The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering stimulates excellence in scholarship and research through close contact with the faculty and programs tailored to fit students' individual needs.
Students select an advisor and, with the advisor, plan an individual program bounded only by the broad guidelines of the Graduate College and the program. The department maintains close interdisciplinary ties with other University of Iowa departments, especially with the departments of Physics and Astronomy and Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences); the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering and the departments of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (College of Engineering); and the Carver College of Medicine. The principal areas of graduate study include medical image analysis, signal and image processing, control systems and systems theory, wireless communications, waves and materials, computer systems, and computational genomics. View principal areas of study under Research and Study Areas in the Electrical and Computer Engineering section of the catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will:
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge of electrical and computer engineering topics and a mastery of advanced concepts within their specific area of study;
- master the analytical and methodological skills needed to identify, evaluate, and analyze novel discovery in their areas of specialization;
- be able to employ experimental methods to investigate and generate reports for research-oriented problems; and
- demonstrate professional skills, including concise and effective communication of complex technical ideas to both general and specialized audiences through verbal, visual, and written formats; leadership in their field of study; and ethical conduct in professional, social, and scholarly activities.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in electrical and computer engineering requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Each student's study plan must be approved by the student's advisor and by the graduate committee. Students must maintain a Graduate College program grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.25. A comprehensive and final exam is required in addition to completion of a thesis.
Students develop a coherent program of study by selecting coursework with the approval of their advisor. All courses except ECE:5999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering MS Thesis and ECE:7999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD Thesis must be taken on an A–F graded basis, and students must earn a grade of C-plus or higher. Students must seek the permission of the program to apply coursework with grades of C, C-minus, and S toward degree requirements.
The PhD in electrical and computer engineering requires the following coursework.
Required Coursework
ECE Formal Coursework
Students complete at least 30 s.h. in formal electrical and computer engineering (prefix ECE) coursework that is neither thesis work nor independent study enrollments. Students select from ECE:4720, ECE:4728, and electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered 5001 or above, excluding ECE:5998, ECE:5999, and ECE:7999. Courses that are cross-referenced with allowable courses also count. Students may be able to count courses not listed here with the advisor's permission.
Software Engineering Track
Students can complete the following courses that will partially fulfill the 30 s.h. requirement to pursue a software engineering track. They may also be able to count ECE:5995 Contemporary Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering toward the track if the content of the course applies.
Students who have completed one or more of the listed courses as undergraduates can substitute other courses that fulfill the required coursework criteria. Students may be able to count other courses not listed here with the advisor's permission.
Additional Formal Coursework
Students must complete an additional 15 s.h. of formal coursework. Students are encouraged to strengthen their plans of study with appropriate courses in other areas such as computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics. The advisor's assistance and approval should be sought in choosing these courses.
Students select from ECE:4720, ECE:4728, electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered 5001 or above, and graduate-level courses from other departments that are approved by the Graduate Committee, excluding ECE:5998, ECE:5999, and ECE:7999.
Research
Students complete at least 18 s.h. of research, primarily consisting of enrollment in ECE:7999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD Thesis. Students who have previously taken ECE:5999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering MS Thesis in pursuit of the MS in electrical and computer engineering may apply this course toward the research requirement for a maximum total of 8 s.h. of this course toward the degree. Once the student has completed the MS, they are expected to enroll in ECE:7999 and may not enroll in ECE:5999.
Students may apply additional enrollments in ECE:7999 toward the electives requirement.
Electives
Elective work must bring the total credit for the degree to at least 72 s.h. This may include additional enrollments of ECE:7999 or formal elective coursework.
Students select formal elective coursework from ECE:4720, ECE:4728, electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered 5001 or above, and graduate-level courses from other departments approved by the Graduate Committee, excluding ECE:5999
. Courses that are cross-referenced with allowable courses also count.
Additional Requirements
Students must enroll in ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics (1 s.h.) in their first semester. Students enrolled on a full-time basis and/or holding assistantships must enroll in ECE:5000 Graduate Seminar: Electrical and Computer Engineering (0 s.h.) each semester. Credit from these courses does not apply toward the degree. See the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Handbook on the department's website for more information. Courses required for the BSE in electrical engineering do not count toward the PhD requirements.
Qualifying Process
Acceptance to the PhD program requires successful completion of the PhD qualifying process. See the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Handbook on the department's website for more information.
Comprehensive Examination
Following successful completion of the qualifying examination and invitation to the PhD program, a student must complete the comprehensive examination. See the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Handbook on the department's website for more information.
Thesis
The final requirement for completion of the PhD program is the preparation and successful defense of the thesis. This must be completed no sooner than six months but no longer than three years after the completion of the comprehensive examination.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Academics
University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.
Admissions
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Applicants must have a grade-point average of at least 3.25 on all electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, and physics coursework.
Each application is reviewed individually. Extenuating circumstances may permit deviations from the usual standards.
Engineering is a well-respected profession that is used as a foundation for a variety of careers in industry, medicine, law, government, and consulting.
Engineering Career Services develops and promotes experiential education and professional opportunities for students. Professional staff coordinate the college's co-op and internship program, engage in employer outreach, and provide opportunities for students to network with employers, including an engineering career fair and other career-development programming each semester. Engineering Career Services also offers individual advising and class presentations on résumé and cover letter preparation, job and internship search strategies, interviewing skills, and job offer evaluation.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.
