ECE Graduate Field Handbook

The Ph.D. Degree Program in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell prepares students for a successful career in research, development and teaching through vigorous coursework and cutting-edge study. 

Students will work with our world-renowned faculty as they work together to find solutions to some of today’s biggest problems. Whether you’re interested in power and energy, bioelectrical engineering, computer architecture, imaging, nanotechnology, photonics, neuroscience, or computing, you’ll find your home in Cornell ECE. 

Our Ph.D. Program is interdisciplinary, which allows our students to take advantage of a wide variety of research opportunities both in ECE, across both the Ithaca and New York City Tech Campuses. 

• Take advantage of the wide range of research opportunities on our campuses through our multidisciplinary program and study anything from physics to bioscience, from mathematics to economics. 
• Enjoy the flexibility of determining your individualized curriculum in consultation with your Committee Chair / Advisor and Special Committee Membership. 
• Receive advanced training in current technology and engineering design. 
• Virtually all of our Ph.D. students receive full financial support in the form of Fellowships, Graduate Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships during throughout their Ph.D. Program. 
• The financial support covers tuition, a stipend and a student health insurance package. This funding is provided through the duration of a student’s Ph.D. Program, providing that they remain in good academic standing, as determined by our Field. 
• A Ph.D. from Cornell ECE will empower you to reach your goals and your potential. Our graduates go on to highly successful careers at universities and colleges and in industry and research settings around the world. 

Research and Study Opportunities 

Ongoing research activities in electrical engineering involve both theory and experimentation, and range from the atomic scale at which solid-state devices are studied to the global dimensions of geophysical plasmas. Projects currently underway concern the properties of materials, the fabrication of devices from these materials, the interconnection of devices to form systems, and the properties of systems, including control systems, computer systems, systems for transmitting power and information, and systems for processing signals and data. 

Foundations of Information, Networks, and Decision Systems 

Communications, networks, cyber-physical systems, energy conversion and power systems, biological and medical systems; coding and information theory, machine learning and statistical inference, adaptive control, image and video processing and compression. 

Computer engineering and robotics 

Computer architecture, computer systems, parallel and distributed processing, cloud computing, embedded systems, and computer networks; VLSI design, hardware verification, CAD, and simulation; robotics, embodied computation, hardware/software co-design, and micro robotics. 

Plasma physics, space science and engineering, and electromagnetics 

Upper atmosphere, ionospheric and magnetospheric science, radar, satellites, and sounding rockets; fusion, solar system, and fundamental plasmas; pulsed power, electron and ion beams, and plasma radiation; plasma fabrication; electromagnetics. 

Solid-state electronics and optoelectronics 

Electronic, magnetic and optoelectronic materials and devices; devices, circuits, and system integration; beyond-CMOS devices and circuits; power electronics; photonics; microwave and millimeter-wave devices and systems; sensors and actuators, micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. 

Intended Student Learning Outcomes 

The first important goal of the ECE Ph.D. education is to ensure that our graduates can define and solve an important ECE problem. This requires that they apply fundamental ECE knowledge to a novel concept, synthesize useful techniques from relevant areas, and make discovery that impacts society. The graduate Ph.D. should be prepared broadly, not just in the specific area of the dissertation topic, but also for a career on the forefront of knowledge making contributions to engineering applications. 

Effective teamwork and dissemination of research results demand that an ECE Ph.D. master and demonstrate effective communication skills in writing, speaking and public presentations. The Ph.D. candidates are expected to acquire these skills as part of their course work and research projects, and should be involved in generating journal publications and conference presentations for both active learning and knowledge distribution. These communication skills are essential for practicing engineers. Practicing engineers also need to be ethically responsible and understand the social impacts of their work. ECE Ph.D. students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct in their research and abide by the IEEE Code Ethics. 

Residency Requirement 

Timeline - There is a One (1) Semester Residency Requirement for all first-year ECE Ph.D. students enrolled at the Cornell Ithaca Campus in their First Semester of Enrollment. 

