The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering stimulates excellence in scholarship and research through close contact with the faculty and programs tailored to fit students' individual needs.
Students select an advisor and, with the advisor, plan an individual program bounded only by the broad guidelines of the Graduate College and the program. The department maintains close interdisciplinary ties with other University of Iowa departments, especially with the departments of Physics and Astronomy and Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences); the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering and the departments of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (College of Engineering); and the Carver College of Medicine. Principal areas of graduate study include medical image analysis, signal and image processing, control systems and systems theory, wireless communications, waves and materials, computer systems, and computational genomics. View principal areas of study under Research and Study Areas in the Electrical and Computer Engineering section of the catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of electrical and computer engineering topics;
- be able to analyze electrical and computer engineering problems and apply their knowledge to solve them; and
- demonstrate professional skills of effective communication and ethical conduct in professional, social, and scholarly activities.
In addition to the learning outcomes listed, students who complete a thesis will:
- demonstrate a mastery of concepts in their specific area of study;
- be able to employ experimental methods to investigate and generate reports for research-oriented problems; and
- demonstrate leadership in professional, social, and scholarly activities.
The Master of Science (MS) in electrical and computer engineering requires 30 s.h. of graduate credit. Each student's study plan must be approved by the student's advisor and by the graduate committee. The program is offered with the software engineering subprogram and without a subprogram; both of these options can be completed with or without a thesis and may precede PhD study. MS students must maintain a Graduate College program grade-point average of at least 3.00.
Students completing a thesis are required to complete a final exam; students not completing a thesis are not required to complete a final exam. Students develop a coherent program of study by selecting coursework with the approval of their advisor. All courses except ECE:5999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering MS Thesis and ECE:7999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD Thesis must be taken on an A–F graded basis, and students must earn a grade of C-plus or higher. Students must seek the permission of the program to apply coursework with grades of C, C-minus, or S toward degree requirements.
The MS in electrical and computer engineering requires the following coursework.
Required Coursework
MS Without Subprogram
Students pursuing a thesis complete at least 12 s.h. of required coursework, while students without a thesis complete at least 18 s.h. of required coursework.
Students select required coursework from ECE:4720, ECE:4728, and electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered 5001 or above, excluding ECE:5998, ECE:5999, and ECE:7999. Courses that are cross-referenced with allowable courses also count. Students may be able to count courses not listed here with the advisor's permission.
MS With Software Engineering Subprogram
Students complete at least 18 s.h. selected from the list that follows. Students may also be able to count ECE:5995 Contemporary Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering toward this requirement with the program's permission.
Students who have completed one or more of the listed courses as undergraduates can substitute courses from the required coursework for the MS without subprogram; see the preceding section titled "MS Without Subprogram." Students may be able to count other courses not listed here with the advisor's permission.
Research
Students completing a thesis are required to complete at least 6 s.h. in ECE:5999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering MS Thesis and/or ECE:7999 Research: Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD Thesis. These students may apply an additional 2 s.h. in these courses toward the elective requirement, for a maximum combined total of 8 s.h. toward the degree.
Students completing the MS without thesis may not apply ECE:5999 or ECE:7999 toward the degree.
Elective Coursework
Elective coursework must bring the total credit for the degree to at least 30 s.h.
Students are encouraged to strengthen their plans of study with appropriate courses in other areas such as computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics. The advisor's assistance and approval should be sought in choosing these courses.
Students select electives from ECE:4720, ECE:4728, electrical and computer engineering courses (prefix ECE) numbered 5001 or above, and graduate-level courses from other departments that are approved by the Graduate Committee; for nonthesis students, this excludes ECE:5999 and ECE:7999.
Courses that are cross-referenced with allowable courses also count.
Additional Requirements
Students must enroll in ENGR:7270 Engineering Ethics (1 s.h.) in the first semester. Students enrolled on a full-time basis and/or holding assistantships must enroll in ECE:5000 Graduate Seminar: Electrical and Computer Engineering (0 s.h.) each semester. Credit from these courses does not apply toward the degree. See the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Handbook on the department's website for more information.
Courses required for the BSE in electrical engineering do not count toward the MS requirements.
Students who plan to satisfy thesis requirements must successfully complete a final examination, which is conducted by a committee of at least three faculty members. The final examination consists of an oral defense of the thesis.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Academics
University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.
Admissions
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Applicants must have a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on all electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, and physics coursework. Those with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.00 in electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, and physics coursework may be admitted on probation if warranted by other aspects of their academic records.
Students with baccalaureate degrees in related areas (e.g., physics, mathematics, and computer science) may be admitted on conditional status. They may be required to complete additional coursework, without earning graduate credit, before being granted regular status.
Each application is reviewed individually. Extenuating circumstances may permit deviations from the usual standards.
The engineering profession is a foundation for a variety of careers in industry, medicine, law, government, and consulting. Electrical engineers find employment everywhere smart technology is employed. On average, 93–98% of graduates are employed in their field of study or pursuing advanced education within seven months of graduation.
Engineering Career Services develops and promotes experiential education and professional opportunities for students. Professional staff coordinate the college's co-op and internship program, engage in employer outreach, and provide opportunities for students to network with employers, including an engineering career fair and other career-development programming each semester.
Engineering Career Services also offers individual advising and class presentations on résumé and cover letter preparation, job and internship search strategies, interviewing skills, and job offer evaluation.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Electrical and Computer Engineering, MS
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.
