The College offers an interdisciplinary Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) program in Modeling and Simulation to provide the Commonwealth and the nation with exceptionally educated engineering practitioners. These individuals will have developed the highest possible capability to deliver innovative solutions to specialized engineering projects. The program's graduates will meet the highest standards for advanced engineering and leadership roles in industry and government.
For additional information, please request a departmental handbook from the Graduate Program Director (hyang@odu.edu).
Program Overview
The Doctor of Engineering in Modeling and Simulation Engineering requires a minimum of 48 credits beyond a master's degree. These include 36 credits of coursework and 12 credits of doctoral project (beyond a master's degree).
Additional Information
Additional Graduate Student Resources (Graduate School): The Graduate School has extensive additional resources for graduate students at https://www.odu.edu/graduateschool/graduate-student-resources
Program Financial Aid: Our programs offer graduate assistantships with stipends that are awarded to students after a competitive review process. The level of award is determined on the basis of previous experience and performance as a graduate assistant and on the student’s academic achievement and potential in the field. In addition, a number of teaching and research positions are available for financial support of graduate assistants during the summer months (June and July).
Accelerated Study (Dual Dominion Program): Exceptionally well-qualified undergraduate students in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology can apply for entry into the Dual Dominion Program, which permits students to begin pursuit of a graduate degree (including a doctoral degree) in Engineering while they are still pursuing their undergraduate degree in a complementary discipline. Subject to the approval of the undergraduate and graduate program directors, a student enrolled in the Dual Dominion program can count up to six credit hours of course work towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Students who are matriculated in an undergraduate major in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology with a GPA of at least 3.00 overall and 3.00 in the major are eligible to apply for admission to a Dual Dominion Bachelor's/Master's program. Additional Undergraduate Catalog information on the Dual Dominion program can be found at https://catalog.odu.edu/undergraduate/registrationrequirementsandprocedures/linked_programs/.
Admission Information
Application Process
Summary: Applications for graduate study in the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Program (Modeling and Simulation Engineering Concentration) should be made through the general ODU Application Portal. Additional materials supporting your application (outlined below) will be required. Once complete, your application package will be reviewed and forwarded to the Modeling and Simulation Engineering Program's Graduate Program Director for consideration. Questions regarding the general application process can be directed to admissions@odu.edu (on-campus) or globaladmissions@odu.edu (online).
Application Deadlines: The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Program uses a rolling admission process and does not have a formal application deadline. Entrance into the program and commencement of studies will be timed to begin with the start of the next academic term following admission.
General ODU Requirements
General ODU Requirements: General requirements for graduate admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Program (Modeling and Simulation Engineering Concentration) can be found on the ODU Graduate Admissions website. Additional details can be found in the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.
Additional Program Requirements:
Prior Degrees: Modeling and Simulation Engineering doctoral degree applicants normally will have a master of science degree from an accredited university in the United States or an equivalent foreign institution;
Undergraduate GPA: Regular admission to a doctoral program generally requires a master's degree GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA may be considered for regular or provisional admission on the basis of successful engineering work experience or other credentials demonstrating potential for success in the doctoral program.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are required.
Prior Experience: Coursework or a minimum of two years' work experience in Modeling and Simulation Engineering and/or related areas.
Examination/Test Scores: Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is nominally required. However, this requirement is waived if the applicant holds an engineering degree from an ABET accredited institution in the USA.
Language Proficiency Requirements: TOEFL (or IELTS) scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English unless their BS degrees are from USA institutions. These applicants must meet University admission requirements (IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL iBT: 79); please refer to the website: https://www.odu.edu/admissions/proficiency for additional details.
Résumé: A résumé or CV detailing relevant experience is required.
Personal Statement: Each applicant must submit an essay of 500 words or less describing personal and academic goals, professional objectives, preparation for graduate study, and how the chosen program will help the applicant achieve these goals and objectives.
Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted. At least one must be from former or current professors, and one could alternatively be from an employment supervisors.
Interview: A personal or telephone interview of the applicant with the graduate program director or other faculty may be required.
Provisional Admission: Students not meeting the above requirements may be admitted provisionally. Only the Graduate Program Director (GPD) can waive an admission requirement. Please reach out directly to the GPD if you think you are eligible for a waiver from a requirement. The GPD may request additional information, including GRE scores. Provisionally admitted students may be required to complete additional prerequisite course requirements to prepare them for the graduate curriculum in the discipline.
