Master's Programs

Advising

Early in the program a student must choose an adviser (upon admission, the EECS graduate director serves as the student's initial graduate advisor; however, the student may choose another EECS faculty as adviser based on his/her own academic/research interests). The advisor must be a tenured or tenure track member of the EECS graduate faculty.

• Meet regularly with adviser to refine plan of study to meet academic and research goals
• Submit signed enrollment planning (pdf) form or send an email with course enrollment request to have advising hold released each semester

Advising holds will be released after the plan of study is approved and a signed enrollment planning (pdf) form is submitted to the EECS Graduate Office.

Students should plan their schedules with the understanding that some EECS graduate courses are offered on a two-year rotation. Some classes are offered every semester, others once per year, and some advanced courses are offered once every four semesters. Check with the University Registrar for a complete listing of courses.

Plan of Study

Every MS student is required to have a goal for their MS program that matches the desired degree. The plan of study must be consistent with the identified degree and goals.
The plan of study outlines all course work and designates the thesis or non-thesis option. When creating the plan of study, the student should:

• Work with adviser to form a committee and to decide what classes best meet your academic goals.
• Submit plan of study before the second semester of graduate study.
• Update plan of study when modifications are made and resubmit plan for approval.

The plan of study must adhere to the following rules:

• Minimum of 5 EECS courses numbered 700 or higher, excluding Directed Graduate Reading (EECS 801), Graduate Problems (EECS 891), Master's Thesis (EECS 899) and Post-Master's Research (EECS 998).
• Maximum of 3 hours outside the department
• Include at least one semester of EECS Colloquium (EECS 802), to be taken the first semester of the program.
• Maximum of 2 courses numbered between 500-699 may be counted toward the hours required for the degree.

The plan of study may include one open elective course directly related to student's thesis or project (e.g. another EECS graduate course, or a course from the Mathematics or Physics departments).

Thesis Requirements

The thesis option, which prepares students for graduate work at the doctoral level or advanced engineering work in industry, is strongly recommended. Students conduct original, in-depth research on an open problem in EECS. Typically, a thesis produces results published as a conference paper or journal article. The thesis option requires:

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 6 hours of EECS 899 Master’s Thesis
• Preparation of a thesis proposal of research into a specific research question to be submitted to and accepted by the student’s graduate committee at least one semester before completion of the program. Link to thesis proposal page that contains its requirements.
• The execution and completion of research into a specific research question
• The documentation of the knowledge gained through an in-depth study in the M.S. thesis
• Oral defense of the thesis before the student’s graduate committee

Explore: Thesis Proposal & Outline

Non-Thesis Requirements

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 3 hours of EECS 891 Graduate Problems
• The execution and completion of a substantial project whose topic and scope is agreed to between the student and adviser. A project is a creative endeavor such as designing and implementing hardware, software system or the integration of existing knowledge.
• The documentation of the results in a final project report
• Oral defense of the project report before the student’s graduate committee.
• Non-thesis project committees have the same requirements as MS Thesis committees.

Students will submit their final project to their graduate committee in the semester they expect to graduate. The committee will review it and request changes or approve the project proposal.

Explore: Project Outline

M.S. Defense

• General oral examination must be taken in the last semester of student's program.
• The student’s committee will determine if the written thesis/project, oral presentation and general knowledge of the discipline meet Department and University standards.

At least three weeks prior to your M.S. defense:

• Check with faculty adviser and the EECS Graduate Office to ensure all degree requirements have been completed
• Verify plan of study is complete, correct, approved and on file in the EECS Graduate Office
• Schedule a time and location for the defense with committee members and coordinate with staff to reserve the room
• For all defense notices Email date, time, location, full committee, title and short abstract (< 350 words) to the EECS Graduate Office
• Distribute a final copy of thesis/project to committee members for their comments
• Prepare PowerPoint and presentation

After your thesis presentation, you must do the following:

• Make final corrections to your thesis as directed by your committee
• Get the title page and acceptance pages signed by all committee members
• Deliver the signed title and acceptance pages to the Engineering Dean's office
• Submit Thesis Online
• Deliver bound copies of your thesis to your M.S. committee members (if requested)

Explore: Defense Notices

Advising

Early in the program a student must choose an adviser (upon admission, a student is assigned an initial graduate adviser, namely Professor Saiedian; however, the student may choose another EECS faculty as adviser based on his/her own academic/research interests). The advisor must be a tenured or tenure track member of the EECS graduate faculty.

