Nov 24, 2024

2007-2008 Graduate Catalog

2007-2008 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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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.

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.

Thesis Option

All students admitted to the M.S. program are classified as thesis option students. The thesis option is designed to prepare students for graduate work at the doctoral level and concentrates on original research techniques. The graduate program of courses must include 6 semester hours of ELE 599A, Master’s Thesis, on a topic approved by the student’s graduate committee. The thesis must be satisfactorily defended at an oral examination. Portions of the research work required by ELE 599A may be performed in off-campus facilities if approved by the student’s graduate committee.

Non-Thesis Option

Students wishing to pursue the non-thesis option are required to petition the department’s graduate committee upon admission to the major. The non-thesis option is designed for practicing professionals who wish to pursue advanced study in electrical engineering culminating in the M.S. degree and who cannot pursue the traditional research experience of a thesis option. Students pursuing a M.S. degree under this option must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit including 3 semester hours of ELE 599B, Master’s Project, which must lead to significant original work which must be defended at an oral examination and submission of a written report.

Requirements for Graduates with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Students must satisfy the following departmental requirements.

The student with the support of his or her faculty adviser must submit to the department a program of graduate study approved by the student’s graduate committee.
Students must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate work with at least 12 semester hours of course work in 500-level courses exclusive of ELE 597, ELE 598, ELE 599A, and ELE 599B.
Combined credit in 400-level courses, ELE 598, and ELE 597 must not exceed 12 semester hours.
The 30 semester hours must include a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in the department exclusive of ELE 597, ELE 598, ELE 599A, and ELE 599B.

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 adviser 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 Integrated B.S./M.S. Sequence

This integrated sequence leads to both the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and is open to all undergraduate electrical engineering majors who finished at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate 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 integrated sequence may lead to a B.S. degree only, but only after all the requirements for that degree have been met.

All students enrolled in this sequence must have their schedule approved by their faculty adviser each semester. Any deviation from an approved course schedule may delay graduation.

Students seeking to qualify for the integrated B.S. and M.S. sequence in electrical engineering must satisfy the following departmental requirements.

A minimum of 121 semester hours of course work must be taken including all undergraduate required courses. In addition, 30 semester hours must be taken for graduate credit.
Students must take at least 12 semester hours of course work at the 500-level exclusive of ELE 597, ELE 598, ELE 599A, and ELE 599B.
Combined credit in 400-level courses, ELE 597, and ELE 598 must not exceed 12 semester hours.
A program of courses and a thesis or a project topic approved by the student’s graduate committee and adviser must be submitted to the department.
The 30 semester hours of graduate credit must include a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in the Department of Electrical Engineering exclusive of ELE 597, ELE 598, and ELE 599A, and ELE 599B.