Engineers standing around a table

Doctor of Engineering in
Engineering

Program summary

This online Doctor of Engineering in Engineering program provides a deep understanding of advanced engineering and high-level leadership principles, helping you prepare to direct high-performing research divisions or companies. This program incorporates the rigor of a Ph.D. but shifts the focus of career progression from academic research to leadership in an industrial or commercial setting.

Application deadline

Apply by July 15 to start August 21

Credits and costs

45 Credits $1,007 per credit

Why the Online Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Program from Penn State?

Penn State, long respected and consistently recognized for having one of the top engineering programs in the country, is proud to offer a high-quality online Doctor of Engineering in Engineering (D.Eng.) program through Penn State World Campus. Taught by respected Penn State faculty with strong academic credentials and real-world experience, the online D.Eng. program can position you for advancement to the highest-level leadership positions in research and engineering in both the private and public sectors.

As a D.Eng. student, you can learn to:

  • research and develop new products or processes that can benefit industrial, governmental, or military entities
  • analyze and synthesize critical information within your discipline, and, where appropriate, across multiple disciplines
  • communicate the major issues of your discipline and effectively disseminate research findings through technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed papers
  • lead high-performing research and development teams, divisions, and corporations

Customize Your Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Curriculum

The program offers an extensive selection of electives from more than 20 disciplines, allowing for a great deal of customized learning that can reflect your previous experience and/or desired career-advancement path. You will also learn through independent research in your chosen discipline.

Who Should Apply?

To be considered for admission to the program, students should hold a master's degree in engineering or a research-related field such as physics, math, or computer science. The most qualified candidates for the program will also have several years of experience working in the engineering field.

Information for Military and Veterans

Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, and application instructions.

Courses

To graduate from Penn State's 45-credit online Doctor of Engineering in Engineering program, you must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or better in all course work including:

  • at least 9 credits of required core courses
  • at least 6 credits of research and statistics methods
  • at least 15 credits of technical electives
  • at least 15 credits of praxis research

Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Praxis Research

The D.Eng. program is flexible enough to provide opportunities for both discipline-specific and cross-disciplinary research. A doctoral committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty members (with three members on graduate faculty at Penn State) will oversee the research. When pertinent to the student’s praxis topic area and personal circumstances, an additional member can be added as a “special outside industry member” from the associated industry, military, organization, or governmental function. This doctoral committee will require demonstration of analytical and critical thinking, consistent with the expectations for a doctoral research program.

The program culminates with a 15-credit praxis research project focused on applied research executed in a real-world industry environment. You will identify an industry problem and use applied research methods to develop and present a proposed solution.

Required Courses (select 9 credits)

If students have previously taken one of the professional core courses, they may request a substitution.

  • 3
    credits

    Traditional and contemporary leadership theory is analyzed to determine effective strategies for leading projects and innovation within an engineering context.

  • 3
    credits

    Develop competencies for leading new product/process development or participating in corporate spinouts using entrepreneurial skills within a corporation.

    • 3
      credits

      Covers the essential concepts and skills needed to make effective contributions on projects, on time and within budget.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Explores cultural differences and impact on business practices and team dynamics working on virtual project teams with global partner universities.

Research and Statistic Methods (select 6 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    This research methods course focuses on the development of competencies required to become a successful professional researcher in engineering fields.

    • 3
      credits

      Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, power, estimation, confidence intervals, regression, one- and 2-way ANOVA, Chi-square tests, diagnostics.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Analysis of research data through simple and multiple regression and correlation; polynomial models; indicator variables; step-wise, piece-wise, and logistic regression.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Analysis of multivariate data; T-squared tests; partial correlation; discrimination; MANOVA; cluster analysis; regression; growth curves; factor analysis; principal components; canonical correlations.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Identification of models for empirical data collected over time. Use of models in forecasting.

      • Prerequisite

        STAT 462 or STAT 501 or STAT 511

Praxis Research (15 credits)

  • 15
    credits

    Provides Doctor of Engineering students with the opportunity to identify an applied research problem and develop a praxis research project to address the problem/question. Students will investigate the literature relevant to the selected area(s) of interest. Students will develop and implement a comprehensive praxis research project to address the problem. Students will also disseminate the results in both a scholarly presentation (final oral exam) and praxis (final praxis research document).

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Costs and Financial Aid

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2022–23 Academic Year Rates

How many credits do you plan to take per semester? Cost
11 or fewer $1,007 per credit
12 or more $12,082 per semester

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

How to Apply

Deadlines and Important Dates

Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, should be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.