1. All new incoming Students will be required to enroll at the Cornell Ithaca Campus and take courses during their First Semester of Enrollment in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 
2. Ph.D. students will initiate their Committee Chair / Advisor Selection Process from the members of the ECE Graduate Field Faculty located at either the Cornell Ithaca Campus, or, the Cornell New York City Tech Campus. 
3. Ph.D. students who may choose to work with a Committee Chair / Advisor at the Cornell New York City Tech Campus will be allowed to relocate to New York City as early as the beginning of their Second Semester of Enrollment in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

Course / Credit Hour Requirements

Timeline – To be completed prior to, or during the Third Year of Enrollment; Must be completed prior to the Scheduling of the A Exam 

• All ECE Ph.D. students will be required to enroll in at least Eight (8) Credit Hours of ECE Courses, earning a Letter Grade of a “B” or better. 
• All courses should be at the 5000 Level or Above 
• Students must complete the Eight (8) Credit Hour Course Requirement prior to the completion of their Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam). 
• More detailed information can be found online here. 

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) – Online “Foundational” Course

Timeline – To be completed before end of first academic year of enrollment 

• The Cornell Graduate School requires that all first-year graduate students complete the Responsible Conduct of Research “Foundational” Course. 
• The Course consists of four modules – authorship, peer review, plagiarism, research misconduct (data falsification, data fabrication, plagiarism). 
• Students are strongly encouraged to complete the course during their first semester; you will be required to complete it before the end of your first year. 

Committee Chair / Advisor Selection 

Timeline – To be completed by End of First Semester of enrollment encouraged; End of First Academic Year of enrollment required 

• First-year Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to make their Committee Chair / Advisor selection before the end of their first semester of enrollment; you will be required to do so before the completion of your first year of enrollment. 
• Students may only select an ECE Graduate Field Faculty Member to serve as their Committee Chair / Advisor; no exceptions will be allowed. 
• Students can officially nominate their Committee Chair / Advisor via the student. 
• More detailed information can be found online here as well as on Page 9. 
• Students are strongly encouraged to complete the course during their first semester; you will be required to complete it before the end of your first year. 

Qualifying Examination 

Timeline – To be completed by the Fourth Semester of Enrollment. Subject Area Exams are held annually near the end of the Spring Semester, usually in mid-April. 

• All first-year ECE Ph.D. students will be required to participate in a Qualifying Examination (Q Exam). This will generally occur during the Second Semester of enrollment, usually in the spring semester. 
• Each student must pass a total of Two (2) Subject Area Exams. 
• More detailed information regarding the Q Exam format, timing, syllabi and specifics regarding the Subject Area Exams can be found online here as well as on Pages 11 - 13. 

Minor Committee Membership Selection 

Timeline – To be completed by end of Third Semester of Enrollment 

• The Cornell Graduate School requires that all Ph.D. students complete the selection of their Special Committee Membership which will consist of their Advisor / Committee Chair, and Two (2) Minor Committee Members, prior to the end of their Third Semester of Enrollment. 
• Fields of Graduate Study at Cornell. Students may select their Two (2) Minor Committee Members from any of 
• Selection will be done in conjunction with input from your Advisor / Committee Chair. 
• More detailed information on the selection process can be found online here. 
• You will be required to nominate and form your Special Committee Membership (Advisor / Committee Chair, two Minor Members) before the end of your third semester of enrollment. 
• More detailed information can be found on Page 9 - 10. 

Graduate Annual Review (GAR)

Timeline – To be completed by the Fourth Semester of Enrollment in April/May. 

• The ECE Graduate Field Faculty Membership meets annually near the end of the Spring Semester for the Graduate Annual Review (GAR). 
• The purpose of this meeting is to determine if ECE Ph.D. students have made the necessary academic progress in the early part of their Ph.D. Program. 
• Factors determining successful progress will include official nomination of your Advisor / Committee Chair, Course Work Record to date, performance in Research and/or Teaching (if applicable) and performance on the Subject Area Examinations as part of the Q Exam. 
• Results will be provided to students in the form of an official letter from the Field directly following the GAR. 

