Exploration Systems Design, PhD
Fuse science and engineering to carry a space or Earth-science experiment from a first idea to working, tested hardware. This hands-on, project-based program prepares you to become an engineering-literate scientist who can build the system for the next generation of scientific experiments, instruments and missions.
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.
ASU is not currently accepting applications for this program.
Degree description
Exploration Systems Design, PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in exploration systems design offers you an advanced systems approach for developing scientific exploration technologies in a wide variety of demanding environments on the Earth, planets, moons and in space.
This transdisciplinary degree program you with provides a valuable platform for training as a systems engineer targeting technological development for exploration science. This collaborative program between the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering allows 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 Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. You must select a concentration as part of this degree program. Concentrations are available in instrumentation, systems engineering and sensor networks.
Why earn your exploration systems design PhD at ASU?
Most programs ask you to pick a side: science or engineering. This exploration systems design degree is built to combine both, so you learn to carry a scientific goal all the way to a real, capable system rather than only analyzing data or only building hardware. A graduate exploration project moves through requirements reviews, interface control documents and test campaigns much like an actual flight project.
This program sits in the greater Phoenix aerospace corridor, where local companies actively seek space-sector talent. You finish your space systems engineering doctoral studies ready to contribute right away.
Additional details
Your work happens inside the School of Earth and Space Exploration, where scientists and engineers share a building and collaborate on NASA- and NSF-funded missions in formal partnership with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Your coursework blends the School of Earth and Space Exploration's science, instrumentation and systems engineering core with related engineering courses, preparing you for scientific exploration technology work across planetary exploration, astronomical instrumentation and robotics.
You join the School of Earth and Space Exploration community based largely in ISTB4 on the Tempe campus, home to instrumentation labs, the Marston Exploration Theater and collaborative project space. Students take part in the school colloquium, build-and-test projects and connections with industry partners. Check the school's graduate resources page for student organizations, assistantship details and forms.
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) Electives or Research (70 credit hours) Other Requirements (1 credit hour) 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 per academic unit approval. Substitutions for Other Requirements may be made per 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, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree in a related field to be used for this degree. Related fields include, but are not limited to, engineering, computer science, geological sciences or physics.
Admission 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. 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 applicants must have 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 Students should see the program website for application deadlines. Instrumentation concentration Systems engineering concentration Sensor networks concentration
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
An undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering is preferred.
Successful completion of a senior capstone or design project is an admission requirement for this concentration. Students who have not had a design course are required to take SES 405 Exploration Systems Engineering as an additional course.
An undergraduate degree in electrical engineering or computer science is preferred.
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 recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this exploration systems design PhD degree 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, environmental 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 relying on data-driven strategies to manage large teams and complex problems. The doctoral degree in exploration systems design is generally required for careers in post-secondary education and research.
Career examples include:
- data scientist
- engineering professor
- 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.
