General Information

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, offers a program of graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Science. It also offers an integrated five-year program of cooperative education leading to the professional degree Master of Engineering (described in the University's Undergraduate Catalogue).

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering and, also participates in the Ph.D. program in Computer Science and Engineering, offered jointly with the Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department.

Program Admission Procedure

Applicants for admission to the M.S. program in Electrical Engineering should have a baccalaureate degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or better.  A baccalaureate degree in another branch of engineering or in chemistry, computer science, life sciences, mathematics, or physics may be acceptable, but the student may be required to take undergraduate courses in ECE to attain adequate preparation for graduate work. While no fixed minimum score on the Graduate Record Examination is required for admission, experience has shown that a combined score of 1170 (verbal + quantitative) is a good indicator of success in a graduate program in Electrical Engineering. In addition, to be successful, applicants should have received at least a 4 on the AAW portion of the GRE Exam. For students whose native language is not English or who received an undergraduate degree from a non-English speaking university, the TOEFL test is required. It is highly recommended that an applicant have a TOEFL score of either 550 on the paper-based test, at least 213 on the computer-based test, or at least 79 on the new internet-based test (IBT).  An applicant who does not meet some requirements, but whose credentials are otherwise acceptable, may be admitted on a conditional basis. New students will not normally be considered for financial aid until after they have taken at least one semester of graduate courses at the University of Louisville.

A complete application packet should contain an application form (paper or on-line), official transcripts of all college credit, official copies of all earned university diplomas, GRE and TOEFL scores (if applicable) and two letters of recommendation.   

Thesis or Paper Option
The Graduate Program Director will serve as the temporary advisor for new graduate students. During the second semester of graduate work, a permanent advisor, who will serve as the student’s thesis/paper director, should be selected by the student, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. By the end of the second semester, the student, in consultation with the thesis/paper director, should select the remaining members of the thesis/paper committee, and submit a plan of study and thesis/paper proposal, approved by the committee, to the Graduate Program Director. The thesis/paper committee must include, at minimum, the thesis/paper director and two other graduate faculty members, one of whom must be from outside the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

THESIS/PAPER ALTERNATIVE --Semester Hours

Program Electives ECE 6XX (1) ---------------------- 12
Program Electives ECE 5XX or ECE 6XX (1) ----------3
P rogram or Technical Electives 5XX or 6XX (2) ------ 9
M.S. Thesis ECE 690 or Paper ECE 691 ----------- 6
Minimum Total ----------------------------------- 30 (4)

Course Only Option
The Graduate Program Director will serve as the temporary advisor for new graduate students. During the second semester of graduate work, a permanent advisor should be selected by the student, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. By the end of the second semester, the student, in consultation with the permanent advisor, should submit a plan of study, approved by the permanent advisor, to the Graduate Program Director.

COURSE-ONLY OPTION --Semester Hours

Program Electives ECE 6XX (1,3)--------------------- 15
Program Electives ECE 5XX or ECE 6XX (1) ---------- 6
Program or Technical Electives 5XX or 6XX (2) ------- 9
Minimum Total ------------------------------------------30 4

Advanced Project Option

The Graduate Program Director will serve as the temporary advisor for new graduate students. During the second semester of graduate work, a permanent advisor should be selected by the student, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. By the end of the second semester, the student, in consultation with the permanent advisor, should submit a plan of study including the project proposal, approved by the permanent advisor, to the Graduate Program Director.

ADVANCED PROJECT OPTION --Semester Hours

Program Electives ECE 6XX (1,3)--------------------- 12
Program Electives ECE 5XX or ECE 6XX (1) ---------- 6
Program or Technical Electives 5XX or 6XX (2) ------- 9
Project  Hours ECE 692 ---------------------------------3-4

(1) Courses selected to meet the 500 and 600 level Program Electives require the approval of the student’s advisor. Note that 600 level courses may be substituted for 500 level courses.

(2) Courses selected to meet the 500 and 600 level Technical Electives require the approval of the student’s advisor and may be selected from areas outside ECE. Note that 600 level courses may be substituted for 500 level courses.

(3) Must include ECE 692 or a course from a list of approved research/project courses (maintained by the Department) and ECE 696.

(4) At least half of the hours must be at the 600 level or above.

Program electives are selected from ECE courses. Technical electives are selected, with the advisor’s approval, from courses in related fields, such as other engineering disciplines, computer science, mathematics, and the physical and biological sciences.

At least two ECE core courses must be selected from the following three groups of core courses, and the two courses must be from different groups.

Group 1: ECE 510/511, ECE 516

Group 2: ECE 515/514, ECE 533/534, ECE 542, ECE 540/541, ECE 569

Group 3: ECE 520/521, ECE 530, ECE 550/551, ECE 560/561, ECE 625

ECE Graduate Students are allowed to take only six (6) hours of Independent Study and Project courses (ECE 505, 593, 605, 692, 693, 699). These courses may be taken in any combinations, but the total number of hours is not to exceed six (6).

Once a thesis or paper student has registered for course and thesis or paper hours, that student must register for MAST 600 (Masters Candidacy) in order to stay active in the EE MS program. International students must do this as well in order to stay in compliance with INS regulations.