Ph.D. in Engineering Management Master s of Science in Engineering Management Master s of Science in Civil Engineering Master s of Science in Electrical/Electronics Engineering Master s of Science in Computer Engineering Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management (PhDEM) Program Goals and Objectives The main goals and objectives of the doctoral program in Engineering Management are: To prepare graduate engineers from various specializations for successful research careers that combine depth in engineering research methodologies with broad knowledge of the socio-economic implications associated with major engineering decisions and technology innovations. To prepare graduate engineers to assume leading roles in researching current and new approaches to effectively manage change and leverage technological innovations. To enhance the creative abilities and confidence of its students in finding original solutions to pressing and complex problems; To raise the level of awareness of its students with respect to long-term sustainability factors associated with the adoption of new engineering process or technology. To prepare its students to be leaders in disseminating new knowledge and in imparting new concepts and ideas to members of the public. Student Learning Outcome By the end of this program, student should be able to acquire: Knowledge and skills for conducting independent research for making original contributions to existing knowledge. Advanced knowledge and skills to conceptualize, formulate, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems with multiple interrelated variables, both deterministic and probabilistic. Such problems may cross the boundaries of one engineering discipline and involve social, economic, and sustainability factors. Advanced knowledge and understanding of the concepts and application of good management practices to deal effectively with change and innovations and their socio-economic impact. Ability and know-how to disseminate research results in archival publications and through participation in scholarly and professional societies. Communication skills to effectively correspond with members of the community and the public. Program Components The program requires a satisfactory completion of 45 credits of course and research components. The course component includes 9 credits of compulsory courses, 9 elective credits, and a zero -credit seminar. The research component consists of a six credit research proposal and twenty one-credit thesis. The research of the thesis could be either industrial-oriented or theoretical, or a combination of both. 177
Course Coding System Consistent with the University policies, the PhD in Engineering Management (PhDEM) courses are assigned numbers of the form (0475-ABC), where: 04: 75: PhDEM program A: 7 for Ph.D. level courses B: Areas (as follows) 0: General 5: Information Systems 1: Operations Research 6: Engineering Management 2: Statistics 7: Infrastructure and construction 3: Production Systems 8: Special Topics 4: Human factors 9: Seminars, projects and thesis C: Sequence number within area Academic Courses The program compulsory courses are as follows: Course Code Course Title Credit 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3 0475-791 PhD Seminar 0 0475-709 Qualification Exam 0 0475-792 PhD Research Proposal 6 0475-799 PhD Thesis 21 Selection of the electives should be based on the following criteria: At least one course should be taken from the following PhDEM elective Courses: 0475-711 Advanced Engineering Systems Optimization 0475-722 Engineering Design of Experiments 0475-763 Advanced Engineering Project Management 0475-765 Management of Technology 0475-781 Special Topics in Engineering Management Subject to approval of the supervisor and program coordinator, no more than two courses maybe taken from the following courses: Graduate Courses offered by other departments in the Graduate Courses offered by the MEM program Graduate Courses offered by the College of Business Administration 178
Study Plan The program study plan is as follows: Year Course Code Courses/Project Credit Hours Total Credit 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3 1 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3 12 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3 Elective Course 1 3 Elective Course 2 3 Elective Course 3 3 2 0475-791 PhD Seminar 0 12 0475-709 Qualification (comprehensive) examination 0 0475-792 PhD Research Proposal 6 3-4 0475-799 PhD Thesis 21 21 Total Credit Hours 45 Time Limit: The minimum period of study for the degree is six semesters, whereas the maximum period is 10 semesters for full time or 14 semesters for part-time students. Program Procedures Qualification exam General Information 1. The qualification exam consists of two written parts and may include an oral part. Each written part is prepared on a separate document(s) and should be given on a separate day. Each written part shall be 3 hours long. 2. The second part of the written exam should be held no later than two weeks after the first part. 3. The first written part covers the general background and basic knowledge of the student in the field of Engineering Management. 4. The second written part includes specialized topics in the field of the student future thesis work, and may include chapters from specialized books and/or research papers. 5. Each part counts as 50% of the final grade. The pass grade is 70% for each part. Registration in the PhD Qualification Exam (0475-709) 1. The student registers for the qualification exam after he/she has completed all courses (18 Credit hours) and with a minimum CGPA of 3 out of 4. 2. The student has to fill out and submit the Qualification Exam registration form (available on the website of the college of graduate studies) to the PhD program coordinator. 3. After the approval of the PhD program coordinator and the dean of the college of graduate studies, the student registers in the Qualification Exam (0475-709) course (zero credit hours). 4. Steps 6, 7 and 8 must be accomplished during the first two weeks of the semester. 179
