In addition to meeting the requirements of the Division of Graduate Education, applicants to graduate programs for some departments in the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science are required to take the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Specific information about the GRE may be obtained from the department of interest.
Students entering the PhD program are normally expected to have completed the requirements for the master’s degree with at least a 3.25 grade-point average and to have demonstrated creative ability. Check with the department of interest for specific GPA requirements. Usually the MS degree is required for admission to the PhD program. Exceptional students, however, may be admitted directly to the PhD program upon receiving their BS degree. In most cases, the applicant is expected to obtain their MS degree along the way.
For information on the proficiency in English requirements for international graduate students, see Graduate Study.
To submit a graduate application, see application for graduate admission.
The Master of Science in Engineering online self-supporting degree program enables employed engineers and computer scientists to augment their technical education beyond the Bachelor of Science degree, and enhances their value to the technical organizations by which they are employed.
The one-year Master of Engineering (MEng) is a self-supporting, professional degree designed to develop future engineering leaders. Tailored to those who wish to pursue technical management positions, the degree addresses the needs of both students and industry with high-tech skill set and management savvy. Students in the program develop technical mastery in emerging research areas, learning business and technology management skills while creating real-world projects with industry input.
A concurrent degree program between the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Anderson Graduate School of Management allows students to earn two master’s degrees simultaneously: the MBA and the MS in Computer Science. Students should contact the Office of Academic and Student Affairs for details.
The PhD programs prepare students for advanced study and research in the major areas of engineering and computer science. All candidates must fulfill the minimum requirements of the Division of Graduate Education. Major and minor fields may have additional course and examination requirements. For more information, contact the individual departments.
Established fields of study for the PhD are listed below. With the support of an adviser, students may propose any other field of study to their department. Instructions on the definition of acceptable ad hoc fields and procedures for their approval are available in each department office.
Biomedical data sciences; biomedical devices and instrumentation; biomedical image processing (biomedical imagining hardware development and biomedical signal and image processing); molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering; neuroengineering
Civil engineering materials, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural/earthquake engineering and mechanics, transportation engineering, water resources and coastal engineering
Artificial intelligence, computational systems biology, computer networks, computer science theory, computer system architecture, data science computing, graphics and vision, software systems
Circuits and embedded systems, physical and wave electronics, signals and systems
Ceramics and ceramic processing, computational materials science, electronic and optical materials, soft materials, structural materials
Applied mathematics, applied plasma physics, and data science and machine learning (established minors fields only); design, robotics, and manufacturing; fluid mechanics; micro-nano engineering; structural and solid mechanics; systems and control; thermal science and engineering
The school offers a Certificate of Specialization in all areas, except computer science. Requirements for admission are the same as for the MS degree.
Each graduate certificate program consists of five 100- or 200-series courses, at least two of which must be at the graduate level. No work completed for any previously awarded degree or credential may be applied toward the certificate. Successful completion of a certificate program requires an overall minimum 3.0 (B) grade-point average in all courses applicable to the certificate. In addition, graduate certificate candidates are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade-point average in 200-series courses used in the program. A minimum of three terms of academic residence is required. The time limitation for completing the requirements of a certificate program is two calendar years. Details about certificate programs may be obtained from each department office.
Courses completed in the school for a Certificate of Specialization may subsequently be applied toward master’s and/or doctorate degrees.
