School of Engineering

The mission of the School of Engineering is to produce highly qualified engineers and useful creative research and technology through academic excellence.

The faculty and staff at the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering will be recognized for providing excellent educational programs, for conducting leading edge research, and for creating innovative industrial partnerships.

School of Engineering leaders are committed to:

Graduate study in engineering is designed for those professionals who wish to further develop the ability to apply engineering principles to the solution of the problems of modern society. The programs are flexible and can be used by those interested in industrial production, research, design, management, teaching, and related technical positions in both the public and private sectors.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering offers graduate education leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the following programs: bioengineering, chemical engineering; civil engineering; electrical engineering; industrial engineering; materials science and engineering; and mechanical engineering. Graduate programs leading to Master of Science degrees in manufacturing systems engineering and petroleum engineering are also offered. All School of Engineering MS degree programs have two tracks: a professional track and a research track.

The graduate program has been in operation for over 80 years with the first MS and PhD degrees in engineering awarded in 1919 and 1929, respectively. During the 1998-99 academic year, there were over 560 students registered in graduate engineering programs, and a total of 150 MS and 31 PhD degrees were awarded.

Contact Information

The School of Engineering is housed in the Michael L. Benedum Hall of Engineering. Inquiries and correspondence concerning graduate study should be addressed to the Graduate Coordinator of the appropriate department or program. Inquiries of a general nature can be sent to:

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

323 Benedum Engineering Hall

School of Engineering

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15261

E-mail: admin@engrng.pitt.edu

Web site: http://www.engrng.pitt.edu/ for more information.

Admissions

All applicants will be judged on their own merits. For recent graduates of an ABET-accredited program, admission will be based primarily on the undergraduate academic record. Typically a B average (cumulative quality point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is desired for admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for certain programs. Applicants should check each program's specific requirements.

Applicants from non-ABET accredited programs also are considered on an individual basis with emphasis given to academic achievement, area of study, career orientation, and work experience. Depending on the program, applicants who do not have an engineering degree may have to take certain pre-requisite courses before beginning their graduate engineering degree program. Applicants may be admitted provisionally until specified prerequisites are completed and/or a 3.00 grade point average is achieved.

Admissions Procedures

(1) U.S. citizens or permanent residents should:

Once all application material, including the application fee and complete transcripts, are received, the application will be reviewed. The deadline for the fall term is July 1; the spring term deadline is November 1; and the summer term deadline is March 1.

Please see Graduate Admissions of International Students of the front section of this bulletin for University regulations on admissions of international students.

(2) In addition to academic review by the School of Engineering, the Admissions Officer, Office of International Services (OIS) will also process international student applications for non-academic qualifications. The document needed to apply for a non-immigrant visa will be issued only after the applicant has been admitted and has provided evidence of adequate financial support and English language proficiency. The procedure for international applicants is as follows:

a. Preliminary inquiries concerning graduate programs, research, and financial aid may be directed to the departmental graduate coordinator. Applications for graduate study are available from http://www.engrng.pitt.edu/, the graduate coordinator, or the School of Engineering Office of Administration; 253 Benedum Hall; Pittsburgh, PA 15261. The non-refundable application fee for international students is $40.

b. Following review (and acceptance) by the department based upon the applicant's academic qualifications, the International Student Admissions Officer will review the applicant's financial and language qualifications to determine eligibility for a visa document.

This procedure applies also to international applicants who are already in the United States.

The University reserves the right, even after the arrival and enrollment of a student from another country, to require, at the student's expense, individual curricular adjustments whenever particular deficiencies or needs are found. This may include enrollment without credit in English as a foreign language or other prerequisite courses. New international students are encouraged to use the services of OIS for help in adjusting to the United States and to facilitate their total educational experience.

Financial Aid

The School of Engineering provides a considerable amount of financial assistance to highly qualified, full-time graduate students. Applicants interested in being considered for financial assistance including teaching and research assistantships must also complete a graduate assistantship form available at http://www.engrng.pitt.edu/ and should check with the department of their choice for any additional information concerning applications for assistantships. All applications for financial assistance should be received by February 1 for admission the following Fall Term.

Financial aid includes:

1. Fellowships awarded to students of outstanding ability, usually as an unrestricted grant.
2. Traineeships awarded to students for training in selected areas.
3. Teaching Assistantships and Teaching Fellowships awarded to exceptionally well-prepared students in return for assistance in laboratories, recitation sections, and other teaching duties. Partial or full tuition scholarships are provided with these assistantships.
4. Research Assistantships awarded to students for assistance on research programs. Partial or full tuition scholarships are provided as part of the assistantship.

Advisors

The following are the three advisors who will be primarily responsible for guiding engineering students through their program:

Graduate Coordinator

The graduate coordinator is the faculty member responsible for the operation of the department's graduate program. The coordinator supervises the operations of admissions, registration, course scheduling, assignment of advisors, graduation, and academic disciplinary procedures. The graduate coordinator generally is the best source of information and advice when questions arise or problems are encountered during graduate study.

