Graduate Bulletin

Electrical Engineering, M.S.E.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: July 1                                     [December 15 for international applicants]

Spring: November 1                             [August 1 for international applicants]

Applications are processed on a rolling basis up through the deadline.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendaton should be obtained from college/university faculty members who are familiar with the applicant's academic competence. Applicants employed in an engineering profession should request a letter of reference from their immediate supervisor.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Students not adequately prepared for advanced courses may be required to take a number of prerequisites.  The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will identify the needed coursework on a case-by-case basis.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering or the equivalent from an accredited institution is required for admission. Also considered are a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering technology, mathematics, the physical sciences, and other branches of engineering. Applicants without an engineering degree may require certain prerequisites.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include the applicant's research and future career goals; academic and research achievements; professional experience, if any; and reason for interest in Temple's program. It should be approximately 1-2 pages in length.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required.  Applicants with GRE scores below 450 verbal, 650 quantitative, and 4.5 analytical may not be admitted.

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 575 paper-based, 230 computer-based, or 88 internet-based.  Any student admitted with a TOEFL score below 600 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based, or 100 on the internet-based examination must pass an English skills course during the first semester of enrollment at Temple University.  Those having taken the paper-based or computer-based test have the additional option of testing out of the English course by taking and passing the SPEAK test at Temple.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate credits taken at an accredited institution may be transferred into the M.S.E. program. In order to transfer, the courses must be equivalent to courses offered at Temple in the student's area of study and research, and the grades must be "B" or better. The admissions committee makes recommendations for the transfer of credit. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Test Waivers:

Applicants with two or more years of employment in an engineering profession performing engineering design and analysis may request a waiver of the GRE.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 24 - 27

Students choose between two options.  The thesis option requires 24 s.h. of coursework and 6 s.h. of master’s thesis (EE 798: Thesis I and EE 799: Thesis II).  The non-thesis option requires 27 s.h. of coursework, plus an independent research project (ME 795: Research Project) or, with permission of the department, another 3 s.h. course.

Required Courses:

EE 502

ENGR 541

ENGR 522

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Thesis Option:

Students completing the thesis option need to complete a master's thesis, a document detailing independent research that demonstrates the student's mastery of his/her primary area of interest. The thesis research is conducted under the direct supervision of an academic advisor. The specific topic for research should be of current interest in the professional community. After a research topic is selected, the student performs preliminary research. A thesis proposal is then submitted describing the initial results and a plan for further research toward completion of the proposed research.  The thesis proposal is then presented at an open seminar to the Thesis Committee, which evaluates its technical merit and research methodology. The student may continue the research only after the proposal is approved by the committee.

The final draft of the thesis should be submitted at least two weeks before the anticipated date of the thesis defense. The student's academic advisor, in consultation with members of the Thesis Committee, sets a date and time for the thesis defense. The department secretary will arrange for a room for the defense and post flyers announcing the defense. In addition, the student must post the thesis defense flyer on the graduate student listserv for the department.

The Thesis Committee, a group of faculty members and possibly engineers engaged in research in high-tech industries, is responsible for evaluating the thesis and its defense. No thesis should go to defense unless it is ready for public scrutiny. The committee evaluates the primary findings of the research and their implications, technical methodology, and the student's ability to verbally present the research results. The committee votes pass/fail on the thesis and defense at the conclusion of the public presentation. If the student must make revisions, those changes must be completed within one month from the date of public presentation; failure to do so requires a new thesis defense.

Non-Thesis Option:

Students in the non-thesis option may be required to complete an independent research project and submit a report toward the requirements of EE 795: Research Project.  The goal of the research project is to evaluate the student's ability to perform independent research in analysis and design for an engineering application. The topic for research is selected after discussion with the student's academic advisor. The scope of research is carefully outlined so as to allow the student to complete the research in one semester. After completing the course, the student submits a final report detailing the findings of the research and presents it at an open seminar. The report is evaluated by two members of the faculty, including the student's academic advisor.  With permission of the department, students may also elect another course in place of EE 795.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/engineering

Department Information:

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Engineering

1947 North 12th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

eegrad@temple.edu

215-204-7597

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Musoke H. Sendaula
gradengr@temple.edu
215-204-7800

Program Coordinator:

Musoke H. Sendaula
musoke@temple.edu
215-204-7819

Graduate Chairperson:

Chairperson:

Saroj K. Biswas
sbiswas@temple.edu
215-204-8403

About the Program

The Electrical Engineering curriculum of the Master of Science in Engineering program offers students practice-oriented graduate-level education in electrical and computer engineering. The program offers concentrations in Computer Architectures and Microelectronics, Digital Signal Processing and Digital Data Communication, and Intelligent Systems and Control. Current active research projects in the department include embedded systems and system-on-chip design, intelligent interactive tutoring systems, speech processing, speaker identification, multisensor fusion, intrusion detection, and visualization and fault detection in multicasting networks. Other active areas of research include intelligent multimedia systems, human-computer interaction, digital signal processing, robust and optimal control, wireless data networks, and heat dissipation problems in microchips.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years

Campus Location:

Main, Fort Washington

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m.  Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Engineering

1947 North 12th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

eegrad@temple.edu

215-204-7597

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program encourages interdisciplinary research with other branches of engineering as well as with various departments in the sciences and applied mathematics. Recent collaborative work with the Department of Computer and Information Sciences includes visualization and fault detection in multicasting networks and image processing.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Three areas of specialization are available: Computer Architectures and Microelectronics, Digital Signal Processing and Digital Data Communication, and Intelligent Systems and Control. The course sequence in Computer Architectures and Microelectronics provides students with advanced knowledge in current practices of computer design, development, software-level testing, hardware realization and integrated circuit layout, and MOS integrated circuit design for high-speed digital computation and data communication. The research concentration in Digital Signal Processing and Digital Data Communication includes filtering and modulation; detection of multidimensional signals in the presence of noise; voice signal processing; speaker identification; multisensor data fusion; array signal processing; performance evaluation of local area and wireless networks, broadband networks, and protocols; detection of faults in communication networks; and intrusion detection, visualization, and security of multicast networks. Research in Intelligent Systems and Control includes interactive multimedia, intelligent tutoring systems, robust and optimal control, and neuro-fuzzy control.

Job Placement:

Graduates with the M.S.E. in Electrical Engineering are employed in high-tech industries and government laboratories with responsibilities for design, analysis, and applications of electrical engineering principles. Students who complete an M.S.E. with a thesis are prepared to enter a doctoral program.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may take up to 9 s.h. of graduate-level courses. If accepted into the M.S.E. in Electrical Engineering program, the student may apply those courses with a grade of "B" or better toward the M.S.E. degree requirements. For admission to the program, students must fulfill the general admission criteria for graduate admission. Students who complete 9 s.h. courses in academic good standing may request a waiver of the GRE, which is usually required for admission to the M.S.E. program.

Financing Opportunities

The principal duties of a Teaching Assistant include assisting faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction, preparing apparatus or material for laboratory demonstration, conducting tutorials and discussion sections, and grading homework. TAs are expected to devote 20 hours per week to these or similar teaching-related activities. Research Assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week to research obligations. RAs are assigned to a faculty member or principal investigator who is working on a specific research project. The appropriate subjects for research are determined by consultation between the student and the student's research and academic advisors. Both Teaching and Research Assistantships carry a stipend and tuition support for up to 9 credits per semester. All applicants for full-time admission are considered for support based on academic credentials, GRE scores, and professional experience. Applications should include a statement of research and teaching experience, areas of interest and future goals, and a curriculum vitae.

Updated 1.4.06