Program: M.S., Electrical Engineering
Overview
The Master of Science in Electrical 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
- A Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field (i.e., engineering, physics, mathematics) from an accredited university or college, with overall GPA of at least 2.75.
- Have at least a 2.7 undergraduate GPA in the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units attempted.
- International students are required to submit a brief statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation.
- Take and complete all three sections of the GRE exam. The quantitative score must be above the 50th percentile.
B. Admission Procedure:
Application forms are available online at CSUMentor and can be completed and submitted online or to the Office of Admissions and Records. The Code number for the MSEE major is 562440M. 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 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 or higher on the 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 Electrical Engineering by filling out a change of objective form that can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all University regulations and restrictions, such as:
- No more than 9 units of transfer or extension work;
- Probation and disqualification;
- Repeat of courses rules;
- Advancement to Candidacy;
- Academic leave;
- A 7-year time limit for the completion of the degree;
- Graduation with Distinction; and
- No more than 9 units of 400-level courses can be counted toward the M.S. Degree.
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:
- Fulfill University requirements for classified status;
- Complete prerequisite courses with 3.0 GPA or higher;
- Submit a tentative program of graduate study to the ECE Graduate Coordinator; and
- Minimum grade in any course taken must be “C” or better while maintaining GPA of 3.0 or higher.
D. For the Degree:
- Completion of 30 units under either the Thesis Plan or the Project Plan or 33 units under the Comprehensive Exam Plan. Note: Students may not take a course (counting toward an MSEE degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program.
- Formal approval of granting of the Degree by the Electrical Engineering faculty.
Thesis Plan
- 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. Degree, of which at least 15 units must be Engineering 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.
- 6 units of ECE 698 (Thesis) and successful defense of thesis before the Thesis Committee.
Project Plan
- 27 units of course work applicable to the M.S. Degree, of which at least 18 units must be Engineering 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.
- 3 units of ECE 698 (Graduate Project) culminating in a comprehensive report.
Comprehensive Exam Plan
- 30 units of course work applicable to the M.S. Degree, of which at least 21 units must be 500- /600-level Engineering 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.
- 3 units of ECE 697 comprehensive preparatory exam study and completion of the comprehensive exam with a grade of “B” or better.
E. Graduate Program:
The 30-33 units of course work in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study that consists of suggested and elective courses from one of the 7 options currently offered in the ECE Department. The Thesis Plan may not include ECE 699 (Independent Study) and the Project Plan may include at most 3 units of ECE 699. 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 below with 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
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 Calculus I (5)
MATH 150B Calculus II (5)
MATH 250 Calculus III (3)
MATH 280 Applied Differential Equations (3)
or ECE 280 Applied Differential Equations (3)
PHYS 220A/AL Mechanics and Lab (3/1)
PHYS 220B/BL Electricity and Magnetism and Lab (3/1)
ECE 206/L Computing in Engineering and Science and Lab (2/1)
ECE 240/L Electrical Engineering Fundamentals and Lab (3/1)
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 370 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I (3)
ECE 450 Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering—Design and Analysis (3)
ECE 455 Mathematics Models in EE (3)
ECE 4XX Two 400-level classes relevant to study objective and approved by
ECE 4YY Graduate Coordinator
2. Required Courses (30 units)
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Within this degree, students may choose an area of concentration in Biomedical Engineering, Communications and Radar Engineering, Control Engineering, Digital and Computer Engineering, Electronics, Solid State Devices and Integrated Circuits Engineering, Microwave and Antenna Engineering and Power Systems Engineering. For all of these areas of concentration, the student must define a program that conforms to the general M.S.E.E. degree requirements as established by the Department. Suggested courses for each of the concentrations are indicated in the listings that follow. Note that no more than 9 units of ECE 400-level courses are applicable toward a MSEE degree. Students may not take a course (counting toward an MSEE degree) that is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program. In general, graduate students are not required to take ECE labs. However, some courses may require the concurrent enrollment in the lab sections. A maximum of 3 lab units (taken concurrent with lecture courses) may count toward an M.S. program. Students are advised to meet with an advisor as soon as possible to plan their program. All graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.
Core Courses: Courses that must be completed for each area of specialization. Only 9 units of these core courses may be included in MSEE formal program.
