Graduate Program - Domestic Admissions



The above link will let you register to receive information about the Graduate Program in the ECE Department.


Application deadlines for domestic students

Fall Semester January 15th
to be considered for fellowships and receive early admission status
April 1st - to be admitted without a late fee
July 1st - to be admitted with a $25 late fee


 
Spring Semester October 1st


 

Please note: Beginning with applications for Fall 2007, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department will require the GRE for ALL applicants. Plan to take the exam early enough that your official score report will be received in our office by the application deadline. You should list the institution code (4853) and the department code (1203) when you take the exam so that ETS will send us the scores as soon as they are available.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is a prescreening department. Please carefully read and follow all instructions below.

 

The Admissions Process


 

Admission to the ECE Department

Admission is based on an evaluation of both an applicant’s academic profile and research potential. Before applying, you may wish to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) .

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering receives most applications for fall semester but will consider domestic applications for spring semester. All application materials must be received by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department by the application deadline.

Questions regarding the graduate program should be sent to the Graduate Coordinator.


 

The Application Process

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department has been designated as a prescreening department. A prescreening department requires its applicants to submit all application materials directly to their office for review BEFORE submission to the University of Utah Admissions Office. Therefore, only those who are accepted by the department have their files submitted to the University Admissions Office and pay the $45 University application fee.

All application materials must be sent directly to the ECE Department, including a $10 department application fee. DO NOT USE THE ONLINE APPLICATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ADMISSION WEBSITE. Applicants who fail to comply with this procedure will not be considered and will not receive a refund of the University application fee.


 

Required Application Materials

Applicants for graduate study in the ECE Department must complete an online application and request official copies of transcripts and exams be sent directly to the department office to be received by the application deadline. The following materials are required of ALL applicants, including those wishing to transfer into the program from another department at the University of Utah. The application materials which are to be mailed must be sent to the ECE Department at the address below.

Information you will need to complete the online form:

  • Graduate degree for which you are applying:
  • Master of Science - Coursework Option in Electrical Engineering: This degree is available for those students who want to pursue an in-depth study of a variety of topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, preferably in an engineering or a related field. Admission requirements include a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2.
  • Master of Science - Thesis Option in Electrical Engineering: This degree is research oriented and requires the writing of a Master's thesis. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, preferably in an engineering or a related field. Admission requirements include a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2.
  • PhD in Electrical Engineering: This degree requires the writing of a doctoral dissertation. Admission requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.5.
  • Degree of Electrical Engineer: This is a non-thesis, doctoral-level professional degree. Admission requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.3.
  • Professors you are interested in working with and the areas of your research interests. Click here for information on ECE faculty members and their research interests.

     
  • Education history, including names of institutions attended, dates of attendance, degrees earned/expected, dates degrees received/expected, and GPAs.

     
  • Most recent GRE scores and test date. Only the General Examination is required. Please NOTE that, beginning with applications for Fall 2007, the GRE is required for ALL applicants.

    GRE Preparation Materials
     
  • Personal goals statement. This should be a one- to two-page statement describing in depth the applicant's background, interests, and, in particular, the reasons for wanting to pursue graduate studies in Electrical Engineering at the University of Utah.

     
  • Contact information for three recommendation providers. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department ONLY accepts letters of recommendation that are submitted by the recommenders through our online system. Recommendations should be from current or former professors who have knowledge of the applicant’s abilities through classwork and/or research. A recommendation from a professional supervisor is acceptable if the supervisor is from a field related to electrical and computer engineering and is qualified to judge the academic and technical capabilities and character of the applicant as well as the ability of the applicant to perform research.

     
  • Credit card information for payment of the $10 department application fee. Alternatively, a check or money order may be sent to the address below after the online application is submitted; however, the application will not be complete until the $10 payment has been received.


     

Other required application materials:

  • Grade Reports and Transcripts: Applicants must arrange to have two copies of their transcripts sent to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department directly from the issuing schools to the address below. School records must be presented in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal and complete.

     
  • Official GRE score report: Examination scores must be sent to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department by ETS and must be no more than five years old. Applicants must take the GRE exam early enough to allow their official score reports to arrive by the application deadline. The ETS codes are 4853 (institution) and 1203 (department).

     
  • DO NOT send hard copies of the statement of purpose, resume, etc. This information is contained in the online application.

