Both 598 courses count toward the minimum of nine courses. Five or more courses, of which at least two must be 200-level electrical engineering courses, subject to the approval of the student's adviser. A written comprehensive examination is administered by the communications and telecommunications field committee . In case of failure, students may be reexamined once with the consent of the graduate adviser. The examination may be given as part of the written Ph.D. preliminary examination in the communications and telecommunications field.
Students are also responsible for the current literature in their area of specialization.
Students majoring in communications must also complete two minors in other fields. Students who fail the major field examination on their first attempt may make a second attempt the next time that the examination is offered, subject to the approval of the major field committee. After thesis research has begun and promising results are obtained, the student must take the oral qualifying examination. This exam may be taken relatively early in the thesis research process, in which case an additional final thesis defense is usually required. The examination may also be taken near the end of thesis research, in which case it counts as both the oral qualifying exam and the final thesis defense.