Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering

UNT offers the only Electrical Engineering Ph.D. program in the region with focus areas that are well-aligned with pressing social, industrial and government needs. In our program, you can concentrate your studies on any of these new, thriving research and business fields.

• Energy-efficient power-aware antennas and circuit designs in Radio Frequency and Mixed-signal Circuit Design.
• Intelligent wireless sensor networks using sustainable green technology in Communication and Signal Processing.
• Large-scale complex land and airborne networks and cyber-physical systems in Systems and Control.

A unique and innovative feature of this program is the integrated entrepreneurship component. We’re the first program in the nation to feature this requirement at the Ph.D. level by engaging you in entrepreneurship and the creation of intellectual property and patent development. This in-depth knowledge helps you move your original ideas and results to the marketplace smoothly. You’ll earn a minor in Entrepreneurship from the College of Business in addition to your doctoral degree.

The most significant accomplishment of a Ph.D. graduate is an original dissertation that contributes to the advancement of the industry, opening the door to opportunities for new applications. For students entering with a master’s degree, the basis of the research reported in the dissertation is supported by an advanced set of courses that includes:

• 6 credit hours of core electrical engineering courses
• 9 credit hours of required entrepreneurship courses
• 6 credit hours of prescribed electrical engineering core electives
• 6 credit hours of free electives
• 12 credit hours of dissertation
• 3 credit hours of individual research

For students entering with a bachelor’s degree, the requirements include:

• 12 credit hours of core electrical engineering courses
• 9 credit hours of required entrepreneurship courses
• 12 credit hours of prescribed electrical engineering core electives
• 18 credit hours of free electives
• 12 credit hours of dissertation
• 9 credit hours of individual research

Research and Laboratories

The department houses several state-of-the-art instructional and research laboratories that provide practical and advanced hands-on experiences. They include:

• Analog, RF and Mixed-Signal Design Laboratory
• Autonomous Systems Laboratory
• Communications and Signal Processing Laboratory
• Computer-Aided Design Laboratory
• Speech, Music and Digital Signal Processing Laboratory
• Vision, Robotics and Control Systems Laboratory
• Wireless Systems and Sensor Networks Laboratory

You’ll also have direct access to the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, the UNT Nanofabrication Cleanroom and the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling. Some laboratories and instruments from other departments also are available for interdisciplinary work.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into the Electrical Engineering Ph.D. program, students should meet the following requirements.

• Minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework and 3.4 in graduate work.
• GRE scores. Successful applicants will typically present scores of 160 or higher on the Quantitative section and 140 or higher on the Verbal section.
• Most international applicants need to provide proof of English proficiency: TOEFL 83+ or IELTS 7.0+.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of purpose.