     

Be aware that applications are reviewed online. Only the transcripts are scanned and added to the online information. The GRE scores are checked against the official score reports and confirmed on the online application. Do not send other information by mail; it will be destroyed.


 

All application materials must be sent to:

Graduate Coordinator
University of Utah
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
50 S. Central Campus Drive, Room 3280
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9206 USA
gradsecy@ece.utah.edu
801-581-6943

Please read instructions carefully before beginning the application process

DO NOT contact the ECE Department for application status. After you have submitted your online application, you may log in to the ApplyYourself system to check on the status of your application. You must also keep current the email address you enter on your application since any correspondence we send to you will be through that email address.

When an admission decision has been made, applicants will receive an email stating that their decision letter is available online through the ApplyYourself system.

 

Link to ECE Department Online Application


 

If You Are Accepted

Applicants will receive an email stating that their decision letter is available online through the ApplyYourself system. Those who are recommended for admission by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department through the prescreening process will be given instructions in their decision letter on how to proceed.

Applicants must notify the department whether or not they will be attending the University of Utah. Those applicants who wish to accept the offer of admission will then be directed to download and complete the University of Utah Graduate Application. This application must be submitted along with the University application fee of $55. The applicant's application materials and fee will then be submitted to the University Admissions Office by the ECE Office. The Admissions Office sends formal notice of admission to the applicant by postal service.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department does not normally admit students to the M.S. Thesis Option or Ph.D. programs without a research advisor and/or research project. Applicants who apply for the M.S. Thesis Option or Ph.D. programs may be considered for admission into the M.S. Coursework Option program since this degree can be earned by coursework only. The coursework for the M.S. Coursework Option degree can be completed in one year by students who take 15 hours per semester or take summer courses from allied fields.

Students can apply for transfer into the M.S. Thesis Option or Ph.D. program within the first two or three semesters if they are able to find a research thesis advisor. However, students are strongly encouraged to continue in the M.S. Coursework Option track and to complete the requirements as soon as possible. M.S. Coursework Option students will be graduated in the semester in which 32 hours of coursework are completed. The MS Coursework Option Handbook describes the requirements for the degree. Students who haven’t already studied the information on our website should take the time to do that now.

Planning Your Program: Our website contains information about the courses we plan to teach during the Fall and Spring semesters of the current academic year. Develop a plan of study based on these offerings, keeping in mind that you must register for two semesters (four for Ph.D. candidates) of Graduate Seminar. Additional information on these courses can be found in the University General Catalog.



 

Requirements for a Nonaccredited Degree or Non-ECE Major

Non-accredited ECE degree requirements

Applicants with a non-ECE degree are to contact the Graduate Coordinator for further requirements.


 

Frequently Asked Application Questions

Is there a GPA cutoff?

Yes, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate work is required by the University of Utah. Most students accepted into the graduate program have GPAs well above that level.

Is the GRE required?

Yes, the GRE General Exam is required for all applicants. Applicants must score 730 or above in the Quantitative area; the Analytical area must be 700 or 3.5, depending upon the type of testing; and the Verbal area must be above 450.

If my GPA and/or test scores are slightly below the cutoffs mentioned above, can you look at my record and tell me if I should apply?

No, we do not pre-evaluate records. After reading our application information, applicants must make their own decision about whether or not to apply. One of the advantages of being a prescreening department is that applicants who are not offered admission do not have to pay the University application fee and have only had to pay the $10 department application fee.

Will my application be considered if it is not complete?

No, no application will be considered by the ECE Graduate Committee unless the application file is complete. All application materials must be received in the ECE Department Office by the application deadline.

Where can I get more information on the ECE Department?

Detailed information about the ECE Department, faculty's research interests, ongoing research projects, and recent technical papers are located at http://www.ece.utah.edu. Applicants should check the website regularly for updated information.

Do I have to contact a faculty member to support my admission?

No, applicants will be considered for assistantships based on the faculty member(s) and/or research interests indicated on the online application. Applicants may contact a research group website with coursework questions. Sending multiple emails to faculty asking for support before admission does not advance the process of their application or help in funding decisions.

What are you really looking for in an applicant?

We are looking for applicants with strong academic backgrounds who have demonstrated a potential to perform creative and innovative research in the research areas represented by the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Lori Walk, gradsecy@ece.utah.edu, the Graduate Coordinator.