MSEE Degree Requirements

The M.S. in Electrical Engineering degree requires the successful completion of 30 approved graduate credits. No more than 6 credit hours may be from courses outside of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, unless approved by the student’s graduate advisor. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available, as described below:

Thesis option: The thesis option provides the students the opportunity to work on a research project that culminates in the publication of a thesis. Students under the thesis option earn 9 credits from thesis and 21 credits from graduate courses.

Non-thesis option: The non-thesis option enables students to focus more on course work than research. There are two ways by which a non-thesis MSCPE and MSEE degrees may be earned:

  • Non-thesis project option: This requires the completion of a 3 credit individual research project and taking 27 credits of graduate level courses.
  • Non-thesis exam option: This requires the completion of 30 credits of graduate level courses along with satisfactory performance in a comprehensive final examination.

The 30 credit hours must be completed in accordance with three criteria: 1. Technical Area of Focus, 2. Breadth of Knowledge, and 3. Advanced Knowledge. Requirements based on the three criteria are described below.

  1. Technical Area of Focus Requirement – Select three courses from a single technical area of focus. There are seven technical areas of focus:
  • Communications and networking
  • Signal and Image Processing
  • Controls and Robotics
  • Electromagnetics, Antennas, and RF
  • Electronic Devices and Systems
  • Power Systems
  • Power Electronics and Machines
  1. Breadth of Knowledge Requirement – Select courses from at least two technical areas other than the chosen technical area of focus.

  2. Advanced Knowledge Requirement – At least 12 credit hours must be taken at the 6000-level or above.

​​The faculty contact assigned at the time of admission serves as the advisor for the first two semesters or until a permanent advisor is formally selected by the student at the time of submitting the Plan of Study.

Further details on the degree requirements are available in the University Catalog at: