Electrical Engineering

The Electrical Engineering faculty study the following areas: optical and solid-state devices, including quantum electronics and optics, integrated electro-optics and acoustics, design of semiconductor devices and materials, analog and mixed-signal IC design, microwave and microwave devices, and scanning acoustic microscopy; systems engineering and signal processing, including communication theory, machine vision, signal processing, power electronics, neural networks, communications networks, systems engineering, and control systems. Related communication networks topics are also addressed by the Networked Systems M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (listed in the Interdisciplinary Studies section of the Catalogue).

Two plans are offered for the M.S. degree: a thesis option and a comprehensive examination option. For either option, students are required to develop a complete program of study with advice from the department. The graduate advisor must approve the study plan. Part-time study toward the M.S. degree is available. The program of study must be completed within three calendar years from first enrollment.
 

Plan I: Thesis Option

• The thesis option requires completion of:
  • 48 units of study
  • An original research investigation
  • Completion of an M.S. thesis
  • Approval of the thesis by a thesis committee
• The thesis committee is composed of three full-time faculty members with the faculty advisor of the student serving as the chair
• Required undergraduate core courses and graduate seminar courses may not be counted toward the 48 units:
  • EECS 290
  • EECS 292
  • EECS 293
  • EECS 294
  • EECS 295
• No more than four units of EECS299 and no more than 2 courses of undergraduate electives may be counted toward the 48 units
  • Non-approved EECS undergraduate elective courses
• Up to 16  units of elective courses may be from EECS296 (M.S. Thesis Research)
• At least seven concentration courses in the EE concentration must be completed (A list of courses appears at the bottom of this page)

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Option

• The comprehensive examination option requires the completion of  49 course units
• Students must take a minimum of 12 courses
• No more than four units of EECS299 and no more that 2 courses of undergraduate electives may be counted toward the 48 units
  • Non-approved EECS undergraduate elective courses
• Undergraduate core  courses and graduate seminar courses may not be counted toward the 48 units and 12 courses requirements: 
  • EECS 290
  • EECS 292
  • EECS 293
  • EECS 294
  • EECS 295
• In fulfillment of the comprehensive examination seminar element of the M.S. degree program, students are required to enroll and complete EECS 294 in one quarter.
  • The Colloquium section used to meet M.S. degree requirements must be completed with a satisfactory grade

Students enrolled in the Electrical Engineering (EE) concentration who choose the Comprehensive Examination option must select one of the following Plans of Study:
 

Circuits & Devices Plan of Study

• At least 4 courses from the following list must be completed with a B (3.0) grade or better:
  • EECS 270A
  • EECS 270B
  • EECS 277A
  • EECS 277B
  • EECS 280A
  • EECS 285A
• At least 5 additional courses from the list of EE concentration courses must be completed with a B (3.0) grade or better:
   

Systems Plan of Study

• At least 4 courses from the following list must be completed with a B (3.0) grade or better*:
  • EECS 240
  • EECS 241A
  • EECS 250
  • EECS 251A
  • EECS 260A
  • EECS 267A
  • *If all six courses are not offered in an academic year, students who graduate in that year can petition to replace the courses that are not offered
• At least 5 additional courses from the list of EE concentration courses must be completed with a B (3.0) grade or better

M.S. Plan of Study

• Electrical Engineering

List of EE Concentration Courses