The College of Engineering offers<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> In addition to the above, a combined Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical engineering and Doctor of Medicine (MD\/PhD) is offered jointly with the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicin<\/span>e. This program has different requirements; please see more information in the Engineering Bulletin<\/a> and the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine<\/span> Bulletin<\/a> on this program.<\/p>\n Students can earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the following disciplines at the College of Engineering:<\/p>\n Admission to either the post-bachelor\u2019s or post-master\u2019s PhD normally requires a bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree in engineering or its equivalent in a closely related field. Applicants who hold a bachelor\u2019s degree are eligible to apply to the post-bachelor\u2019s PhD program, and applicants who hold a master\u2019s degree are eligible to apply for a post-master\u2019s PhD program.<\/p>\n Post-bachelor\u2019s students are required to complete a minimum of 64 units applicable to their degree; 32 units must be structured courses at the 500 level or higher. A minimum of 16 units of research\/dissertation is required.<\/p>\n Post-bachelor\u2019s PhD students can earn the MS degree upon fulfillment of the degree requirements of their department\/division. Students must apply for the degree by contacting the Graduate Programs office.<\/p>\n There are no structured course requirements for post-master\u2019s PhD students, but such students are required to complete 32 units applicable to their degree, all of which must be at the 500 level or higher. A minimum of 8 units of research\/dissertation coursework is required. Some departments may have structured course requirements.<\/p>\n Coursework used to fulfill the PhD degree requirements may not be used to fulfill the requirements of any other degree program.<\/p>\n MET courses cannot be used to satisfy the program requirements for master\u2019s or PhD degrees.<\/p>\n Doctoral students who have completed all course requirements, or hold appointments as teaching fellows or research assistants, are considered full-time students and should be enrolled for a minimum of 2 units per term. Full-time status enables students to access libraries, laboratories, instructional staff, and other academic facilities at the University.<\/p>\n Each student must satisfy a residency requirement of a minimum of two consecutive regular terms of full-time graduate study at Boston University. Full-time study in this context means full-time commitment to the discipline as determined by the senior associate dean for academic programs.<\/p>\n In order to graduate, students must be registered as part- or full-time students in the term in which they complete degree requirements and in the preceding term.<\/p>\n The student\u2019s area of concentration determines the specific nature and scope of the qualifying examination. Students must pass a comprehensive examination covering basic knowledge in an area of specialized study selected from the following: biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or materials science & engineering. Students who are unable to pass the qualifying examination are withdrawn from the PhD program. Individual departments\/divisions coordinate administration of the qualifying exam. The qualifying exam is limited to two attempts. Departments\/divisions may limit attempts to one, if they so choose.<\/p>\n Students must satisfy a mathematics requirement, which is determined by the department\/division and approved by the college.<\/p>\n All PhD students must complete both the qualifying exam and the mathematics requirement by the end of their fifth term.<\/p>\n A student in a College of Engineering PhD program will be accepted to PhD candidacy upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and the mathematics requirement. At that time, the student will receive formal notice of acceptance to PhD candidacy. The maximum period allowed between matriculation and acceptance to PhD candidacy is usually five terms, but departments\/divisions can specify a lesser time frame. Under no circumstances will a student who is not a PhD candidate be allowed to defend a completed PhD dissertation.<\/p>\n All PhD students must complete the Advanced Responsible Conduct of Research program prior to defending the prospectus. Refer to bu.edu\/orc\/training\/responsible-conduct-of-research<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n PhD students may be required to teach for two terms. The student should consult with the respective department\/division concerning this requirement.<\/p>\n Students may register for research with approval of the faculty member concerned. Students may register for dissertation units only after completing their prospectus, and with their advisor\u2019s approval. A candidate for the PhD degree may not register for more than 12 units of research\/dissertation in a single term.<\/p>\n Within two years of becoming a candidate, the student is expected to present an oral dissertation proposal to the prospective dissertation committee and obtain approval for the written dissertation prospectus. The committee evaluates the potential of the proposed research and the student\u2019s academic preparation to engage in dissertation research. Upon approval of the committee members and the departmental associate chair or the division associate head, the student submits the PhD Dissertation Prospectus Defense Form to the department\/division office.<\/p>\n A PhD candidate is expected to prepare and carry out an independent and original research project in partial fulfillment of the dissertation requirement. The dissertation committee must consist of College of Engineering (tenured or tenure-earning) faculty. Occasionally scholars from outside the University serve on dissertation committees. A \u201cSpecial Service Appointment\u201d form must be submitted to the senior associate Dean for academic programs for approval of all committee members from outside the University.<\/p>\n Students shall present themselves for a final oral examination in which they must defend their dissertation as a worthy contribution to knowledge in their fields and demonstrate mastery of their field of specialization as related to the dissertation. The Examining Committee is composed of at least five members of which two must be (tenured or tenure-earning) faculty from the student\u2019s academic department\/division. Each department\/division determines the appointment of the chair.<\/p>\n Both the post-bachelor\u2019s and post-master\u2019s programs must be completed within five years of the individual\u2019s acceptance into PhD candidacy. Once entered, PhD candidacy will expire on the fifth anniversary and after such time will be renewed only if the student requalifies for candidacy as determined by the department\/division and the College Graduate Committee.<\/p>\n PhD program deadlines can be found on the Graduate Program Deadlines<\/a> page.<\/p>\nPrograms of Study<\/h3>\n
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Course Requirements<\/h3>\n
Post-Bachelor\u2019s PhD Program<\/h4>\n
Post-Master\u2019s PhD<\/h4>\n
Full-Time Study<\/h3>\n
Residency Requirement<\/h3>\n
Qualifying Examination<\/h3>\n
Mathematics Requirement<\/h3>\n
PhD Candidacy<\/h3>\n
Responsible Conduct of Research Requirement<\/h3>\n
Teaching Requirement<\/h3>\n
Research and Dissertation<\/h3>\n
Dissertation Prospectus Defense<\/h4>\n
Dissertation<\/h4>\n
Final Oral Examination<\/h4>\n
Time Limit<\/h3>\n