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Graduate Catalog 2011 - 2012 
    
Graduate Catalog 2011 - 2012 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Engineering, Doctor of


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Fenn College of Engineering

Stilwell Hall 104
(216) 687-2555
http://www.csuohio.edu/engineering/chemical/academic/
Dr. Orhan Talu, Doctoral Program Director
Dr. Joanne Belovich, Applied Biomedical Engineering & Cellular & Molecular Medicine Director

Areas of Study

Applied Biomedical Engineering
Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Introduction

The Doctor of Engineering degree is granted in recognition of high achievement in scholarship and an ability to apply engineering fundamentals to the solution of complex technical problems. Students are expected to pursue a broad program of study, pass all prescribed examinations, and submit an innovative, high-quality applied-engineering dissertation as described in the section on Degree Requirements.

Faculty Research and Publications

Faculty members of the Fenn College of Engineering are very active in research sponsored by government agencies and industry. Involvement in research activities provides an excellent educational opportunity for students to advance their technical knowledge and professionalism while accomplishing dissertation work. The majority of doctoral students are involved with faculty in sponsored research. All students are expected to be involved in some form of faculty/student research as part of the dissertation work. High-quality research should lead to publication of the project’s contribution to the body of knowledge.

There are more than seventy active research projects in the College. The sampling of the topics listed below reflects the broad interests and capabilities of the faculty and students:

Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria
Bioreactors and Bioseparations
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Fuel cells and hydrogen storage
Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer
Phase Change Heat Transfer
Stirling Power and Refrigeration Technology
Environmental Engineering
Tribology
Reactor Design
Adsorption and Diffusion
Sensor Technology
Modulation Techniques
Error Control Coding
Spread Spectrum Systems
Robust Communications
System and Control Theory
Power Electronics and Motor Drives
Intelligent System Monitoring
Intelligent Control
Computer Communication Networks
Modeling of Metabolic Systems
Power System Operation and Control
Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic
Microwave Devices
Structural Analysis
Vibrations
Finite Element Methods
Material Synthesis and Processing
Ceramics and Composite Materials
Gear Dynamics
Turbomachinery
Rotor Dynamics
Robotics and Machine Vision
Dynamics and Control
Manufacturing Systems
Real World Scheduling
Quality Control
Productivity Enhancement
Data Mining
Non-Destructive Testing of Civil Infrastructure
Failure Analysis and Performance of Construction Materials
Innovative Concrete Paving Materials

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Financial Assistance

All students interested in assistantships must meet and maintain the requirements specified by the College of Graduate Studies, as described in the front section of this Catalog under Expenses and Financial Aid: Graduate Assistantships.

Research assistantships are provided through sponsored research activities; the number available at a given time is dependent on the research activity within the College. Interested students are encouraged to discuss the availability of assistantships and potential research projects with the program director, department chairs, and faculty as soon as possible.

Teaching assistantships are provided by individual departments to provide assistance with classroom and laboratory courses. Responsibilities can include conducting classroom recitation sessions, setting up laboratory experiments, tutoring students in class work, grading, monitoring tests, and related activities. For further information, students should contact the respective department chairs.

All graduate teaching assistants who are international students are required to pass an English Language Proficiency Examination, which is administered by the University Testing Center. Students are expected to work a maximum of twenty hours per week on their assistantship assignments unless fewer hours are specified under the terms of their contracts. A limited number of graduate tuition grants also are available for which students are expected to work ten hours per week.

Career Information

The major objective of advanced graduate study in engineering is to enhance the student’s preparation for a career as a professional in education or research. The doctoral program is designed to strengthen the individual’s ability to apply creative leadership in the solution of important and complex technological problems. Graduates of the doctoral program have assumed positions in industry, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Cleveland State-Youngstown State University (YSU) Cooperative Agreement

Through a cooperative agreement between Cleveland State University and YSU, students who live in close proximity to YSU may pursue the Doctor of Engineering Degree offered by Cleveland State by completing some degree requirements at YSU, after admission and consultation with Cleveland State and YSU advisors. Youngstown-area students who choose a YSU faculty member as co-advisor with the Cleveland State dissertation advisor may complete a maximum of twelve credits of doctoral dissertation requirements at YSU. Students interested in this program should consult the Doctor of Engineering Director at Cleveland State or the YSU advisor.

Admission Information

The applicant must hold a master’s degree in engineering or in a related science discipline, such as chemistry, physics, or mathematics, or an MD. At least one degree (baccalaureate or master’s) must be in engineering. In exceptional cases, applicants to the Applied Biomedical Engineering specialization (see below for program description) may be considered without an engineering degree if they have a strong foundation in calculus, physics, and chemistry or biology, before entering the program. A minimum master’s grade-point average of 3.25 is required

The GRE General section is required if one or more of the following conditions pertains:

  • The student’s most recent engineering degree was awarded by a college or university outside of the United States, or by a Canadian institution not accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
  • The student’s graduate cumulative grade-point average is below 3.25.
  • The year of the student’s master’s degree precedes the date of application to the College of Graduate Studies by more than six years.

