University Catalog 2007-2008

University Catalog >IT&E > Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Phone: 703-993-1569

Web: ece.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Allnutt, Cook, Ephraim, Gertler, Griffiths, Ioannou, Jabbari, Katona, Levis, Manitius (chair), Mulpuri

Associate professors: Berry, Chang, Gaj, Hintz, Mark, Pachowicz, Paris, W. Sutton, Wage

Assistant professors: Barnes, Hwang, Kaps, Nelson, Peixoto

Adjunct professors: Bales, Beatty, Grondin, Guharay, Holdener, Lazarevich, Mital, Rader, Shackelford, Storey, Watson, West

Course Work

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department offers all courses designated ECE in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog. The department also offers most of the courses designated TCOM and some of the IT and ENGR courses.

Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate education mission of the ECE Department is to provide a quality education for electrical engineering, computer engineering, and electronics and communications engineering students to support the needs of Virginia and the nation.

The objectives of undergraduate programs within the ECE Department relate to the abilities of our graduates three to five years after graduation. These objectives include

Computer Engineering, BS

The field of computer engineering can be described as a blend of electrical engineering and computer science. It is an amalgam of the computer hardware orientation of an electrical engineering program and the operating systems and languages of a computer science program. Computer engineers are involved in research, development, design, production, and operation of a wide variety of digital systems, from integrated circuits to computer systems and large-scale computer networks. Reflecting the industry trend to integrate hardware and software development, the computer engineering program is built around software, running on advanced hardware, which can simulate and assist in the design of new digital systems. Advanced software, such as VHDL, and software tools, such as logic and system design tools by Mentor Graphics and Cadence Design Systems, can be used to model hardware and hardware functionality from the system and architecture level down to the gate level, and can include relations to integrated circuit fabrication technology. Design and testing methodology involving these tools is taught in the program.

Career opportunities exist in engineering research and development, product design, digital system design and integration, engineering management, engineering consultancy, technical sales, and patent law, among others. The program provides a strong preparation for graduate study.

The bachelor's program in computer engineering at Mason is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700. The computer engineering program is staffed by 25 full-time professors, including five fellows of IEEE or other professional societies.

The curriculum provides a strong background in the fundamentals of computer engineering. A number of technical elective concentrations are offered, ranging from strongly hardware-oriented concentrations to strongly software-oriented ones. A major project with appropriate planning, documentation, and oral and written reports is required.

The requirements for the degree may be satisfied on a part-time or co-op basis. Cooperative education provides students with the opportunity to integrate paid, career- related work experience with classroom learning. In addition to the usual financial aid available to all students through the Office of Student Financial Aid, computer engineering majors are eligible to apply through the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for several scholarships provided by professional societies and industrial organizations, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Association of Old Crows, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Rockwell International.

Degree Requirements

All computer engineering students are strongly encouraged to see their major advisor each semester before course registration. Students interested in computer engineering who are not declared majors are also invited to obtain advising at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department office. Students are strongly encouraged to follow the sample schedule below to ensure that course prerequisites are satisfied.

Students must complete each ECE, ENGR, and CS course presented as part of the required 120 credits for the degree with a grade of C or better.

The 120 credits required for the BS in computer engineering are as follows:

Note: General education courses should be selected from the department's list of approved courses. All students must submit at least 24 credits of social science/humanities course work, which is normally satisfied by the 24 credits of university general education social science/humanities courses listed above. Technical electives and technical elective lab should be selected from the department's list of approved technical elective concentrations. Students are also encouraged to propose additional technical elective concentrations for approval.

Sample Schedule

The following table presents a sample schedule that undergraduate computer engineering majors would pursue to obtain a bachelor's degree.

First Semester

Total 16 Credits


Second Semester

Total 14 Credits


Third Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Fourth Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Fifth Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Sixth Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Seventh Semester

Total 15


Eighth Semester

Total (12 Credits)

Change of Major

Students who want to change their majors to computer engineering must have at least a 2.75 GPA in all math, physics, engineering, and computer science courses, and should have successfully completed MATH 114.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason's writing-intensive requirement is satisfied by completion of ECE 492 and 493 Senior Advanced Design Project I and II, in which various aspects of project documentation and reports are prepared and critiqued. Faculty provides feedback on student writing. Drafts and revisions are required.

Double Major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Computer engineering majors can earn a double major in computer engineering and computer science if they complete an additional 26 credits of courses according to an approved plan of study. Details are available in the departmental brochures or at the Volgenau School web site ite.gmu.edu.

