Electrical and Computer Engineering

Program Description

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering consists of 30 units and either a thesis or project.

Graduate Program Objectives

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program at CSUN prepares students for lifelong careers in a field that will allow them to make productive contributions to society and find personal satisfaction in their work. To accomplish this, graduates with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering will meet the following educational objectives:

1. Understand advanced electrical- and computer-engineering principles, including in-depth training in one of the fundamental areas of electrical engineering.
2. Apply advanced analysis, design and research methods to solve problems in electrical and computer engineering.
3. Apply industry practices, emerging technologies, state-of-the-art design techniques and software tools to electrical and computer engineering problems.
4. Communicate clearly through the appropriate communication medium.
5. Appreciate the importance of lifelong learning and be motivated by a sense of exploration to continue learning.

Program Requirements

A. Requirements for Admission to the Program

1. A bachelor’s degree in a technical field (i.e., engineering, physics, mathematics) from an accredited university or college, with an overall GPA of at least 2.75.
2. Have at least a 2.7 undergraduate GPA in the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units attempted.
3. International students are required to submit a brief statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation.

Prerequisite Courses

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

B. Admission Procedure

Application forms are available online through Cal State Apply and can be completed and submitted online. The code number for the MSEE is 562440M. Application deadlines for admission are set by the Office of Admissions.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and receive a minimum paper-based score of 550, a minimum computer-based score of 213 or a minimum Internet-based score of 79, or a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Continuing students in either postbaccalaureate or graduate status may change their objective and seek admission to M.S. in Electrical Engineering by filling out a change of objective form. 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. Academic notice (formerly academic probation) and disqualification.
3. Repeat of courses rules.
4. Advancement to candidacy.
5. Academic leave.
6. A 7-year time limit for the completion of the degree.
7. Graduation with distinction.
8. No more than 9 units of 400-level courses can be counted toward the M.S. degree. Note: Students may not take a course (counting toward the M.S. in Electrical Engineering degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program.

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 the M.S. degree must be approved by the committee chair and the graduate coordinator.

C. Classified Graduate Status

The candidate must:

1. Fulfill University requirements for classified status.
2. Complete prerequisite courses with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
3. Submit a tentative program of graduate study to the ECE graduate coordinator.
4. Have a minimum grade of “C” or better in any course taken while maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

D. For the Degree

1. Completion of 30 units under either the Thesis Plan or the Project Plan.
2. Formal approval of granting of the degree by the Electrical Engineering faculty.

E. Graduate Program

The 30 units of coursework in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study that consists of core courses and elective courses from one or more of the seven specializations currently offered in the ECE department. Inclusion of a course not in the ECE suggested or elective course list must have the written approval of the graduate coordinator prior to enrollment in the course.

F. Special Requirements

Students from nontechnical fields must fulfill most of the undergraduate prerequisite courses in math and physics outlined above with a 3.0 GPA or higher before applying for admission to the ECE program. No time limit applies to courses taken to satisfy M.S. prerequisite requirements.

G. Course Requirements

All coursework in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a “C” or better, while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

1. Required Core Courses (13 units)

Engineering Mathematics

Select one course from the following:

ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)

Engineering Physics

Select one course from the following:

ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 571 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II (3)
ECE 578 Photonics (3)

Engineering Circuits

Select one course from the following:

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 540/L Analog Integrated Circuit Design (3/1)

Engineering Systems

Select one course from the following:

ECE 501 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3)
ECE 511 Distributed Energy Generation (3)
ECE 561 Digital Communication Systems (3)

2. Elective Courses (11-14 units)

The remaining 14 units may consist of additional core courses listed above, electives common for all specialty areas or electives from one or more specialty areas listed below. Students may take no more than 9 units of 400-level courses approved for graduate credit.

Elective Courses for Biomedical Engineering

ECE 501 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3)
ECE 503 Biomedical Instrumentation (3)
ECE 551 Image Processing (3)
ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 581 Fuzzy Control (3)
ECE 602 Computational Models in Biomedical Engineering (3)
ECE 603 Biomedical Signal Processing (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Communications Engineering

ECE 537 Deep Learning for Pattern Recognition (3)
ECE 551 Image Processing (3)
ECE 561/ECE 561L Digital Communications Systems and Laboratory (3/1)
ECE 562 Data Communication Networks (3)
ECE 635 Error Detection and Correction Systems Design (3)
ECE 642 RF Electronics Design (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 651 Digital Signal Processing I (3)
ECE 652 Digital Signal Processing II (3)
ECE 658 Signal Detection and Estimation Theory (3)
ECE 659 Information Theory and Coding (3)
ECE 660 Modulation Theory and Coding (3)
ECE 661 Wireless Communications (3)
ECE 665 Radar Systems (3)
ECE 666/ECE 666L Fiber-Optic Communications and Lab (3/1)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Control Engineering

ECE 551 Image Processing (3)
ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 581 Fuzzy Control (3)
ECE 582 State Variables in Automatic Control (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 651 Digital Signal Processing I (3)
ECE 652 Digital Signal Processing II (3)
ECE 681 Nonlinear Control Systems (3)
ECE 683 Optimal Control (3)
ECE 684 Stochastic Control (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Digital and Computer Engineering

ECE 520/L System on Chip Design and Laboratory (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 551 Image Processing (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 635 Error Detection and Correction Systems Design (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Electronics, Solid State Devices and Integrated Circuit Engineering

ECE 540/L Analog Integrated Circuit Design (3/1)
ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 572 RF and Microwave Active Circuit Design (3)
ECE 573 Microwave and Photonic Devices (3)
ECE 578 Photonics (3)
ECE 640 Modern Electronic Techniques (3)
ECE 642 RF Electronics Design (3)
ECE 648 Electrical Network Theory (3)
ECE 649 Active Network Synthesis (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Microwave and Antenna Engineering

ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 572 RF and Microwave Active Circuit Design (3)
ECE 573 Microwave and Photonic Devices (3)
ECE 577 Microwave and Optical System Design (3)
ECE 578 Photonics (3)
ECE 642 RF Electronics Design (3)
ECE 648 Electrical Network Theory (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 665 Radar Systems (3)
ECE 671 Microwave Engineering (3)
ECE 672 Advanced Microwave Circuit Design (3)
ECE 674 Antenna Engineering (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Elective Courses for Power Systems Engineering

ECE 511 Distributed Energy Generation (3)
ECE 512 Electric Power System Protection (3)
ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 610 Fault Analysis in Power Systems (3)
ECE 611 Power Distribution Systems (3)
ECE 666/ECE 666L Fiber-Optic Communications and Lab (3/1)
ECE 683 Optimal Control (3)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

3. Culminating Experience (3-6 units)

A. Thesis Plan

ECE 698C Thesis (3-3)

Successful defense of thesis before the thesis committee is required. Students who select the Thesis will complete 13 units of core courses, 6 units of ECE 698C, and 11 units of electives with no more than 9 units of 400-level courses approved for graduate credit and/or from the suggested electives in one or more of the specialty areas mentioned above.

B. Project Plan

ECE 698C Graduate Project (3)

The Graduate Project will culminate in a comprehensive report. Students who select the Graduate Project will complete 13 units of core courses, 3 units of ECE 698C, and 14 units of electives with no more than 9 units of 400-level courses approved for graduate credit and/or from the suggested electives in one or more of the specialty areas mentioned above.

Total Units Required for the M.S. Degree: 30