Timeline – For Students attempting to re-take failed Subject Area Exam(s) from first year, they will participate in a Second GRA near the end of the Fourth Semester in the Second Year of Enrollment in April/May 

Student Progress Review (SPR) 

Timeline – Beginning with the Second Year of Enrollment (generally the Fourth Semester) in May/June; occurs annually during same timeframe to follow each subsequent year 

• Beginning with the second year of graduate study, all research-based degree students (MS, PhD) are required by the Cornell Graduate School to participate annually in the SPR. 
• The SPR is the opportunity for students to have a formal conversation regarding their academic progress and future plans. 
• Students fill out an online form that will include details regarding their recent accomplishments, identifying challenges and setting goals. 
• The Advisor / Committee Chair reviews the document beforehand, and then will formally meet with the student to discuss its contents. 
• The Advisor / Committee Chair will indicate whether the student’s progress has been Excellent, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, or Unsatisfactory. 
• This will take place annually towards the completion of the Spring Semester. 
• More information can be found online here. 

Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) 

Timeline – To be Scheduled/Completed during the Fifth or Sixth Semester in Third Year of Enrollment 

• The Cornell Graduate School requires that all Ph.D. students must schedule and attempt their Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) prior to the start of their Seventh Semester of enrollment. 
• This is a comprehensive exam that gauges students’ knowledge of their chosen research area and their readiness for independent research. 
• This is an oral examination, administered by the members of the student’s Special Committee. 
• The exam typically begins with a presentation of preliminary research results and future plans by the student. 
• The Special Committee members ask questions on the presentation as well as on general knowledge relevant to the student’s research area(s). 
• In this exam, students are expected to demonstrate broad knowledge in their research area as well as communication and presentation skills. 
• Successful completion of the A Exam may result in the student earning a Non-Thesis Master of Science (MS) degree, providing the student’s Committee Membership deems it appropriate. 
• More information can be found online here as well as on Pages 14 - 15. 

Thesis Defense / B Exam 

Timeline – To be Scheduled/Completed by the Tenth Semester in the Fifth Year of Enrollment 

• The Cornell Graduate School requires that all Ph.D. students must schedule and attempt their B Exam prior to the conclusion of their Fourteenth Semester of enrollment. 
• This is an oral examination, administered by the members of the student’s Special Committee. 
• The main component of the exam is a public presentation of the scholarly content of the Ph.D. dissertation, and is open to the public for dissemination and defense of findings. 
• A successful candidate is expected to clearly demonstrate unique and novel ideas in this presentation, and be able to convey them to an audience of critical experts with a balanced presentation of key findings, and a well written dissertation that will become part of the public record. 
• A pass of the B exam indicates completion of a Ph.D. program and completion of a dissertation with significant scholarly content and impact in the field of study. 
• More information can be found online here as well as on Pages 16 - 17. 

Committee Chair / Advisor Selection 

1. All ECE Ph.D. Students are encouraged to make their formal selection of their Committee Chair / Advisor from the members of the ECE Graduate Field Faculty by the end of their first semester of enrollment. 
2. All ECE Ph.D. Students are required to make their formal selection of their Committee Chair / Advisor from the members of the ECE Graduate Field Faculty by the end of their first year of enrollment, in order to be considered making the necessary academic progress as determined by the Field. 
3. The Committee Chair / Advisor must be a member of the ECE Graduate Field Faculty. 

ECE Ph.D. students must nominate their Advisor / Committee Chair via the student center. 

Special Committee Membership Selection; Selection of Minor Members 

Special Committee Membership will consist of Three (3) Faculty Members. The First will be the Committee Chair / Advisor. The Second Two will be considered the Minor Committee Members of the Committee. 

1. The Committee Chair / Advisor must be selected from the ECE Graduate Field Faculty membership 
2. The Two Minor Members may be selected from any of the current Cornell Graduate Faculty. 

ECE Ph.D. students must nominate their Committee Chair / Advisor and Minor Committee Members via the student. 

The selection of the Two Minor Members and the completion of the Special Committee Membership nominations must be done no later than the end of the Third Semester of Enrollment. 

