Electrical Engineering

A minimum of three full academic years, or the equivalent, beyond the baccalaureate degree must be spent in graduate study at the University of Kansas to complete requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A dissertation is required of each doctoral candidate. The Ph.D. dissertation presents the results of the student's research investigation. It is expected to make an original contribution to technical knowledge of sufficient quality to merit publication(s) in refereed journals. A candidate for a doctoral degree must satisfy all Graduate School requirements for the degree and must submit to the major professor a paper or papers, based on the dissertation, suitable for publication in a refereed journal. 

Fortune 500 companies to start-ups hire KU Electrical Engineering Ph.D. graduates for their abilities to invent, engineer, and deliver innovations. Many EECS Ph.D. students are supported through graduate research or teaching assistantships. The breadth and depth of the curriculum, the wide range of research projects, access to state-of-the-art research facilities, and mentoring by experienced faculty produce Ph.D. graduates ready to make immediate contributions to their field. Employers value our graduates for their specialization and skills. EECS graduates work in communication, healthcare, defense, and numerous other industries.

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department has many associated research clusters, each of which is conducting cutting edge research in its area of study.

Students pursuing a Master's degree are encoraged to choose an academic focus area which is aligned with one of these departmental research clusters.

Fortune 500 companies to start-ups hire KU Electrical Engineering Ph.D. graduates for their abilities to invent, engineer, and deliver innovations. Many EECS Ph.D. students are supported through graduate research or teaching assistantships. The breadth and depth of the curriculum, the wide range of research projects, access to state-of-the-art research facilities, and mentoring by experienced faculty produce Ph.D. graduates ready to make immediate contributions to their field. Employers value our graduates for their specialization and skills. EECS graduates work in communication, healthcare, defense, and numerous other industries.

Explore: Program Profile

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Dotorate of Philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.EE) normally possess a degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Students with good preparation in another engineering field, mathematics, or science may qualify for the program by taking appropriate additional undergraduate courses. Such courses normally do not count toward the graduate degree. Lists of specific prerequisite courses can be located here.

• GPA: at or above 3.5 on a 4 point scale (mean GPA: 3.6).
• GRE: 146+ verbal, 155+ quantitative (mean GRE: 152 verbal, 163 quantitative).
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• TOEFL: (International Only) scores at or above 90 on internet-based exam (mean TOEFL 100).

The Doctoral Student Research Fund is designed to support KU doctoral students on the Lawrence Campus who need assistance to carry out research that advances progress toward the degree. A doctoral student is eligible to apply for up to two awards during their graduate program, one before doctoral candidacy (up to $1500) and one as a candidate (up to $2000).