PhD Exploration Systems Design at Arizona State University

Programme overview

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.

What you will study

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation Required Core (1 credit hour) SES 502 Exploring SESE Research (1) Electives or Research (70 credit hours) Other Requirements (1 credit hour) SES 501 SESE Colloquium (1) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) SES 799 Dissertation (12) Additional Curriculum Information 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.

Career pathways

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. Career examples: data scientist, engineering professor, project manager, research engineer.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

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: graduate admissions application and application fee official transcripts statement of purpose three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Students should see the program website for application deadlines. Instrumentation concentration An undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering is preferred.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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