Curriculum Requirements
Curriculum requirements in the Doctor of Engineering (DENG) in Modeling and Simulation Engineering are in accordance with the general requirements for doctoral degrees at Old Dominion University as specified in the Requirements for Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.
Progression in the DENG program is governed by a Plan of Study established by the student in conjunction with their advisor and guidance committee. The Plan of Study will follow the established course requirements (below) unless a substitution to one or more courses is agreed upon between the student and their primary advisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director.
The plan of study is designed to prepare the student to undertake scholarly research in the particular field and specialization of their doctoral project. The coursework selected will provide the student with (1) the requisite foundational knowledge of the selected field, and (2) the necessary research skills. A high degree of flexibility is provided to customize the plan of study, taking into account the diversity in the fields of study, the multidisciplinary nature and variety of research that is undertaken, as well as the different levels of preparation that individual students have upon entry to the program.
A minimum of 48 hours of graduate work beyond the master’s degree is required including:
- 18 credit hours of core courses
- At least 18 credit hours of graduate coursework in the student’s area of specialization as determined by the program
- At least 12 credit hours of applied doctoral project
- At least three fifths of the course work must be at 800-level.
The program of study for the D.Eng. in M&S program is developed with the approval of the graduate program director and the student’s advisor. The program shall include a minimum of 18 credits of professional course work (http://catalog.odu.edu/graduate/frankbattencollegeofengineeringandtechnology/#doctorofengineeringprogram). Some professional courses can be substituted by other courses approved by the Graduate Program Director if these professional courses are not available.
The D.Eng. also requires 18 credits of technical core course work beyond the master’s degree distributed as follows:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| 3 |
| MSIM 830 | Simulation Formalisms | 3 |
| MSIM 842 | Synthetic Environments | 3 |
| MSIM 851 | Advanced Analysis for Modeling and Simulation | 3 |
| 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 |
Advanced Simulation Course Examples (3 credits)
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| MSIM 811 | Finite Element Analysis | 3 |
| MSIM 815 | High Performance Computing Simulation and Data Analytics | 3 |
| MSIM 822 | Cluster Parallel Computing | 3 |
| MSIM 825 | Principles of Combat Modeling and Simulation | 3 |
| MSIM 876 | Simulation Modeling in Transportation Networks | 3 |
| |
No more than three credits from course work satisfying foundation knowledge requirements may be included in the program of study for technical elective credit. At least three-fifths of the non-project coursework must be at the 800-level.
Certain students entering the program will be required to complete additional pre-requisite leveling courses. These courses are: MSIM 510; MSIM 541; MSIM 602; and MSIM 603.
For graduation, students must complete the requirements for their final project and the Responsible Conduct of Research for Engineers training online.
Additional Requirements
Continuation and Graduation Requirements
The continuation requirements are the same as the continuation requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy programs. The graduation requirements for the Doctor of Engineering degree are as follows:
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 48 credit hours of approved graduate work beyond the master’s degree, including the doctoral project.
- Satisfactory performance on a diagnostic examination at the completion of nine credit hours of coursework. The purpose of this examination is to determine if the student has adequate background to pursue a doctoral degree. The diagnostic examination may only be repeated once.
- Satisfactory completion of a written and oral candidacy examination. The student will take the candidacy examination when he/she is within six credit hours of completing all the required coursework. The candidacy examination may only be repeated once.
- Preparation and successful defense of a project concept proposal. The student will be required to prepare and present a concept proposal related to the work that will be undertaken for the doctoral project. The concept proposal will be defended before the doctoral committee.
- Submission of progress reports as deemed necessary by the doctoral committee.
- Written report of the project results. The doctoral project shall be documented in a manner consistent with advanced, professional work. The project report will follow the standard format for Old Dominion University dissertations and theses.
- Comprehensive oral defense of the doctoral project before the student’s doctoral committee and a general audience.
The applied doctoral project must successfully demonstrate the student’s mastery of the subject area and his/her ability to apply advanced technical knowledge to identify, formulate, and solve novel and complex engineering problems. Once a student has completed the course work, passed the candidacy examinations, and has gained approval for the project proposal, the student advances to candidacy. The project must address a complex but practical problem currently faced by the public, industry, or government, and it must provide a solution that satisfies all the technical, social, political, economic, safety, sustainability, and environmental requirements and/or constraints. The doctoral project committee will have at least three Old Dominion University faculty members certified for graduate instruction; two faculty members must be from the major department. The committee must also have at least one non-University person with special knowledge of the project subject area.
