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Dec 11, 2024
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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
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 Return to: Graduate Programs
The Department of Electrical Engineering offers graduate studies leading to the M.S. in electrical engineering. The program is designed to stimulate creativity, to provide an in-depth understanding of the basic physical phenomena involved in electrical systems, and to provide the student with the ability to use modern techniques in the analysis and design of electrical components and systems. Bulletins describing graduate studies in electrical engineering are available from the departmental office.
Upon completion of their studies, graduates of the M.S. program will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to formulate, analyze and solve advanced electrical engineering problems.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply advanced design processes to engineering.
3. Demonstrate the ability to conduct research and development to investigate or create new systems, components, or processes.
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.
Admission to the graduate program in electrical engineering requires a baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering or a related area such as physics, mathematical sciences, chemistry, computer science, or other science and engineering disciplines. Undergraduate students in electrical engineering can, however, enroll in the integrated B.S./M.S. sequence after finishing 90 semester hours with a GPA of at least 3.00.
Check departmental information for any additional requirements.
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Requirements for Graduates with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering
By the end of first semester, students must declare an option under which they want to study. Students desiring to change their option may petition the department graduate committee with their request. Option 1
This option is designed to prepare students for graduate work at the doctoral level or work in jobs that require original research or product innovation. The degree concentrates on original research techniques that lead to the development of publishable work or patentable products. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of research topics in this option, the student shall be advised by an advisor and one or more co-advisors. The advising committee shall be created by the department’s chair after the student is accepted. The 30-semester-hour graduate program of courses must include at least 6 semester hours of ELE 699A, Master’s Thesis, a minimum of 3 semester hours of ELE 690, Master’s Proposal, a minimum of 6 semester hours of ELE 695, Research in Electrical Engineering, and a minimum of 12 semester hours of 600-level courses from the Department of Electrical Engineering at NIU, excluding ELE 690, ELE 695, ELE 699A, and ELE 699B. Students are further required to take ELE 691, a zero credit hour Electrical Engineering graduate seminar class within their first two semesters of enrollment in their master’s degree program. The thesis must be satisfactorily defended at an oral examination in front of a committee composed of the advising committee and a minimum of two other members from the graduate faculty or industry. Option 2
This option is the traditional M.S. option where more course work and less research than Option-1 are required. Students must complete 31 semester hours of graduate course work with a minimum of 12 semester hours at the 600 level from the Department of Electrical Engineering, excluding ELE 699A, ELE 699B, and ELE 690. Students are further required to take ELE 691, a zero credit hour Electrical Engineering graduate seminar class within their first two semesters of enrollment in their master’s degree program. In addition, at least 1 semester hour of ELE 690 and 6 semester hours of ELE 699A, Master’s Thesis, on a topic approved by the student’s graduate committee must be taken. The thesis must be original research and satisfactorily defended at an oral examination. Non-Thesis Option
Students pursuing a M.S. degree under this option must earn a minimum of 31 semester hours of graduate credit including 1 semester hour of ELE 690, Master’s Proposal, and 3 semester hours of ELE 699B, Master’s Project, which must lead to significant original work and must be defended at an oral examination and submission of a written report. Students are further required to take ELE 691, a zero credit hour Electrical Engineering graduate seminar class within their first two semesters of enrollment in their master’s degree program. The student, with the support of their faculty advisor, must submit to the department a program of graduate study approved by the student’s graduate committee. Students are encouraged to take all course work at the 600 level. However, with the prior written approval of the advisor, a maximum of 12 semester hours can be taken at the 500 level. Course Option
Students pursuing a M.S. degree under this option must earn a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit, excluding ELE 597, ELE 690, ELE 695, ELE 699A and ELE699B. Students are required to write a research paper related to one or more electrical engineering courses taken as part of the graduate program. The completed paper must be examined and approved by the student’s faculty advisor as a requirement for graduation. Students are further required to take ELE 691, a zero-credit hour Electrical Engineering graduate seminar class within their first two semesters of enrollment in their master’s degree program. The student, with the support of their faculty advisor, must submit to the department a program of graduate study. A maximum of 12 semester hours can be taken at the 500 level. Requirements for Graduates with a B.S. in an Area other than Electrical Engineering
Students with a B.S. degree in an area other than electrical engineering are required to take at least three courses from the following: ELE 210, ELE 250, ELE 315, ELE 330, ELE 335, ELE 340, ELE 350, ELE 356, ELE 360, ELE 370, and ELE 380. A grade of B or better is required for each of these courses. The thesis advisor must approve the set of courses to be taken. The student is also required to fulfill all the requirements in the previous section. Requirements for Accelerated B.S./M.S. Sequence
The department also offers an accelerated B.S./M.S. sequence that leads to a M.S. in Electrical Engineering after students received a B.S. either in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Mechatronics Engineering. This accelerated sequence is open to all undergraduate electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, and mechatronics engineering majors who have finished at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work with a minimum GPA of 3.00. A minimum GPA of 3.00 must be maintained during the course of study. Failure to meet the requirements of the accelerated sequence may lead to a B.S. only, but only after the requirements for that degree have been met. With this program, M.S. courses can be taken three semesters prior to earning the B.S. degree and have up to 18 semester hours count towards both the M.S. and B.S. degrees. A GRE is not required. Students must meet Graduate School application deadlines. Interested students should talk with an advisor as early as possible and are encouraged to apply during the spring semester of their junior year. Students wishing to take part in this program should be aware of all the regulations and restrictions of accelerated baccalaureate/master’s degree programs as outlined in the NIU Graduate School Catalog under the heading of Early Admission of NIU Undergraduates, and Admission to Accelerated Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs. All students enrolled in this sequence must have their schedules approved by their faculty advisors each semester. Any deviation from an approved course schedule may delay graduation. Specialization in Applied Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering (Thesis Option Only) (30)
Students pursuing this specialization must also fulfill relevant Requirements for Graduates with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Requirements for Graduates with a B.S. in an Area other than Electrical Engineering or Requirements for Integrated B.S./M.S. Sequence. One of the following courses (3)
Other Requirements
Independent study courses may not be used to fulfill the M.S. degree requirements. Approved courses taken from other engineering or science departments or transferred from other institutions cannot be counted for the required 600-level courses from the Department of Electrical Engineering at NIU. Portions of the research or the project work required by ELE 699A or ELE 699B may be performed at off-campus facilities if approved by the student’s graduate committee. No more than 9 semester hours of transfer work plus credit earned as a student at large may be applied to the master’s degree. |
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