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UMassD Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering
PhD

The PhD in Electrical Engineering provides students with the education to be researchers and leaders in their fields of specialization. The program provides both breadth and depth through a flexible structure of formal course work, independent study, and research.

The PhD program is an individualized program of study with a focus on preparing you for PhD dissertation research. The dissertation is an original scholarly contribution to the research literature of the field and is the culmination of your academic career.

The PhD program has two options, depending on the student’s previous educational background:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering

Student success

David Prairie

Student spotlight

David Prairie '20: The value of conducting research

David says conducting research as a PhD student prepared him to succeed and advance in his chosen field.

A minimum of 18 credits beyond the MS requirement or 48 credits beyond the BS is expected (exclusive of dissertation research).

Although it is not necessary to obtain the MS degree before proceeding in the PhD program, the Graduate Academic and Research Skills components of the PhD Qualifier can be met over the course of completing an MS at UMass Dartmouth. If a student enters with a BS or an MS from another institution, he or she must explicitly meet the PhD Qualifying requirements. 

PhD students should complete and pass the PhD qualifying requirements appropriate to their option (Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering):

  • if they enter the program with an MS: by the end of their first year of study
  • if they enter the program with a BS: at the completion of 30 credits

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

Research

Our faculty are experts in an impressive variety of fields and are engaged notable research ventures supported by public and private funding. Key research areas within the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE):

Admissions requirements

To apply please create an account in our Applicant Portal. You will need to submit:

  • Application form
  • $60 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Statement of Purpose (minimum 300 words)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not)
  • English Proficiency test scores:TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic (if applicable)
  • Letter(s) of Recommendation (see program requirements for more information)
  • GRE/GMAT (not required for most programs, see program requirements for more information)

Unofficial transcripts and test scores are accepted for application review but official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

  • Students possessing a master's degree and a strong academic background in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar disciplines are encouraged to apply.
  • While most students admitted to the doctoral program hold a master’s degree, applicants with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related discipline are also encouraged to apply for direct admission to the PhD program. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong academic achievement and clear potential for conducting independent scholarly research.
  • Admission to the program is competitive. In general, students must exceed minimum requirements to gain admission. However, students who do not meet minimum requirements—but who otherwise show evidence of strong academic, professional, or research ability—may be accepted upon approval of the ECE Graduate Committee.
  • Applicants to the PhD program must have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement.

Requirements

  • GRE is required. The GRE is waived for students with a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution in the United States.
  • 1 letter of recommendation: from a person in the field of your academic major at the institution most recently attended or from a supervisor familiar with your recent job performance. BS/MS applicants are encouraged to include a recommendation from a department faculty member willing to advise their graduate research. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.
  • International students should have a minimum English Proficiency score of TOEFL iBT 80 (New TOEFL 2026 score of 4), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or the Pearsons PTE Academic 58.
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Application dates

A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.

Learn more about assistantships at UMass Dartmouth

International (F-1) students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). To learn about the eligibility criteria and detailed steps to apply, please review the International Student & Scholar Center (ISSC) OPT page and USCIS resources. F-1 students must consult with the ISSC to apply for STEM OPT.

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Course descriptions, schedules and requirements