Program Overview

Electrical and Computer Engineering, M.S.

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering with concentrations in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. Students are advised to begin their graduate program in the fall, as most graduate courses are not repeated every quarter.

Concentrations

• Electrical Engineering Concentration (EE): The Electrical Engineering faculty study areas such as optical and solid-state devices, systems engineering and signal processing, and communication theory. Related topics are also addressed by the Networked Systems M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
• Computer Engineering Concentration (CPE): This concentration provides students with a solid base in the design, development, and evaluation of computer systems and software. Thrust areas include computer architecture, software design, and embedded systems.

Program Details

Two plans are offered for the M.S.: a thesis option and a comprehensive examination option. For either option, students are required to develop a complete program of study with advice from their faculty advisor. The graduate advisor must approve the study plan. Part-time study toward the M.S. is available, and the program of study must be completed within four calendar years from first enrollment.

Plan I: Thesis Option

The thesis option requires completion of 12 courses of study, an original research investigation, the completion of an M.S. thesis, and approval of the thesis by a thesis committee. The thesis committee is composed of three full-time faculty members with the faculty advisor of the student serving as the chair.

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Option

The comprehensive examination option requires the completion of 12 courses and a comprehensive examination. Only one EECS 299 course can be counted if the EECS 299 course is four or more units.

Concentration-Specific Requirements

• Electrical Engineering Concentration: At least seven concentration courses must be completed with a grade of B (3.0) or better.
• Computer Engineering Concentration: Three core courses (EECS 211, EECS 213, and EECS 215) must be completed, along with at least four additional concentration or approved courses, all with a grade of B (3.0) or better.

Courses

Electrical Engineering Concentration Courses

• EECS 203A | Digital Image Processing
• EECS 213 | Computer Architecture
• EECS 215 | Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• EECS 217 | VLSI System Design
• EECS 240 | Random Processes
• EECS 241A-241B | Digital Communications I and II
• EECS 242 | Information Theory
• EECS 244 | Wireless Communications
• EECS 247 | Information Storage
• EECS 248A | Computer and Communication Networks
• EECS 250 | Digital Signal Processing I
• EECS 251A | Detection, Estimation, and Demodulation Theory
• EECS 251B | Detection, Estimation, and Demodulation Theory
• EECS 260A | Linear Systems I
• EECS 261A | Linear Optimization Methods
• EECS 267A-267B | Industrial and Power Electronics and Topics in Industrial and Power Electronics
• EECS 270A-270B | Advanced Analog Integrated Circuit Design I and II
• EECS 270C | Design of Integrated Circuits for Broadband Applications
• EECS 270D | Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits and Systems
• EECS 277A | Advanced Semiconductor Devices I
• EECS 277B | Advanced Semiconductor Devices II
• EECS 277C | Nanotechnology
• EECS 278 | Micro-System Design
• EECS 279 | Micro-Sensors and Actuators
• EECS 280A | Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics I
• EECS 280B | Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics II
• EECS 282 | Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Analysis and Design II
• EECS 284 | Wireless Communication Links and Antenna Design
• EECS 285A | Optical Communications
• EECS 285B | Lasers and Photonics
• EECS 285C | Nano Imaging
• EECS 286 | Fabrication of Biomedical and Wearable Microdevices
• EECS 287 | Micro/Nano Biotechnology and Biosensing: Fundamentals, Designs, and Applications
• EECS 289 | Bioinstrumentation
• EECS 298 | Topics in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Computer Engineering Concentration Courses

• EECS 211 | Advanced System Software
• EECS 213 | Computer Architecture
• EECS 215 | Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• EECS 217 | VLSI System Design
• EECS 221 | Topics in Computer Engineering
• EECS 222 | Embedded System Modeling
• EECS 223 | Real-Time Computer Systems
• EECS 224 | High-Performance Computing
• EECS 226 | Embedded System Software
• EECS 227 | Cyber-Physical System Design
• EECS 230 | Energy Efficiency
• EECS 231 | Advanced System Security
• EECS 232 | Data Privacy
• EECS 247 | Information Storage
• EECS 248A | Computer and Communication Networks
• EECS 284 | Wireless Communication Links and Antenna Design
• EECS 298 | Topics in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• COMPSCI 233 | Networking Laboratory
• COMPSCI 234 | Advanced Networks
• COMPSCI 236 | Wireless and Mobile Networking

Program in Law and Graduate Studies (J.D./M.S.-ECE; J.D./Ph.D.-ECE)

Highly qualified students interested in combining the study of law with graduate qualifications in the ECE program can undertake concurrent degree study under the Program in Law and Graduate Studies (PLGS). This program leads to a J.D. degree from the School of Law in conjunction with a Master's or Ph.D. degree in the ECE program.

University Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the course requirements, students must fulfill a minimum of 36 units of study for the Master of Science degree.