The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in engineering science is offered through an interdepartmental program. The program is intended only for students whose research is best supported by a collection of courses that is interdisciplinary and so would not meet course requirements for any other major. As part of the application process, the applicant must choose an Engineering Science concentration from either Aerospace, Biomedical, Civil, Energy Science and Engineering (Bredesen Center), Environmental Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering programs. The student’s departmental home is that of the chosen concentration and of the student’s major professor.

Concentrations (Required)

Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Energy Science and Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

Applicants for admission to the engineering science program are expected to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate program in engineering or physics. Students from other appropriate disciplines (e.g. chemistry, mathematics, etc.) can be admitted but additional engineering courses may be required. Entering students must have, as a minimum, competency in mathematics through ordinary differential equations. Submit online application to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, exclusive of credit for the master’s thesis (24 credit hours of course work from the Master’s exclusive of thesis hours, 24 credit hours of doctoral course work, and 24 hours of dissertation).

Required Courses

• Doctoral Research and Dissertation (a minimum of 24 credit hours), selected from AE 600 , BME 600 , CE 600 , ESE 600 , or ME 600  
• Minimum of 12 credit hours in mathematics (MATH) or computer science (COSC) in courses numbered 400 and above, selected in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee.
  • Exclusive of a first course in ordinary differential equations
• 24 credit hours in engineering graduate courses
  • Numbered 500 and above
  • At least 9 credit hours of 600-level courses, which constitute one or two areas of concentration selected by the student in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee.
    • Aerospace Engineering (AE),
    • Biomedical Engineering (BME),
    • Civil Engineering (CE),
    • Energy Science and Engineering (ESE),
    • Environmental Engineering (ENVE),
    • Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Registration in the graduate seminar in the major program each semester the student is enrolled AE 595 , BME 595 , CE 539 , CE 550 , ENVE 508 , ESE 599 , or ME 595  

Additional Course Requirements

• At least 12 credit hours as selected in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee to ensure the student has met the minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree

Non-Course Requirements

• Passing a written and oral comprehensive examination
• Presentation of a dissertation proposal to the student’s advisory committee and approval of that proposal by that committee.
• Successful defense of the dissertation.