Overview

The Master of Science in Computer Engineering consists of 30 and either a thesis or project, or 33 units and a comprehensive examination.

Program Requirements

A. Requirements for Admission to the Program

1. A bachelors’ degree in a technical field (i.e., Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics) from an accredited university or college with an overall GPA of at least 2.75. Some or all of the prerequisite courses as described in Section G may be required depending on applicant’s prior background. The graduate coordinator will determine the specific prerequisite courses on a case-by-case basis.
2. Have at least a 2.7 undergraduate grade point average in the last 60 semester unit or 90 quarter units attempted.
3. International Students are required to submit a brief statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation.
4. Take and complete all three sections of the GRE exam. The quantitative score must be above the 50th percentile.

B. Admission Procedure

Application forms can be accessed online (CSUMentor) and are submitted online. Applications may be requested from the university and should be returned to the university Office of Admissions and Records. The Code number for the MSCompE major is 562445M. Application deadlines for admission are set by the university Office of Admissions and Records.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must receive a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based or 79/80 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6 or higher on International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Continuing students in either Post-Baccalaureate or Graduate status may change their objective and seek admission to M.S. in Computer Engineering by filling out a change-of-objective form that can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records. Such students must still satisfy all admission requirements for the M.S. in Computer Engineering program. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all university regulations and restrictions such as:

1. No more than 9 units of transfer or extension work.
2. No more than a total of 9 units of ECE 400-level Digital courses and/or Comp 400-level courses taken in residence can be counted toward a Master in Computer Engineering.
3. Probation and Disqualification.
4. Repeat of course rules.
5. Advancement to Candidacy.
6. Academic leave.
7. A 7-year time limit for the completion of the degree.
8. Graduation with Distinction.

For details on the above, students are advised to meet with the ECE Graduate Coordinator. Prior to the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by the Graduate Coordinator. After the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by their Committee Chair. All courses taken toward an M.S. degree must be approved by the Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator.

C. Classified Graduate Status

The candidate must:

1. Fulfill University and Department requirements for classified status;
2. Complete prerequisite courses with 3.0 GPA or higher;
3. Submit tentative program of study to the ECE Graduate Coordinator; and
4. Maintain a grade of “C” or better while maintaining GPA of 3.0 or higher in any course taken.

D. For the Degree

1. Completion of 30 units under either the Thesis Plan or the Project Plan or 33 units under the Comprehensive Exam Plan.

Note 1: Students must select a minimum of 12 units in Electrical Engineering-specific courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science-specific courses. If students choose to do the Master Project (3 units of ECE 698C), the remaining 9 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science-specific courses. If students choose to do the Master Thesis (6 units of ECE 698C), the remaining 6 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science-specific courses. If students choose to do the Master Comprehensive Examination (3 units of ECE 697), the remaining required 12 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science-specific courses. The total number of required units for students who select the Master Project or the Master Thesis options is 30. The total number of units for the students who select the Master Comprehensive Examination option is 33 units.

Note 2: Students may not take a course (counting toward an M.S. in Computer Engineering degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program.

2. Formal approval of granting of the degree by the Engineering faculty.

Thesis Plan

1. 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 15 units must be Engineering and Computer Science courses at the 500-/600-level or above. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a “C” or better while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. 6 units of ECE 698C (Thesis), and successful defense of Thesis before the thesis committee.

Project Plan

1. 27 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be Engineering and Computer Science courses at the 500-/600-level or above. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a “C” or better while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. 3 units of ECE 698C (Graduate Project) culminating in a comprehensive report.

Comprehensive Exam Plan

1. 30 units of coursework applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 21 units must be 500-/600-level Engineering and Computer Science courses. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a “C” or better while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. 3 units of ECE 697 comprehensive study preparatory to the exam and completion of the comprehensive exam with a grade of “B” or better.

E. Graduate Program

The 30-33 units of coursework in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study and must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator. The Thesis Plan must not include ECE 699C (Independent Study) and the Project Plan may include at most 3 units of ECE 699C (Independent Study). Inclusion of a course not in the Computer Engineering suggested or elective course list must have the written approval of the graduate advisor prior to enrollment in the course.

F. Special Requirements

Students with a B.S. in a field other than Computer Engineering must complete all course requirements (prerequisite courses) of the Computer Engineering undergraduate program as specified by the graduate coordinator prior to their advancement to classified status. Such prerequisite courses are listed below.

