Master of Science (MS)

The MS degree requires substantial thesis or project work in a specific area and prepares students for advanced study or advanced work in that area. The MS degree has two options. Under Plan A, the student completes a thesis. Under Plan B, the student prepares an engineering project report.

If a student initially chooses an MS degree, changing to the ME degree is only possible by approval of the major professor, ECE graduate committee, and the department head.

The MS degree requires successful completion of 30 credits at the 5000-level or above coursework in a program approved by the student’s supervisory committee, with the following stipulations:

Master of Science (Computer Engineering)

• At least 12 credits (excluding Thesis Research - ECE 6970 ) must be completed in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• At least two sequences in Electrical or Computer Engineering or Computer Science, with at least one of the sequences in core Computer Engineering courses, must be completed.
• MS Plan A students must complete 6 credits of Thesis Research (ECE 6970 ).
• MS Plan B students must complete 3 credits of Thesis Research (ECE 6970 ) and 3 credits of Design Project (ECE 6950 ).
• No more than 15 credits of ECE 5000-level courses or CS 5000-level courses, or non-ECE/CS courses may be applied toward the MS in Computer Engineering degree.
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training taken in the first semester.
• MS students must have a thesis or project proposal approved by their committee when a project has been identified.

All MS Students

• Successful completion (3.0 GPA or higher) of a minimum of 30 credits is required for both plans. A “C” or better grade is required for each course.
• Each master’s student must form a committee and have a program of study approved by the end of his or her first semester.
• Any exceptions to the master’s requirements must be approved by the student’s committee and the ECE graduate committee.
• No more than 6 credits of Thesis Research (ECE 6970 ) for MS Plan A or 3 credits of Thesis Research (ECE 6970 ) and 3 credits of Design Project (ECE 6950 ) for MS Plan B can be applied to the MS degree.
• A course in technical and professional writing, or equivalent writing experience, is required for MS students prior to beginning the thesis. This may be fulfilled as a requirement for a bachelor’s degree. MS students may, at the discretion of their supervisors, be required to hire an editor to bring the thesis or paper into acceptable form.

Additional information on the MS in Computer Engineering is available on the ECE departmental website (ece.usu.edu).