Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D.

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Minimum Total Hours: 90

Program Code: D350

Program Requirements

Area Coursework
Choose at least 4 courses in one ECE area from the list of areas and courses maintained in the ECE grad office.12
Dissertation Research
ECE 6980Research for Doctoral Dissertation (6 hours minimum)6
Electives
Additional coursework needed to reach 90 post-baccalaureate hours, as approved by the doctoral advisory committee72
Total Credit Hours90

Coursework Requirements

  • All courses must carry graduate credit.
  • Any G3000 level courses must be from an approved list.
  • Maximum 16 hours below 5000 level.
  • No more than 12 hours below 5000 level may be ECE coursework.
  • Any cross-listed course must be taken with the ECE prefix.
  • Any slash-listed course must be taken as graduate level.
  • Maximum 9 hours independent/special studies (5990).
  • Maximum 12 hours in each of the following categories: ECE 5973, ECE 6973, ECE 5283, ECE 6283.

Additional Requirements

  • Prior to attempting the general examination, a student must complete at least 33 credit hours that includes 18 credit hours of ECE courses. These 33 credit hours may include transferred master’s degree credit and/or postbaccalaureate graduate credit.
  • Students are required to pass the ECE Preliminary Exam. The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering will ensure this requirement is met before defense of the dissertation.
  • Students are required to pass the final oral exam.

General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

A student should expect to spend at least the equivalent of three full academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree to obtain the doctoral degree. During this period the student will take appropriate graduate coursework, successfully complete the general examination, and successfully defend and submit the final dissertation.

All coursework applied to the doctoral degree must carry graduate credit.

The doctoral degree requires at least 90 post-baccalaureate hours, including both formal coursework and hours of research.

The minimum hour requirement for a specific doctoral degree program cannot be waived.

No more than one-half of the credit hours, both OU and overall, excluding Research for Doctoral Dissertation (6980), may be S/U-graded coursework.

The student must be in residence at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters during the pursuit of the doctoral degree while enrolled and engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit.

For more detailed regulations and requirements for Doctoral degrees, please consult the Graduate College Bulletin: http://www.ou.edu/gradcollege/forms/bulletin