If the GRE is required, a minimum score at the 80th percentile on the Quantitative section is usually required.

International students should refer to the section earlier in this Catalog for information on testing requirements to demonstrate English-language proficiency.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html

Degree Requirements


 The doctoral degree includes the following specific requirements:

  1. A minimum of sixty (60) credits beyond the master’s degree. These credits must include:
    1. A minimum of thirty (30) credits of course work, which should include;
      1. A minimum of six (6) credits of doctoral core courses (select two of the following)
        ESC 702 - Applied Engineering Analysis I 
        ESC 704 - Applied Engineering Analysis II 
        ESC 706 - Applied Engineering Analysis III 

        Or, subject to prior approval by the Program (Graduate Affairs Committee) ESC 794 - Selected Topics in Engineering Science 
         
      2. A minimum of eight (8) credits of graduate non-engineering courses related to the student’s area of study and approved by the advisory committee and Engineering College Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC)
      3. A minimum of twelve (12) credits of 700-level engineering electives.
      4. Remaining four (4) credits can be any graduate level course.
    2. A minimum of thirty (30) dissertation credits.
  2. Satisfactory completion of the Qualifying Examination.
  3. GAC approval of the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form and satisfactory completion of the doctoral Candidacy Examination.
  4. Completion of a doctoral Dissertation and successful final oral Defense examination.
  5. Compliance with all requirements of the College of Graduate Studies for regular graduate student status and graduation.

Advising

When a student is admitted, the Graduate Director of the program assigns an interim advisor who assists the student in completing a preliminary study plan. The interim advisor is usually the person in charge of the specific area of study listed above. Before sixteen credits of course work have been completed, the student must propose a dissertation advisor and begin plans for the dissertation. At the same time, an advisory committee is appointed, with the dissertation advisor serving as chair. The student’s dissertation advisor, in consultation with the student, recommends five members of the graduate faculty for the advisory committee. One member must be external to the College of Engineering. Usually, an additional member is added when an off-campus, industrial advisor is involved in the dissertation work. This off-campus project advisor may be a member of the advisory committee but does not have voting rights, unless he or she holds graduate faculty status. Students in the ABE specialization (see below) may include faculty from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation on their advisory committees. The Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) of the College reviews the composition of the advisory committee and recommends approval or changes to attain a membership balance that is knowledgeable in all facets of the dissertation topic. Finally, an additional member may be selected by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

The functions of the student’s advisory committee are to approve a study plan and a dissertation topic and proposal, each of which in turn must be approved by the College GAC. The student’s advisory committee monitors the progress of the dissertation, approves the dissertation, and administers the oral defense.

Examination

Individuals admitted to the program become candidates for the Doctor of Engineering degree after:

  1. Completing all prescribed course work;
  2. Passing the qualifying examination; and
  3. Passing the candidacy examination.

The purpose of the doctoral qualifying examination is to evaluate a prospective student’s mastery of the subject matters that are fundamental to the chosen engineering discipline/concentration beyond what is demonstrated by the grades obtained prior to entering the doctoral program. The student must demonstrate broad understanding of engineering science and mathematics and special knowledge and readiness to pursue further study in a specific discipline/concentration. The examination should be taken as early as possible after admission to the doctoral program usually within a year. Successful completion of this examination must be attained before the student exceeds twenty credit hours beyond the master’s degree.

The student’s performance on the qualifying examination determines the future course of study. Students who pass continue the program of study. Those who pass conditionally are subject to additional course work and/or re-examination (only one re-examination is permitted). Students who fail are advised to leave the program. The qualifying examination is administered by the Graduate Committee of the student’s respective department. The minimum College standards require the examination to be written, open-book, with at least two testing periods of three hours each. The examination is offered in fall and spring semesters. Students should determine from their department office the exact nature of their examination and the dates on which it is offered. All students intending to take the examination are required to notify their respective department office at least four weeks before the scheduled examination date.

The purpose of the doctoral candidacy examination is to assess a doctoral student’s maturity and preparation to continue independent research in a specific research topic. The examination should be taken in a period of time not to exceed two years after successful completion of the qualifying examination but students are advised to complete candidacy as soon as possible. The students are not permitted to register for Dissertation credits before successful completion of the Candidacy Exam. For the candidacy examination, the student must prepare a written dissertation proposal based on a scholarly review of literature in the dissertation area. Prior GAC approval of the student’s advisory committee (on the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form) is necessary to conduct the candidacy exam. The student’s advisory committee administers the doctoral candidacy examination and determines the nature and duration of the exam. The exam usually involves a public seminar followed by oral examination by the advisory committee which is closed to the public. Based on the examination results, the student either passes and has the proposal accepted with a general understanding that the successful completion of the work presented result in the award of the Doctor of Engineering degree, or fails and has the proposal rejected. A student may repeat the candidacy examination a maximum of three times.

