The doctoral degree requires a total of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree. Of these, a minimum of 36 credits must be graduate course work, and a minimum of 30 credits must be doctoral thesis research units. At most, 12 graduate credits in a graduate program from another university may be counted as transfer credits toward the required 36 units of coursework. Core course credits cannot be transferred unless a student has taken the same courses in EECE during MS/MEng study. PhD students can apply for transfer credit by submitting a formal petition to the department through the Transfer Credit Request Form after passing the qualifying exam.
To be admitted to candidacy, students must have completed at least 18 credits at Washington University, have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.25, and pass the qualifying examination. To be eligible to take the qualifying exam, students must complete the core curriculum, maintain a 3.25 GPA as described in the EECE PhD handbook, and match with a permanent advisor. All students are required to enroll in the department seminar every semester. After passing the qualifying exam, students will complete the Mentored Teaching Experience (MTE) generally in their second and/or third year. Within 18 months after the qualifying exam (generally in their third year), students must form their Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and successfully defend their thesis proposal.
After a successful proposal defense, students should provide their research updates through annual meetings or reports with their thesis committee until their graduation. While conducting doctoral research, students should perform in a professional manner in their research lab and/or office setting and be in compliance with all safety and regulatory requirements for their research projects. Upon completion of their dissertation, students must present their dissertation research in a public forum and successfully defend the dissertation before their thesis committee.
Students admitted to a PhD program in McKelvey Engineering must maintain full-time continuous enrollment throughout the approved length of their programs. McKelvey PhD programs are to be completed within six years under normal conditions. For more detailed guidelines, please refer to the EECE doctoral studies handbook available on the EECE Graduate Degree Programs webpage.
As part of their degree requirements, PhD students must complete a program-defined Mentored Experience Requirement (MER) as per these guidelines. The Mentored Experience Implementation Plan (MEIP) is the written articulation of a program-defined degree requirement for PhD students to engage in mentored teaching activities and/or mentored professional activities, collectively referred to as MERs.
Mentored Experience Requirements (MERs)
Philosophy of Teaching
Teaching is fundamental to the skills and training that a Doctor of Philosophy degree represents. No matter the career path taken by a graduate of our program — whether it be academic, industrial, or outside of engineering entirely — the skills and perspectives gained while teaching will be invaluable. By teaching others, we gain a greater depth of understanding and appreciation of the subject matter, strengthen our written and oral communication, cultivate the ability to inclusively mentor others and understand their perspectives, and of course learn more about the world in which we live. Teaching and learning are a critical part of all careers, and all graduates of the EECE doctoral program should possess foundational skills in these areas.
Preparatory Engagement
Preparatory Engagement activities are those that represent an introduction to the foundational skills associated with teaching or communication. Pedagogical preparation engagement activities are normally completed before students are permitted to engage in assisting or teaching in a classroom.
Two Preparatory Engagement activities are required.
Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs)
Assistant in Instruction (AI)
An Assistant in Instruction (AI) is a PhD student who is directly engaged in the organization, instruction, and/or support of a semester-long course primarily taught by a faculty member. An AI receives mentorship from a faculty member related to best practices in classroom engagement, instruction in the field, interpersonal engagement, and other relevant skills. Students and mentors complete a mentorship plan prior to the start of each AI experience. To complete each AI assignment and to ensure that it applies toward their degree requirements, students must register for the appropriate course number for each semester of engagement. Refer to the "Required Pathways for Completion" section below for course numbers and details.
EECE requires either two AI assignments at 10 MER units or two AI assignments at 5 MER units and one AI assignment at 10 MER units. Students are eligible to be assigned to serve as an AI after they pass the qualifying exam (typically beginning in the second year of the program). Students work with their graduate program advisor on the timing of the assignments.
Required Pathways for Completion
Students work with their faculty mentor and their Director of Graduate Studies to plan how and when they will complete their MERs. Students register during the normal registration period for courses in accordance with one of these approved pathways.
Pathway #1
UG Spanish Seminar
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| EGS 8005 |
Take two times |
| EGS 8010 |
Take one time |
Pathway #2
UG Spanish Seminar
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| EGS 8010 |
Take two times |
Optional Activity: Teaching Intensive Pathway (TIP)
The TIP is an optional pathway for those students whose career interests lie in academia or another field that would benefit from extended teaching experiences. This immersive experience allows students to further explore the breadth and depth of teaching best practices and pedagogy related to their respective field. Students who are interested in participating in this elective experience must formally request to participate, which is subject to program approval. Due to this experience being an elective, unpaid experience, students who participate in the TIP will not receive compensation.
- Complete at least Level 3 of the Center for Teaching and Learning's Professional Development in Teaching Program
- One Mentored Independent Teaching experience in which the student will act as a co-instructor with an EECE faculty member with a record of strong teaching. The faculty member will mentor and support the student to do the following:
- Independently teach a significant fraction of the course
- Develop formative and summative assessments
- Learn about and attempt other activities related to effective, evidence-based teaching
Optional Pathway
UG Spanish Seminar
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| EGS 8020 |
Take one time |