Graduate Application Information

Minimum requirements for admission are as follows:

1. Only persons with bachelor's degrees from colleges or universities accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) are eligible to apply. Foreign students must hold degrees equivalent to U.S. bachelor's degrees, and should be among the top students in their classes. We do not accept a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEET) as sufficient preparation for our graduate programs. Students with BSEET degrees should pursue a second bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering first.
2. GPA: Please note that not all students who qualify will be admitted. If admitted, students must be able to present proof of their degree before they will be permitted to register. Please do not apply for a term if you will not have final transcripts and proof that your degree has been awarded before classes begin for that term.
3. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS: A minimum score of 550 (written) or 213 (computer based), or 80 (internet) is required, the minimum IELTS is 6.0. is required. You must request that ETS (Educational Testing Service) send an original score report directly to Colorado State University (Code # 4075). Students who have, or will have at the time of first registration, a degree from a U.S. institution, Canada (except Quebec), and the United Kingdom (most universities) are exempt from TOEFL requirements. Please note that TOEFL IS required from graduates of universities in Puerto Rico.
4. GRE (Graduate Record Examination): The General Test of the GRE is required for all applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. The GRE is NOT required for applicants to the Master of Engineering (ME) program. As with the TOEFL, an original score report must be sent from ETS directly to Colorado State University (Code #4075).
5. Financial Support: The number of students who can be supported by the department (including by RA and TA positions) during any given semester is limited, and competition for these positions is intense. You should not count on receiving financial aid from the university as a condition of your enrollment. TA and RA positions are NOT available for students in the M.E. program.
   Applicants residing outside the U.S. must demonstrate adequate resources in order to be issued an I-20 form. An I-20 will not be issued until proof of adequate financial support has been provided to the University, however this information is not required during the application process, you may wait to send proof of financial support until after you receive an offer of admission. If you have questions regarding I-20 documents or other VISA issues, please contact the Office of International Student Services. For information on tuition and fees, please consult the Registrar's Office.
6. Application Fee: A $50 non-refundable fee MUST accompany your application. This fee is required of all applicants and, by policy of the governing body of Colorado State University, cannot be waived or deferred.
7. Ph.D. Admission: 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. Additional information regarding this process will be provided after admission. Please be advised that a Ph.D. cannot be earned via distance learning, although some course work toward that degree can be taken via distance.
8. M.S. Admission: All students admitted to the M.S. program are admitted to the Plan B course work only option. Should a student desire to pursue a thesis or project option, they must contact faculty in their area of research interest to make advising arrangements. Many faculty members require that a student complete at least one semester of course work before agreeing to advise for an M.S. thesis or project.
   
   Hopefully this information has addressed all questions you may have.  If not, please contact Ms. Karen Ungerer at
   karen.ungerer @ colostate.edu.