• Meet regularly with adviser to refine plan of study to meet academic and research goals
• Submit signed enrollment planning (pdf) form or send an email with course enrollment request to have advising hold released each semester

Advising holds will be released after the plan of study is approved and a signed enrollment planning (pdf) form is submitted to the EECS Graduate Office.

Students should plan their schedules with the understanding that some EECS graduate courses are offered on a two-year rotation. Some classes are offered every semester, others once per year, and some advanced courses are offered once every four semesters. Check with the University Registrar for a complete listing of courses.

Explore: Steps to Graduation

Plan of Study

Every MS student is required to have a goal for their MS program that matches the desired degree. The plan of study must be consistent with the identified degree and goals.
The plan of study outlines all course work and designates the thesis or non-thesis option. When creating the plan of study, the student should:

• Work with adviser to form a committee and to decide what classes best meet your academic goals.
• Submit plan of study before the second semester of graduate study.
• Update plan of study when modifications are made and resubmit plan for approval.

The plan of study must adhere to the following rules:

• Minimum of 5 EECS courses numbered 700 or higher, excluding Directed Graduate Reading (EECS 801), Graduate Problems (EECS 891), Master's Thesis (EECS 899) and Post-Master's Research (EECS 998).
• Maximum of 3 hours outside the department
• Include at least one semester of EECS Colloquium (EECS 802), to be taken the first semester of the program.
• Maximum of 2 courses numbered between 500-699 may be counted toward the hours required for the degree.

The plan of study may include one open elective course directly related to student's thesis or project (e.g. another EECS graduate course, or a course from the Mathematics or Physics departments).

Thesis Requirements

The thesis option, which prepares students for graduate work at the doctoral level or advanced engineering work in industry, is strongly recommended. Students conduct original, in-depth research on an open problem in EECS. Typically, a thesis produces results published as a conference paper or journal article. The thesis option requires:

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 6 hours of EECS 899 Master’s Thesis
• Preparation of a thesis proposal of research into a specific research question to be submitted to and accepted by the student’s graduate committee at least one semester before completion of the program. Link to thesis proposal page that contains its requirements.
• The execution and completion of research into a specific research question
• The documentation of the knowledge gained through an in-depth study in the M.S. thesis
• Oral defense of the thesis before the student’s graduate committee

Explore: Thesis Proposal & Outline

Non-Thesis Requirements

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 3 hours of EECS 891 Graduate Problems
• The execution and completion of a substantial project whose topic and scope is agreed to between the student and adviser. A project is a creative endeavor such as designing and implementing hardware, software system or the integration of existing knowledge.
• The documentation of the results in a final project report
• Oral defense of the project report before the student’s graduate committee.
• Non-thesis project committees have the same requirements as MS Thesis committees.

Students will submit their final project to their graduate committee in the semester they expect to graduate. The committee will review it and request changes or approve the project proposal.

Explore: Project Outline

M.S. Defense

• General oral examination must be taken in the last semester of student's program.
• The student’s committee will determine if the written thesis/project, oral presentation and general knowledge of the discipline meet Department and University standards.

At least three weeks prior to your M.S. defense:

• Check with faculty adviser and the EECS Graduate Office to ensure all degree requirements have been completed
• Verify plan of study is complete, correct, approved and on file in the EECS Graduate Office
• Schedule a time and location for the defense with committee members and coordinate with staff to reserve the room
• For all defense notices Email date, time, location, full committee, title and short abstract (< 350 words) to the EECS Graduate Office
• Distribute a final copy of thesis/project to committee members for their comments
• Prepare PowerPoint and presentation

After your thesis presentation, you must do the following:

• Make final corrections to your thesis as directed by your committee
• Get the title page and acceptance pages signed by all committee members
• Deliver the signed title and acceptance pages to the Engineering Dean's office
• Submit Thesis Online
• Deliver bound copies of your thesis to your M.S. committee members (if requested)

Explore: Defense Notices

Advising

Early in the program a student must choose an adviser (upon admission, a student is assigned an initial graduate adviser, namely Professor Saiedian; however, the student may choose another EECS faculty as adviser based on his/her own academic/research interests). The advisor must be a tenured or tenure track member of the EECS graduate faculty.

