Graduate Program

Program Requirements

Degree Program	Regular * Course Credit Requirements	Thesis/Dissertation/Independent Study Credits	Advising
Ph.D. (M.S. earned)	15 - 18 (Note 1)	24 ECE799V	Faculty mentor. (Note 2)
Ph.D. 72 credits (no M.S. earned)	36-39 (Note 1)	33 ECE699V and/or ECE799V	Faculty mentor. (Note 2)
M.S. Plan A	21	9 ECE699V	Faculty Mentor
M.S. Plan B (Coursework Only)	32	Not Applicable	(Note 3)
M.S. Plan B (with project)	27 plus 3 Independent Study	3 ECE695V	(Note 3)
M.E.	30 (Note 4)	Not Applicable	Graduate Curriculum Committee Chairperson

(Revised Oct 2009)

* Courses not accepted as "regular" include all courses ending in 82-99 (e.g. 682, 799, etc).
Note 1: Students who have had their Ph.D. research, which was performed while enrolled at CSU, accepted for publication (completely or with minor revisions) in at least two peer-reviewed journal or conference publications may fill out an Independent Study Form listing citations and validating documentation and have the form approved by the student's Ph.D. Adviser. After this form is submitted to and approved by the department, the regular course requirement will be reduced from 18 to 15 credits. The student will then register for 3 credits of ECE795 in place of those regular course credits.
Note 2: All Ph.D. students are considered provisional by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering until they successfully complete an oral Qualifying Examination. This examination must be completed before the end of the third semester following admission. An advisory committee must be established before a qualifying examination can be attempted.

Note 3: In the Plan B Masters there are three ways to determine the program of study

1. The student can self-advise and select whatever courses are desired, consistent with the program requirements as outlined in the Department's Graduate Student Handbook.
2. The student can follow a program of study recommended by a faculty  member. These may be available on the web, posted outside the faculty's office or obtained from the Graduate Student Advisor in the ECE department office.
3. If a student wishes to pursue the project version of the Plan B then they must secure the agreement of a faculty member to supervise the required three (3) credits of independent study.

Note 4: Specialization also available in Systems Engineering

In all of these cases the student's advisory committee will consist of the Department's Graduate Committee. The only exception will be when a student has the agreement of a faculty member to act as their advisor for the Plan B program. In this case the student, with the concurrence of the advisor, will be responsible for constituting the committee in accordance with the requirements of the Department's Graduate Student Handbook.