Master of Science

The large majority of students pursuing a Master of Science in ECE will pursue the courses-only degree.

Degree Requirements - Courses-Only M.S.

The information below is a summary of the formal degree requirements for the M.S. in ECE.

Coursework Requirements (30 units total):

12 units of ECE coursework
6 units of Approved Technical Electives from Engineering (including ECE), Math, Statistics, Computer Science, or Natural Science, or other courses approved by the faculty
12 Units of Approved Electives chosen to provide a coherent program of study

NOTE:

No more than two ECE 899: Independent Study and/or 300 to 400-level (upper-level undergraduate) courses may be used to satisfy M.S. degree coursework requirements

In order to count for the MS degree, a grade of B- or better must be earned in undergraduate courses

Courses numbered between 0 and 299 do not satisfy coursework requirements for the MS degree.

English for International Students (EIS) courses do not count toward the 30 total units required for the MS degree

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing and to graduate

Course selection is formally approved by submitting a program of study form.

Courses-Only Final Exam:

An oral and written final exam is required for students pursuing the courses-only MS degree. The committee consists of the student's adviser, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the ECE Graduate Studies Committee.

Students will occasionally find opportunities to pursue a project or thesis MS degree, both of which require an invitation from an ECE faculty member.

Degree Requirements - Project M.S.

The information below is a summary of the formal degree requirements for the M.S. in ECE.

Coursework Requirements (30 units total):

12 units of ECE coursework
15 units of Approved Electives chosen to provide a coherent program of study
3 units of Research (RESEARCH 1; ungraded)

NOTE:

No more than two ECE 899: Independent Study and/or 300 to 400-level (upper-level undergraduate) courses may be used to satisfy M.S. degree coursework requirements

In order to count for the MS degree, a grade of B- or better must be earned in undergraduate courses

Courses numbered between 0 and 299 do not satisfy coursework requirements for the MS degree.

English for International Students (EIS) courses do not count toward the 30 total units required for the MS degree

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing and to graduate

Course selection is formally approved by submitting a program of study form.

Project Report and Exam:

For the project option, a written research report is required, which must be approved by a committee made up of the student's adviser and two other members of the ECE graduate faculty, chosen with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. The project report is not submitted to the Graduate School. However, a final copy must be submitted to the ECE Department. It need not necessarily be in the form required of a thesis. As required by the Graduate School, a final exam will be given.

Download the evaluation rubric.

Degree Requirements - Thesis M.S.

Coursework Requirements (30 units total):

12 units of ECE coursework
12 units of Approved Electives chosen to provide a coherent program of study
6 units of Research (RESEARCH 1; ungraded)

NOTE:

No more than two ECE 899: Independent Study and/or 300 to 400-level (upper-level undergraduate) courses may be used to satisfy M.S. degree coursework requirements

In order to count for the MS degree, a grade of B- or better must be earned in undergraduate courses

Courses numbered between 0 and 299 do not satisfy coursework requirements for the MS degree.

English for International Students (EIS) courses do not count toward the 30 total units required for the MS degree

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing and to graduate

Course selection is formally approved by submitting a program of study form.

Thesis and Final Exam:

The MS thesis must be prepared in a form consistent with the requirements of the Graduate School, as presented in the Guide to Preparation of a Thesis/Dissertation. The thesis must be defended orally before a committee composed of the faculty member under whose direction the work was done and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, chosen with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. One of the graduate faculty members may be from a department other than ECE.

Download the evaluation rubric.