Electrical Engineering, M.S.E.

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Admission

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in engineering or applied sciences with exemplary grades, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, and a satisfactory score on the GRE General Tests. Applicants must satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School and receive the approval of the program advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Applicants from non-English speaking countries must also present a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-based exam, or 550 on the paper test. A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 is also acceptable for applicants from non-English speaking countries.

Students who do not satisfy these requirements but have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in electrical engineering courses in their last two years of study may be considered for probationary admission. A student with degree in a field other than electrical engineering may be required to take deficiency courses.

Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) program in electrical engineering requires completion of 30 credit hours. No more than 40 percent of the total credit hours may come from 6000 level courses.

Minimum credit hours of core courses in electrical engineering (one 7000-level course from at least 3 Core Areas)	9
Credit hours of thesis	6
Maximum credit hours outside department (6000 or 7000 level)	9
Maximum credit hours of 6000-level courses	12
Maximum credit hours of independent study	3
Minimum Total Credit Hours	30

Acceptance in the M.S.E. option requires the approval of the departmental graduate faculty and will be decided on the basis of individual merit after receipt of a formal written request from the student. Upon completion of nine hours of 7000-level coursework within the master’s program, the student interested in the M.S.E. option must select an area of research and a faculty advisor. In addition, the student must file an application with the department graduate faculty for admission to the M.S.E. program. The advisor approves the remainder of the student’s study program and supervises the thesis. The advisor, after consulting with the student, recommends at least two other graduate faculty members (to serve as committee members) to the Dean of the Graduate School. At least one member of this committee must be from outside the department and may be recommended as a qualified expert from outside the University community.

A 3.0 overall grade point average is the minimum acceptable performance level for the program and must be maintained for all courses applied toward the degree. Students receiving three C grades in 9 hours of course work during their graduate studies may be dismissed. Grades for the thesis hours are recorded on a pass-fail basis and are not computed in the grade point average, although a passing grade is required.

Grades for the thesis hours are recorded on a pass-fail basis and are not computer into the grade point average, although a passing grade is required.

Core Areas (9 Hours)

Students must take 1 course from at least 3 different core areas to fulfill core course requirements. Alternative courses not listed here may be approved to fulfill core area requirements with the permission of the graduate program advisor.

Elective Courses (12 hours)

Elective courses must be approved by the graduate advisor and/or the department chair. No more than 6 hours of electives may be taken outside the department.

Thesis (6 hours)

A formal defense of the master’s thesis is required. Upon completion of the thesis, the M.S.E. candidate must pass a comprehensive examination. The examination can be written, oral, or both at the discretion of the committee members. The comprehensive examination will cover the student’s entire graduate program with emphasis on the thesis. Oral examinations must be scheduled at least two weeks prior to their occurrence, and all the graduate faculty of the college are invited to attend.

Graduation Grade Requirements

No more than three hours of coursework with a grade of “C” can be applied toward a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Common Questions