Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD
Program Code: G-ECE-PHD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
Website: ece.duke.edu/phd
Program Summary
Graduate study in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is intended to prepare students for leadership roles in academia, industry, and government that require creative technical problem solving skills. The department offers both PhD and MS degree programs with options for study in a broad spectrum of areas within electrical and computer engineering. Research and course offerings in the department are organized into four areas of specialization: computer engineering; engineering physics; microelectronics, photonics, and nanotechnology; signal and information processing. Detailed descriptions of course offerings, faculty research interests, and degree requirements may be found on the department’s website.
Interdisciplinary programs are also available that connect the above areas with those in other engineering departments, computer science, the natural sciences, and The School of Medicine. Students in the department may also be involved in research conducted in one of Duke’s centers (e.g. the Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics and Communications, the Center for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics). Recommended prerequisites for graduate study in electrical engineering include knowledge of basic mathematics, statistics, and physics, electrical networks, electromagnetics, and system theory. Students with nonelectrical and/or computer engineering undergraduate degrees are welcome to apply but should discuss their enrollment and course requirement options with the director of graduate studies.
Academic Requirements
A qualifying examination is required for the PhD program and must be taken by the beginning of the third semester of enrollment. The exam is intended to assess the student’s potential for success as a researcher in their chosen sub-discipline. To ensure breadth of study, PhD students are required to take courses outside their area of specialization. There is no foreign language requirement.