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Automotive Engineering Ph.D. Curriculum

Ph.D. students working with Dr. PruckaBecome a global expert in your field: Rise to new heights with one of the world's most in-depth academic programs in automotive engineering. As a Ph.D. student, immerse yourself in a cutting-edge research environment driven to solve pressing problems facing sustainable mobility. Our research enterprise is world class, as evidenced by the impact of completed research projects, scale of partnerships with R&D groups, and faculty honors.

Innovation and research productivity offer a continuous stream of opportunities for Ph.D. students to engage in novel research addressing the pressing needs of society and supporting the development of transformative technologies. The following research areas are the most common:

Advanced Vehicle Propulsion Systems, both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric
Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Design and Integration of Complex Systems
Connected and Automated Vehicles
Human Factors 

Join an elite alumni: In 2009, Clemson University awarded the country's first male and female Ph.Ds in automotive engineering. As one of the country's only dedicated graduate-level automotive engineering program, students join one of the most elite groups of alumni around. With a rigorous curriculum run by some of the world's leading technical experts, Clemson’s state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and our emphasis on solving real-world problems, graduates move seamlessly into employment within the automotive industry or academia.

To learn more about the program requirements, click on the appropriate section below.

Doctoral Degree Requirements for Students with a Bachelor’s Degree

A minimum of 36 credit hours of course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation composed as follows:

  • Core Courses: 6 credit hours (2 courses) as follows:
    1. AuE 8700: Automotive Business Concepts
    2. AuE 8810, 8811: Automotive Systems: An Integrated Overview
  • Technical Elective Courses: 30 credits composed as follows: 3 AuE courses (9 credits) from your chosen track area and the rest as needed for your research preparation, selected in consultation with your advisor or advisory committee.
  • Dissertation: 18 credit hours minimum (AuE 9910).

Note: You will need 6 more credit hours in either dissertation or course work to meet the Graduate School’s requirements of 60 credits post the BS degree.

Doctoral Degree Requirements for Students with an M.S. from Another Program

A minimum of 12 credit hours of course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation composed as follows:

  • Core Courses: 6 credit hours (2 courses) as follows: (In case of apparently equivalent courses already taken, requirement may be waived at request of student’s advisory committee upon establishment of course equivalency. Course equivalency must be certified by the Graduate Research Committee):
    1. AuE 8700: Automotive Business Concepts
    2. AuE 8810, 8811: Automotive Systems: An Integrated 0verview
  • Technical Elective Courses: A minimum of 6 credit hours (2 courses) as needed for your research preparation, selected in consultation with your advisor or advisory committee.
  • Dissertation: 18 credit hours minimum (AuE 9910).

 

Doctoral Degree Requirements for Students with an M.S. in Automotive Engineering from Clemson

A minimum of 12 credits of course work and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation composed as follows.

1) Core Courses: No requirement.  The intent of this requirement was completed while achieving a MS in Automotive Engineering from Clemson University.

  • Technical Elective Courses: A minimum of 12 credit hours (4 courses) as needed for your research preparation, selected in consultation with your advisor or advisory committee.
  • Dissertation: 18 hours minimum (AuE 9910).

Note: MS-enroute to Ph.D. must first meet the MS requirements, and then the requirements for Case C apply.

Auditing Courses

Auditors are under no obligation of regular attendance, preparation, recitation, or examination and receive no credit. Participation in classroom discussion and laboratory exercise by auditors is at the discretion of the instructor. A student who has previously audited a course is ineligible for credit by examination. Courses audited are not recorded on the student's academic record.

1. With approval, the following may audit courses without tuition (other fees apply):

  • Graduate assistants
  • Full-time undergraduate and graduate students (12 or more credit hours)
  • Faculty and full-time staff
  • South Carolina residents age 60 or over, provided they are not a full-time employee of Clemson University

2. Other persons who audit pay the applicable tuition rate. Students may not sign up to audit until the first day of class so that priority may be given students taking courses for credit.

3. The deadline to sign up to audit a course is the last day to register or add a class for that term. Normal drop deadlines apply as well.

Students currently registered for courses may add an audit course or change one to audit status in iROAR. Other auditors must obtain a request to audit card from the Registrar's Office, 102 Sikes Hall, Box 345125, Clemson, SC 29634-5125.