Doctorate of Philosophy Degree
Students pursuing the PhD must complete a total of eight courses. Five of these courses are the required core courses and three are technical elective courses:
Required Core Course in Engineering Mathematics (two courses):
- ME 452 Mathematical Methods In Engineering I (plus one of the following courses)
- ME 413 Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering OR ME 453 Mathematical Methods In Engineering II
Required Core Courses in Mechanical Engineering (three courses):
- ME 402 Advanced Manufacturing Science
- ME 423 Heat and Mass Transfer
- ME 430 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
- ME 433 Linear Systems and Control
- MECH 408 Introduction to Elasticity
- Mech 425 Analytical Methods in Dynamics and Vibrations
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Abbreviated Overview of Requirements
1. Select a PhD advisor. Complete and submit the Advisor Selection Form to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
2. Complete five core courses with a minimum GPA of 3.35/4.0 within the first three semesters of graduate study. The core courses used to evaluate the GPA are the first five core courses taken. Core courses may not be repeated. ME453 is required for PhD students and must be completed before admission to candidacy, but may be taken after the core course GPA requirement has been met. A student who does not meet the GPA requirement may petition to be allowed to continue in the PhD program. A letter of support from the dissertation advisor is required and actions for academic remediation may be assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Department Chair as a condition for continuation.
3. Form the PhD committee. A PhD committee (also known as a doctoral committee) is required for administration of the General Exam. The committee is responsible for administration of the General Examination and oversight of the student’s program of study.
4. Complete the General Examination. The University requires that the General Exam be completed no later than seven months prior to the expected degree awarding date. The General Exam must be completed no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment. This requirement represents the second stage of candidacy at the Department level.
5. Present the proposal for the PhD program to the PhD committee. The Proposal must be presented and approved within one year from the date the student passed the General Exam. The General Exam and Proposal may not be completed on the same day. The Proposal must be completed not less than three months after passing the General Exam.
6. Apply for PhD candidacy at the College level. After the proposal is approved by the PhD Committee, submit the original General Exam Docusign Signature page, the original Proposal Docusign Signature page, a copy of the proposal, and a completed Application to Candidacy form to Ms. Brie Lisk, brc3@lehigh.edu. Approval of the proposal by the Associate Dean admits the student to candidacy for the PhD in the P. C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.
7. Present the dissertation defense. Upon completion of coursework and research, the candidate prepares a written dissertation describing the results and conclusions of their research. A written dissertation draft is submitted to the doctoral committee, and the candidate presents a public defense of the dissertation. A dissertation defense announcement must be sent to all faculty and graduate students in the department and posted within the department at least one week before the defense is given. A satisfactory defense of the dissertation and acceptance of the written draft by the doctoral committee completes the departmental requirements for the doctoral degree.
8. Apply for Graduation.