Degree completion timeframe:
- Within five years of admission, the student must complete:
- Thesis option: Minimum of 30 credit hours (including 6 credits of MS thesis research – CMPE 799)
- Non-thesis (with project) option: Minimum of 33 credit hours (including 3 credits of graduate project research – CMPE 698)
- Note: All M.S. students must choose either the thesis or non-thesis (with project) option—there is no course-only option.
Coursework:
- At least two courses (6 credits) must be from CMPE Group A courses.
- Students must receive a grade of B or better in two of the Group A courses so that these courses can be counted as Group A courses.
- At least five courses (15 credits) from the courses listed under Groups A and B for CMPE.
- At least six courses (18 credits) must be graduate ENEE or CMPE courses (ENEE/CMPE 600- or 700-level).
- Remaining courses:
- A maximum of 3 credits of Independent Study (ENEE/CMPE 699) is allowed.
- For non-thesis option (with project): 4 courses (12 credits) and for thesis-option (with thesis) 2 courses (6 credits) can only be from CMPE/ENEE/CMSC
Exception: Only if the student’s advisor approves that a course from another department (typically Math/Stat, Physics, Biology) is needed for the student’s research, a maximum of two courses can be taken from those disciplines. Note that requests for approval of non-CMPE/ENEE/CMSC course credits must be submitted before registering for the course. Otherwise, the credit will not be considered towards graduation. For this request, the Request for Approval of Course(s) Outside of Chosen Program form should be completed and signed by the student’s research advisor and the graduate program director. The form should include the advisor’s justification/reasoning for the student taking the course regarding the student’s research needs.
Additional requirements:
- For the non-thesis option, the students should complete and submit the Scholarly Paper Declaration form to declare their advisor and reader for the Master’s project by Dec. 1 (Fall semester), May 1 (Spring semester), and Aug. 1 (Summer semester). Moreover, the Scholarly Paper Approval form needs to be submitted and signed by the advisor and reader by Dec. 7 (Fall semester), May 7 (Spring semester), and Aug. 7 (Summer semester) in order to graduate in the corresponding semester.
Group A Courses (offered every year):
- CMPE 611/CMSC 611: Computer Architecture
- CMPE 640: Custom VLSI Design
- CMPE 691: Reconfigurable System Design
Group B Courses (selected subset is offered every year)
- CMPE 641: Advanced VLSI Design II
- CMPE 645: Computer Arithmetic Algorithms & Implementation
- CMPE 646: VLSI Design Verification and Test
- CMPE 647: Analog IC Design
- CMPE 684: Wireless Sensor Networks
- CMPE 691: Hardware Security
- ENEE/CMPE 605: Applied Linear Algebra
- ENEE 601: Signal and Linear Systems Theory
- ENEE 610: Digital Signal Processing (Cross-listed with CMPE 422)
- ENEE 612: Digital Image Processing
- ENEE 620: Probability and Random Processes
- ENEE 621: Detection and Estimation Theory
- ENEE 622: Information Theory
- ENEE 630: Solid-state Electronics
- ENEE 631: Semiconductor Devices
- ENEE 639: Neural Engineering and Instrumentation
- ENEE 680: Electromagnetic Theory
- ENEE 683: Lasers
- ENEE 684: Introduction to Photonics
- ENEE 712: Pattern Recognition
Note: Students must consult with their assigned advisors prior to registration and finalize their course selection with their advisors. All courses need to be approved by the student’s advisor.