Electrical Engineering, BS

Electrical engineering is a major field of modern technology. Electrical engineers are involved in research, development, design, production, and operation of a wide variety of devices and systems, from integrated circuits and microwave and laser devices, communication systems, control systems, radar, robots, large telecommunication networks, and power networks.

The bachelor's program in electrical engineering at Mason is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700. The electrical engineering program is staffed by 25 full-time professors, including five fellows of IEEE or other professional societies. The curriculum provides a strong background in the fundamentals of electrical engineering and senior-level courses in the important areas of electronics, networks, communications and signal processing, computer engineering, and controls and robotics. Further, the curriculum includes 9 credits of senior technical electives, 2 credits of advanced engineering labs, and 3 credits of senior advanced design project, which may be used for further concentration in one of these areas.

Career opportunities exist in engineering research and development, system design, system integration, engineering management, engineering consultancy, technical sales, and patent law, among others. The program provides a strong preparation for graduate study.

Degree requirements may be satisfied on a part-time or co-op basis. Cooperative education provides students with the opportunity to integrate paid career-related work experience with classroom learning. In addition to the usual financial aid available to all students through the Office of Student Financial Aid, electrical engineering majors are eligible to apply at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for several scholarships provided by professional societies and industrial organizations, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Association of Old Crows, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Rockwell International.

Concentrations

Computer engineering, communications and signal processing, control systems, and electronics concentrations are available within the electrical engineering baccalaureate program. Completion of specific senior-level courses leads to one of these designations on the student's transcript on graduation. Students interested in bioengineering are advised to seek out courses available in this area and work closely with their advisor to include these courses in their electrical engineering program.

Degree Requirements

All electrical engineering students are strongly encouraged to see their major advisor before course registration each semester. Students interested in electrical engineering who are not declared majors also are invited to obtain advising from the ECE Department. Students are strongly encouraged to follow the sample schedule below to ensure that course prerequisites are satisfied.

Students must complete each ECE and ENGR course presented as part of the required 120 credits for the degree with a grade of C or better.

The 120 credits required for the BS in electrical engineering are as follows:

Note: General education courses should be selected from the department's list of approved courses. All students must submit at least 24 credits of social science/humanities course work, which is normally satisfied by the 24 credits of university general education social science/humanities courses listed above. Technical electives should be selected from the department's lists of approved courses. The required design content must be satisfied by the technical electives.

Sample Schedule

The following is a sample schedule that an undergraduate electrical engineering major would follow to obtain a bachelor's degree.

First Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Second Semester

Total (14 Credits)


Third Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Fourth Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Fifth Semester

Total (17 Credits)


Sixth Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Seventh Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Eighth Semester

Total (12 Credits)

Change of Major

Students who want to change their major to electrical engineering must have at least a 2.75 GPA in all math, physics, engineering, and computer science courses, and should have successfully completed MATH 114.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason's writing-intensive requirement is satisfied by completing ECE 492 and 493 Senior Advanced Design Project I and II. Faculty provide feedback on student writing. Drafts and revisions are required.

Electronics and Communications Engineering, BS

The bachelor's program in electronics and communications engineering will be offered at Mason's Ras Al Khaimah Campus in the United Arab Emirates. This program will provide quality education in electronics and communications engineering to meet the emerging needs of many employers in the region. The program emphasizes learning of fundamental engineering knowledge in subjects such as signals and systems; digital logic; circuits and electronics; and theory and applications of digital communications, including a specific emphasis in the areas of networks and wireless communications. Several credits of engineering test and measurement and computer-based laboratory work are included in the program. The graduation requirements also include an engineering seminar and a capstone senior design project. It is expected that graduates of the program will have competitive skills in the areas of computer networking, wireless communications, and satellite communications. This program is not accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Degree Requirements

All electronics and communications engineering students are required to see their major advisor before course registration each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to follow the sample schedule below to ensure that course prerequisites are satisfied.

Students must complete each ECE and ENGR course presented as part of the required 120 credits for the degree with a grade of C or better.

The 120 credits required for the BS in electronics and communications engineering are as follows:

Note: General education courses should be selected from the department's list of approved courses. All students must submit at least 24 credits of social science/humanities course work, which is normally satisfied by the 24 credits of university general education social science/humanities courses listed above.

Sample Schedule

The following is a sample schedule that an undergraduate electronics and communications engineering major would follow to obtain a bachelor's degree.

First Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Second Semester

Total (14 Credits)


Third Semester

Total (16 Credits)


Fourth Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Fifth Semester

Total (17 Credits)


Sixth Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Seventh Semester

Total (15 Credits)


Eighth Semester

Total (12 Credits)

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason's writing-intensive requirement is satisfied by completing ECE 492 and 493 Senior Advanced Design Project I and II. Faculty provides feedback on student writing. Drafts and revisions are required.

BS/Accelerated MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

This program is for highly capable students who are interested in immediately continuing their undergraduate academic program in electrical or computer engineering into a graduate program in their respective discipline. It allows for the completion of both bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering or computer engineering in five years with 144 credits.

Admission Requirements

Students can apply for the program during the semester in which they expect to complete 90 undergraduate credits applicable toward the BS degree. An overall GPA of at least 3.50 at the time of application is required. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the MS in Electrical Engineering or MS in Computer Engineering Program. Application is made using the accelerated graduate program application forms, and all usual requirements must be met. The accelerated program application form specifies the overlapping courses and details the 3.50 undergraduate GPA.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 144 credits that satisfy all the requirements for the BS and MS degrees, with 6 credits overlap. Students take 6 credits of 500-level courses either as part of their technical electives or as substitutes for required courses as part of their 120-credit undergraduate program. The specific courses that may be taken and applied to the accelerated program will be specified by the ECE Department. Students may take additional graduate-level courses as part of their BS technical electives with advisor approval. These additional graduate-level courses will not count toward the MS degree. Students admitted to the accelerated program must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.50 during the entire BS/MS program and present a GPA of at least 3.50 for the 24 credits of graduate work submitted for the MS degree.

Degree Conferral

Students may apply to have the BS in electrical engineering or computer engineering conferred during the semester in which they expect to complete the BS requirements. At the completion of the MS requirements, the MS degree will be awarded.

Graduate Programs

Graduate programs leading to MS and PhD degrees in engineering prepare students for careers in industry, government, and academia. Graduate certificate programs provide well-defined targets for students who want to advance or update their knowledge in selected areas. ECE offers the PhD in electrical and computer engineering; MS degrees in computer engineering and electrical engineering; and certificates in communications and networking, signal processing, and VLSI design and manufacturing. The PhD in information technology is offered by the Volgenau School and includes a number of courses with an electrical engineering or computer engineering emphasis. Details about these programs are available at ite.gmu.edu.

ECE is committed to high standards of teaching and research excellence in communications, digital systems design, computer networks, microprocessor and embedded systems, distributed computing, signal and image processing, control systems, intelligent systems, microelectronics, electromagnetics, and optoelectronics. The department recognizes the need to augment and enhance these areas through the use of modern IT. Graduate students are offered a progressive environment with ample opportunities for the type of advanced engineering research that will be needed to confront the complex realities of the 21st century.

The courses in these programs are offered during the evening or late afternoon hours to enable students who are employed full time to enroll in the programs. For those who enter the programs on a full-time basis, some financial aid may be available in various forms, such as teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and work-study and co-op agreements with local industry.

Admission

Admission is strictly competitive. The department's policy is to admit only those students who have demonstrated a potential for outstanding performance in their graduate work.

Admission Categories

Each student may be admitted into one of the following categories: degree, provisional, or nondegree. Provisional admission is for anyone whose past performance provides reasonable, but not strong, evidence of ability to pursue graduate work. To advance to degree status, a provisional student must achieve a 3.00 GPA after 12 credits, remove all undergraduate deficiencies by completing the corresponding courses with grades of B or better, and receive Bs or better in two core courses specific to the student's selected program and emphasis. The nondegree category is used primarily by students who want to take courses but not necessarily pursue a degree. Nondegree students seeking to enter degree programs must formally apply for admission.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the master's program, applicants should have a baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited program with a reputation for high academic standards, and have earned a GPA of B or better during the last 60 credits. Other requirements are as follows:

Non-ECE Students

Students with BS or MS degrees in ECE-related disciplines (for example, computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, or electrical engineering technology) are encouraged to apply for admission. They may initially be admitted into the provisional category and advance to degree status by satisfying requirements described in the Admissions Categories section. Such students may also be advised to take some courses from the undergraduate electrical or computer engineering curriculum, according to their intended areas of emphasis and specific backgrounds.

Electrical Engineering, MS

The electrical engineering program offers the following emphases: communications, signal processing, control and robotics, microelectronics, electromagnetics, and optoelectronics. Computer engineering remains a valid emphasis within the electrical engineering program; however, students interested in this emphasis are encouraged to pursue the MS in computer engineering instead. Students interested in bioengineering may add courses and consider research projects in this area following guidance from their advisors.

