PhD in Electrical Engineering - Admission Requirements

MS to PhD

  • Students are expected to have a Master’s degree in engineering or a related discipline awarded by a recognized institution. Applicants with a different background are encouraged to apply. The admission committee will evaluate the application holistically to determine applicant suitability using several factors such as academic performance, GPA, GRE scores, background and experience. The admission committee may assign remedial courses on a case-by-case basis.
  • Submit official transcripts from previous institutions attended. The desirable minimum GPA is 3.3 (of a 4.0 maximum) in the last 60 credits attempted in the relevant field.
  • Submit the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The GRE requirement is waived for students with a Master’s degree from EECS.
  • The applicant must produce two reference letters (at least two from academia) that address his/her research potential, motivation, relative academic achievement, and personality. Forms are supplied with applications for admission.
  • International students from non-English-speaking countries must be proficient in written and spoken English as evidenced by a score of at least 500 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (Internet-based test) on the TOEFL or a score of at least 6.0 on the IELTS.
  • Applicants are expected to have taken the prerequisite courses listed below (or equivalents) before pursuing the Ph.D. degree. In some cases, prerequisite requirements may be satisfied after admission to the Ph.D. program. In such a case, proficiency in the prerequisite courses must be shown before the student takes dissertation credits.
  • Statement of Research Interests

 

BS to PhD Direct Path program

  • Students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline awarded by a recognized institution. The admission committee will evaluate the application holistically to determine applicant suitability using several factors such as academic performance, GPA, GRE scores, background and experience. The admission committee may assign remedial courses on a case-by-case basis.
  • Submit official transcripts from previous institutions attended. The desirable minimum bachelor GPA is 3.3 (of a 4.0 maximum) in the last 60 credits attempted prior to graduation.
  • Submit the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The desirable combined score (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE is 310 or better.
  • The applicant must produce two reference letters. Where possible these letters should address the student's qualifications for research.
  • International students from non-English-speaking countries must be proficient in written and spoken English as evidenced by a score of at least 500 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (Internet-based test) on the TOEFL or a score of at least 6.0 on the IELTS.
  • Applicants are expected to have taken the prerequisite courses listed below (or equivalents) before pursuing the Ph.D. degree. In some cases, prerequisite requirements may be satisfied after admission to the Ph.D. program. In such a case, proficiency in the prerequisite courses must be shown before the student takes dissertation credits.
  • Statement of Research Interests

Students in the MS Program at FAU can apply for the direct path Ph.D. program within the first year of graduate studies. In addition to the requirements stipulated for the BS to PhD program, the students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the graduate program at FAU.

As part of the application to EECS PhD programs, applicants are required to submit a research statement. This crucial document should clearly communicate the applicant’s research background, interests, and potential fit with current research foci of faculty in the department. Applicants are strongly encouraged to go over the department's faculty research and publications before writing their research statement. The research statement must address three main areas:

  1. The Applicant’s Research Experience and Preparation
    Describe the academic and professional experiences that have prepared the applicant for doctoral studies:
    • Relevant coursework, research training, and applicable professional experience
    • Research projects and technical skills
    • Publications, presentations, or significant findings
  2. The Applicant’s Proposed Research Direction
    Outline the research areas to be pursued during PhD studies:
    • Clearly state research interests
    • Explain the importance of this research
    • Describe how previous experiences have prepared the applicant for this research
  3. Faculty Alignment
    Identify potential faculty advisors in the EECS department:
    • Name two or three faculty members whose research aligns with the applicant’s proposed research direction
    • For each faculty member, (i) explain how their work connects to the applicant’s research interests and (ii) discuss how their expertise would benefit the proposed research program
       

Prerequisite Courses

From the following list of deficiency EE courses, students must take two mandatory courses and at least two from the menu of courses.

Title

Course No.
Laboratory 1 (Mandatory) EEL 3118
Signals and Digital Filter Design (Mandatory) EEL 3502
Introduction to Embedded Systems CDA 4630
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves EEL 3470
Electronics 2 and Lab EEL 4361C
Principles of Communication Systems EEL 4512C
Control Systems 1 EEL 4652
Stochastic Processes and Random Signals EEE 4541
Electric Power Systems EEL 4216
Electrical Machines EEL 4220

 

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