Engineering Joint Doctoral Program

Engineering Science (Bioengineering): (Major Code: 09051) (SIMS 446006)
Engineering Science (Electrical and Computer): (Major Code: 09095) (SIMS 443050)
Engineering Science (Mechanical and Aerospace): (Major Code: 19020) (SIMS 444021)
Engineering Science (Structural): (Major Code: 09084) (SIMS 442501)

San Diego State University, in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego, offers a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Engineering Science (Bioengineering). This program involves graduate level courses and research projects under the supervision of SDSU faculty in the fields Aerospace, Civil, Construction, Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical Engineering with cooperating faculty from the University of California, San Diego. The Ph.D. degree is awarded jointly by the two institutions.

Preparing for Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited institution and must meet the requirements for classified graduate admission to both SDSU and UCSD. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the major field for students with a B.S. and 3.5 for students with the M.S. degree is required.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required with the following minimum scores:

Quantitative: 159
Verbal: 153
Analytical Writing: 4.0

The GRE is required to have been taken within the last 5 years.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson English Language Test (PTE) is required for all applicants who did not earn a degree from an English-speaking university. Please note that while Duolingo English Test is acceptable for other programs, it is not for the Engineering Joint Doctoral Program. Only the TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE exams are accepted.

TOEFL minimum score is 80 on the Internet Based Test (IBT) or 550 on the Paper Based Test (PBT).

IELTS minimum score is 6.5.

PTE minimum score is 58.

TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE tests must have been taken within the last 2 years to be accepted.

Applying to the Program

Advising Committee

When a student is admitted to the Doctoral Program, the directors of the Engineering Joint Doctoral Program at SDSU and UCSD will appoint a three member Advising Committee consisting of at least one member from each institution.

It is the responsibility of this committee to develop in consultation with the student a course of study and plan of preparation for the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. The qualifying examination should be taken as soon as possible after the two years of study at the two institutions. Students with advanced standing may be capable of taking the exam earlier.

Upon the student’s successful completion of the examination, the Advising Committee will recommend the membership of the student’s Doctoral Committee, which upon appointment, will supersede the Advising Committee and be responsible for the student’s program of study and dissertation research. The Doctoral Committee will consist of three members from each institution with one being from a department outside the student’s research area.