M.S. Project Option – Handbook

 

Contents

    • Basic Requirements for the MS Project Option
    • Coursework Guideline Criteria
    • Supervisory Committee
    • Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree (Program of Study)
    • Report of Final Examination
    • MS Project Option Forms

 

Basic Requirements for the MS Project Option

This schedule summarizes the requirements and due dates for the MS Degree – Project Option. Students who have not completed requirements or submitted required forms to the Graduate Secretary by the due dates may be dropped from the program. Master of Science, Project option, students will be graduated in the semester in which 32 hours of coursework are completed. All students who are on visas must be registered for at least nine credit hours of coursework in every semester (excluding summer), including their final semester, unless they receive permission from the Department Graduate Committee prior to the beginning of the semester.

Requirement Process Due Date
Supervisory Committee 3 members

The chair of the committee must be a regular ECE faculty member

The chair is chosen by the student; the two remaining members are assigned by the department

 Submit a Request for Supervisory Committee form to the ECE Office Full time: drop deadline of second semester of study

Part time*: drop deadline of third semester of study
Candidacy (Program of Study) 30 semester hours of coursework beyond B.S. degree in ECE + 2 hours of graduate seminar

At least 18 hours of ECE coursework must be at the 6000- or 7000-level classes

 Submit a form Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree to the ECE Office along with a statement defending the proposed program Full time: drop deadline of second semester of study

Part time*: drop deadline of third semester of study
Amendment to Program of Study Submit an Amendment to Planned Program of Study form to the ECE Office for approval prior to registering for added courses Changes must be made before an added class is taken; classes cannot be dropped after they have been completed
SPEAK Test No
Proficiency Requirement Yes
Must satisfy the ECE proficiency requirement		 Submit a form Fulfillment of Proficiency Requirements to the ECE Office Full time: drop deadline of third semester of study

Part time*: drop deadline of fourth semester of study
Residency Requirement At least 24 hours must be in resident study
Research Comprehensive Exam No
Final Exam Yes The completion of the project requires that a formal report be submitted to the advisor and that a public presentation be given. The combination of the report and the presentation serves as the final exam.
Thesis No

*Please note that international students must be full-time students.

Master of Science Project Option Requirements

      1. All coursework is to be completed within four consecutive calendar years.
      2. Coursework listed on the program of study must total a minimum of 32 hours of graduate coursework at the 5000 level or above, in engineering and allied fields. Allied courses must be selected from the Math, Science or Engineering Departments.The 32 required hours must include the following:
        1. A minimum of 18 hours of ECE courses must be at the 6000 or 7000 level;
        2. 2 hours of Graduate Seminar (ECE 6900 and 6910).  Mandatory requirement for the first term.
        3. A minimum of 3 credit hours and a maximum of 6 credit hours of Independent/Special Studies (ECE 6950) are permitted and will count towards the 18 credit hours of required ECE coursework.
        4. The topic and scope of the project must be approved in advance by a faculty advisor (i.e. the ECE 6950 instructor). The completion of the project requires that a formal report be submitted to the advisor and that a public presentation be given. The combination of the report and the presentation serves as the final exam.
        5. A statement defending the program of study and outlining the student’s goals must be provided at the time the program of study is submitted.

        Master of Science students will be graduated in the semester in which 32 hours of coursework are completed. All students who are on visas must be registered for at least nine credit hours of coursework in every semester (excluding summer) unless they receive permission from the Department Graduate Committee prior to the beginning of the semester.

 

Coursework Guideline Criteria

      1. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on coursework listed on the program of study with no grade lower than C- is required for graduation. A student who receives a grade lower than C- in a course listed on the program of study must repeat that same course and receive a higher grade. Courses cannot be deleted from the program of study after they are taken.
      2. ECE required courses are not to include thesis hours (ECE 6970/7970), or faculty consultation (ECE 6980).
      3. Coursework cannot be used for more than one degree on the same level.
      4. A course taken for 5000-level credit cannot be taken again for 6000-level credit.
      5. Cross-listed courses must be registered through the ECE course numbers.
      6. Where a course has both a 5000- and 6000-level number, the 5000-level version is intended for undergraduates and the 6000-level version for honors and graduate students. The two versions of the class will meet together, but extra work will be expected of honors and graduate students.
      7. Upper-division courses (5000 level or above) in other departments may be taken as long as the ECE degree course requirements (minimum of 18 credit hours) have been met, with written approval of the supervisory committee.
      8. Courses from other departments may not be substituted for the required ECE 6000-level courses (18 credit hours).
      9. Students who receive an “Incomplete” grade in a class must complete the class by the following semester, even if the semester is the summer semester.

 

Supervisory Committee

The MS Coursework option supervisory committee consists of three faculty members. The chair of the committee is chosen by the student, and the two remaining members are assigned by the Graduate Committee. Typically the other members include one member from the Graduate Committee and th
e Department Associate Chair.

Each student forms a supervisory committee whose members guide the student’s graduate program. Students must form this committee by the beginning of the second semester of study.

Any regular Electrical & Computer Engineering faculty member may serve as a supervisory committee chair. After the faculty member has agreed to chair a supervisory committee, the student should file a completed Request for Supervisory Committee form with the Graduate Coordinator in the ECE Office. A committee may be revised, if necessary, by submitting a Request to Change Supervisory Committee form. The Graduate Committee approves all supervisory committee forms; final approval is granted by the Graduate School.

 

Application for Admission to Candidacy (Program of Study)

After consulting with the approved supervisory committee chair, the student must plan a program of study and complete and submit the Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree form. The program of study must be accompanied by a statement defending and outlining the student’s goals.

Approval signatures of the supervisory committee members are to be obtained by the student. Completed and signed forms must be submitted to the Graduate Secretary in the ECE Office by the drop deadline of the second semester of study. After approval of the Department Graduate Committee, the program of study is submitted to the Graduate School for their approval.

 

Amendment to Planned Program of Study

Modifications to the Program of Study may be made by filing an Amendment to Planned Program of Study form with the supervisory committee and obtaining required approval before enrollment in any added courses. Completed courses cannot be deleted from the program of study. Credit towards obtaining a degree will not be granted for classes taken prior to approval of the form, unless the student is changing degree status.

 

Report of Final Examination

The topic and scope of the project must be approved in advance by a faculty advisor (i.e. the ECE 6950 instructor). The completion of the project requires that a formal report be submitted to the advisor and that a public presentation be given. The combination of the report and the presentation serves as the final exam.

Students must complete the top portion of the Final Report form and attach a copy of their abstract. The Graduate Coordinator will obtain the signature of the Project Advisor or designated department representative to signify that the student has passed the final exam.

 

MS Coursework Option Forms

https://www.ece.utah.edu/forms

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