Course Work

Students must complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits beyond the bachelor's degree. This work must represent a cohesive set of courses leading to comprehensive knowledge in one area; it cannot be a set of disjointed courses. The plan of study for the degree must include the following:

Computer Engineering, MS

The computer engineering field is at the interface of the computer science and electrical engineering disciplines because it involves knowledge of hardware and software development. The major distinction between computer engineering and computer science is that the computer engineer is more concerned with the physical implementation of computing devices, the interaction between hardware and software, and the methodologies for designing digital systems. The major distinction between computer engineering and electrical engineering is that the computer engineer is more concerned with the computational aspects of electrical engineering problems and the implementation of these solutions in digital devices. The computer engineering program offers the following emphases: digital systems design, computer networks, distributed computing systems, microprocessor and embedded systems, and network and system security.

Course Work

Students must complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits beyond the bachelor's degree. This work must represent a cohesive set of courses leading to comprehensive knowledge in one area of computer engineering; it cannot be a set of disjointed courses. The plan of study for the degree must include the following:

The remaining courses must be taken from the list of approved computer engineering courses (available through the ECE and Computer Science Department offices and on the web), which includes selected courses offered by both departments.

The plan of study usually has no fewer than 15 credits of courses designated ECE.

Lists of courses appropriate for concentration areas, such as digital systems design, computer networks, network and system security, and microprocessor and embedded systems, are available from the department office. A self-defined emphasis may be created when appropriate, with the approval of the computer engineering graduate program coordinator. This emphasis must include components of hardware and software development and the corresponding plan of study must comprise courses from ECE and the Computer Science Departments.

Common Degree Requirements

The following policies apply to students pursuing the MS in computer engineering or the MS in electrical engineering.

Student Advising

Newly admitted graduate students must consult with the ECE graduate coordinator before they register for classes. Students should make an appointment by calling the ECE office. Students are expected to select an emphasis from those available in each MS degree program. Students then are assigned an academic advisor from that area.

Plan of Study

Before the end of the second semester, each student must submit to the graduate coordinator's office a plan of study that has been approved by the academic advisor. This plan should be kept up to date by regular consultation with the academic advisor. A final, signed version of the plan must be turned in when the student submits a graduation application.

Seminar Requirement

All degree candidates must attend a minimum of 10 graduate seminars approved for the given degree program.

GPA Requirements

A maximum of 6 credits of courses with grades of C or B- may be applied toward the degree. The student must present a GPA of at least 3.00 for all courses submitted for the degree.

Graduation Requirements

To complete requirements for graduation, students may select one of the following options:

Thesis Option

Students must complete ECE 799 Master's Thesis (6 credits) and 24 credits of course work. The thesis is particularly recommended for those students who wish to develop and document their research skills or contemplate subsequent enrollment in a PhD program. The thesis involves a research effort, which is conducted under the guidance of a faculty advisor. In some cases, permission may be granted to complete a portion of the work at the student's place of employment. The final written thesis and oral defense are approved by the student's advisory committee.

For the electrical engineering program, this committee consists of at least three full-time faculty members, including two from the student's major area, and one from outside the area. For the Computer Engineering Program, this committee includes faculty members from ECE and the Computer Science Department, including at least two affiliated with the MS in Computer Engineering Program, one of whom must be from ECE and one from outside the MS in Computer Engineering Program. Thesis students may not register for ECE 798 Research Project. Students must register for at least 3 credits of thesis for their first thesis semester. Following their first thesis semester, they must register for at least 1 credit of thesis each fall and spring semester until graduation.

Scholarly Paper Option

Students who select this option must complete 30 credits of course work or 27 credits of course work plus ECE 798 Research Project, and must present a scholarly paper. The scholarly paper, with the theme selected under the guidance of a faculty advisor, can be a technical report on an independent study or laboratory or computer experimentation; a literature search on a current scientific or technological topic, such as a survey of new technologies or new methodologies; or a case study of new applications. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the topic and make a satisfactory technical presentation of the paper in the graduate seminar. The scholarly paper and final presentation must be approved by the student's advisory committee. When a student elects to submit an ECE 798 final report as a scholarly paper, it is expected that the 3 credits of effort in ECE 798 will result in a much more substantial paper than a scholarly paper submitted in addition to 30 credits of regular course work.

