Program Overview

This schedule summarizes the requirements and due dates for the MS Degree – Coursework Option. Students who have not completed requirements or submitted required forms to the Graduate Coordinator by the due dates may be dropped from the program. Students should graduate in the semester in which 32 hours of coursework are completed. All students who are on visas must be registered for at least 9 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.

Program of Study

A student must complete and submit the Program of Study Form by the end of the second semester of study. After it is approved by the student’s Supervisory Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies it will be submitted to the Graduate School for approval. Modifications to the Program of Study may be made by submitting an Amendment to Program of Study Form for approval prior to registering for added courses with the supervisory committee and obtaining required approval before enrollment in any added courses. Completed courses cannot be removed 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. In preparation to submit a Program of Study form, it is recommended that students meet with the Graduate Coordinator to review the following requirements and criteria:

Requirements

All coursework is to be completed within 4 consecutive calendar years. The Program of Study must include a minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework including:

• • A minimum of 18 hours of ECE courses must be at the 6000 or 7000 level**
  • Up to 12 credit hours of 5000-7000 level allied courses will be accepted (MST, CS, MATH, PHYSICS, or any Engineering)
  • Final Exam Requirement:
    • Coursework Option: B+ grade or higher in a department approved course
    • Project Option: Completion of ECE 6950 project requirements

Additional Criteria

• • A minimum GPA of 3.0 on coursework listed on the program of study with no grade lower than C- is required for graduation. Courses cannot be removed from the Program of Study after they are taken. If a student receives a grade lower than C- in a course listed on the Program of Study they must repeat that same course and receive a higher grade.
  • Students who receive an “Incomplete” grade in a class must complete the class by the following semester, even if it is the summer semester.
  • Coursework cannot be used for more than one degree on the same level.
  • Cross-listed courses must be registered through the ECE course numbers.
  • A course taken for 5000-level credit cannot be taken again for 6000-level credit.
    • 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.

Overview

A student’s supervisory committee will guide the student’s graduate program and must be selected by the beginning of the second semester of study. If a student does not choose a committee, they will be placed with the default supervisory committee. The MS supervisory committee consists of three members – at least two of the committee members must be tenure-line ECE faculty members.

A student must form their committee by the beginning of their second semester of study by completing the Request for Supervisory Committee Form. A committee may be revised, if necessary, by submitting an Amendment to Supervisory Committee Form.

Committee Member Criteria

A student’s MS faculty advisor is the committee chair. The chair* and majority of the committee (2 out of 3 committee members) need to be:

1. University of Utah Faculty
2. Electrical and Computer Engineering (as Academic Home Department)
3. Tenure-Line

A list of faculty and their classifications can be verified on the OBIA Faculty Information page. If a committee member does not meet all three of these requirements, they are considered an Outside Committee Member. A MS Supervisory Committee is permitted to have one Outside Committee Member. If the Outside Committee Member is not University of Utah faculty, the student must request and submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Justification Letter for approval by the Graduate Committee. For more information, read Rules for Outside Member Necessities.

Any exceptions to these criteria must be submitted as a petition and are not guaranteed approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

*Tenure-line faculty outside of the ECE Department may supervise a student, but the student must have a tenure-line ECE faculty member serve as co-chair.

Coursework Option

The department has an approved list of 6000-7000 level courses that incorporate either an oral presentation or a written report as a required component of the class. Students will select which course to use to fulfill this requirement with the Final Exam Course Designation Form.  Once completed, the Supervisory Committee and Director of Graduate Studies must approve it to signify that the student has passed the final exam.

Project Option

• A written report and/or presentation is required as the Final Exam for the project, as defined by the project supervisor*.
• If the supervisor is not an ECE faculty member, the supervisor should discuss the student’s performance on the project with the student’s supervisory committee chair.
• When the project is completed, students need to submit the Project Final Exam Form prior to the last day of their final semester.

*Generally, our faculty expects a 10-page report that summarizes the research and project that the student has completed. While a published work is always encouraged, it is not required. An oral presentation can be done in front of a class or a small lab meeting and can be 5-10 minutes so long as it sufficiently shows mastery of the material produced in the project. The project advisor sets the requirements of whether a student must complete a written report and/or oral presentation.

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The University of Utah seeks to provide a safe and healthy experience for students, employees, and others who make use of campus facilities. In support for this goal, the University has established confidential resources and support services to assist students who may have been affected by harassment, abusive relationships, or sexual misconduct. A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found at https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/campussafety.php

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• Counseling Center https://counselingcenter.utah.edu
• The Wellness Center https://wellness.utah.edu
• Women’s Resource Center https://womenscenter.utah.edu

Counselors and advocates in these centers can help guide you to other resources to address a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction.

You may also call the ECE department at 801-581-6941 if you need help or have questions.