• Meet regularly with adviser to refine plan of study to meet academic and research goals
• Submit signed enrollment planning (pdf) form or send an email with course enrollment request to have advising hold released each semester

Advising holds will be released after the plan of study is approved and a signed enrollment planning (pdf) form is submitted to the EECS Graduate Office.

Students should plan their schedules with the understanding that some EECS graduate courses are offered on a two-year rotation. Some classes are offered every semester, others once per year, and some advanced courses are offered once every four semesters. Check with the University Registrar for a complete listing of courses.

Explore: Steps to Graduation

Plan of Study

Every MS student is required to have a goal for their MS program that matches the desired degree. The plan of study must be consistent with the identified degree and goals.
The plan of study outlines all course work and designates the thesis or non-thesis option. When creating the plan of study, the student should:

• Work with adviser to form a committee and to decide what classes best meet your academic goals.
• Submit plan of study before the second semester of graduate study.
• Update plan of study when modifications are made and resubmit plan for approval.

The plan of study must adhere to the following rules:

• Minimum of 5 EECS courses numbered 700 or higher, excluding Directed Graduate Reading (EECS 801), Graduate Problems (EECS 891), Master's Thesis (EECS 899) and Post-Master's Research (EECS 998).
• Maximum of 3 hours outside the department
• Include at least one semester of EECS Colloquium (EECS 802), to be taken the first semester of the program.
• Maximum of 2 courses numbered between 500-699 may be counted toward the hours required for the degree.

The plan of study may include one open elective course directly related to student's thesis or project (e.g. another EECS graduate course, or a course from the Mathematics or Physics departments).

Thesis Requirements

The thesis option, which prepares students for graduate work at the doctoral level or advanced engineering work in industry, is strongly recommended. Students conduct original, in-depth research on an open problem in EECS. Typically, a thesis produces results published as a conference paper or journal article. The thesis option requires:

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 6 hours of EECS 899 Master’s Thesis
• Preparation of a thesis proposal of research into a specific research question to be submitted to and accepted by the student’s graduate committee at least one semester before completion of the program. Link to thesis proposal page that contains its requirements.
• The execution and completion of research into a specific research question
• The documentation of the knowledge gained through an in-depth study in the M.S. thesis
• Oral defense of the thesis before the student’s graduate committee

Explore: Thesis Proposal & Outline

Non-Thesis Requirements

• Coursework as defined in the plan of study
• Minimum of 3 hours of EECS 891 Graduate Problems
• The execution and completion of a substantial project whose topic and scope is agreed to between the student and adviser. A project is a creative endeavor such as designing and implementing hardware, software system or the integration of existing knowledge.
• The documentation of the results in a final project report
• Oral defense of the project report before the student’s graduate committee.
• Non-thesis project committees have the same requirements as MS Thesis committees.

Students will submit their final project to their graduate committee in the semester they expect to graduate. The committee will review it and request changes or approve the project proposal.

Explore: Project Outline

M.S. Defense

• General oral examination must be taken in the last semester of student's program.
• The student’s committee will determine if the written thesis/project, oral presentation and general knowledge of the discipline meet Department and University standards.

At least three weeks prior to your M.S. defense:

• Check with faculty adviser and the EECS Graduate Office to ensure all degree requirements have been completed
• Verify plan of study is complete, correct, approved and on file in the EECS Graduate Office
• Schedule a time and location for the defense with committee members and coordinate with staff to reserve the room
• For all defense notices Email date, time, location, full committee, title and short abstract (< 350 words) to the EECS Graduate Office
• Distribute a final copy of thesis/project to committee members for their comments
• Prepare PowerPoint and presentation

After your thesis presentation, you must do the following:

• Make final corrections to your thesis as directed by your committee
• Get the title page and acceptance pages signed by all committee members
• Deliver the signed title and acceptance pages to the Engineering Dean's office
• Submit Thesis Online
• Deliver bound copies of your thesis to your M.S. committee members (if requested)

Explore: Defense Notices