May 06, 2024  
2022-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2024 Graduate Catalog

Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering Ph.D with MS


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with pass-through (en passant) Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer and Electrical Systems Engineering

Faculty


Department Chair (Interim)

Michael Spencer, Ph.D. Professor

 

Program Director

Cliston Cole, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

William Donald Schaefer Building, Room 344

Tel: (443) 885-4732; Fax:  (443) 885-8218

 

Program Faculty

Arlene Cole-Rhodes, Ph.D. -  Professor

Kevin Kornegay, Ph.D. -  Professor

Jumoke Ladeji-Osias, Ph.D. -  Professor

Craig J. Scott, Ph.D. -  Professor

Michael Spencer, Ph.D. -  Professor

Carl White, Ph.D. - Professor

Yacob Astatke, D.Eng. -  Associate Professor

Duane Harvey, D.Eng. -  Associate Professor

Michel Kornegay, D.Eng. -  Associate Professor

Kofi Nyarko, D.Eng. -  Associate Professor

Onyema Osuagwu, Ph.D. -  Associate Professor 

Ketchiozo Wandji, Ph.D. -  Associate Professor

Getachew Befekadu, Ph.D. -  Assistant Professor

Cliston Cole, Ph.D. -  Assistant Professor

Gregory Wilkins, Ph.D. -  Profesor of Practice

Deanna Bailey, D.Eng. -  Lecturer

Mulugeta Dugda, Ph.D. -  Lecturer

Petronella James-Okeke, D.Eng. -  Lecturer

 

Program Description


Many of the world’s grand engineering challenges can only be addressed trough fundamental research that employs the design, analysis and application of electrical and computer-based systems that spur discovery, invention and innovation.  Grand challenges such as advancing the future of work through artificial intelligence and automation, designing intelligent and responsive urban infrastructure, advancing health informatics, securing cyberspace and harnessing the data revolution will require the tight integration of computer, data, network, electrical, and systems engineering.  To address this need, Morgan has established the Ph.D. program in computer and electrical Systems Engineering, which emphasizes fundamental knowledge and research of solutions to complex software and electrical hardware application problems.  Students engage in the design of integrated hardware, microelectronics and software solutions for computing, communications, cyber security, power sensing and control applications.  Furthermore, Morgan State University and its Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering (SOE) aspires to be the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and one of only a few universities nationwide, to address the workforce development needs attributed to the Fourth Industrial Revolution , or industry 4.0 .  Industry 4.0 incorporates Big Data and AI analytics, Cloud Computing, Augmented Reality, Industry Internet of Things, Autonomous Robots, Electronic Systems Control Electronics, Microelectronics and Cybersecurity.

 

The Ph.D. program in computer and Electrical Systems Engineering targets highly motivated students who have already obtained a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and desire to pursue career opportunities in academia, commercial industry, defense, government laboratories, federal agencies, consulting, military or research.

Program Objectives


The Program mainly targets highly motivated students who have already obtained the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and who also wish to pursue careers in research, university teaching, consulting or management positions to name a few.

General Requirements


Students enrolled in the Program will be required to satisfy the following requirements:

 

1.  Form a doctoral advisory committee by the end of the first year after admission, comprising of four members, among whom at least three of them should be tenured or tenure-track faculty members.  The chair of the committee must be a member of the graduate faculty and the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) department.  A minimum of two ECE faculty must serve on the committee.  A minimum of one committee member outside the home department can serve on the doctoral advisory committee.  The students form advisory committees no later than the end of the first year.  The committee approves the student’s program of study and guides the student’s research activities.

2.  Complete a minimum of 36 graduate credit hours (including 9 hours of dissertation-related research) of study beyond the Master’s degree or complete a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree (with a maximum of 33 hours of dissertation-related research).

3.  Pass a written qualifying exam within the first two years of study (one attempt within the first year), doctoral candidacy examinations (no sooner than a year after passing the qualifying exam), administered by the dissertation committee, on the Foundational course subjects.

4.  Develop and defend a dissertation proposal within the first four years of admission for students starting with Bachelor’s degree, and the first two years of admission for students entering with Master’s degree.

5.  Complete and successfully defend a dissertation based on timely and original research in relevant area of Electrical Engineering within the seven years of enrollment.

6.  The dissertation committee chair must determine the original contribution of the dissertation work.

 

The qualifying exam is at the level of advanced undergraduate courses and introductory graduate-level courses.  To maintain good academic standing and remain in the Program, the student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.  Failure to meet these requirements will lead to academic probation for one academic year.

Admission


The Program welcomes exceptional students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a scale of 4.0) for all undergraduate and graduate work completed.  Other requirements include a resume or curriculum vitae, documenting current and previous professional activities, achievements, planned career goals, a statement of research interest, and three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s academic background.  All application materials must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies through the application system for preliminary screening.  It is then reviewed by the department committee for eligibility to be a student within the School of Graduate Studies is a prerequisite for admission into the Program.

 

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission should be made based on that review.

 

Candidacy


Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the qualifying examination.  Prior to achieving Candidacy, the student will enroll in EEGR 993 (Pre-Candidacy) if all required coursework has been completed.  Once a student achieves candidacy, the student will be allowed to enroll in the Dissertation Research 1 - V courses (EEGR 905-925).  After these required courses are completed, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring semesters for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The EEGR 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).  After the intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

Approved Master’s Degree Programs


  • Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and other related Engineering disciplines
  • Master’s in Software Engineering
  • Master’s in Information Systems, Mathematics, or Physics

Residency Requirements


All candidates must satisfy eighteen (18) credit hours of residency requirements in one of the following ways:  enrolling in nine credit hours per semester for two consecutive semesters or part-time candidates must register for six credit hours per semester for three consecutive semesters.

Program Course Requirements


The required minimum coursework for the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering is 60 graduate credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree and 36 graduate credits beyond the Master’s degree.  Up to four courses (not to exceed 12 credits) from other accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer towards the Ph.D. degree, assuming that students do not use transfer courses to satisfy the academic requirements of the former program.  Transfer courses at a grade of “B” or above are reviewed and approve by the corresponding department as well as the School of Graduate Studies.  Students can take up to tow foundational courses from outside of the department.

Pursuing a Ph.D. from the Bachelor’s Degree 60 credits


Foundational Elective Courses 24 credits


  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundation Elective Course  3 credits

Thesis/Dissertation Seminar 3 credits


Dissertation Defense 3 credits


*Note*


Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation.  The EEGR 9697 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hour and they system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).

After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  EEGR 997  will not count toward curricular credits.  Other courses cannot be substituted for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance).  The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

Pursuing a Ph.D. from the Master’s Degree 36 credits


Foundational Elective or Research Courses 15 credits


Foundational Elective Courses

Foundational Elective or Research Courses (15 credit hours)  CHOOSE FROM

 

  • EEGR XXX:  Foundational Elective Course 3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundational Elective Course 3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundational Elective Course 3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundational Elective Course 3 credits
  • EEGR XXX:  Foundational Elective Course 3 credits

OR 

Thesis/Dissertation Seminar 3 credits


Dissertation Defense 3 credits


*Note*


Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation.  The EEGR 9697 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hour and they system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).

After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EEGR 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  EEGR 997  will not count toward curricular credits.  Other courses cannot be substituted for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance).  The only eligible grade for EEGR 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EEGR 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).

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