Ph.D. in Engineering students initiate and drive cutting-edge research that with supporting studies, position them to be new leaders in the advancement of their field and for success in a range of careers in industry, government or academe. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree are expected to synthesize and create new knowledge, make original and substantial contributions to their discipline, and demonstrate mastery of knowledge.
The Ph.D. in Engineering provides maximum flexibility for students and faculty to address 21st century engineering problems. Many new technology developments involve new materials with different properties than would be considered "typical." The Ph.D. in Engineering with emphasis on Mechanics and Materials program provides the student with insight into methods for analyzing new materials and systems, and how they can be used to solve new and pressing issues.
Director of Graduate Studies Xianqiao Wang, Associate Professor xqwang@uga.edu 706.542.6251 Graduate Program Administrator Victoria Martinez vicmart8@uga.edu 706.542.1130 www.engineering.uga.edu
72 hours (42 if the student matriculates with a MS)
Apply to the UGA Graduate School and include the following: 3 Letters of recommendation CV Statement of Purpose (emphasizing career goals, objectives, and research plans); at the end of the statement include the names of faculty who share your interests and could serve as your major advisor. Unofficial transcript (3.0 minimum GPA); if accepted, you must submit official transcripts prior to matriculation.
International students: For students whose primary language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. Students need to submit official university documents according to the UGA Graduate School requirements. Students will also have to show certificate of finances upon acceptance to the program. Application deadline is December 15 for the following Fall semester and September 15 for the following Spring semester.
Requirements for the PhD in Engineering with Emphasis in Mechanics and Materials further expand on those of the PhD in Engineering. These include a minimum of 72 credit hours in the student’s program of study beyond the B.S. degree. A thesis master's degree from an approved university may be accepted for up to 30 credits hours, in which case a minimum of 42 credit hours of approved course work, research and dissertation beyond the M.S. degree would be required as follows:
| ENGR 8950 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| ENGR 9300 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-9 |
Choose a minimum of 15 credit hour(s) from the following:
8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research, dissertation writing, and directed study, of which 9 hours must be selected from the Mechanics and Materials Course List (below):
Choose a minimum of 23 credit hour(s) from the following:
| ENGR 9000 | Doctoral Research | 1-18 |
| ENGR 9010 | Project-Focused Doctoral Research | 1-9 |
| BIOE 8210 | Multiscale Biomechanics | 3 |
| BIOE 8490 | Advanced Biomaterials | 3 |
| CVLE(MCHE) 8160 | Advanced Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CVLE(MCHE) 8350 | Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis | 3 |
| CVLE(MCHE) 8640 | Advanced Strength of Materials | 3 |
| ENGR 8103 | Computational Engineering: Fundamentals, Elliptic, and Parabolic Differential Equations | 3 |
| ENGR 8130 | Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 8180 | Advanced Mass Transfer | 3 |
| ENGR 8220 | Microfluidic Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| ENGR 8270 | Computational Nanomechanics | 3 |
| ENGR 8910 | Foundations for Engineering Research | 3 |
| INFO 8750 | Advance Programming for Data Mining | 3 |
| MCHE 8170 | Advanced Heat Transfer | 3 |
| MCHE 8250 | Combustion Science | 3 |
| MCHE 8380 | Continuum Mechanics | 3 |
| MCHE 8500 | Technical Foundations of Energy for Policy Practitioners | 3 |
| MCHE 8650 | Aerosol Science and Engineering | 3 |
| MCHE 8710 | Engineering Properties of Animal and Plant Materials: Form and Function | 3 |
| MCHE 8850 | Gas Dynamics | 3 |
| MCHE(CHEM) 8970 | Combustion Science | 3 |
| PHYS 8601 | Computer Simulation Methods in Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 8602 | Computer Simulations of Materials | 3 |
| GRSC 7001 | GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar | 1 |
Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.
Many of our graduates have gone on to academic careers as research and teaching faculty at top-ranked universities. Other graduates pursue successful non-academic careers with national research labs and industry (e.g., as research scientists, engineering managers, technicians).
Qualified students will be nominated by the Graduate Admission Committee for Graduate School Presidential and PhD Fellows awards. Qualified students will be nominated by the Graduate Admission Committee for the College level Doctoral Fellowship awards. Students also are encouraged to seek outside fellowships and scholarships (e.g., NSF Graduate Research Fellowships).
Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities outside of Athens, when appropriate and in consultation with their committees.
Students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities when those internships will facilitate their professional development and career aspirations.
Students are encouraged to present their research at conferences, professional meetings, and symposia. Students also are encouraged to write grant proposals to help fund their research and to develop grant-writing skills. Students are expected to publish their research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Other programs in the School of ECAM, include: PhD Mechanical Engineering PhD Biological and Agricultural Engineering PhD Engineering – Dynamics Systems and Controls PhD Engineering – Energy Systems PhD Engineering – Engineering Education PhD Engineering – Environment and Water PhD Engineering – Thermal and Fluid Systems PhD Engineering – Resilient Infrastructure MS Civil and Environmental Engineering MS Engineering - Mechanical Engineering MS Agricultural Engineering