Policies

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.25

• Maintain a quarterly GPA of at least 2.7

Transfer credit may be applied to technical graduate-level coursework. Final approval by the Director of Graduate Studies and student services. Refer to University policy on Transfer Work opens in a new tab.

PhD Minor in Another Department

• The student must propose the possibility of pursuing a PhD minor, clearly and explicitly, in the written PhD proposal. The committee will then discuss and decide upon this during the oral portion of the PhD proposal defense. 

• Students can “double-count” a maximum of four courses toward both their ESE course requirements (18 units, typically six courses) and their minor requirements (e.g., 20 units in CS). Note that the minor department may not allow double-counting within their requirements. This means that two of the six courses required by ESE cannot also be applied for the minor. The course requirements for the ESE PhD degree must be approved in advance by the advisor as part of the Application for Candidacy. Any substitutions of courses to meet minor requirements cannot be made without the advisor’s signed approval. 

• We reiterate that students must review their course selections with their advisor at the start of every quarter, and these need to be approved by the advisor.