Electrical Engineering

The doctoral program combines course work and participation in original research. Most students enter the program with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related discipline. Some have a master’s degree, but that is not necessary for success in the program. Every admitted Ph.D. student is given financial support in the form of a first-year fellowship. In addition, all admitted Ph.D. students are automatically considered for the prestigious Wu and Upton Fellowships.

Courses:

In the first year of the program the main emphasis is on coursework. Students take courses both for proficiency within their specialty as well as for breadth. The program has no specific required courses, but there is a required minimum course count and a required minimum GPA. During the first year, students must complete a minimum of six courses in their area(s) of interest in preparation for research and the general examination. Each student is assigned a first-year academic adviser who assists the student in determining the appropriate courses.  Students must complete a minor area of study. This can be completed by achieving a GPA of at least 3.3 in two or more coherent courses approved by his or her adviser.  The courses must be in an area distinct from the student's research.

Pre-Generals Requirements(s):

Research Adviser

Each incoming student to the Department of Electrical Engineering is assigned an academic adviser to help with course selection and other concerns the student may have.  Mid-way through the fall semester, each student gives a rank ordered list of preferred research advisers. This information is combined with the faculty’s preference ranking of students and available funding to arrive at the faculty-student pairing. This is usually done by the end of the fall semester in the student’s first year. The student should consult with his or her academic adviser and the faculty coordinator for guidance during the adviser selection process.   Once the advisee-adviser pairing has been agreed upon by the adviser and the student, the chosen adviser takes over academic and research advising. 

Choosing a research adviser is one of the most important steps in the Ph.D. program; it should be done with care.  Students should prepare for adviser selection by reviewing research materials for all faculty members in their area of interest and speak with potential advisers to determine intellectual fit and capability.

General Exam:

Students are expected to successfully complete the general during the fourth term of their Ph.D. studies. Students are not normally readmitted to a third year (fifth term) of graduate study unless they have successfully completed the general examination. The general examination consists of a research seminar and an oral exam. The seminar is a 45-minute presentation of research accomplished at Princeton. It is intended to indicate that a student is capable of independent research and has started a research topic that has the potential to lead to a doctoral dissertation. The oral exam is administered by the examination committee and is held not more than one month after the research seminar, and within the periods set by the Graduate School for the general exam. The examination committee is selected by the research adviser in consultation with the student. 

Qualifying for the M.A.:

The Master of Arts can be earned by Ph.D. students en route to their Ph.D., after the student has: (a) presented a research seminar approved by the student’s general examination committee and (b) passed the oral general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met.

Teaching:

Teaching experience is considered to be a significant part of the graduate education. Prior to completion of the program, doctoral students must complete at least one assignment as a teaching assistant (TA). To be a teaching assistant, a student must first demonstrate proficiency in English by passing, or being exempted from, the Princeton Oral Proficiency Test (POPT). Students are encouraged to satisfy the POPT requirement as early as possible.

Dissertation and FPO:

The final public oral examination is taken after the candidate’s dissertation has been examined for technical mastery by a committee and approved by the Graduate School; it is primarily a defense of the dissertation.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral examination sustained.

Please note, students admitted to the Ph.D. program who do not wish to complete the program, may be considered for a M.S.E. degree with approval from the department and the Graduate School.

• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Prerequisite Tests
• English Language Tests
• Application Fee: $90
• GRE : General test

Additional Departmental Requirements: 

• Ph.D. applicants are required to select a research area of interest when applying.

For Ph.D. candidates, tuition and fees during a student’s regular period of enrollment are provided in full from a student’s graduate student financial support, in the form of tuition support from fellowships, assistantships, or external sources.

The annual stipend amount provided to Ph.D. candidates during their regular enrollment is intended to support a single graduate student based on estimated costs. Master’s students or students with spouses and/or dependents may require additional resources to support their living expenses