2011–2012 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology
2011–2012 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology
2011–2012 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology
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semester based on the areas <strong>of</strong> interest and in consultation with<br />
the student’s committee. Note that the dissertation credits are a<br />
minimum and the committee may require additional credits if they<br />
feel sufficient work has not been completed.<br />
Human-Centered Design<br />
The program in human-centered design (HCD) is <strong>of</strong>fered for<br />
students who wish to carry out advanced research, innovation and<br />
leadership in the academic world, as well as fill equivalent positions<br />
in industry and government. The program may be completed<br />
through one <strong>of</strong> three areas: aerospace engineering, operations<br />
research or computer science. Other research areas within the<br />
field may be pursued depending on current trends in the Human-<br />
Centered Design <strong>Institute</strong> (HCDi) <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> Tech.<br />
The program is designed to attract students who have the greatest<br />
potential for expanding the frontiers <strong>of</strong> knowledge and art <strong>of</strong><br />
HCD, and in transferring this knowledge and art to others. It is<br />
open to graduate students who have a strong interest in people and<br />
are ready to learn about applied human and social sciences. HCD<br />
requires significant breadth and depth <strong>of</strong> understanding in engineering,<br />
mathematics and science, the mastery <strong>of</strong> several specialized<br />
subjects and the creativity to extend the body <strong>of</strong> knowledge<br />
and art on a particular subject through significant original research.<br />
Each candidate is expected to publish major portions <strong>of</strong> their<br />
dissertation in refereed conferences and journals, and is strongly<br />
encouraged to actively participate in research activities <strong>of</strong> the<br />
HCDi while pursuing the degree. The student’s advisory committee<br />
and the director <strong>of</strong> the HCDi must approve the doctoral program <strong>of</strong><br />
study.<br />
Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. _________________<br />
Major Code: 9131 Degree Awarded: Doctor <strong>of</strong> Philosophy<br />
Age Restriction: N Admission Status: graduate<br />
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus<br />
Admission Materials: GRE, 3 letters <strong>of</strong><br />
recommendation, résumé, objectives<br />
The doctor <strong>of</strong> philosophy degree is <strong>of</strong>fered for students who wish<br />
to carry out advanced research in any <strong>of</strong> the four optional areas <strong>of</strong><br />
specialization listed under the master <strong>of</strong> science program. Other<br />
research areas may or may not correlate well with current faculty<br />
interests and laboratory facilities. In such cases, the mechanical<br />
engineering department head should be consulted to determine the<br />
feasibility <strong>of</strong> pursuing advanced research topics that are outside <strong>of</strong><br />
the four optional areas listed.<br />
Admission Requirements<br />
A candidate for the doctoral program will normally have completed<br />
a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field and<br />
have adequate preparation in areas <strong>of</strong> science and mathematics<br />
fundamental to his or her field <strong>of</strong> study. In addition, a student<br />
enrolled in the master’s program may apply to work directly toward<br />
the doctoral degree after completing at least 18 credit hours <strong>of</strong><br />
graduate coursework at <strong>Florida</strong> Tech with a cumulative grade point<br />
average <strong>of</strong> at least 3.5.<br />
Doctoral applicants should have superior academic records, provide<br />
letters <strong>of</strong> recommendation and take the Graduate Record<br />
Examination (GRE) General Test.<br />
General admission requirements and the process for applying are<br />
presented in the Academic Overview section.<br />
Degree Requirements<br />
The degree <strong>of</strong> doctor <strong>of</strong> philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition<br />
<strong>of</strong> creative accomplishment and ability to investigate<br />
scientific or engineering problems independently, rather than for<br />
completion <strong>of</strong> a definite course <strong>of</strong> study. The work should consist<br />
<strong>of</strong> advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution<br />
to the knowledge <strong>of</strong> a particular problem. A student’s research<br />
may have analytical, computational or experimental components,<br />
or some combination. Each student is expected to complete an<br />
approved program <strong>of</strong> study beyond that required for a master’s<br />
degree, pass the comprehensive written/oral examination, complete<br />
a program <strong>of</strong> significant original research, and prepare and defend a<br />
dissertation concerning the research.<br />
The purpose <strong>of</strong> the comprehensive examination is to cover the<br />
student’s major field <strong>of</strong> study and related fields important to the<br />
major field. The examination is given when, in the judgment <strong>of</strong> the<br />
student’s advisory committee, the student has had sufficient preparation<br />
in his/her field <strong>of</strong> study by completing significant coursework<br />
in at least two areas <strong>of</strong> specialization and by initiating doctoral<br />
research. The examination is normally taken before the end <strong>of</strong> the<br />
student’s fourth academic semester, as counted from admission<br />
into the doctoral program. The written portion <strong>of</strong> the examination<br />
consists <strong>of</strong> individual examinations given by each member <strong>of</strong><br />
the advisory committee. These written examinations are intended<br />
to cover each <strong>of</strong> the student’s areas <strong>of</strong> specialization. The written<br />
portion <strong>of</strong> the comprehensive examination is followed by an oral<br />
component administered by the student’s advisory committee. The<br />
oral examination provides the advisory committee an opportunity to<br />
complete the examinations in each <strong>of</strong> the student’s specialty areas.<br />
Subsequent to completion <strong>of</strong> both written and oral components <strong>of</strong><br />
the examination, a dissertation proposal must be submitted to the<br />
student’s advisory committee for evaluation. Upon determining that<br />
the proposed research is <strong>of</strong> doctoral quality and that completion<br />
is feasible, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral<br />
degree.<br />
Course Work and Dissertation Summary<br />
Doctoral coursework beyond master’s degree (minimum) ........................... 18<br />
Doctoral research and dissertation (minimum) ........................................... 18<br />
TOTAL MINIMUM BEYOND THE MASTER’S DEGREE ................... 42<br />
General degree requirements are presented in the Academic<br />
Overview section.<br />
Curriculum<br />
The student’s master’s and doctoral coursework combined should<br />
include a minimum <strong>of</strong> 24 credit hours in mechanical engineering<br />
and 9 credit hours in mathematics. The doctoral program <strong>of</strong> study<br />
must be approved by the student’s adviser and the department<br />
head. The distribution <strong>of</strong> these courses should include courses in<br />
each <strong>of</strong> the four areas <strong>of</strong> specialization, and as a minimum should<br />
have the credit distribution given below:<br />
Major Area <strong>of</strong> Specialization (including master’s courses) .......................... 18<br />
Related Areas <strong>of</strong> Specialization (including master’s courses) .......................... 9<br />
Mathematics (including master’s courses) .................................................... 9<br />
RESEARCH<br />
Mechanical and aerospace engineering facilities include<br />
laboratories for energy research, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics,<br />
combustion and propulsion, metallurgy and solid mechanics,<br />
system dynamics and control, instrumentation and applied laser<br />
research, computer-aided design and computational research.<br />
Degree Programs—College <strong>of</strong> Engineering 137