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EPP GRADUATE
EDUCATION
Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Educational
Programs
Our
principal graduate program leads to the Ph.D. in Engineering
& Public Policy. The degree requires a rigorous
program of courses and research accomplishment. The
courses include a series of core classes on fundamental
approaches and methods for engineering and public policy;
required classes in statistics and economics; electives
in engineering, sciences and mathematics; and electives
in the social sciences. Research experience and efforts
begin very early in the academic program, leading to a first
research paper of journal quality after the third semester
(this is the first part of the qualifying
exam process), and continuing through the development
of subsequent papers and the Ph.D. thesis.
Students
can receive an MS in Engineering & Public Policy, either
because they leave the program early (though still complete
the requirements for
an MS), under special prior arrangements, or as part
of a 5-year BS-MS
program at Carnegie Mellon in Engineering & Public
Policy. We have also begun to explore cooperative
5- or 6-year BS-MS programs with international partner institutions,
though these are still in the early stages of development.
As such, entering students wishing to obtain a terminal
MS degree are almost always advised to apply elsewhere,
perhaps including one of the other
engineering departments at CMU.
Can
I pursue other or joint degrees at CMU as an EPP graduate
student?
Yes,
some of our students pursue an MS in another department
at CMU (most often, one of the other engineering departments)
along the way to obtaining their Ph.D. in EPP. Such
students must be admitted into the MS program of that department
and fulfill all of their degree requirements. This
course of action may be appropriate for some students-
those who enter with only a previous BS degree and,
wishing to establish better disciplinary skills and credentials
in their area of focus, already plan to take all, or most
of the courses required for the MS in the other department;
inappropriate
for many others -
those
who already have an engineering or science MS, or those
wishing to complete their Ph.D in a more expeditious manner.
A number of students
have also pursued and received joint Ph.D. degrees with
EPP and other departments at CMU. Such students must
fulfill all of the Ph.D. requirements of both departments
(e.g., complete qualifying exams in both departments, have
the appropriate number of thesis committee members from
both departments, etc.), usually require a carefully planned
program of course work and research, and should not expect
to breeze through in three years (see below for expected
degree completion times). As noted below, there
may also be issues related to financial support that need
to be factored into thinking about a joint degree.
Can
I pursue a PhD in EPP after having received a PhD from another program?
No.
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