Exploration Systems Design (Instrumentation), PhD
Prepare for a professional or academic career by combining the strengths of science and engineering. You gain hands-on experience through a real graduate exploration project. Learn to carry a space or Earth-science experiment from idea to working hardware.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Exploration Systems Design, PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in exploration systems design with a concentration in instrumentation offers you an advanced systems approach for developing scientific exploration technologies in a variety of demanding environments on Earth and in space.
This transdisciplinary degree program targets technological development for exploration science, providing a distinct platform to train you as a systems engineer. This collaborative program between the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering enables you to specialize in topics related to planetary exploration, astronomical instrumentation, robotics, sensors and sensor networks.
The curriculum integrates the School of Earth and Space Exploration's science, instrumentation and systems engineering core courses with related coursework from the Fulton Schools. The instrumentation concentration prepares you in the development of state-of-the-art sensors and systems for remote and in situ sensing related to planetary science, Earth science and astronomy.
Why specialize in instrumentation at ASU?
Your work unfolds inside the School of Earth and Space Exploration at ASU, where scientists and engineers share one building and collaborate on real, NASA- and NSF-funded missions.
You'll work on a mission-realistic exploration project that runs through requirements reviews, interface control documents, and test campaigns the way an actual flight project does.
Additional details
As part of the School of Earth and Space Exploration community, you're based largely in ISTB4 on the Tempe campus, home to instrumentation labs, the Marston Exploration Theater and collaborative project space. There, you take part in the SESE colloquium, hands-on build-and-test projects, and connections to industry partners.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (1 credit hour) Concentration (9 credit hours) Other Requirements (1 credit hour) Electives or Research (61 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information As part of the electives or research, students take two science courses selected from the SESE graduate catalog (GLG, SES or AST prefixes). Substitutions may be made with academic unit approval. Substitutions for Other Requirements may be made with department approval.
SES 502 Exploring SESE Research (1)
SES 501 SESE Colloquium (1)
SES 799 Dissertation (12)
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree in a related field can be used for this degree. Related fields include engineering, computer science, geological sciences and physics.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Synthesize original knowledge in the field of engineering for Earth and space exploration by evaluating current research in the field in relation to their own original research
- Conduct independent, original scientific research that advances knowledge in the field
- Construct novel instrumentation to meet unique experiment requirements
Synthesize original knowledge in the field of engineering for Earth and space exploration by evaluating current research in the field in relation to their own original researchAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. An undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering is preferred. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 10/01 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this instrumentation concentration prepares you for
Professionals with expertise in exploration systems design are in high demand across sectors and industries, including remote sensing, systems engineering, data science, technical consulting, Earth and planetary science, and engineering. Coding and numerical modeling skills translate across many domains, even beyond exploration systems design. Skills in the design, manufacture and deployment of engineered solutions to science problems are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on data-driven strategies to manage large teams and complex problems. The doctoral degree in exploration systems design is generally required for careers in postsecondary education and research.
Career examples include:
- data scientist
- engineering professor
- instrument builder
- machining specialist
- project manager
- research engineer
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Earth and Space Exploration
|
ISTB4 795
sese-prospectivegrads@asu.edu
480-965-5081
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