Dissertation

The dissertation, a concentrated, in-depth, independent study of an appropriate engineering problem, is the most distinguishing feature of doctoral study. At least thirty credits of dissertation work are required, which correspond to at least one year of full-time study. Students cannot take Dissertation credits before successful completion of the Candidacy Exam. The dissertation
advisor and advisory committee, after approving a dissertation topic, monitor the student’s progress and approve the final written dissertation after a successful oral defense. A maximum of ten hours of Doctoral Research may be counted as Doctoral Dissertation.

Once a student begins the dissertation study, he or she must register for a minimum of three credit hours per semester until the minimum of thirty credits is completed. After that, the student shall maintain a minimum registration of one credit hour per semester until the dissertation is completed.

The dissertation is not limited to the physical aspects of the engineering problem, but should include, where pertinent, economic considerations, environmental impact, social implications, and other interdisciplinary factors relevant to the specific topic.

In many cases, the dissertation study is conducted off-campus in an industrial or governmental setting. This type of off-campus study is defined as an internship; it gives the student an intimate and practical exposure to real problems of engineering. The student’s industrial internship dissertation project must be cleared for publication by the industrial or governmental organization in which the work is done. This written clearance must be included in the dissertation proposal.

The student intern may have an off-campus advisor who may become a member of the student’s advisory committee. This off-campus advisor is expected to work closely with the student and with the faculty dissertation advisor. However, the faculty dissertation advisor remains the chair of the advisory committee, ensuring that ultimate control of the dissertation resides with the University.

Applied Biomedical Engineering (ABE) Specialization


The ABE specialization of the Doctor of Engineering program, initiated in the 1998 Fall Semester, is a unique partnership between the Fenn College of Engineering at Cleveland State and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland State administers the ABE specialization. Faculty members from both the College and the Clinic provide academic instruction and research advising in ABE specialization areas.

The ABE specialization is specifically designed for engineers who wish to pursue careers in biomedical research and development, primarily in industry. Students are expected to have a strong foundation in an engineering or closely related discipline before entering the ABE program. The high-level course work and research empower the students to become productive employees immediately after graduation. ABE graduates are expected to:

  • Understand disease mechanisms;
  • Improve the quality of life for patients by utilizing technology;
  • Educate the next generation of biomedical engineers;
  • Contribute to the reduction of health care costs by diagnosing diseases more quickly and accurately and by introducing innovative technological solutions to health care costs; and
  • Address major societal health care issues by forming multidisciplinary teams of experts to formulate innovative approaches to health care.

Two unique educational features distinguishing ABE are:

  1. Strong biological fundamentals, including cell and molecular biology, and
  2. Inclusion of tools for success in real-world research and development.

These two features, along with highly specialized courses in specific areas of biomedical engineering, enable ABE graduates to fill the gap between engineering and medicine. Together, the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland State University and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic, offer a rich spectrum of teaching and research resources designed to:

  • Provide quality education and training to students in Applied Biomedical Engineering;
  • Undertake state-of-the-art applied research as complementary partners;
  • Enhance the capacity for biomedical engineering teaching and research at regional, state, and national levels;
  • Support personnel and technical needs of biomedical companies;
  • Assist biomedical companies in moving from design to successful marketing of medical devices; and
  • Enhance the biomedical infrastructure in the Northeast Ohio region.

ABE Requirements


As a specialization within the Doctor of Engineering program, studies in the ABE program are governed by the regulations of the Doctor of Engineering program as stated above.

In addition to Doctor of Engineering requirements, students in the ABE specialization must:

  1. Possess a working knowledge of college-level physiology and college-level cell and tissue biology. If taken at the graduate level, these may count towards the required non-engineering courses.
  2. Complete six credits of core ABE electives:

    Medical Devices (2 credits)
    Biomedical Signal Processing (3 credits)
    ABE Seminar (1 credits)
     
  3. Complete nine credits hours of ABE electives, including at least one of the following core courses:

    Biomaterials (3 credits) or
    Biomechanical Engineering (3 credits)
    or
    Medical Imaging (3 credits)
     
  4. Complete the graduate-level non-engineering courses required for the Doctor of Engineering degree through courses in areas such as biochemistry, cell biology, or other biomedical topics.

Cleveland State/Cleveland Clinic Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization (CMMS)


Depending on their research interests, applicants to the Doctoral program may wish to consider participation in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization, which is an interdisciplinary initiative linking the resources of three Cleveland State/ Cleveland Clinic joint doctoral programs: Regulatory Biology, Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry, and Applied Biomedical Engineering. Together, these units provide unparalleled opportunities for faculty, students, and staff. The Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization is not an independent academic program and does not replace existing doctoral programs. Students must fulfill the requirements for their Ph.D program.

The Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization forms a logical interface to coordinate collective efforts of existing programs in four ways:

  1. by creating a significant presence in the challenging and exciting new area of Cellular and Molecular Medicine;
  2. by establishing a critical mass of researchers around a topic of national scientific and applied medical interest;
  3. by realizing the commitment of Cleveland State and CCF in their long-standing collaboration to become major contributors in biomedical engineering and biomedical technology; and
  4. by expanding the existing doctoral programs beyond their present state of development.

As part of its contribution to these efforts, the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization makes available several graduate assistantships to allow outstanding candidates to concentrate on their research for two years.

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