Faculty Advisor

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor when admitted into a graduate program. The advisor will assist the student in planning a course of study and is responsible for approving the student's registration and all course changes. Once the student begins thesis or dissertation research, the duties of the faculty advisor will be assumed by the student's major (research) advisor.

Major (Research) Advisor(s)

The major (research) advisor (or advisors if joint advisors are designated) is the graduate faculty member who directs the student's research and supervises the preparation of the thesis or dissertation. Generally, the major advisor also serves as the chair of the final oral examination (defense) committee for the student's thesis or dissertation.

Responsibility for Academic Progress

It is the student's responsibility to check his or her academic progress by contacting either the departmental graduate coordinator or the student's faculty advisor. The student should also become familiar with the program degree requirements and pertinent academic regulations.

Master of Science Programs

All departments in the School of Engineering, as well as the Manufacturing Systems Engineering Program, offer MS degree programs that have two tracks: a professional track and a research track. The differences are detailed below.

Professional MS Track

The professional track consists of 30 credits (ten courses). The faculty of the degree-granting unit determines the actual course content and requirements. These programs typically have a set of required core courses. Students may have an opportunity for in-depth study in a particular area of interest through a two- or three-course concentration. As a professional degree, there are no thesis or comprehensive examination requirements.

The professional MS programs are oriented towards full-time students seeking a career in industry, and part-time students currently working in industry. Certain programs may be offered off-campus at industrial sites or through distance learning. Depending on the particular MS degree program, students who have an undergraduate degree in a technical area (e.g., mathematics, physics, computer science, or chemistry) may be required to take certain pre-requisite courses. Interested students should contact the appropriate graduate coordinator for specific details.

Research MS Track

The research track is primarily for those students who wish to pursue the PhD. A thesis may be required at the discretion of the responsible department or program. Students in this track will be advised to take those courses best suited for a research degree. The MS research track requires a minimum of 24 course credits, depending on the selected option. The department may also specify credit distribution requirements for courses in the major and related areas. The student should see his or her major department for detailed information. Students working under the MS research option may be required to present a thesis showing marked attainment in some area of the student's major subject. Acquisition of the methods and techniques of scientific investigation should also be demonstrated. Some programs may permit a project to be completed in replacement for the thesis. The University transcript will include an entry indicating that the student is in the research MS track.

A graduate student may commence MS thesis work after fulfilling all the following requirements:

1. Completion of at least 12 graduate credits of course work
2. Cumulative quality point average of 3.00 or better
3. Full graduate status

A graduate student should initiate preliminary thesis and research work as early as possible. Once research and thesis work has begun, the student must register for thesis credits in each succeeding term until successful completion of the thesis and the final oral examination. Exceptions to this rule can be made only upon the recommendation of the student's major advisor.

Only six credits of MS thesis may be used as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MS degree. Before completion of the thesis, the student will receive a grade of I (incomplete) at the end of each term. After successful completion of the thesis and the final oral examination, all I grades will be changed to S.

A Style and Form Manual for thesis preparation is available in the Engineering Office of Administration.

MS Thesis Oral Examination (Defense)

The purpose of this examination is to evaluate the MS thesis and is part of the MS thesis requirements as specified by the program. For additional information on the thesis exam, see Thesis Option under Regulations Pertaining to Master of Arts and Master of Science Degrees.

Residency and Statute of Limitations Requirements

A graduate student may complete all requirements for the MS degree on a part-time basis. All degree requirements for the MS degree, however, must be fulfilled within a period of four calendar years after the student's first registration for graduate study.

Doctor of Philosophy Programs

The general PhD requirements of the School of Engineering are listed below. Further information concerning departmental requirements and options can be found under each departmental program description.

Entrance to the PhD Program

A graduate student who has received the Master of Science degree in one engineering program area or has equivalent preparation is eligible to enter a doctoral program in that same area. To be accepted for a doctoral program, a graduate student must have achieved a superior scholastic record and shown great promise for conducting independent research. A prospective doctoral student should have a cumulative graduate quality point average of 3.30 or better in graduate course work. Evidence of research aptitude, including favorable recommendations, is required. Exceptionally well-qualified students may be permitted to enter the PhD program without an MS degree according to the established criteria and qualifications set by each department. Admission to a doctoral program does not include any implication concerning admission to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Course and Dissertation Credit Requirements

An objective of the PhD program is to attain a high degree of competence in the student's chosen field of specialization. Completion of the PhD program requires a total of 72 credits, of which at least 18 must be for dissertation research. The graduate faculty determines the minimum course requirements for each PhD program. Typically each program has a core of well-coordinated courses followed by advanced course work in one or more specialty areas, with the number of course credits varying among programs. Additional course work may be prescribed in accord with the student's specific needs. A student may also partially attain the required degree of competence by other means including independent study under faculty supervision. Regardless of how the required competence is obtained, it must be certified by passing the appropriate series of examinations.

