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Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Computational Sciences (ENCS)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Engineering and Computational Sciences (ENCS) is an interdisciplinary program supported by faculty from several disciplines including Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Center of Excellence in Information Systems, Engineering and Management.

Recognizing the current challenges offered by information age, the Ph.D. program is designed to provide an integrated systems approach to the development of computer (hardware and software) intensive systems to interested students from various disciplines of engineering and computer science.

TSU also offer separately Master's degrees in Computer and Information Systems Engineering and Master of Engineering with options in Civil and Environmental, Electrical, Biomedical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Engineering.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The program provides opportunities for students from electrical or other engineering fields, computer science, and business majors to pursue this degree through different levels of admission status.

For admission to the M.S. in CISE program, the student must have B. S. degree in Electrical Engineering, or other engineering disciplines or computer science from an accredited program.

Unconditional admission: the student must also have the necessary prerequisite courses and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above out of 4.00

Conditional Admission: If an evaluation of the above student’s transcripts show prerequisite deficiencies, or a cumulative GPA between 2.75 to 3.0, the student will be eligible for conditional admission. Students with a B. S. degree in Business or other related science areas with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above will be eligible for conditional admission. Also, students with a B.S. degree in engineering, a cumulative GPA between 2.50 to 2.75 and a passing score of 70 in Fundamentals of Engineering or EIT will be eligible for conditional admission. Students with exceptional experience in this field may be considered.
 

All students applying for admission must submit to the office of Graduate Studies and Research one completed Graduate Application form and two copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended.
 

Admission to Candidacy: The university policy for admission to candidacy will be followed. However, students admitted conditionally must remove all deficiencies with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 in undergraduate prerequisite courses and accumulate no more than 9 graduate credits before achieving unconditional status.

RESEARCH LABS

State of the art research labs and centers include:

• Center of Neural Network,
• Intelligent Control Systems and Robotic Lab,
• Intelligent Manufacturing Lab,
• Intelligent Signal Processing Lab,
• CFD Lab,
• Biomedical Engineer Lab.

Ph. D. in CISE Curriculum

Areas of specialization: 

Suggested courses in each of the three areas of concentration to be selected by student's Ph.D. Advisory Committee and approved the Program Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Engineering.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION:

Computer Communication and Networks: (Core)

Control System and Signal Processing: (Core)

Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing: (Core)

Ph.D. Thesis:

CISE 7900 Ph.D. Dissertation                                                                       21

Seminar:

CISE 7600 Seminar                                                                                    0

Transfer Credits

Transfer students with Masters degrees and beyond may transfer up to a maximum of 24 credit hours of equivalent courses towards required and/or elective courses, upon approval of program Coordinator.

Major Advisor

Initially the Coordinator of the Ph.D. program will serve as an academic advisor for all new students entering the program. Each student in the Ph.D. program is expected to select a major advisor by the beginning of the second year with the approval of the Coordinator. All major advisors must hold tenure or tenure-track full-time graduate faculty positions.

Ph.D. Advisory Committee

An Ph.D. Advisory Committee will consist of four (4) graduate faculty from the student's program with the major advisor as its chairperson. The Ph.D. Advisory Committee will be recommended by the major advisor, with input from the student, to the Coordinator of the Ph.D. program, for approval by the Dean of the College of Engineering and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Upon the student's completion of courses and selection of a concentration, the Ph.D. Advisory Committee will review the student's prior transcripts, evaluate and recommend any transfer credits, and prepare a program of study for approval by the Coordinator of the Ph.D. program and the Dean of College of Engineering before submission to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. The Committee will supervise the student's program, administer dissertation review and approval, and finally recommend the awarding of the degree.

Retention

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better on a scale of 4.00, and pass all pass/ fail courses throughout the program to remain in good academic standing.

Students must have a grade of B or better in all core courses and may not have more than two C grades in other courses used to meet degree requirements. After completion of nine (9) semester hours of graduate work, if the student's cumulative GPA at the end of a given semester falls below 3.00, the student will be placed on academic probation for the next semester and must satisfy the existing University requirements to return to good academic standing. Students may be dismissed from the program upon recommendation of the Ph.D. Advisory Committee for continued probation beyond two consecutive semesters.

Comprehensive Written Examination

The written examination is designed to evaluate the student's readiness to advance to candidacy status. It is scheduled after the student has met all of the core courses and some of the major areas required and elective course requirements specified in the student's program of study and upon the recommendation of the student's major advisor. The comprehensive examination committee will develop the written examination. This is an ad hoc committee consisting of at least three (3) graduate faculties in the program and is appointed by the Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in CISE, upon the recommendation of the major advisor. This committee will determine the passing performance and inform the student, the Coordinator, and the student's major advisor of the final outcome of the examination. The comprehensive written examination will consist of questions from the core, the student's area of study and the knowledge considered essential background for the dissertation research.

Students who pass the comprehensive written examination and meet all other requirements for candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in CISE will receive written confirmation of the status of their candidacy from the Dean of Graduate School. Students who fail the examination may take it again after at least one semester. Students who fail the examination after two attempts will be dropped from the program. Students in the Ph.D. program with good standing who do not plan to pursue the Ph.D. degree may seek to meet the M.S. in CISE or the Master of Engineering degree requirements of the University.

Oral Defense of Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal is submitted to the student's major advisor and the Ph.D. Advisory Committee for review. The committee will make recommendations as needed. The proposal must be orally defended by the candidate before the Advisory Committee, and it must be accepted by the committee. A signature of committee members on the dissertation proposal constitutes approval to proceed with thesis research. Only after approval of the dissertation proposal may the student register for the CISE 7900 Ph.D. Dissertation course.

Admission to Candidacy for Ph.D. Degree in CISE

  Admission to candidacy for Ph.D. degree in CISE will require compliance with all existing Graduate School policies such as;

•   Completion of all core and concentration courses approved for the student's program of study.
•   A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better,
•   Successful passing of Comprehensive Written Examination, and
•   Successful oral defense of dissertation proposal
   

Degree Requirements

The student must successfully complete the approved program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

After the approval of the dissertation proposal, student must complete dissertation research and submit completed dissertation to the Ph. D Advisory Committee for approval.

Upon approval by the Ph. D Advisory Committee and the graduate school, the student must defend the research before the Advisory Committee at a public seminar before the faculty, students, alumni and/or industrial representatives.

Upon successful defense of research, presentation of the written dissertation, and approval by the Coordinator of the Ph.D. program and the Graduate School, the major advisor with the consent of the Ph.D. Advisory Committee will initiate recommendation for awarding of the degree.

Other Requirements

Other requirements such as residency, maximum class load, transfer of credits, time limits for credits and preparation of dissertation will comply with all existing policies of the University, the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Sciences.