Graduate and Research Central Coordination Office (CCPG)

Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering

General Information

Program Overview

The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) is a private, non-profit institution that engages in the production and transmission of knowledge, based on respect for human values and ethics.

The Department of Electrical Engineering (DEE) and the Center for Telecommunication Studies (CETUC) strive for excellence in research, teaching and continuing education to train skilled professionals with the competencies to execute their professional duties.

The DEE / CETUC graduate program is a fundamental component of this process.

Objectives

The PUC-Rio Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering is an agent of social change through:

• the education and specialization of professionals at undergraduate and graduate levels and in continuing education and outreach, in collaboration with the other departments at PUC-Rio and other research and education institutions;
• basic and applied research, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary interaction, divulging and recording its results in appropriate manners;
• partnerships with engineers, firms, schools and government, rendering development and advisory services, and organizing events and information centers.

The function of the graduate program in Electrical Engineering is the education of skilled human resources in conjunction with the creation of scientific and technological knowledge and its transfer to the worlds of business and academia.

As one of the areas that most interacts with industry, the program offers a particularly broad range of research options. The faculty members are highly qualified, having been educated at leading institutions in other countries, for the most part, and also in Brazil.

History

The Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering was founded in 1963 with the creation of the master's degree course; in 1981, the doctoral degree course was implemented. The program, directed by the Electrical Engineering Department - DEE, along with the participation of the Studies in Telecommunications Center - CETUC, offers Master of Science and Doctor of Science degrees, with the aim of training high-level human resources for teaching, research and other professional practices that require qualified academic training.

Financed by federal and state research and education funding agencies since the 1970s, the program has always been at the forefront of its field. Acknowledged by its peers in Brazil and abroad, it has always obtained outstanding external evaluations.

Over 1042 master's and 249 doctoral degrees have been awarded by DEE. There are currently over 200 students in the master's and doctoral programs.

Infrastructure

The DEE and the CETUC occupy around 2100 m², with fifteen laboratories interlinked by internal networks and the PUC-Rio network, dedicated to the Program's teaching and research activities (laboratories).

Financial Support

A number of scholarships offered by CAPES, CNPq, FAPERJ and other government and private entities are available to full-time students. The assignment of these scholarships is made by the Graduate Committee, according to the quotas received by the aforementioned agencies, along with other scholarships in the form of full tuition waivers, also assigned by the same Graduate Committee, and according to quotas stipulated by the University's Academic Vice-Rectory. As PUC-Rio is a private university, students without a scholarship must pay tuition fees each semester. Some companies and Government institutions have agreements with PUC-Rio and fund their employees' tuition fees.

CAPES and CNPq scholarships are granted for up to two years for master students and up to four years for doctoral students, corresponding to PUC-Rio's usual time frame for the Program completion.

Besides the aforementioned scholarships, the University to which a Professor is linked also grants CAPES scholarships. In this case, candidates should contact the Post-Graduate Pro-Rectory of his or her University.

Candidates from other countries of the Americas may apply for PEC/PG scholarships awarded by CAPES and CNPq through competent consular bodies. Candidates should seek information at the Brazilian consulate of their country, at least one year prior to the scheduled enrollment date.

Scholarships and tuition waivers are assigned each academic term and may or may not be renewed according to the student's academic performance.

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Concentration areas and lines of research

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Course Recognition

Master’s and Doctoral degrees

Recognition:
CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Eduction Personnel; from Brazilian Ministry of Education) evaluation: grade 6 (in a 3 to 7 scale) for the 2010-2012 period.
Approved by the CNE/CES MEC n.288/2015 of July 08, 2015.
Granted degrees: Master and/or Doctor in Electrical Engineering

Requirements for obtaining the Master’s and Doctoral degrees

The Program's Regulation, containing every requirement and deadline, is handed to the student upon his or her first enrollment.

It is recommended that the enrolled student obtains a minimum of 12 credits in disciplines related to his or her Concentration Area (as shown in the list below). The student may, however, submit a Study Plan to the Graduate and Research Committee justifying his or her choice of an alternative discipline list. In order to follow disciplines from other Graduate Programs, the student must have the approval of both the Graduate and Research Committee and that of the thesis or dissertation advisor, except for disciplines included in the recommended list.