Certificate in Communications and Networking

This certificate provides graduate students with the opportunity to reach a demonstrated level of competence in communications and networking. Course work toward the graduate certificate may be used for credit toward the MS in electrical engineering or computer engineering; however, the certificate's primary purpose is to provide a well-defined target for students who want to advance their knowledge of modern communications but do not necessarily want to complete requirements for the MS degree. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate degree programs in the Volgenau School.

Admission Requirements

The certificate program in communications and networking is open to all students who hold BS degrees in scientific and engineering disciplines from accredited universities.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate is awarded on completion of five graduate courses (15 credits) in communications and networking. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required, and at most one course with a grade of C may be applied toward the certificate. The certificate courses comprise two required foundation courses and three elective courses.

Foundation Courses:

Elective Courses:

After completing the foundation courses, students choose elective courses by taking three courses from the following:

Certificate in Signal Processing

This certificate provides graduate students with a concise sequence of courses and laboratory experiences within the wide field of signal processing. Course work toward the graduate certificate may be used for credit toward the MS in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or statistical science; however, the certificate's primary purpose is to provide a well-defined target for students who want to advance or update their knowledge in this fast-moving field, but who do not necessarily wish to complete requirements for the MS degree. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate degree programs in the Volgenau School.

Admission Requirements

The program is open to all students who hold BS degrees in scientific and engineering disciplines from accredited universities and hold graduate status (either degree or nondegree) in the Volgenau School.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate is awarded on completion of five graduate courses (15 credits) in signal processing. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required, and at most one course with a grade of C may be applied toward the certificate. The certificate courses comprise two foundation courses taken by all students and three elective courses.

Foundation Courses:

Elective Courses:

After completing the two foundation courses, students choose elective courses by taking three courses from the following list:

Certificate in VLSI Design/Manufacturing

This certificate's primary purpose is to provide a well-targeted graduate continuing education opportunity for people working in Northern Virginia's semiconductor and intellectual property industry. This certificate is intended for students who want to advance their knowledge of very large-scale integration (VLSI) design or manufacturing, but who do not necessarily wish to complete requirements for the MS in electrical engineering or computer engineering. The course work is designed so that graduate students can reach a demonstrated level of competence in VLSI design or VLSI manufacturing. Course work toward the graduate certificate may be used for credit toward the MS in electrical engineering or computer engineering. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate degree programs in the Volgenau School.

Admission Requirements

The program is open to all students who hold a BS degree in scientific and engineering disciplines, and hold graduate student status (degree or nondegree) in the Volgenau School. Students with nonscientific and nonengineering degrees are required to take remedial courses before being admitted into the certificate program.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate is awarded on completion of five graduate courses (15 credits): a required foundation course, a compulsory core course, and three elective courses. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required, and only one course with a grade of C may be applied toward the certificate. At most, one course may be transferred from graduate course work at other accredited universities.

After completing the foundation course (ECE 684), students choose one of the two concentrations, VLSI design or VLSI manufacturing, by taking four courses in that concentration, one of which will be the core course in that area.

Foundation Course:

PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering

This program, offered by ECE, is the only combined electrical engineering and computer engineering doctoral program in Virginia. The program prepares students for leadership positions in research and development in industrial, government, and academic settings. It includes course requirements; a qualifying exam testing fundamental concepts and the ability to think creatively; a teaching requirement; research competency exam; and dissertation proposal defense, dissertation research, and dissertation defense. Students may choose an emphasis in such areas as communications, networking, computer engineering, control and robotics, signal processing, electronics, photonics, and electromagnetics. These emphasis areas may include biological or medical applications. Mason's general doctoral requirements apply to this program.

Admission Requirements

All general Mason and specific Volgenau School admission requirements apply. In addition, all applicants, including Mason undergraduates, must submit official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) and official results of the GRE General Test. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL results showing a minimum score of 575 for the paper-based exam or 230 for the computer-based exam. A minimum score of 600 for the paper-based exam or 250 for the computer-based, is required for applicants who wish to be considered for a graduate teaching assistantship. Students typically admitted to the program hold MS degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and other related areas. Students holding European (or equivalent) diploma degrees may also be considered for admission. The application material for each student is reviewed by the departmental doctoral committee, which makes a recommendation to the department chair.

Advisor and Dissertation Director

Each student, on admission to the program, is assigned a faculty member as advisor. On passing the qualifying exam, the advisor is either replaced by or becomes the dissertation director. All decisions concerning the student's course requirements and selections must be approved by the PhD advisor with the consent of the ECE department chair.

