Quick Summary of Program Requirements
M.S. Program
Thesis Option - 30 credit hours
- 24 credit hours Course Work (8 courses)
- 6 credit hours of Research/Thesis (800x)
Non-Thesis Option - 33 credit hours
- 33 credit hours of Course Work (11 courses) or
- 30 credit hours of Course Work (10 courses) + a project ( 3 credit hours of 700x with Major Advisor)
Ph.D. Program
- 48 credit hours beyond the M.S. degree (Hours may vary based on approval of Student's Ph.D. Committee)
- 24 credit hours of Course Work (8 courses)
- 24 credit hours of Dissertation/Research (900x)
- 72 credit hours beyond the B.S. degree (Hours may vary based on approval of Student's Ph.D. Committee)
- 48 credit hours of Course Work (16 courses)
- 24 credit hours of Dissertation/Research (900x)
NOTE: All students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in ECE are required to pass a written qualifying examination. The purpose of this exam is to assess the students' broad background in ECE and ensure their capabilities in carrying Ph.D. work. This exam covers undergraduate ECE course work. Students who are classified as Ph.D. must pass the exam within their first three semesters, excluding summer sessions. All graduate students enrolled in the ECE Department at Mississippi State University are permitted three opportunities to pass the exam. B.S. and M.S. students may also take this exam.
Transfer from the M.S. Program
ECE M.S. Students who wish to transfer to the Ph.D. program prior to completing the requirements for the Master of Science degree must submit a new application provided that they meet the following requirements: A minimum undergraduate equivalent GPA of 3.5 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate courses (or a first class with distinction degree classification for students whose degrees are from institutions where no GPA is reported), a minimum graduate GPA of 3.8 on the first15 credit hours of graduate courses, and a GRE score of 1200 (verbal + quantitative) and 3.5 (writing) for students who do not have an undergraduate degree from an ABET accredited University.
General Requirements for both M.S. and Ph.D. Programs
- Half of courses must be strictly graduate level courses (8xxx level)
- Up to 6 hours in Directed Individual Study courses (700x). These will be counted as 8xxx level courses.
- Computer Engineering M.S. requires at least 9 credit hours from ECE and 9 credit hours from CSE for the Thesis Option and at least 12 credit hours from ECE and 12 credit hours from CSE for the Non-Thesis Option . Note that Computer Architecture (CSE 6113) is not to be counted in the 9 or 12 credit hours of CSE.
Optional:
- Hours outside the Department for Electrical Engineering Majors: Masters - up to 9 credit hours, Ph.D. - up to 12 credit hours. Hours must be approved by the Department.
- Minor Area: Students can designate an area outside the Department as a minor on their program of study. A minor in the Master's program requires at least 9 credit hours whereas a minor in the Ph.D. program requires at least 12 credit hours in which 3 credit hours are at the 8xxx level. Additional requirements as specified by the minor area may apply. Note that a faculty member from the minor area will serve on the student's graduate committee if a minor area is chosen.
Additional Requirements:
- Course Selection: Courses to be applied to the program must be approved by the student's graduate committee. Among courses outside the Department that will not count toward a graduate degree program are: MA/ST 6523 Introduction to Probability, MA 6533 Introductory Probability and Random Processes, and ST 8114 Statistical Methods. Make sure to check with the Graduate Program Director about other courses as well prior to enrollment.
