Post-Bachelor’s PhD

As is true for all doctoral programs currently offered by College of Engineering, the MS requirements for the Electrical or Computer degree comprise the structured coursework portion of the PhD program. The remaining required PhD credit hours remain unstructured and can be chosen, with advisor approval, to meet an individual student’s academic interests and research needs.

Doctoral students must satisfy a residency requirement of at least two consecutive academic-year semesters of full-time graduate study at Boston University. Students must also pass an annual examination covering basic knowledge in electrical and computer engineering and demonstrate sufficient competency in mathematics by successfully completing an approved mathematics course.

College of Engineering PhD Handbook

Post-Bachelor’s PhD students are required to complete a minimum of 64 credits toward their degree: 32 credits must be structured courses, 28 credits of which must be at the 500-level or higher. A minimum of 16 credits of research/dissertation is required. Post-BS PhD students need to declare the MS degree upon successful completion of the requirements. Passing the PhD prospectus defense is the equivalent of completing a project or thesis for post-BS PhD students.

Coursework used to fulfill the PhD degree requirements may not be used to fulfill the requirements of any other degree program.

Timeline of requirements for PhD students

Within the first 2 years

Candidacy: PhD students achieve candidacy when they have completed the mathematics requirement and passed the ECE qualifying exam.

Mathematics Requirement

For Post-BS PhDs:
EE/CE: EK501
EE: EC501, EC505, EC515, EC516, EC574
CE: EC504, EC533, EC534, EC541, EC561

ECE Qualifying Exam

The ECE qualifying exam is offered once a year, on the first Saturday in April. Students must take the exam at its first offering and must pass it within two attempts. Copies of past ECE qualifying exams are available on the ECE website under “Student Resources.”

Doctoral students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. All graduate courses are counted in the GPA. Only grades of “B-” or better fulfill PhD curricular requirements.

A minimum of 16 credit hours of research/dissertation is required.

Post-bachelors doctoral students will be awarded MS degrees upon completion of the 32 credit hours of structured coursework and the PhD Prospectus Exam.

In addition to credit requirements, each student must successfully pass the qualifying exams, serve as a teaching fellow for two semesters and successfully propose and defend an original body of dissertation work.