Electrical Engineering|

T.S. Sudarshan, Chair

Faculty	Research Focus Areas
Overview	Programs and Courses
Admission Requirements	Website

Overview

Graduate programs of the Department of Electrical Engineering emphasize research-oriented graduate study through the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program and professional development through the Master of Engineering (M.E.) program. Some students may also be admitted to the research-oriented Master of Science (M.S.) program, but applicants should be aware that both financial assistance and the availability of faculty to supervise research are decided on a competitive basis. The highest priority will be given to the highest caliber of students pursuing doctoral studies.

APOGEE (A Program of Graduate Engineering Education) provides a mechanism for qualified engineers to earn a graduate-level degree while maintaining full-time employment. The program delivers graduate courses through a media-based system incorporating television, videotapes, the Internet, digital video, and periodic visits to campus.

Graduates in electrical engineering can look forward to competing successfully for careers in academia, industry, and government laboratories.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to graduate degree programs in electrical engineering (M.E., M.S., Ph.D.) include the general admission requirements of The Graduate School as well as more stringent departmental requirements, as described below. In general, the admissions process is highly competitive. Admissions decisions are based on the quality of the applicant’s previous university-level academic work (as reflected by grade point average, or GPA), letters of recommendation (at least two letters are required for evaluation), GRE scores, and other evidence of past accomplishments.

For admission to the M.E., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs in electrical engineering, applicants normally hold the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Students holding B.S. degrees may apply for direct admission to the doctoral program; it is not necessary to complete a master’s degree first. Applicants with degrees (B.S. or higher) in other engineering disciplines or physics may be admitted with additional remedial course requirements in electrical engineering at the undergraduate level. Remedial courses will typically include the prerequisites for required graduate courses, and may include additional courses in mathematics. The detailed specification of course requirements and substitutions of courses from other universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For all applicants: GRE scores must be submitted by all applicants seeking financial aid, as well as all applicants with degrees from undergraduate programs not accredited by ABET. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs less than 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) are normally required to submit GRE scores. International applicants must also submit TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam scores. All applicants should submit a statement of purpose (or similar essay) that describes the applicant’s background, research interests, and whether or not financial aid is required. For students seeking a research-oriented degree (M.S. or Ph.D.), a preliminary contact with a research advisor is strongly suggested.

Typical successful students have GRE scores of at least 500 (verbal), 700 (quantitative), and 3.5 (analytical), as well as a TOEFL score greater than 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based) (as required by the Graduate School). The typical overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5.

Research Focus Areas

The department research focuses on electronics. Specific application areas include: wide bandgap microelectronics, power electronics and control, and communication/signal integrity.