Qualification exam committee 1. The PhD program committee forms a general qualification exam committee for all students registered in the course of qualification exam. The qualification exam committee consists of at least three members from the academic unit of the program, specialized in Engineering Management. The committee members choose a coordinator for the committee. 2. This committee is in charge of the organization of the first written part of the qualification exam for all the students registered in that course. Supervisor and supervisory committee 1. The PhD student suggests the names(s) of potential supervisor(s) to the PhD program coordinator, using a specific form, at least one semester prior to his/her registration in the qualification exam. 2. The PhD program committee appoints the PhD student supervisor(s) taking into account the preference of the student, his/her topic(s) of interest for the PhD thesis, and the supervision load of the supervisor. 3. PhD supervisor appointment form is sent to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies for approval of the appointment. 4. At the beginning of the semester of registration of the PhD student in the qualification exam course, the PhD student supervisor(s) suggests to the PhD program committee a PhD student supervisory committee. It should consist of the supervisor, the co-supervisor (if any), and at least two faculty members from the college of engineering (one of them may be from outside the college). 5. The PhD supervisory committee is in charge of the second part of the qualification exam of the student. Moreover, the supervisory committee monitors and assesses the progress of the PhD student and provides valuable advice and guidance when needed. 6. The supervisory committee shall review the PhD student work at least once a year to assess the student s progress and to provide advice on future work. The supervisory committee prepares a report detailing its observations and recommendations. Copies of the report are given to the student, to the PhD program committee for approval, and filed with the academic unit. The student is given the opportunity to respond to the supervisory committee. Qualification exam organization 1. The PhD program committee sets the exam dates for each eligible student and the PhD program coordinator informs all the students about their exam dates. The student should be given at least one month in order to prepare for the two parts of the exam. 2. The PhD qualification exam committee and the PhD supervisory committees determine the major topics of the two parts of the qualification exam and communicates them to the PhD program coordinator. The coordinator informs then the students about the selected topics. 3. The qualification exam committee and the PhD supervisory committees are responsible for the preparation and grading of the student qualification exam questions. All members, of the committees should provide questions. These same members should grade the exam. 4. The PhD qualification exam committee coordinator and the PhD student supervisor(s) are in charge of the logistics and organization of the two parts of the written exam, in coordination with the program administrative assistant (room booking, timing, printing the exam questions, collecting the answer sheets, organizing the grading session(s) ). 5. The qualification exam committee coordinator and the PhD student supervisor(s) submit the outcomes of the examination to the PhD program coordinator along with a recommendation to organize an oral exam if necessary. The PhD program committee approves the need for this oral exam. 6. The PhD program committee may also request an oral examination to be organized for a particular student if necessary, in consultation with the PhD student supervisory committee. 180
7. The PhD student supervisory committee determines the topics and the date of the exam. 8. The PhD student supervisor communicates the date and the topics of the oral exam to the student and to the PhD program coordinator. 9. The outcomes of the oral exam will be taken into account in the final grade of the student s qualification exam by the PhD student supervisory committee. 10. The PhD program coordinator will submit the final grade to the college of graduate studies using the corresponding form after the approval of the PhD program committee. 11. The student may sit for the qualification exam twice only. If he\she fails the second time, he\she will be expelled from the program. PhD Thesis Proposal 1. In the semester that follows the PhD Qualification Exam (0475-709) with Pass grade, the student registers in the Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792) course (6 credit hours). 2. The student prepares the Ph.D. Research Proposal under the supervision of his/her supervisor(s). 3. During the semester in which the student registers the Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792), the student submits his/her Ph.D. Research Proposal to the PhD program coordinator. 4. The PhD program coordinator sets a public date for the discussion of the proposal, no later than 2 weeks following the submission date. 5. The PhD student supervisory committee members and at least one member of the PhD program committee members should attend the discussion. 6. After the discussion, the PhD supervisory committee submits a report to the PhD program coordinator, in which it details its recommendations. A copy of the report is submitted by the supervisor to the student. 7. The student modifies his/her PhD Research Proposal in order to take into consideration the PhD supervisory committee recommendations. 8. The student submits then the modified PhD Research Proposal to the PhD program coordinator. 9. The modified PhD Research Proposal and the PhD supervisory committee recommendations are discussed and approved by the PhD Program Committee, in the presence of the PhD student supervisor. 10. The PhD program coordinator submits the approved PhD Research Proposal to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies for final approval. 11. After final approval, a grade of Pass is recorded by the college of graduate studies for the student in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792). 12. If the PhD Research Proposal is not approved during the semester of the first registration (6 Credit Hours) in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792), then the student registers 0 Credit Hours, in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792), in the following semester. In this case, a grade of U (Under progress) is recorded by the PhD program coordinator in the student transcript. 13. The PhD student cannot register in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792) more than two semesters. 14. If the PhD Research Proposal is approved during the same semester of the first registration (6 Credit Hours) in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792), then the student registers in the Ph.D. Thesis (0475-799) in the following semester. 15. If the PhD Research Proposal is approved in the semester that follows the semester of the first registration in the course Ph.D. Research Proposal (0475-792), then the student registers in the Ph.D. Thesis (0475-799) immediately after the approval of the PhD Research Proposal. Otherwise, the student is expelled from the program. 181
