We offer the Ph.D. in Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems (DSES). The program allows qualified students to pursue advanced study in industrial engineering and related disciplines. Specializations available to doctoral students are information engineering, operations engineering and enterprise engineering. The breadth of expertise of our faculty allows students to pursue a broad range of research programs. Graduates of our doctoral program have accepted positions in academia, private industry and government.

Program Requirements
Students holding a bachelor's degree upon entering the program complete a minimum 72 credit-hour plan of study; those holding a master's degree complete a minimum 42 credit-hour plan of study. To meet doctoral qualifying exam requirements, students must complete a special seminar course in which they are introduced to faculty research and to research methods, identify a research advisor and then submit a research proposal for their dissertation. During this first year, doctoral students elect major and minor areas based directly on the core strengths in information engineering, operation engineering and enterprise engineering. They are required to take a minimum of two courses in each core strength area during the first year of residency while maintaining a minimum 3.7 GPA in the major area and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the two minor areas. (Special oral exams are given by faculty committees convened under the three core areas at the end of each academic year for students failing to meet the minimum GPA requirement.)

After passing the Doctoral Qualifying Exam requirements, each doctoral student forms a dissertation committee in consultation with the faculty advisor. The committee administers a candidacy exam at which the student presents the proposed dissertation topic and obtains the committee's agreement that the topic is worthy of the Ph.D. and that the student possesses the necessary background to complete the proposed research successfully. The doctoral program culminates in the public defense of the dissertation.

The complete description of the program's requirements is available from the department.

Financial Aid
Financial aid for qualified students is available in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships and scholarships. Outstanding students may qualify for institute-supported Rensselaer Scholar Fellowships. Low-interest, deferred-payment graduate loans are also available for U.S. citizens with demonstrated need.

For more information...
For information about the requirements for completing the plan of study, see the online RPI catalogue.