.D. degree program admission requirements. If a student takes the Comprehensive Exam before any one of these requirements has been satisfied, the student will automatically receive a FAIL grade for the exam. At their discretion, the Graduate Committee may also count this failing grade as one of the student’s attempts for the Comprehensive Exam. To register for the Comprehensive Exam, eligible students must notify the graduate coordinator no later than one month prior to the examination date.
    3. To pass the Comprehensive Exam, a student must pass a five-hour exam covering courses in their ECE major field and ECE minor (primary minor) field. A pass or fail grade will be given for the exam. The graduate committee will notify students of the results of the exam. The major and minor area exam will emphasize graduate coursework taken in the ECE major and ECE minor (primary minor; minor 1) fields. The exam will evaluate the student’s ability to apply their theoretical and analytical abilities to problems in their ECE major and ECE minor (primary minor) field. However, the exam may require knowledge of undergraduate material related to the student’s major and minor fields. Students should expect problems that require advanced thinking. Specific problems need not be familiar textbook problems nor may the student be necessarily familiar with the problem. A pass or fail grade will be given for the exam. The graduate committee will notify students of the exam results.
    4. For more details on course specifics, exam logistics, appeal rights and procedure, and protocols regarding the comprehensive exam, refer to the ECE department’s Electrical Engineering Graduate Program Document.
  7. After successfully completing all required course work and passing the Comprehensive Exam, the candidate must pass the Preliminary Exam. The Preliminary Exam cannot be taken more than once per semester but may be repeated until passed.
    1. The Preliminary Exam evaluates the caliber of a student’s dissertation topic. The Preliminary Exam cannot be taken more than once per semester but may be repeated until passed.
    2. To be eligible for the Preliminary Exam, a student must have passed the Comprehensive Exam, and have successfully completed all required course work except for the 18 credits of Dissertation.
    3. Before the Preliminary Exam, a student must prepare a 10 to 20-page prospectus of their research. A copy of this prospectus must be submitted to the Graduate Committee and each member of the Ph.D. candidate’s advisory committee at least two weeks prior to the Preliminary Exam.
    4. The student must also notify the Graduate Committee and each member of their advisory committee of the date, time and location of their Preliminary Exam. This must be done at least two weeks prior to the Preliminary Exam.
    5. During the Preliminary Exam, the student presents their prospectus to their advisory committee. To pass the Preliminary Exam, the student’s advisory committee must unanimously approve the student’s prospectus. Students who pass the Preliminary Exam are advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D.
  8. Complete a minimum of 18 credits of Dissertation and complete a dissertation containing original research. Upon completion, the student must pass the Final Exam in which the student defends their dissertation. The Final Exam is the culminating experience of the PhD program.
    1. The Final Exam evaluates the Ph.D. candidate’s dissertation. The Final Exam cannot be taken more than once per every three months but may be repeated until passed. To be eligible for the Final Exam, a Ph.D. candidate must have passed the Preliminary Exam, and have successfully completed all required course work including a minimum of 18 credits of Dissertation. A minimum of 12 credits of Dissertation must be taken after the successful completion of the Preliminary Exam. A copy of the Ph.D. candidate’s dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate Committee and each member of the Ph.D. candidate’s advisory committee at least two weeks prior to the Final Exam. The Ph.D. candidate must also notify the Graduate Committee and each member of their advisory committee of the date, time, and location of their Final Exam at least two weeks prior to the Final Exam. During the Final Exam, the Ph.D. candidate will present their dissertation to their advisory committee. To pass the Final Exam, the Ph.D. candidate’s advisory committee must unanimously approve the Ph.D. candidate’s dissertation.
  9. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires that the Ph.D. degree be completed within a period of six years from the time the candidate is fully admitted to the Ph.D. program. Further, courses taken more than six years prior to graduation cannot be applied toward the PhD degree without permission from the Graduate College. Students exceeding this time limit must formally write a letter requesting permission from both the Graduate Committee and the Graduate College to stay in the Ph.D. program and apply coursework towards the degree program. The formal letter must explain the circumstances of why the degree was not completed within the allotted timeframe and indicate the extended period of time needed to complete the degree.
  10. The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  11. After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 
  12. Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.