It should be noted that a Student’s Special Committee Membership can have more than Three (3) Faculty Members. 

Students may nominate an additional Minor Committee Member if they choose to. 

Faculty Members who are not a part of a Cornell Graduate Field or affiliated with Cornell University may be included as part of the Special Committee as an Ad Hoc Committee Member. The submission of an Ad Hoc Committee Request form to the Cornell Graduate School is required for consideration. 

Choosing a Minor / Selection of Minor Committee Members 

All Ph.D. students at Cornell are required to participate in Two Minors that will be overseen by the Two Minor Members of the Special Committee. They will each represent the Field and its requirements to satisfy the Minor. 

In ECE, many Ph.D. students will opt to nominate an ECE Graduate Field Faculty Member as one of their Minor Members, representing the Field ECE on their Special Committee. (Note, this is not a requirement, but it is fairly common.) 

Satisfying the Minor Requirements 

Since all Ph.D. students are required to have Two (2) Minor Members as part of their Special Committee, which means that the Minor Requirements for each of the Two (2) Graduate Fields of each Minor Member must be specifically satisfied. 

Students will need to inquire from the Faculty Members that they ask to join their Special Committee as Minor Members what their requirements are in order to effectively satisfy the Minor for each of their Graduate Fields. 

There is no level of consistency in the ways that Minor Requirements are to be satisfied. They are “Field specific,” in that they are determined by each individual Graduate Field. Some have very specific requirements that must be adhered so, while others leave the requirements up to the judgement of the Faculty Member themselves. After speaking to the Faculty Member, it is advised to contact the Graduate Field directly as well, in order to be certain. 

In many cases, the Minor Requirements will consist of specific courses that will need to be taken and a particular Letter Grade that must be earned as a result. 

Be aware that the Graduate Field of ECE has no specific Minor Requirements. The Minor Requirements are left up to the individual Faculty Member to determine was is most appropriate in each individual student’s case what should be done to satisfy the Minor. 

Changing Special Committee Membership 

Students may change their Special Committee Membership at any time during their Ph.D. Program. 

• Special Committee Membership changes after the completion of the A Exam will require the Dean’s approval from the Cornell Graduate School. 
• A Student cannot schedule their B Exam within Three (3) Months of making a Special Committee Membership change. 
• Changing the Committee Chair / Advisor should be discussed in advance with the Director of Graduate Studies. 
• It should be noted that any Special Committee Membership changes will require the approval from all Members of the newly formed Committee, including the Committee Chair / Advisor. 
• Any Member of the Special Committee, including the Committee Chair / Advisor, has the right to resign at any time. 

It is the responsibility of the student to reconstitute their Special Committee Membership. Failure on the part of the student to reconstitute their Special Committee will result in them not being permitted to continue to register as a student in the Graduate School. 

More information can be found on the Cornell Graduate School’s web site. 

All ECE Ph.D. students must participate and successfully complete a total of Three (3) separate examinations in order to earn their degree in the Field of ECE. 

Qualifying Examination 

Guidelines 

The following is a set of guidelines to govern the administration of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Graduate Field’s Qualifying Examination. The purpose of these guidelines is to create a uniform, rigorous standard by which the ECE Graduate Field can assess the qualifications and preparation of students to continue in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

Format of the Qualifying Examination 

The Qualifying Examination is an assessment of the qualification of incoming graduate students for a graduate program in the Field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The overall outcome of the Qualifying Examination is determined during the Graduate Annual Review (GAR) by the entire ECE Field Faculty and holistically considers the following components to achieve one of two possible outcomes. 

• Results for a Set of Subject Area Examinations 
• Grades for all Graduate Level Coursework taken at Cornell to date 
• Direct input from the student’s Committee Chair / Advisor describing the student’s Research Progress 
• Direct input from the members of the ECE Graduate Field Faculty describing the student’s Progress and Demeanor as an ECE Ph.D. Student 

Outcomes of the Qualifying Examination 

• PASS – Based on the above points of criteria, the student will have demonstrated the necessary ability and aptitude to continue in the ECE Ph.D. Program. A Pass may be determined by an outcome of “Excellent” or “Satisfactory.” 
• FAIL – Based on the above points of criteria, the student has not demonstrated the necessary ability to effectively continue in the ECE Ph.D. Program. The student will be instructed to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and his/her Committee Chair / Advisor to discuss the proper course of action. A Fail will be determined by an outcome of “Unsatisfactory.” 

