Dec 11, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Engineering Science Major, PhD


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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 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, exclusive of credit for the master’s thesis (24 credit hours of coursework from the Master’s exclusive of thesis hours, 24 credit hours of doctoral coursework, and 24 hours of dissertation).

Required Courses


  • Minimum of 12 graduate 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. Only those 400-level courses listed in the Graduate Catalog are available for use
    • 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)

Additional Course Requirements


  • At least 12 graduate 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.

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