Suggested Courses for Biomedical Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 410/L Electrical Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab (3/1)
ECE 425/L Microprocessor Systems and Lab (3/1)
ECE 440/L Electronics II and Lab (3/1)
ECE 442/L Digital Electronics and Lab (3/1)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in EE (3)
ECE 480/L Fundamentals of Control Systems and Lab (3/1)
Elective Courses
ECE 501 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3)
ECE 503 Biomedical Instrumentation (3)
ECE 602 Biomedical Engineering I (3)
ECE 603 Biomedical Engineering II (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)
ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 581 Fuzzy Control (3)
Suggested Courses for Communications and Radar Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 450 Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering-Design and Analysis (3)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in EE (3)
ECE 451/L Real-Time Digital Signal Processing and Lab (2/1)
ECE 460/L Introduction to Communication Systems and Lab (3/1)
Elective Courses:
ECE 561/L Digital Communications System and Lab (3/1)
ECE 562 Data Communication Networks (3)
ECE 635 Error Detection and Correction Systems Design (3)
ECE 637 Pattern Recognition (3)
ECE 642 RF Electronic 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/L Fiber-Optic Communications and Lab (3/1)
ECE 669 Advanced Topics in Communications/Radar (3)
Suggested Courses for Control Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 410/L Electrical Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab (3)
ECE 411 Electric Power Systems (3)
ECE 450 Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering—Design and Analysis (3)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering (3)
ECE 480/L Fundamentals of Control Systems and Lab (3/1)
Elective Courses
ECE 580 Digital Control (3)
ECE 581 Fuzzy 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 682 State Variables in Automatic Control (3)
ECE 683 Optimal Control (3)
ECE 684 Stochastic Control (3)
Suggested Courses for Digital and Computer Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 420 Digital Systems Design with 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)
Elective Courses
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)
Suggested Courses for Electronics, Solid State Devices and Integrated Circuit Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 440/L Electronics II 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 445 Introduction to Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in EE (3)
Elective Courses
ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 572/L RF and Microwave Active Circuit Design and Lab (3/1)
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 673 Microwave Semiconductor Devices (3)
Suggested Courses for Microwave and Antenna Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 445 Introduction to Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in EE (3)
ECE 571 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II (3)
Elective Courses
ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 546 Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (3)
ECE 572/L RF and Microwave Active Circuit Design and Lab (3/1)
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 673 Microwave Semiconductor Devices (3)
ECE 674 Antenna Engineering (3)
ECE 675 Seminar in Antenna Engineering (3)
ECE 676 Numerical Techniques in Applied Electromagnetics (3)
Suggested Courses for Power Systems Engineering
Core Courses
ECE 410/L Electric Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab (3/1)
ECE 411 Electric Power Systems (3)
ECE 412 Power Electronics (3)
ECE 440/L Electronics II and Lab (3/1)
ECE 455 Mathematical Models in EE (3)
ECE 460/L Introduction to Communication Systems and Lab (3/1)
ECE 480/L Fundamentals of Control Systems and Lab (3/1)
Electives Courses
ECE 610 Fault Analysis in Power Systems (3)
ECE 611 Power Distribution Systems (3)
ECE 612 Selected Topics in Power Systems (3)
ECE 666/L Fiber-Optic Communications and Lab (3/1)
Contact
Chair: Ali Amini
ECE Office Manager: Deazell Johnson
ECE Administrative Assistant: Ian de Asis
Jacaranda Hall (JD) 4509
(818) 677-2190
www.csun.edu/ece
Student Learning Outcomes
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.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Program at CSUN will have:
- An ability to apply knowledge of advanced principles to the analysis of electrical and computer engineering problems.
- An ability to apply knowledge of advanced techniques to the design of electrical and computer engineering systems.
- An ability to apply the appropriate industry practices, emerging technologies, state-of-the-art design techniques, software tools and research methods for solving electrical and computer engineering problems.
- An ability to use the appropriate state-of-the-art engineering references and resources, including IEEE research journals and industry publications, to find the best solutions to electrical and computer engineering problems.
- An ability to communicate clearly and use the appropriate medium, including written, oral and electronic methods.
- An ability to maintain lifelong learning and continue to be motivated to learn new subjects.
- An ability to learn new subjects that are required to solve problems in the industry without being dependent on a classroom environment.
- An ability to be competitive in the engineering job market and/or be admitted to an excellent Ph.D. program.