Timing of the Qualifying Examination 

• The student’s Qualifying Examination results will be considering during the Graduate Annual Review (GAR), which usually takes place soon after the Subject Area Examinations are completed. 
• The Qualifying Examination is offered once a year, at the end of the Spring Semester. 
• Students are eligible to participate in the Qualifying Examination at any time during their first Four (4) Semesters of Enrollment of graduate study in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 
• Students must successfully complete the Qualifying Examination by the end of their Fourth Semester of enrollment of graduate study in the ECE Ph.D. Program, in order to remain in good academic standing as determined by the Field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

Subject Area Examinations 

Format of the Subject Area Examinations 

• Subject Area Examinations are oral examinations with a duration of 20 – 30 minutes each. 
• Each Subject Area Examination will focus on a specific subject within the ECE Graduate Field. They include the following Eight (8) separate subjects. Random Processes and Probability 

1. Computer Architecture 
2. Computer Systems 
3. Circuits and Devices 
4. Solid State and Quantum 
5. Electromagnetics and Optics 
6. Digital VLSI 
7. Linear Systems 

• Each Subject Area Examination will focus on material covered in a reasonable undergraduate curriculum on Electrical and Computer Engineering. Subject Area Examinations will have an associated syllabus to act as a study guide. 
• Subject Area Examinations are administered by a Two (2) Person Committee consisting of ECE Graduate Field Faculty Members acting as examiners that are well-versed in the corresponding subject. 
• The Subject Area Examination Committee of examiners must not include a Student’s Committee Chair / Advisor. 

Subject Area Examination Outcomes 

For each Subject Area Examination, the Subject Area Examination Committee of examiners will render One (1) of Three (3) Possible Outcomes: 

• EXCELLENT – Student has demonstrated an excellent understanding of the corresponding Subject Areas that exceeds the expectations of a reasonable Ph.D. Candidate within the ECE Graduate Field. 
• SATISFACTORY – Student has demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the corresponding Subject Areas that meets the expectations of a reasonable Ph.D. Candidate within the ECE Graduate Field. 
• UNSATISFACTORY – Student has demonstrated an unsatisfactory understanding of the corresponding Subject Areas that is beneath the expectations of a reasonable Ph.D. Candidate within the ECE Graduate Field. 

The Subject Area Examination Committee of examiners will provide a written review of the student’s performance on the Examination(s) and the justification for the awarded outcome. 

Achieving an outcome of either EXCELLENT or SATISFACTORY on Two (2) or more Subject Area Examinations covering at least Two (2) separate Subjects is sufficient to complete the exam criteria of the Qualifying Examination. 

Timing of the Subject Area Examinations 

• Subject Area Examinations are administered annually during a one-week period near the end of the Spring Semester. 
• The scheduled dates of the Subject Area Examinations are determined by the ECE Director of Graduate Studies each year and will be announced in advance. 
• Subject Area Examinations may potentially be administrated at other times due to family, medical emergency or other exceptional circumstances only, as determined by the ECE Director of Graduate Studies. 
• Students are encouraged to take Two (2) Subject Area Examinations on Two (2) Separate Subjects in their first year of enrollment of graduate study in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

Appeals of Subject Area Examination Results 

1. Students may appeal the results of a Subject Area Examination if they believe that an error has been made in their case. 
2. The student must file a written appeal to the ECE Director of Graduate Studies within One (1) Week of receiving the results of the Subject Area Examination. 
3. The written appeal must be in the form of a formal, signed letter detailing the specific reasons why the student believes the outcome of the Subject Area Examination should be changed. 
4. A finalized decision regarding the written appeal will be rendered by the ECE Director of Graduate in consultation with the Graduate Committee. 

