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 of 5000-level or above coursework in a program approved by the student’s supervisory committee, with the following stipulations:

Master of Science (Electrical Engineering)

• At least 3 credits of ECE coursework must be completed at the 7000 level.
• At least 12 credits of ECE coursework (excluding Thesis Research - ECE 6970 ) must be completed at or above the 6000-level.
• 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 non-ECE courses (5000-level to 7000-level) may be applied toward the MS in Electrical 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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