  • Fall DeadlineApply by July 15 to start August 21
  • Spring DeadlineApply by December 5 to start January 8
  • Summer DeadlineApply by April 17, 2024, to start May 13, 2024

Admissions Help

Thank you for your interest in applying to this program. Contact the program to discuss your educational goals, financial aid options, and application deadlines. 

For admission to the Graduate School, you must hold either (1) a master of science or master of engineering degree in a suitable engineering or related technical field from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates. Students should have earned at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in their master’s program.

What You Need

Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:

Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.

GPA and Test Scores — All applicants are expected to have earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Statement of Professional Goals — This statement should be concise and well-written. It should reflect your academic interests, research/praxis plan, and motivation, as well as how these further your career objectives. Please include the following sections in your statement:

Academic Interests (about half a page) — Discuss your academic interest in this D.Eng. program. In addition, propose a course work plan (i.e., review the program’s electives and discuss which courses would be most effective to help reach your praxis research and professional goals).

Praxis Research Interests and Rationale (about 1 page) — The praxis research should apply what you come to the program with and will learn in this program (methods/technology/theory) to research and solve a significant/complex problem from your work. The goal of this section is to describe to the admissions committee a problem you have identified and the research plan, goals, and deliverables, and how these will be supported. In other words, this section should reflect your ability to effectively communicate the maturity of your research aspirations.

This section should include:

  • Problem motivation (i.e., background of the problem/how do you know this is a problem that should be addressed via the praxis?)
  • Problem statement/hypothesis (i.e., one or two sentences stating what specific problem this praxis research is going to solve)
  • Project purpose (i.e., describe how the praxis research will generally address the problem)
  • Project plan goals (i.e., a bulleted list of what will be analyzed, designed/researched, and implemented)
  • Project deliverables (i.e., what could ultimately be delivered as the solution to this problem, in addition to the required written praxis)

Career Objectives (about half a page) — This section should communicate a synergy between the education and praxis research accomplished in this program with your career/professional goals.

English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.

References (3) — References should provide academic and professional perspectives. You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names, email addresses, and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment to success in an online program. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.

At least one reference should be from your employer indicating they support the praxis topic and specifying what resources you will have access to in support of the topic, e.g., allocated time, lab support, data. This reference letter would ideally come from the immediate or area supervisor of the applicant.

Program-Specific Questions/Materials

Résumé or Vitae — Upload your résumé or vitae to the online application.

Writing Sample — Provide a published or unpublished paper, thesis, or another scholarly writing sample. This sample must be in English.

Interview — You will be asked to participate in an interview, either via internet-based video conferencing or in person.

Start Your Application

You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.

Begin the graduate school application

  • Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
  • Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus

Checking Your Status 

You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.  Technical Requirements 

Review the technical requirements for this degree program

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State doctorate?

Apply by July 15 to start August 21. How to Apply

Start or Advance Your Career

Two engineers review blueprints and working at a computer

You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.


Job Titles Related to This Degree

The following roles are often held by people with this type of degree:

  • Engineering Director
  • Project Development Director
  • Research and Development Director
  • Research and Development Engineer
  • Research Engineer

Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree

Estimates of employment growth and total employment are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are subject to change. While these occupations are often pursued by graduates with this degree, individual outcomes may vary depending on a variety of factors. Penn State World Campus cannot guarantee employment in a given occupation.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

2.3%
employment growth (10 years)
187,100
total employment

Engineers, All Other

0%
employment growth (10 years)
151,940
total employment

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

Student having a virtual meeting on a laptop with a career counselor

From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Residency Experiences

Penn State World Campus Doctor of Engineering in Engineering students fulfill major program milestones during a campus residency. 

Residency Requirement and Program Milestones

The online Doctor of Engineering in Engineering program requires you to spend a total of five days on campus. Major program milestones include the qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, and praxis defense. The full residency requirement can be met by attending a single five-day campus residency or multiple shorter on-campus residencies that combine to a minimum of five days.

Immediately prior to each fall semester, the D.Eng. program will hold an optional two-day orientation on the Penn State University Park campus that can count toward part of the residency requirement. Residency days can also be obtained through visits to campus for research meetings with praxis faculty, students, and researchers; attendance in lab group meetings; on-campus workshops; and organized D.Eng. program–specific professional development activities that will be offered at least once per semester for those in the program and to the broader community. Some of these days may also be spent in fulfillment of major program milestones including your qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, and praxis defense.

Contact Us

For general questions about the program, contact:
Dr. Sven Bilén
Email: [email protected]

For general questions about Penn State World Campus, please contact
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]


Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State doctorate?

Apply by July 15 to start August 21. How to Apply