Requests for Accommodation for Students with Disabilities 

• In compliance with the Cornell University’s Policy and Equal Access Laws, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering are happy to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that students with disabilities may require in order to participate in the Subject Area Exams as part of the Qualifying Examination. 
• Requests for academic accommodations should occur at least One (1) Month in Advance of the Qualifying Examination and Subject Area Exams, in order to make any and all necessary arrangements. ECE encourages students to register with the student to verify their eligibility for suitable accommodations. 

Please see the Appendix on Pages 25 - 31, for detailed copies of the Subject Area Examination Syllabi. 

All Subject Area Examination Syllabi information is also available online. 

Overview 

Students are eligible to schedule their A Exam after Two (2) Semesters of Registration have been completed in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

The A Exam must be taken PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING of a Student’s Seventh Semester of Registration. 

The format of the A Exam is up to the discretion of the student’s Special Committee Membership. In general, it is an oral examination. The student will present the topic that has been chosen to devote their dissertation to. 

Scheduling the Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) 

The student will need to schedule the A Exam at a time that is convenient for both them and their Special Committee Membership. Students are encouraged to complete the scheduling process well in advance of the date of the A Exam itself. 

Reserving a Room for the A Exam 

Once a date and time have been established, the student should reserve a Conference Room where the A Exam will be held. There are conference rooms of varying size available in Phillips Hall, Rhodes Hall and Duffield Hall that can be reserved. Students will need to work with ECE Administrative Staff in order to reserve a conference room. 

Schedule A Examination and Research Compliance Form 

Filling It Out, Obtaining Online Approvals, Submitting the Form 

• The student will need to go online and fill out the Schedule A Examination and Research and Compliance Form. The form can be found on the Graduate School’s Forms page listed under “Exams and Research.” 
• The student will fill out the form completely before submitting for the necessary approvals of their entire Special Committee Membership, the ECE Director of Graduate Studies, and the ECE Assistant Director of M.Eng./Ph.D. Program (listed as “Graduate Field Assistant” on the form). 
• The student will be responsible for obtaining the completion of all required online approvals in order for the form to be submitted to the Graduate School. 
• Once all online approvals have been submitted, an automated email will be sent by the Graduate School confirming the scheduling of the student’s A Exam. 

Deadline for Submission of A Examination and Research Compliance Form 

• The completed Schedule A Examination and Research Compliance Form must be submitted to the Graduate School a minimum of Seven (7) Calendar Days prior to the date of the scheduled A Exam. 
• There are no exceptions to this rule. Late submission of the Schedule A Examination and Research Compliance Form will result in the A Exam having to be re-scheduled. 

Announcement of the A Exam 

The Date, Time and Location of the student’s A Exam will be made public and posted to the ECE Events Calendar. 

Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form 

Filling It Out, Obtaining Online Approvals, Submitting the Form 

• The student will need to go online and fill out the Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form. It can be found on the Graduate School’s Forms page listed under “Exams and Research.” 
• The student will fill out the form completely before submitting for the necessary approvals of their entire Special Committee Membership, the ECE Director of Graduate Studies, and the ECE Assistant Director of M.Eng./Ph.D. Program (listed as “Graduate Field Assistant” on the form). 
• The student will be responsible for obtaining the completion of all required online approvals in order for the form to be submitted to the Graduate School. 
• Once all online approvals have been submitted, an automated email will be sent by the Graduate School confirming the receipt of the student’s Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form. 

Deadline for Submission of Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form 

• The completed Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form must be submitted to the Graduate School within Three (3) Business Days of the completion of the A Exam. 
• There are no exceptions to this rule. Late submission of the Results of Admission for Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form will result in the results of the student’s A Exam not being accepted. 

Master of Science (MS) without Thesis Degree 

All Students who successfully complete their A Exam are eligible to earn a Master of Science (MS) without Thesis Degree. The student may only be awarded the MS degree if their Committee Membership deems it appropriate. 

The student should discuss this option with their Special Committee Membership in advance of participating in their A Exam. 