Students who have been formally admitted to PhD candidacy may register for dissertation research. Preliminary dissertation research can be done as part of an appropriate departmental course. The number of dissertation credits for which a student registers should be commensurate with the independent research effort to be undertaken during the term. Minimum registration is three credits per term. Of the minimum of 18 credits of dissertation research for which students must register, at least 12 credits must be for the program's PhD dissertation research course (3999). These may be taken only after admission to candidacy; the other six credits may be in the department's pre-candidacy PhD research course.

Doctoral students who have completed all credit requirements for the degree, including any minimum dissertation credit requirements, and are working full time on their dissertations may register for Full-time Dissertation Study, which carries no credits or letter grade but provides students full-time status. Students so enrolled are assessed a special tuition fee.

Once a student registers for dissertation research (3999), he or she must continue to register for dissertation research in successive terms (not including the summer term) until the final oral examination has been passed. (In special cases this requirement may be waived by written permission of the major advisor.) Upon successful completion of the final oral examination, all I grades will be changed to S grades.

Doctor of Philosophy Examinations

To complete the PhD program, students must pass three exams: the preliminary examination, the comprehensive examination, and the final oral examination.

Preliminary Examination (Qualifier)

See Preliminary Evaluation under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for an overview of the purpose of this examination, and then review the school-specific information below. This examination is usually taken within the first two to four terms of graduate study and is a first step towards the student's formal admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Each program determines the exact format and content of this examination, which usually consists of written and oral components. Qualifier examinations are usually given once a year at a time specified by the program.

Comprehensive Examination

See Comprehensive Examination under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for an overview of the purpose and regulations regarding this examination, and then review the school-specific information below. The nature and timing of this examination is determined by the department; it may be combined with the student's formal presentation of his/her dissertation proposal.

Final Oral Examination (Defense)

See Final Oral Examination under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for an overview of the purpose and regulations regarding this examination, and then review the school-specific information below. The final oral examination determines the acceptability of the dissertation and the candidate's ability to comprehend, organize, and contribute to the chosen field of research. One copy of the dissertation must be submitted to each member of the doctoral committee at least two weeks before the date set for the final oral examination.

Admission to PhD Candidacy

See Admission to Candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees for the requirements for admission. An Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree must be filed after these requirements have been met.

In order to have the dissertation topic approved, the student must prepare, in consultation with the major advisor, a dissertation proposal. A formal dissertation proposal conference will then be held in which the members of the doctoral committee will review the proposal and either accept, revise, or reject it. Depending on the department's procedure, this conference may be held in conjunction with the comprehensive examination. Approval of the proposal does not imply either the acceptance of a dissertation prepared in accord with the proposal or the restriction of the dissertation to this original proposal.

If the dissertation proposal is accepted by the doctoral committee, the student is formally admitted to Candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Such admittance to PhD candidacy must be accomplished at least one term before the student plans to graduate.

Doctoral Committee

See Doctoral Committee under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees for an overview of the committee's make up and responsibilities. In addition, the following school-specific rules apply in the School of Engineering:

Faculty who hold a secondary appointment but actively participate in the department will be considered as internal rather than external members of the doctoral committee. Hence, they may serve as the major advisor. Faculty members whose secondary appointment within the department is viewed as a courtesy appointment may be considered as an external committee member, but cannot serve as the student's sole committee chair (major advisor).

If a committee member leaves the University, that member should be replaced unless the dissertation will be completed within the next 12 months.

PhD Dissertation

Each student must prepare a dissertation embodying an extended original, independent investigation of a problem of significance in the student's field of specialization. The dissertation must add to the general store of knowledge or understanding of that field. Dissertations must be written in English following the guidelines set down in a Style and Form Manual, available in the Engineering Office of Administration or at http://www.pitt.edu/~graduate/style.html.

A dissertation submitted to the School of Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree must be free from any restriction, other than the author's copyright, concerning its publication by any agency outside the University. Any publication of a dissertation must be with appropriate acknowledgment to the University of Pittsburgh. After the dissertation has been prepared and approved by the major advisor, the final oral examination shall be held.

After the final oral examination is successfully completed, the candidate must provide at least one copy of the approved completed dissertation in final form to the department chair. One unbound copy of the dissertation, the committee signature sheet, three copies of the title page, one original and three copies of the abstract, and the receipt for the binding fee must be provided to the Engineering Office of Administration. The candidate is also required to execute an agreement with University Microfilms International for the publication of the dissertation on microfilm and for the publication of the abstract of the dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts.

Department of Bioengineering

Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Electrical Engineering Department 

Industrial Engineering Department 

Materials Science and Engineering Department 

Mechanical Engineering Department 

School of Engineering Faculty