Electrical Engineering PhD

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest educational degree, and explores problem solving through extensive research. As an R1 research university ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings, UWM is a premier place with which to pursue your electrical engineering PhD.The electrical engineering PhD at UWM is intentionally unstructured in order to allow you to customize the degree to your specific objectives and interests. You’ll have the opportunity to work with our highly acclaimed faculty involved in the following areas of cutting-edge electronics research: battery energy storage, cybersecurity, data visualization, machine learning and AI, nano-electronics, photonics, power electronics, sensors, signal processing, and smart grid systems.What to ExpectPhD students complete 54 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students choose a research area of focus and an approved minor and commit to completing a graduate seminar and doctoral thesis.Some students at UWM pursue their PhD after completing a master’s degree, and others choose to earn a PhD instead of a master’s degree. Please see the course catalog for specific requirements.Many students choose to incorporate Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Research Assistantships (RAs) during their graduate study which helps to fund their education while also building leadership skills. Assistantship decisions are made by the academic departments only after an applicant has been accepted into the program.Earning a PhD in electrical engineering can provide you with a wide range of professional or academic opportunities that may include leadership roles in academia, government service, or high-level industrial research.