When the student’s Committee Chair / Advisor submits their online approval for the Results of Admission to Candidacy (A Exam) Form, they should then indicate if the student should be receiving the Non-Thesis MS degree and continuing on in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

Please be aware that the Graduate School will only award the Non-Thesis MS degree if it is clearly indicated on the Results for the Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form. The Graduate School will NOT retroactively award the Non-Thesis MS degree if it was not specifically indicated at the time of the submission of the Results for Admission to Candidacy Examination (A Exam) Form. 

Students are eligible to schedule their B Exam after Six (6) Semesters of registration have been completed in the ECE Ph.D. Program. 

Be aware that the student will be required to be enrolled for a minimum of Two (2) Semesters of registration between their A and B Exams. 

Submission of Thesis Draft to Special Committee Membership 

Prior to Scheduling B Exam: 

• The Graduate School’s policy according to the Code of Legislation states, “A Student must submit a completes draft of the thesis or dissertation to all Members of the Special Committee at least Six (6) Weeks before the Final Examination, unless the Special Committee modifies this requirement.” 
• The student must confirm with their Special Committee Membership after they have reviewed the draft if it is appropriate to move forward with scheduling the B Exam. 

Scheduling the B Exam 

The student will need to schedule the B Exam at a time that is convenient for both them and their Special Committee Membership. 

Reserving a Room for the B Exam 

Once a date and time have been confirmed, the student should reserve a Conference Room where the B Exam will be held. There are Conference Rooms of varying size available in Phillips Hall, Rhodes Hall and Duffield Hall that can be reserved. You will need to work with the ECE Administrative Staff in order reserve a Conference Room. 

Schedule B Examination Form 

Filling It Out, Obtaining Online Approvals, Submitting the Form 

The student will need to go online and fill out the Schedule B Examination Form. It can be found on the Graduate School’s Forms page listed under “Exams and Research.” 

• The student will fill out the form completely before submitting it for the necessary approvals of their entire Committee Membership, the ECE Director of Graduate Studies and the ECE Assistant Director of M.Eng./Ph.D. Programs (listed as “Graduate Field Assistant” on the form). 
• The student will be responsible for obtaining the completion of all required online Approvals in order for the form to be submitted to the Graduate School. 
• Once all online Approvals have been submitted, an automated email will be sent by the Graduate School confirming the scheduling of the student’s B Exam. 

Deadline for Submission of Schedule B Examination Form 

The completed Schedule B Examination Form must be submitted to the Graduate School a minimum of Seven (7) Calendar Days prior to the date of the scheduled examination. 

There are no exceptions to this rule. Late submission of the Schedule B Examination Form will result in the examination having to be re-scheduled. 

Announcement of the B Exam 

The Date, Time and Location of the student’s B Exam will be posted on the ECE Events Calendar. 

Results for Final Defense of Ph.D. Degree (B Exam) Form 

Filling Out the Form, Obtaining Online Approvals, Submitting the Form 

• At the conclusion of the B Exam, the student will need to go online and fill out the Results for Final Defense of Ph.D. Degree (B Exam) Form. It can be found on the Graduate School’s Forms page listed under “Exams and Research.” 
• The student will fill out the form completely before submitting it for the necessary approvals of their entire Committee Membership, the ECE Director of Graduate Studies and the ECE Assistant Director of M.Eng./Ph.D. Programs (listed as “Graduate Field Assistant” on the form). 
• The student will be responsible for obtaining the completion of all required online Approvals in order for the form to be submitted to the Graduate School. 
• Once all online Approvals have been submitted, an automated email will be sent by the Graduate School confirming the receipt of the student’s Results for Final Defense of Ph.D. Degree (B Exam) Form. 

Deadline for Submission of Results for Final Defense of Ph.D. Degree (B Exam) Form 

The completed Results for Final Defense of Ph.D. Degree (B Exam) Form must be submitted to the Graduate School within Three (3) Days of the completion of the B Exam. 

There are no exceptions to this rule. Late submission of the B Exam Results Form will result in the results of the student’s B Exam not being accepted. 

Students should bookmark and regularly visit the Graduate School’s web page “Understanding Deadlines and Requirements” in order to following a definitive timeline towards their graduation.

