Automotive Engineering, PhD

Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Automotive Engineering (AuE PhD) prepares a new generation of engineers to deal with the complex technological, environmental and globalization issues facing the automobile industry.

The big challenge facing the industry is the integration of diverse technologies in the automobile and its cost effective and environmentally responsible manufacture, all being done in a global network with people of different backgrounds and cultures. The Automotive Engineering programs equip students with the basis, depth and domain knowledge needed for master’s and doctoral-level expertise in systems integration and vehicle systems engineering and the ability to work globally. Graduates of the program are able to lead teams of culturally diverse individuals to produce an integrated automobile platform or to work in research laboratories involved with the design of new products in the automotive field. While the program is geared toward the automobile industry, it produces strong linkages with the aerospace and other industries within the state, region and nation as some of the challenges faced by the automotive industry are also faced in other sectors.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The Graduate School requires that a doctoral (PhD, Doctor of Philosophy) degree comprise a minimum of 30 credits beyond the master’s degree, and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. This supersedes the minimum credit requirements for AuE PhD degree.

1. For students joining with only a prior BS degree (a.k.a. PhD-direct), a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation research are required. Students must take six additional credit hours of either dissertation research or coursework to satisfy the Graduate School’s total credit requirements.
2. For students joining with a prior MS degree, a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation research are required.

For both cases, the coursework includes technical electives listed by track area. For requirements of the PhD Degree, including qualifying and comprehensive exams, and a course list, please refer to the Automotive Engineering department website.