PhD Engineering – Dynamic Systems & Controls Emphasis

Much of our technological systems now require complex control functions to operate. The Dynamic Systems and Control program draws from many disciplines to develop new approaches and effective solutions to analysis of systems and the design of control functions for them. The program offers students tremendous flexibility in designing a graduate program that builds in-depth skills and breadth of knowledge that will relate to their area of interest.

Admission to the Emphasis

Program of Study

Requirements for the Ph.D. in Engineering with Emphasis in Dynamical Systems and Control further expand on those of the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering. These include a minimum of 72 credit hours in the student’s program of study beyond the B.S. degree. A thesis master’s degree from an approved university may be accepted for up to 30 credits hours, in which case a minimum of 42 credit hours of approved course work, research and dissertation beyond the M.S. degree would be required as follows:

  • A minimum of 16 semester hours of coursework, which must include
    • At least 15 hours of 8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research, dissertation writing, and directed study of which 9 hours must be selected from the Dynamical Systems and Control Course List (below).
    • 1 hour of Graduate Seminar ENGR 8950*
  • A minimum of 23 Doctoral Research hours (Doctoral research (9000) or Doctoral project-focused research (9010)) for students with an M.S. **
  • The Program of Study must include 3 hours of ENGR 9300 Doctoral Dissertation.

* Only 3 hours of Graduate Seminar may apply on the Ph.D. Program of Study. Students are strongly encouraged to continue regular attendance of speaker series presentations even if not formally registered in the seminar.

** A typical student’s total research hours will exceed these minimums.

Emphasis Area Course List

As a requirement of the Ph.D. Engineering with an Emphasis in Dynamical Systems and Control, students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours selected from the Dynamical Systems and Control Course List below. Students work with their graduate advisor to select the most appropriate coursework to ensure breadth of understanding as well as mastery of knowledge in a specific subject area. In addition to completing 9 credit hours selected from the list below, students may work with their graduate advisor to develop an interdisciplinary plan of coursework drawing from the extensive graduate course offerings available at UGA.

  • ENGR6350 Finite Element Analysis (F)
  • ENGR6210 Linear Systems (F)
  • ENGR6220 Feedback Control Systems (Sp)
  • ENGR6230 Sensors and Transducers (F)
  • ENGR6260 Introduction to Nanoelectronics (F)
  • ENGR6560 Engineering Design Optimization
  • ENGR6540 Applied Machine Vision
  • ENGR6920 Theory of Design (Sp)
  • ENGR8103 Computational Engineering (Sp)
  • ENGR8310 MEMS Design (F)
  • CVLE/MCHE8440 Advanced Strength of Materials (Sp)
  • MCHE6360 Robotic Manipulators
  • CHEM8880 Nanomaterials: Engineering and Characterization (F)
  • STAT 6315 Statistical Methods Researcher (Sp)


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