There are three types of available funding that we offered to applicants who receive admission offers. Each of them include a Full Tuition Fellowship, an Academic Year Stipend and a Student Health Insurance Package. 

Fellowship 

• Admission offers of a Fellowship are generally One (1) or Two (2) Semesters in duration 
• The Fellowship Stipend will be a slightly higher dollar amount for the first year only. 
• While being supported on a Fellowship, you will have no formal obligations such as teaching of research for a specific group. 

Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) 

• An admission offer of a GRA will come directly from a specific ECE Faculty Member who has expressed a specific interest in having the admitted student join their research group upon entering our Ph.D. Program. 
• Incoming GRAs are expected to begin focusing on research in the group of the ECE Faculty Member who has extended the offer or admission. 
• Students are generally supported as GRAs by their Committee Chair / Advisor during the summer session. 

Teaching Assistantship (TA) 

• An admission offer of a TA comes directly from ECE. 
• Incoming TAs are expected to perform the required duties to support the course they will be assigned to which may include: Teaching Recitations, Holding Office Hours, Grading Exams and Homework Assignments, Overseeing Lab Sections 
• Specific TA duties are determined by the Course Instructor of the course they are assigned to. 

Cornell ECE Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Research Award 

• Awarded annually; Nominations are due by end of the fall semester 
• Students are nominated by their Committee Chair / Advisor 
• Required materials from Students are a CV, Cornell Transcript, Innovative Claims and Major Impacts (describing their research), Thesis Draft or Collection of Research Papers 
• Required materials from Faculty are a Nomination Letter from the Committee Chair / Advisor and two additional supporting Recommendation Letters 
• An Ad Hoc Committee based on the ECE Graduate Committee evaluates all submissions and selects a winner 
• Results are announced by the end of January 
• Winner receives a $3,000.00 cash award and an engraved plaque 

Cornell ECE Outstanding Ph.D. TA Award 

• Awarded annually; Nominations are by in mid-spring semesters 
• Students are nominated by an ECE Course Instructor for a course that they served as a Ph.D. TA for 
• Required materials from the Course Instructor are a completed Nomination Form 
• Required materials from Students are Teaching Philosophy and Major Contribution (describing their teaching style and method), a CV, a Recommendation Letter from a student who was registered in the course that the TA provided support for) 
• An Ad Hoc Committee based on the ECE Graduate Committee evaluates all submissions and selects a winner 
• Results are announced by late April 
• Winner receives a $3,000.00 cash award and an engraved plaque 

The Office of Academic and Student Affairs works with graduate faculty and graduate students on academic policy and programs, academic integrity and misconduct, responsible conduct of research, petitions requesting exceptions to graduate school policy as outlines in the Graduate Faculty’s Code of Legislation, and academic progress and students status. The office also offers academic, writing and professional development programs, including proposal/thesis/dissertation writing boot camp, the Productive Writer email (Sign Up), Graduate Write-Ins, Productive Writing workshops, Fellowship Application Writing Workshops and Fellowship Listserv Tips, Productive Fellowship Writer Mailing List, Writing and Publishing Workshop Series, Three Minute Thesis Competition, and the Advising Guide for Research Students. 

The Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement (OISE) supports an inclusive and welcoming environment for all graduate and postdoctoral scholars, but especially for those from marginalized communities and/or backgrounds historically excluded from and underrepresented in the academy. OISE supports systemic change and promotes a climate of diversity, belonging, equity, engagement, and achievement, which are integral components of graduate and postdoctoral education. OISE supports scholar success through recruitment, diversity fellowships, mentoring, professional, leadership, and community development programming, and ongoing support. 

Recognizing that health and academic performance are intimately linked, the Office of Graduate Student Life is a source of information, support, and advocacy that creates a more student-centered graduate student life experience. In addition to being a first point of contact for students who are struggling or experiencing any form of distress, the Office of Graduate Student Life serves as a coordinating hub with campus-partners that focus on available online. promoting a healthy and holistic student experience. More information on support is available online.

Graduate School Contacts