The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest degree offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. It requires a commitment to exemplary scholarship and the creation of original knowledge. This page outlines the specific requirements, milestones, and policies for the Ph.D. program.
Admission requirements
Admission is competitive. To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must demonstrate the potential to perform at a high level (GPA 3.40+) in graduate research and coursework.
- Degree Background:
- Standard Admission: Requires a completed M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- Direct-Admit: High-achieving students with a B.S. degree may apply directly to the Ph.D. program.
- GPA Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate a scholastic record consistent with a grade point average of 3.40 or better in MECE graduate courses.
- English Proficiency: A minimum score of 79 on the internet-based TOEFL is required for applicants whose native language is not English.
- Statement of Purpose (SOP): Must be strictly consistent with current Research Areas within the Department. Applicants should use the "Application for Financial Aid and Statement of Purpose" form to specify technical interests and align with potential faculty advisors.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters are required. At least two must be from tenure-track faculty members who have observed the applicant’s academic performance.
Degree tracks & Requirements
The Ph.D. requires a precise mix of coursework and research credits. There are two tracks depending on your entry point.
Track A: Standard Program (Post-M.S.)
For students entering with a recognized Master’s degree.
- Total Required Hours: Minimum 51 hours beyond the M.S. degree.
- Coursework (21 Hours / 7 Classes):
- 3 hrs: MECE 6384 (Methods of Applied Mathematics I).
- 9 hrs: MECE Core Courses (6000-level or higher).
- 6 hrs: Breadth Requirement (Two courses outside your research concentration can be from in MECE or suitable courses in the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Sciences).
- 3 hrs: Approved Elective (Engineering or NSM).
- Research & Dissertation (30 Hours):
- 12 hrs: Dissertation (MECE 8399).
- 18+ hrs: Doctoral Research (MECE 8x98).
Track B: Direct-Admit Program (Post-B.S.)
For students entering with only a Bachelor’s degree.
- Total Required Hours: Minimum 66 hours beyond the B.S. degree.
- Coursework (30 Hours / 10 Classes):
- 3 hrs: MECE 6384 (Methods of Applied Mathematics I).
- 15 hrs: MECE Core Courses.
- 6 hrs: Breadth Requirement.
- 6 hrs: Approved Electives.
- Research & Dissertation (36 Hours):
- 12 hrs: Dissertation (MECE 8399).
- 24+ hrs: Doctoral Research (MECE 8x98).
Note: Students in the M.S. program may petition to transfer into the Direct-Admit Ph.D. if they demonstrate exemplary coursework and research potential.
Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE)
The DQE is an oral examination that determines if a student has mastered the fundamental knowledge required for doctoral research.
- Eligibility: Must have a GPA of 3.40 or higher in a minimum of 12 MECE graduate hours (and no more than the first 21 hours).
- Timeline: All Ph.D. students must take the examination within three long semesters (Fall/Spring) of enrolling in the Ph.D. program.
- Structure: The committee consists of at least three voting members. One member will explicitly examine the student on Mathematics (MECE 6384). Two or more negative votes result in failure. In the case of failure, the committee shall decide whether or not the student should be invited to take the examination a second time.
- Format & Exemption Rule The examination focuses on three core subjects defined by your research group.
- Committee Structure: Each academic year, the faculty of each research group selects a three-member committee to administer exams.
- Course Exemption: If a student earns a grade of A- or higher in a designated core course, they are exempt from testing on that specific subject.
- Full Exemption: Students who earn an A- or higher in all three core courses are exempt from the technical questioning entirely. Their exam will consist only of the research presentation.
- Research presentation: All exams begin with a 20-minute research presentation by the student.
- Scope: Questions focus on critical thinking and the application of knowledge to the student's research area, rather than simple course regurgitation.
- Outcomes & Retakes
- Grading: The outcome (Pass/Fail) is decided by a majority vote of the committee.
- Retake Policy for coursework: If a student fails the oral exam, they are allowed one opportunity to take a 2-hour written examination on the failed topics.
- Timing: Must be taken within one month of the oral exam.
- Passing Score: A minimum score of 75/100 is required to pass.
- Retake Policy for presentation: f the student fails the research presentation portion, they will be required to repeat the presentation, typically after a period of two weeks to one month.
