ME-PHD - Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
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Program Overview
The PhD degree is intended primarily for students who desire a career in research, advanced development, or teaching; for this type of work, a broad background in mathematics and the engineering sciences, combined with intensive study and research experience in a specialized area, are the necessary requisites.
Guidelines for Reasonable Progress
Students should align with a permanent advisor by the first academic year’s end.
Students must make satisfactory progress in their program and research, as determined by their advisor.
Students should pass their Qualifying Examination and file for candidacy by the second academic year’s end.
Students should form a Reading Committee and submit a signed Reading Committee Form to the ME Student Services Office by the third academic year’s end or during the fourth academic year.
Students typically complete their Oral Exam/Dissertation Defense by the fifth academic year’s end.
Students are encouraged to review the ME Graduate Student Handbook for further details about the program.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
First-Year Advising
Students admitted without a research advisor have up to four quarters to rotate in different research groups and find their best fit with a faculty member who will ultimately serve as the dissertation advisor. Research rotations are tracked by the student enrolling in course. To facilitate an introduction to the ME PhD program, the first research rotation must be with a faculty member whose primary appointment is in the ME department. A new sponsor is required for each research rotation until the PhD research advisor is identified. No further rotations are required once the PhD research advisor is identified (by the end of the 4th quarter).
In special situations, Academic Council members who are not members of the ME department’s faculty may serve as the principal dissertation advisor when approved by the department. In such cases, a member of the ME department faculty must serve as a co-advisor. This co-advisor must be a student’s Reading Committee and Oral Exam Committee member.
Coursework
PhD candidates must complete a minimum of 135 units. These courses must be numbered 100+. PhD candidates who received their MS from Stanford may count up to 45 units toward the 135 total.
Out of the 135 units, a student must complete a minimum of 21 units of approved courses in advanced study in engineering, science, and mathematics (excluding research, directed study, seminars, curricular practical training, and course) beyond the MS degree. These courses must be numbered 200+ and must be taken for a letter grade.
In addition, the department has a breadth requirement for the PhD degree. This may be satisfied by a formal minor in another department (generally 20 units) or by at least nine units of coursework (outside of the primary research topic) which the principal dissertation advisor approves. Nine units from the minor requirements can be counted towards the depth requirement if a minor is taken.
See Graduate Degrees for the university’s basic requirements for the PhD degree.
PhD students must obtain teaching experience equivalent to at least one 25% course assistantship. Students may enroll in course for up to 3 units while working as a TA or CA.
“Ph.D. Teaching Experience” or similar teaching experience may include equivalent teaching preparation, lecturing, leading sessions, tutoring, or scientific or engineering outreach. The PhD advisor will certify the definition of the nature and scope of the teaching experience and fulfillment of this requirement.
Qualifying Exam
Before being formally admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree, the student must demonstrate knowledge of engineering fundamentals by passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. As its name suggests, it is the traditionally adopted method to confirm that students are qualified to complete the degree successfully. The examination’s academic level and subject matter correspond approximately to the master’s program in Mechanical Engineering.
Typically, the exam is taken in the second year of a student’s PhD program. For students beginning their graduate work after completing an MS, the exam must take place at or before the start of their second year at Stanford. The student must have a minimum graduate Stanford GPA of 3.5 to be eligible for the exam (grades from independent study courses are not included in the GPA calculation).
Ph.D. Candidacy
The student must file the PhD candidacy form to achieve PhD candidacy status. University policy expects this form to be filed by the end of the 2nd year of the student’s PhD registration; for students starting without an MS and taking the Qualifying Exam at the beginning of the third year, this may be delayed by one quarter.
Students are expected to complete their program within five years from the date that candidacy is granted.
Reading Committee
After attaining PhD Candidacy, the student must form a Reading Committee in consultation with their advisor. The Reading Committee consists of the principal dissertation advisor and, typically, two other readers. Three members are required and no more than five members.
Green Light Meeting
No less than six months before the planned Ph.D. Oral Exam, the student and the Reading Committee are required to meet in a “Green Light Meeting.” In this meeting, a Final Dissertation Proposal will be reviewed and discussed, and the student will present a Draft PhD Thesis outline indicating the status of prior work, plans for additional work, and target dates for the Ph.D. Oral Exam and completion of the PhD dissertation.
Any time after completing an acceptable draft of the dissertation, with the approval of the advisor and Reading Committee, the student may schedule the University Oral Examination (Dissertation Defense).
The Oral Exam is conducted by a committee consisting of a chair from another department and four faculty members of the department or departments with related interests. The Oral Exam Committee usually includes the candidate’s advisor, reading committee members, and two more faculty. The examination consists of two parts: The first is open to the public and is scheduled as a seminar talk, usually for one of the regular meetings of a seminar series. The second is private and covers subjects closely related to the dissertation topic.
The PhD dissertation typically represents at least one full year of research work and must substantially contribute to the field. Information for rules governing the dissertation format, fees, forms, and deadlines can be found on the Dissertations and Theses website. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.