Ph.D. in Engineering

Become an expert in your field with a Ph.D. in Engineering

Develop expert level understanding of your engineering discipline with interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Engineering at The University of Akron. Our program provides advanced study and research, focusing on qualitative research methods and specialized classes designed to equip students with advanced scientific research skills. Students conduct original research alongside faculty and graduate students.

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ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a program that is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology at the time of graduation or provide satisfactory evidence of an equivalent academic background to The University of Akron.

• Applicants with a Master of Science degree must provide satisfactory evidence of an equivalent engineering baccalaureate background to the Dean. 

• Applicants must submit official undergraduate transcripts, undergraduate grade point average, three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and resume.

• Personal statements or descriptions of post-baccalaureate experience that provide a rationale for proposed graduate study may also be submitted.

• Applicants must submit official results of the analytical writing and quantitative portions of the GRE. The GRE minimum requirements for admission into graduate programs can be met by one of the four score combinations below:

• The GRE requirement may be waived for students holding degrees from ABET accredited programs (with department approval).

• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0/4.0.

• Applicants with a master’s degree must have a cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.5/4.0.

• Applicants whose native language is not English must have a score of at least 79 on the internet-based TOEFL which includes four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing). Applicants to the Department of Biomedical Engineering must have a score of at least 96 on the internet-based TOEFL.

• Applicants not satisfying the requirements for full admission may be classified either as provisional admission or as deferred admission.

• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than engineering shall have completed undergraduate coursework in calculus, differential equations, and have one year of classical physics. These students may be required to take additional bridge-up courses depending on their background. Necessary bridge-up coursework will be determined by the admitting department/program graduate committee.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

1. Applications from potential students are sent from The Graduate School to our admissions team in the College. 
   
   
2. The College reviews files to determine if anything is missing. If items are missing, you are notified in writing requesting the additional information. The file is not processed until it is complete.
   
   
3. Once the application file is complete, the the dean's office forwards the package to the associate chairs for graduate study in the appropriate department. Departments will use their internal process to evaluate candidates.
   
   
4. In cases of complete application packages, recommendations from the departments for admission are returned to the dean's office within five weeks. A temporary advisor is assigned by the graduate associate chair.
   
   
5. The dean's office communicates decisions with The Graduate School and acceptance or rejection letters are sent to the applicants.
   
   
6. Assistantship offers are forwarded to the dean’s office and letters outlining the offer to the applicants are sent.
   
   
7. Matriculated students are tracked by the dean’s office in conjunction with department graduate associate chairs.
   
   
8. Once on campus, you will work with your department to have a permanent advisor assigned by your graduate associate chair.