• Applied electromagnetism: ELLE 2221, E,LLE 2222, ELLE 2223, ELLE 2224, ELLE 2228, ELLE 2231, ELLE 2240, ELLE 2606, ELLE 2614, ELLE 2620, ELLE 2622, ELLE 2630, ELLE 2631, ELLE 2632, ELLE 2633, ELLE 2634, ELLE 2635
• Communication Systems: ELE 2600, ELE 2601, ELE 2602, ELE 2605, ELE 2606, ELE 2607, ELE 2608, ELE 2614, ELE 2707, ELE 2708, ELE 2224, being  that ELE 2600 e ELE 2707  are required  
• Signal Processing, Automation and Robotics ELE 2342, ELE 2361, ELE 2362, ELE 2394, ELE 2395, ELE 2399, ELE2400, ELE 2603, ELE 2604, ELE 2707, MET2813, MEC2401, MEC2402, MEC2358.
• Decision Support Methods: ELE 2342, ELE 2394, ELE 2395, ELE 2399, ELE2400, ELE2401, ELE 2707, ELE 2709, ELE 2711, ELE 2712, ELE 2713, ELE 2714, ELE 2715, ELE 2720, ELE 2721, ELE 2742, ELE 2743, ELE 2744, ELE 2746, ELE 2747, ELE 2748, INF2035, INF2912, ECO2706, ECO2708.
• Electrical Energy Systems: ELE 2394, ELE 2395, ELE 2399, ELE 2504, ELE 2505,ELE 2525, ELE 2528, ELE 2712, ELE 2720, ELE 2742, ELE 2743, ELE 2501. ELE 2502, MEC 2343, MEC 2386.

Master

• Obtainment of at least 24 credits in Graduate disciplines, among which a maximum of 06 credits in Guided Studies and 12 credits following the above recommendation.
• Approval in the LET 3101 Proficiency in Foreign Language Exam (English) - Master degree.
•  Present, defend and be approved in the ELE 3000 – Master’s degree dissertation
• Approved in the ELE 3008 Scientific Production in Master degree

Doctor

• Obtain at least 39 credits in Graduate course disciplines, including those obtained in the Master’s course.
• The student may request the transfer of credits obtained in the Master's Program at the website http://www.ccpa.puc-rio.br/sap, following the ART.38 PUC-Rio Graduate Program Regulation.
• Only 03 credits may be related to Guided Studies.
• Be Approved in the LET 3106 Proficiency in Foreign Language Exam (English) - Doctoral degree.
• Approved in the ELE 3004, Qualifying Examination.
• Approved in the ELE 3007, Thesis Proposal Examination.
• Present, defend and  be approved in the ELE 3001 - Doctoral Thesis.
• Approved in the ELE 3009 Doctoral Scientific Production.
• CAPES Scholarship holders must complete the Teaching Internship.

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Admission and Enrollment

For enrollment, besides the general requirements, the Civil Engineering Department demands the following :

Undergraduate Diploma for the Master’s course and Master's Degree for the Doctoral course.

The doctoral applicant, knowing the Program's lines of research, must contact the most appropriate advisor from the Program's Permanent Faculty and obtain his or her agreement (Declaration of Mutual Commitment between Professor and Doctoral Student).

Applicant selection criteria is made by the Graduate and Research Committee based on academic transcripts, curriculum vitae, reference letters and, if necessary, interviews with Doctoral applicants.

Registration requirements must be done according to the University's academic calendar.

All applicants should submit the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae;
• Undergraduate diploma or certificate of expected completion before the intended course;
• Undergraduate academic transcript;
• Two reference letters.

Master applicants

Declaration of Mutual Commitment between the student and dissertation advisor for the following concentration areas: Decision Support Methods and Signal Processing, Automation and Robotics.

Doctoral candidates

Master’s degree diploma or certificate of expected completion before the beginning of the intended course;

Master’s degree academic transcripts;

Declaration of Mutual Commitment between the student and thesis advisor for all the concentration areas.

Proficiency in Portuguese Language for Foreigners Certificate

Selected candidates whose native language is not Portuguese or Spanish must present the Proficiency in Portuguese Language for Foreigners Certificate, the Celpl -Bras or equivalent upon enrollment.

Go to www.ele.puc-rio.br, graduate, registration, for accessing the link contents.

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