2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

Selected course offerings from other engineering and science
programs can be taken to fulfill the related area requirements.
Each student takes mathematics courses from those offered each
semester based on the areas of interest and in consultation with
the student’s committee. Note that the dissertation credits are a
minimum and the committee may require additional credits if they
feel sufficient work has not been completed.
Human-Centered Design
The program in human-centered design (HCD) is offered for
students who wish to carry out advanced research, innovation and
leadership in the academic world, as well as fill equivalent positions
in industry and government. The program may be completed
through one of three areas: aerospace engineering, operations
research or computer science. Other research areas within the
field may be pursued depending on current trends in the Human-
Centered Design Institute (HCDI) of Florida Tech.
The program is designed to attract students who have the greatest
potential for expanding the frontiers of knowledge and art of
HCD, and in transferring this knowledge and art to others. It is
open to graduate students who have a strong interest in people and
are ready to learn about applied human and social sciences. HCD
requires significant breadth and depth of understanding in engineering,
mathematics and science, the mastery of several specialized
subjects and the creativity to extend the body of knowledge
and art on a particular subject through significant original research.
Each candidate is expected to publish major portions of their
dissertation in refereed conferences and journals, and is strongly
encouraged to actively participate in research activities of the
HCDI while pursuing the degree. The student’s advisory committee
and the director of the HCDI must approve the doctoral
program of study.
Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. _________________
major Code: 9131 Degree awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
age restriction: N admission status: graduate
Delivery mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
admission materials: GRE, 3 letters of
recommendation, résumé, objectives
The doctor of philosophy degree is offered for students who wish
to carry out advanced research in any of the four optional areas of
specialization listed under the master of science program. Other
research areas may or may not correlate well with current faculty
interests and laboratory facilities. In such cases, the mechanical
engineering department head should be consulted to determine the
feasibility of pursuing advanced research topics that are outside of
the four optional areas listed.
Admission Requirements
A candidate for the doctoral program will normally have completed
a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field and
have adequate preparation in areas of science and mathematics
fundamental to his or her field of study. In addition, a student
enrolled in the master’s program may apply to work directly toward
the doctoral degree after completing at least 18 credit hours of
graduate coursework at Florida Tech with a cumulative grade point
average of at least 3.5.
Doctoral applicants should have superior academic records, provide
letters of recommendation and take the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) General Test.
146 Florida Tech
General admission requirements and the process for applying are
presented in the Academic Overview section.
Degree Requirements
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition
of creative accomplishment and ability to investigate
scientific or engineering problems independently, rather than for
completion of a definite course of study. The work should consist
of advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution
to the knowledge of a particular problem. A student’s research
may have analytical, computational or experimental components,
or some combination. Each student is expected to complete an
approved program of study beyond that required for a master’s
degree, pass the comprehensive written/oral examination, complete
a program of significant original research, and prepare and defend a
dissertation concerning the research.
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to cover the
student’s major field of study and related fields important to the
major field. The examination is given when, in the judgment of the
student’s advisory committee, the student has had sufficient preparation
in his/her field of study by completing significant coursework
in at least two areas of specialization and by initiating doctoral
research. The examination is normally taken before the end of the
student’s fourth academic semester, as counted from admission
into the doctoral program. The written portion of the examination
consists of individual examinations given by each member of
the advisory committee. These written examinations are intended
to cover each of the student’s areas of specialization. The written
portion of the comprehensive examination is followed by an oral
component administered by the student’s advisory committee. The
oral examination provides the advisory committee an opportunity to
complete the examinations in each of the student’s specialty areas.
Subsequent to completion of both written and oral components of
the examination, a dissertation proposal must be submitted to the
student’s advisory committee for evaluation. Upon determining that
the proposed research is of doctoral quality and that completion
is feasible, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral
degree.
Coursework and Dissertation Summary
Doctoral coursework beyond master’s degree (minimum) ......................... 18
Doctoral research and dissertation (minimum) ......................................... 18
TOTAL MINIMUM BEYOND THE MASTER’S DEGREE ................... 42
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic
Overview section.
Curriculum
The student’s master’s and doctoral coursework combined should
include a minimum of 24 credit hours in mechanical engineering
and 9 credit hours in mathematics. The doctoral program of study
must be approved by the student’s adviser and the department
head. The distribution of these courses should include courses in
each of the four areas of specialization, and as a minimum should
have the credit distribution given below:
Major Area of Specialization (including master’s courses) ......................... 18
Related Areas of Specialization (including master’s courses)........................ 9
Mathematics (including master’s courses) ................................................... 9
RESEARch
Mechanical and aerospace engineering facilities include
laboratories for energy research, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics,
combustion and propulsion, metallurgy and solid mechanics,