A dissertation committee is formed within a year after the student has passed the qualifying exam. The committee is headed by the dissertation director and includes two more graduate faculty members from ECE and one from outside the department. One more member, from outside the university, may be added to the dissertation committee if justified by the subject of the dissertation. The composition of the dissertation committee must be approved by the ECE department chair.

Course Requirements

After the BS degree, 72 credits are required; dissertation research is usually 24 credits. Students entering with an MS degree may use up to 30 credits of course work from their MS program, subject to approval. Students entering with European diploma degrees may use some course credit, subject to individual consideration, but not more than 30 credits.

Of the required 42 credits of course work, a maximum of 6 credits may be at the 500 level and at least 9 credits must be at the 700 level or higher. For courses taken elsewhere, the equivalent levels are to be determined by the PhD advisor, subject to approval by the ECE department chair. Individualized reading courses at any level cannot account for more than 6 credits.

ECE 798 Research Project is primarily an MS course and is not intended to be part of the PhD course work. Research in the PhD program should be included in ECE 998 and ECE 999 courses.

Students are required to take one graduate course (3 credits) at the 600 level outside the department in a subject considered foundational for their area of specialization. Typical examples are advanced mathematics or statistics courses for those pursuing an emphasis in signal processing or control, physics courses for those desiring an emphasis in electronics, and computer science courses for those pursuing the computer engineering emphasis. Because such courses are usually not taken for MS degrees, this requirement can rarely be satisfied with a course taken previously.

Students are required to take two courses (6 credits) within the department but outside their area of emphasis. This requirement may be satisfied with courses taken during previous studies, subject to approval. Candidates must complete a minimum of 12 credits of doctoral proposal (ECE 998) and doctoral dissertation research (ECE 999). A maximum of 24 credits of ECE 998 and ECE 999 may be applied to the degree. Students who choose to take fewer than 24 credits of ECE 998 and ECE 999 may earn the remaining credits from approved course work. Students cannot enroll in ECE 999 before their research proposal is accepted and approved by the dissertation committee.

Qualifying Exam

The department offers a doctoral qualifying exam once each year. The exam is primarily for testing the student's familiarity with fundamental concepts and the ability to think creatively.

Students must take the exam within the first year after they have entered the program with an MS degree. Students in the MS-PhD track must take the exam within the first year after they have completed 24 credits beyond the BS degree. The qualifier consists of a written in-class exam and an oral interview. Students must select one area from the list below for their qualifying exam. The qualifying exam may be repeated once. A student failing the exam twice is removed from the program. The qualifying exam is not tied to any particular course. It is offered in the following areas, and each area consists of four subjects:

The written exam consists of two problems in each subject. Students must solve five problems from no more than three subjects in their selected area. Subject to ECE approval, students with a non-ECE background may substitute one subject compatible with their background and relevant to their planned research in the ECE PhD program. Information technology PhD transfer students are required to take the ECE qualifying exam.

Teaching Requirement

To acquire lecturing and teaching experience, each doctoral student is required to participate in the department's teaching activity. This typically takes the form of working as a recitation instructor. The minimum requirement is one full semester of such activity in one course or equivalent arrangements approved by the doctoral coordinator.

Research Competency Exam, Dissertation Proposal

On completing all course work requirements, students take an oral research competency exam to demonstrate their preparation for dissertation research. The exam comprises a presentation of the research dissertation proposal and competency in the knowledge derived from higher-level courses relevant to the student's research and familiarity with technical literature. The exam is administered by the student's dissertation committee.

The student prepares a written dissertation proposal outlining the contents of the dissertation and the research activities leading up to it. The dissertation proposal is submitted to the dissertation committee for approval. The proposal is orally presented as part of the research competency exam.

Dissertation Research and Defense

Students conduct dissertation research under the guidance of their dissertation director, with regular consultation with other members of the dissertation committee. During this period, students must present research results at least once in the form of a departmental seminar. The dissertation must represent an achievement in research, must be a significant contribution to its field, and should be deemed publishable in refereed journals or at highly selective conferences. On completion of the dissertation, a public defense is administered by the dissertation committee, which may be preceded by a predefense in the presence of the committee members only, at the committee's discretion. A copy of the dissertation must be placed in the university library four weeks prior to the public defense. After a successful public defense and completion of the final form of the dissertation, the dissertation committee recommends the candidate for the degree of doctor of philosophy.