Joint Student Supervision: Students enrolled in the joint doctoral program will be working under joint supervision of a faculty member from the University of Sharjah and one co-supervisor assigned from ETS or from another University selected by the supervisory committee. The joint supervisors will agree on the thesis topic, monitor and guide the student through the thesis research phase, and participate in the thesis defense examination by attending the oral defense examination in person or via video teleconferencing. Upon completion of the courses required, the student registers for the comprehensive examination (the 3-step synthesis examination to be taken at ETS if a dual degree is sought). It is expected that the joint supervisors will meet jointly with the student during the course of supervision at university sites to be determined by the supervisory committee. Course Descriptions 0475-723 Decision Making and Analysis 3:3 Topics include basic theory of decision making under uncertainty; rationales of decision makers; the concept of the value of information; the Bayesian approach to decision making; decision trees, elicitation methods for model building, multi-attribute utility models; multi-criteria decision making; use of decision making software. 0475-760 Leadership and Innovation Management 3:3 This course focuses on the classical and modern aspects of organizations and the role of managers as leaders. The main focus of the course is to provide students with knowledge and skills on different approaches to leadership. The course deals with different forms of leaderships in a corporate setting, and their importance in achieving the organization s strategies. The course also focuses on main issues in innovation management. It equips students with tools and techniques for managing innovation. It includes basic terms related to innovation; development of innovation strategy; factors influencing innovation; sources of innovations, managing intellectual property, development of new product and services within a firm; strategic alliances and networks; contemporary issues in innovation management; case studies. 0475-762 Total Quality Management 3:3 This course introduces definitions, history, dimensions, and principles of Total Quality Management (TQM); quality management philosophies and pioneers (Deming, Juran, Crosby, Ishikawa, Taguchi, Feigenbaum); customer satisfaction and customer relationship management; quality awards (Deming, EFQM, Malcolm Baldrige); SPC tools, benchmarking, QFD, and use of software. 0475-711 Advanced Engineering Systems Optimization 3:3 This course presents advanced techniques presented in engineering optimization. In addition to advanced non-linear programming techniques, it presents topics related to dynamic programming, integer programming, stochastic programming, and metaheuristics. 0475-722 Engineering Design of Experiments 3:3 Review of regression analysis; principles of experimental design; randomized complete block designs; Latin square and Graeco-Latin square designs; general factorial designs; 2k Factorial designs; response surface methodology and robust design; planning, performing and analyzing industrial experiments; Taguchi s methods 0475-763 Advanced Engineering Project Management 3:3 This course includes a review of project management concepts including planning and scheduling; strategic planning for project management; human resources management, managing multiple projects, contemporary issues in project management; case studies. 182
0475-765 Management of Technology 3:3 This course examines a wide range of topics and issues involved in the management of technology including planning tools and techniques in strategic planning for different technologies, technology capability assessment, technology forecasting; the development environment and infrastructure, R&D management, product development process; technology transfer; licensing, joint venture and other forms of alliances; technology protection; case studies and project. 0475-781 Special Topics in Engineering Management 3:3 This course examines advanced and emerging topics in engineering management. The course may be offered as an independent study to suit the academic need of the student based on the supervisor recommendation and the program coordinator approval. 0475-791 Ph.D. Seminar 1:0 Students are required to attend seminars given by faculty members, visitors, and graduate students. Students must submit reports of the seminars they attended. They are also required to present one seminar on a timely research topic. 0475-709 Qualification (comprehensive) examination 0:0 The examination aims to measure the student s ability to understand and demonstrate a general understanding of his/her discipline, show the ability of critical, analytical, and creative thinking and employ them in solving problems and proposing appropriate solutions. It is not another test in the courses studied by the students. This exam consists of both written and oral parts. Pre-requisites: Completion of all courses (18 credits) and approval of the program coordinator or upon approval of the PhD program committee and coordinator. 0475-792 Ph.D. Research Proposal 0:6 Students must submit a research proposal topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The proposal should layout the literature survey of related work to the proposed research topic to be undertaken. Methodology and expected results should be presented in the proposal. The proposal should be approved by the supervisor and defended before an examination committee. Recommendation of the committee should be considered in the implementation phase of the thesis. Pre-requisites: 0475-709 Qualification (comprehensive) Examination. 0475-799 Ph.D. Thesis 0:21 Students must undertake and complete and independent industrial-oriented and/or theoretical research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to submit a thesis documenting their research and defend it in an oral examination before a committee. The thesis work must make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of engineering management and innovation. Students are required to produce at least one refereed publication of their work before defending the thesis. Pre-requisites: 0475-792 Ph.D. Research Proposal 183