G. Course Requirements

1. Prerequisite Courses

Some or all of these prerequisite courses may be required depending on applicant’s prior background. The graduate coordinator will determine the specific prerequisite courses on a case-by-case basis.

MATH 150A Mathematical Analysis I (5)
MATH 150B Mathematical Analysis II (5)
MATH 250 Mathematical Analysis III (3)
MATH 280 Applied Differential Equations (3)
PHYS 220A/AL Mechanics (3)
PHYS 220B/BL Electricity and Magnetism (3)
COMP 110/L Introduction to Algorithms and Programming and Laboratory (3/1)
COMP 182/L Data Structures and Program Design (3/1)
COMP 282 Advanced Data Structures and lab (3)
ECE 240/L Electrical Engineering Fundamentals (3/1)
ECE 309 Numerical Methods in Electrical Engineering (2)
ECE 320/L Theory of Digital Systems (3/1)
ECE 340/L Electronics I (3/1)
ECE 350 Linear Systems I (3)
ECE 351 Linear Systems II (3)
ECE 420 Digital Systems Design with Programmable Logic (3)
ECE 422 Design of Digital Computers (3)
ECE 425/L Microprocessor Systems & Laboratory (3/1)
ECE 442/L Digital Electronics & Laboratory (3/1)
ECE 450 Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering Design & Analysis (3)

2. Required Courses (30-33 Units)

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering. For this degree, the student must define a program that conforms to the general M.S. in Computer Engineering degree requirements as established by the Department. Students are advised to meet with an advisor as soon as possible to plan their program. No more than a total of 9 units of ECE 400-level Digital courses and/or Comp 400-level courses taken in residence can be counted toward Master in Computer Engineering. Students may not take a course (counting toward M.S. CompE degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program. All graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

Students must select a minimum of 12 units of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science courses. If students choose to do the Master Project (3 units of ECE698C), the reaming 9 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses. If students choose to do the Master Thesis (6 units of ECE698C), the remaining 6 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses. If students choose to do the Master Comprehensive Examination (3 units of ECE697), the remaining required 12 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses. Students must select their coursework from the following list of courses:

Electrical and Computer Engineering Courses:

ECE 420 Digital Systems Design w/Programmable Logic (3)
ECE 422 Design of Digital Computers (3)
ECE 425/L Microprocessor Systems and Lab (3/1)
ECE 442/L Digital Electronics and Lab (3/1)
ECE 443/L Pulse and Waveshaping Circuit Design and Laboratory (3/1)
ECE 520/L System on Chip Design and Lab (3/1)
ECE 524/L FPGA/ASIC Design and Optimization Using VHDL and Lab (3/1)
ECE 526/L Digital Design with Verilog and System Verilog and Lab (3/1)
ECE 527/L Application Specific Integrated Circuit Development and Lab (3/1)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 620 Advanced Switching Theory (3)
ECE 621 Computer Arithmetic Design (3)
ECE 622 Digital Systems Structure (3)
ECE 623 Diagnosis and Reliable Design of Digital Systems (3)
ECE 624 Digital Systems Design Automation and VHDL Modeling (3)
ECE 625 Microprocessor Interfacing and Applications (3)
ECE 629C Seminar in Digital Systems and Components (3)
ECE 635 Error Detection and Correction Systems Design (3)
ECE 639 Robotic Sensing and Computer Vision (3)
ECE 697 Directed Comprehensive Study (3)
ECE 698C Thesis or Graduate Project (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Computer Science Courses:

COMP 420 Advanced Operating System Concepts (3)
COMP 424 Computer System Security (3)
COMP 426 Fault-Tolerant Software and Computing (3)
COMP 429 Computer Network Software (3)
COMP 432 Object-Oriented Programming (3)
COMP 440 Database Design (3)
COMP 469 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
COMP 484/L Web Engineering I and Lab (2/1)
COMP 485 Human-Computer Interaction (3)
COMP 529 Advanced Network Topics (3)
COMP 541 Data Mining (3)
COMP 560 Expert Systems (3)
COMP 565/L Advanced Computer Graphics and Lab (2/1)
COMP 587 Software Verification and Validation (3)
COMP 686 Software Engineering Management (3)

Total Units Required for the M.S. CompE Degree—Project or Thesis Option: 30

Total Units Required for the M.S. CompE Degree—Comprehensive Exam Option: 33