- Core course: Students will be tested on (or must earn an A- in) the three courses listed for their specific research group.
The examination committee is set by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Mechanical Engineering core research groups (Controls, Materials, Mechanics, Thermo-Fluids) and the dissertation advisor. Click here for more information about the general and transitional DQE guidelines. Some exam guidelines will vary by group. Please review the table below for more information about each group's specific core courses. Please click the group name for more information about their respective exam guidelines.
| Core Courses of Research Groups | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Group | |||
| Controls | MECE 6384: Methods of Applied Mathematics | MECE 6367: Control Systems Analysis and Design MECE 6666: Machine Learning |
MECE 6388 Optimal Control Theory MECE 7361 System Identification |
| Materials | MECE 6361: Mechanical Behavior of Materials | MECE 6363: Physical Metallurgy | MECE 6364: Phase Transform in Materials |
| Mechanics | MECE 6384: Methods of Applied Mathematics | MECE 6377: Continuum Mechanics I | MECE 7397: Continuum Mechanics II |
| Thermo-Fluids | MECE 6384: Methods of Applied Mathematics | MECE 6334: Convection Heat Transfer | MECE 6345 Fluid Dynamics 1 |
Dissertation committee & defense
Once the DQE is passed, the student focuses on original research under the guidance of their advisor. The formal dissertation committee is appointed closer to the completion of the degree.
Committee Composition
The committee must include a minimum of five members who are currently active in the scholarship of the field.
- Standard Composition:
- Chair: The student’s dissertation advisor.
- Internal Members: Three additional faculty members from the MECE Department.
- External Member: One member from outside the MECE Department (from another UH department, another university, or industry).
- Co-Chair Rule: If your primary research advisor is not a faculty member in the MECE program, you must appoint a MECE faculty member to serve as co-chair.
- External Member Approval: Prospective committee members from outside the University of Houston must be approved by the Committee Chair. The Chair is responsible for verifying their qualifications (terminal degree, subject expertise) and providing a CV/Resume for the department record.
Formation & Appointment
- Timeline: The Dissertation Committee must be formally appointed and approved by ORD - the official reporting date or 12th day of class of the semester of the defense, which is the student's graduating semester.
- Forms: Students must submit the Dissertation Committee Appointment Form to the Graduate Director for approval.
- Changes: Any changes to committee membership after appointment require the approval of the student, the new members, and the Graduate Program Director.
Journal Publication Requirement
Prior to the defense, the student must meet the department's publication standard:
- One Accepted Paper: All Ph.D. candidates must have at least one peer-reviewed (archival) journal paper accepted for publication.
- Content: This paper must be based on the student's dissertation research conducted at the University of Houston.
Final Defense (Oral Examination)
The degree culminates in a public oral defense of the dissertation.
- Draft Review: The student must provide the dissertation to the committee in nearly final form well in advance (typically when the committee is appointed), ensuring adequate time for review before the defense.
- Scope: While questions may cover the broader field, the primary focus will be on the dissertation research.
- Voting (Pass/Fail): A positive evaluation by the committee with at most one dissension is required to pass. A dissenting member must indicate their dissent on the final approval form.
- Retake Policy: At the discretion of the committee, a student who fails the defense may be given one opportunity to repeat it.
- Timeline: The repeat defense must be held no later than the end of the next long semester (Fall/Spring).
- Limit: Students who fail the second attempt will be dismissed from the doctoral program.
Important Administrative Policies
Residency Requirement
The College requires a minimum of one academic year (two long semesters) of full-time enrollment at the Ph.D. level.
Grading of Research/Dissertation Hours
- S/U Grading: Doctoral Dissertation and Research hours are assigned a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade while work is in progress.
- Final Grade: Upon successful defense and submission of the dissertation, the required number of Dissertation hours are converted to a letter grade via a grade change request. Extra hours remain as S/U to avoid grade inflation.
The “99-Hour Rule” (Tuition Warning)
Students must be aware of the state cap on doctoral credit hours.
- The Rule: University regulations require that a student who accumulates more than 99 doctoral hours will be charged out-of-state tuition for any excess hours.
- Who is affected: This applies to both Texas residents and out-of-state students. Plan your schedule carefully to complete your degree within this limit.