International Journal of Advances in Engineering & Technology, Dec., 2015.
©IJAET ISSN: 22311963
921 Vol. 8, Issue 6, pp. 921-936
ON PH.D. IN ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING: A PERSPECTIVES
Angelo A. Beltran, Jr.
Department of Electronics Engineering, Adamson University
Manila, Philippines
ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a growing interests and increasing attention for researchers and students who
embarks and pursue the PhD degree in particular to electronics and electrical engineering. There have been
several scattered information that provides literature reviews in the area. However, up to this date, it appears
that there is a lacking of a single useful paper that may provide useful information and advices in specific for
PhD students under in the electronics or electrical engineering discipline. The focus of this paper is to give
comprehensive insights, useful advices, background knowledge, and valuable source of information for students
entering a PhD in electronics or electrical engineering program. An attempt is made to address this issue by
combining the proponent experiences, several available articles, and reading materials, presenting therefore
this paper as a useful guide and a reference compilation. It is envisage that this paper may provide potential
benefits for students who undertakes PhD in electronics or electrical engineering, and may have a future career
direction through research.
KEYWORDS: Education, Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Ph.D., Research
I. PH.D. IN ENGINEERING
The author considers an important experience and task to write something about this topic because in
recent years, there has been an increasing number of students who wish to pursue a doctorate degree in
engineering, and yet most students do not know what they have entered; thus, ending up miserably and
have not finished. While obtaining a PhD in engineering is an individual triumph. The calculated risk
and cost is too high to take. As the saying goes, many are called but few are chosen. A clear goal and
vision is a must for every students before entering in this new path. It is important to consider that
staying actively in a technical career and research engagement should be your prime goal and
motivation. Taking a doctorate degree in engineering is a mental, financial, physical, spiritual, and
emotional struggle where you need to face doubts and fears. Being brave, and utmost determination is
required, which is expected for the potential students.
Entering a PhD program is a serious business. Most students are not sure what they are apt to. Hence,
they could not get out of it. They applied, enrolled, take courses, but never had a clear goal and vision
with what they are going to do. A vision to publish papers and do researches. Never have a clear vision
on how they could get out of the program in a shortest possible period of time.
The excitement of PhD normally starts in the beginning. Motivation is very high at the start of the first
semester class but in the middle years and in the long run, motivation keeps on decreasing. Gradually,
as years passes by, you will lose interest in continuing and what stays is the commitment.
PhD is a very long term investment; students are investing themselves to be a good researcher. It is
depth and not broad. A deep understanding on a certain and chosen topic. Hence, a potential student
entering the program are expected to be dedicated, motivated, committed, and notorious hard workers.
A high technical knowledge is a requirement before entering the program. Often, the best candidates
have a working experience in a research and development (often known as R&D) environment, have