Electrical and Computer Engineering

Program Description

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

Program Requirements

A. Requirements for Admission to the Program

1. A bachelor’s 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 described below 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.
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

COMP 110/L Introduction to Algorithms and Programming and Lab (3/1)
COMP 182/L Data Structures and Program Design and Lab (3/1)
COMP 282 Advanced Data Structures (3)
ECE 240 Electrical Engineering Fundamentals (3)
ECE 240L Electrical Circuits Lab (1)
ECE 309 Numerical Methods in Electrical Engineering (2)
ECE 320/L Theory of Digital Systems and Lab (3/1)
ECE 340/L Electronics I and Lab (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 Computer Organization and Design (3)
ECE 425/L Microprocessor Systems and Lab (3/1)
ECE 442/L Digital Electronics and Lab (3/1)
ECE 450 Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering–Design and Analysis (3)
MATH 150A Calculus I (5)
MATH 150B Calculus II (5)
MATH 250 Calculus III (3)
MATH 280 Applied Differential Equations (3)
PHYS 220A Mechanics (3)
PHYS 220AL Mechanics Lab (1)
PHYS 220B Electricity and Magnetism (3)
PHYS 220BL Electricity and Magnetism Lab (1)

B. Admission Procedure

Application forms can be accessed through Cal State Apply and are submitted online. The code number for the MSCompE is 562445M. 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 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 6.5 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 Computer Engineering by filling out a change of objective form. 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 7 units of ECE 400-level digital courses and/or COMP 400-level courses taken in residence can be counted toward a master’s degree in Computer Engineering with a project option. The number of 400-level courses is limited to 4 units for the thesis option. Students may not take a course (counting toward the M.S. in Computer Engineering degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program.
3. Academic notice 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 a 3.0 GPA or higher.
3. Submit a tentative program of study to the ECE graduate coordinator.
4. Maintain a grade of “C” or better, while maintaining a 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.
2. Formal approval of granting of the degree by the Engineering faculty.

E. Graduate Program

The 30 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. 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. 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 Courses (14 units)

2. Electives (10-13 units)

• Students must select a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science graduate elective courses listed in A. Computer Science Electives below.
• If students choose to do the Graduate Project, the remaining 7 units must be selected from the Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses listed in A. Computer Science Electives and B. Other Allowed Electives below.
• If students choose to do the Thesis with an additional 3 units enrollment in ECE 698C, the remaining 4 units must be selected from the Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses listed in A. Computer Science Electives and B. Other Allowed Electives below.
• The total number of required units for students who select the Graduate Project or the Thesis is 30.

A. Computer Science Electives

Select a minimum of 6 units from the following courses:

COMP 522 Embedded Applications (3)
COMP 528 Mobile Computing (3)
COMP 528L Mobile Computing Lab (1)
COMP 529/L Advanced Network Topics and Lab (2/1)
COMP 541 Data Mining (3)
COMP 542 Machine Learning (3)
COMP 560 Expert Systems (3)
COMP 565 Advanced Computer Graphics (3)
COMP 587 Software Verification and Validation (3)
COMP 620 Computer System Architecture (3)

B. Other Allowed Electives

Electrical and Computer Engineering Courses

ECE 420 Digital Systems Design with Programmable Logic (3)
ECE 420L Digital Systems Design with Programmable Logic Lab (1)
ECE 422/ECE 422L Computer Organization and Design and Lab (3/1)
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 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 537 Deep Learning for Pattern Recognition (3)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 551 Image Processing (3)
ECE 562 Data Communication Networks (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 698C Thesis or Graduate Project (3)
ECE 699A Independent Study (1)
ECE 699C Independent Study (3)

Computer Science 400-Level Courses

COMP 424 Computer System Security (3)
COMP 429 Computer Network Software (3)
COMP 440 Database Design (3)
COMP 442 Machine Learning Principles (3)
COMP 484/L Web Engineering I and Lab (2/1)
COMP 485 Human-Computer Interaction (3)
COMP 569 Artificial Intelligence (3)

3. Culminating Experience (3-6 units)

A. Thesis Plan

ECE 698C Thesis (3-3)

Successful defense of the thesis before the thesis committee is required. Students who select the Thesis will complete 14 units of core courses, 6 units of ECE 698C, 6 units of Computer Science graduate electives, and an additional 4 units of electives from the list of courses in A. Computer Science Electives and B. Other Allowed Electives above to total 30 units.

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 14 units of core courses, 3 units of ECE 698C, 6 units of Computer Science graduate electives, and an additional 7 units of electives from the list of courses in A. Computer Science Electives and B. Other Allowed Electives above to total 30 units.

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