MS in Electrical Engineering
Programs of study leading to the MS in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or photonics may be pursued. The degree programs have a common structure that includes requirements for concentration, breadth, advanced coursework, and a thesis or project. The degrees are differentiated by the concentration area chosen (see below). There is a great deal of flexibility in the program, and each student is expected to work with his or her faculty advisor to design a specific program of study that meets his or her professional needs.
The study program must satisfy both the general graduate requirements of the College of Engineering as well as additional requirements of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. A 3.0 (B) average must be maintained to graduate and grades of C- or lower are unacceptable for credit. All programs in the department require 32 credit hours of study. Up to 8 credits may be transferred from other approved graduate schools.
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE), Computer Engineering (MSCE), and Photonics (MSP) Master’s degree programs in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering require a minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate study (500 level and above) in ENG or CAS AS, BI, CH, CN, CS, MA, or PY courses. Thesis students are required to take at least 20 credits of structured coursework (500 or 700 level courses) while non-thesis students are required to take at least 24 credits of structured coursework. All credits toward the MS degree should be 500 level or higher. All coursework is subject to the following requirements:
Concentration Area
Each student must take at least 16 units (four courses) in one of the ten ECE concentration areas listed below. Up to 8 units of 900-level EC courses (thesis, project, research or directed study) may be used to satisfy the concentration area requirement. The three degree programs are distinguished by the concentration area chosen as indicated below.
Electrical Engineering:
SIGNAL PROCESSING AND COMMUNICATIONS
- ENG EC 505 Stochastic Processes
- ENG EC 515 Digital Communication
- ENG EC 516 Digital Signal Processing
- ENG EC 517 Introduction to Information Theory
- ENG EC 520 Digital Image Processing and Communication
- ENG EC 702 Recursive Estimation and Optimal Filtering
- ENG EC 715 Wireless Communications
- ENG EC 716 Advanced Digital Signal Processing
- ENG EC 717 Image Reconstruction and Restoration
- ENG EC 719 Statistical Pattern Recognition
- ENG EC 720 Digital Video Processing
SYSTEMS AND CONTROL
- ENG EC 501/ME 501 State Space Control
- ENG EC 505 Stochastic Processes
- ENG EC 517 Introduction to Information Theory
- ENG EC 524/ME 524 Optimization Theory and Methods
- ENG EC 701/ME 764 Optimal and Robust Control
- ENG EC 702 Recursive Estimation and Optimal Filtering
- ENG EC 710/ME 710 Dynamic Programming and Stochastic Control
- ENG EC 724/ME 724 Advanced Optimization Theory and Methods
- ENG ME/SE 740 Vision, Robotics, and Planning
- ENG ME/SE 755 Communication Networks Control
- ENG ME/SE 762 Non-Linear Control of Mechanical Systems
SOLID STATE CIRCUITS, DEVICES, AND MATERIALS
- ENG EC 571 VLSI Principles and Applications
- ENG EC 574 Solid State Devices
- ENG EC 575 Semiconductor Devices
- ENG EC 578 Fabrication Technology for Integrated Circuits
- ENG EC 579/ME 579 Microelectronic Device Manufacturing
- ENG EC 580 Modern Active Circuit Design
- ENG EC 582 RF/Analog IC Design Fundamentals
- ENG EC 770 Guided-Wave Optoelectronics
- ENG EC 771 Physics of Compound Semiconductor Devices
- ENG EC 772 VLSI Graduate Design Project
- ENG EC 774 Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Photonic Devices
- ENG EC 775 VLSI Devices and Device Models
- ENG EC 777 Nano-Optics
- ENG EC 782 RF/Analog IC Design
ELECTROMAGNETICS AND PHOTONICS
- ENG EC 560 Introduction to Photonics
- ENG EC 563 Fiber Optic Communication Systems
- ENG EC 566 The Atmosphere and Space Environment
- ENG EC 567/ME 567 Electromagnetic Wave Computation
- ENG EC 568 Optical Fiber Sensors
- ENG EC 570 Lasers
- ENG EC 591 Photonics Laboratory I
- ENG EC 707 Radar Remote Sensing
- ENG EC 731 Applied Plasma Physics
- ENG EC 760 Advanced Topics in Photonics
- ENG EC 762 Quantum Optics
- ENG EC 763 Nonlinear and Ultrafast Optics
- ENG EC 764 Optical Measurement
- ENG EC 765/BE 765 Biomedical Optics and Biophotonics
- ENG EC 770 Guided-Wave Optoelectronics
- ENG EC 773/BE 773 Advanced Optical Microscopy and Biological Imaging
- ENG EC 777 Nano-Optics
BIOELECTRONICS
(Must take at least 2 of the EC courses and at least 2 of the BE courses listed below.)
- ENG BE 511 Biomedical Instrumentation
- ENG BE 512 Biomedical Instrument Design
- ENG BE 515 Introduction to Medical Imaging
- ENG BE 516 Applied Medical Imaging
- ENG BE 540 Bioelectric Signals: Analysis and Interpretation
- ENG BE 747 Advanced Signals and Systems Analysis for Biomedical Engineering
- ENG EC 505 Stochastic Processes
- ENG EC 516 Digital Signal Processing
- ENG EC 520 Digital Image Processing and Communication
- ENG EC 571 VLSI Principles and Applications
- ENG EC 580 Modern Active Circuit Design
- ENG EC 582 RF/Analog IC Design Fundamentals
- ENG EC 716 Advanced Digital Signal Pressing
- ENG EC 717 Image Reconstruction and Restoration
- ENG EC 720 Digital Video Processing
- ENG EC 732 Combinatorial Optimization and Graph Algorithms
- ENG EC 740/BE 740 Parameter Estimation and System Identification
- ENG EC 765/BE 765 Biomedical Optics and Biophotonics
- ENG EC 772 VLSI Graduate Design Project
- ENG EC 782 RF/Analog IC Design
Computer Engineering:
HARDWARE AND COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
- ENG EC 513 Computer Architecture
- ENG EC 535 Introduction to Embedded Systems
- ENG EC 551 Advanced Digital Design with Verilog and FPGA
- ENG EC 561 Error-Control Codes
- ENG EC 571 VLSI Principles and Applications
- ENG EC 580 Modern Active Circuit Design
- ENG EC 582 RF/Analog IC Design Fundamentals
- ENG EC 713 Parallel Computer Architecture
- ENG EC 749 Interconnection Networks for Multicomputers
- ENG EC 751 Design of Asynchronous Circuit and Systems
- ENG EC 752 Theory of Computer Hardware Testing
- ENG EC 753 Fault-Tolerant Computing
- ENG EC 757 Advanced Microprocessor Design
- ENG EC 772 VLSI Graduate Design Project
- ENG EC 782 RF/Analog IC Design
COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKS
- ENG EC 505 Stochastic Processes
- ENG EC 515 Digital Communication
- ENG EC 524/ME 524 Optimization Theory and Methods
- ENG EC 534 Discrete Stochastic Models
- ENG EC 541 Computer Communication Networks
- ENG EC 544 Networking the Physical World
- ENG EC 561 Error-Control Codes
- ENG EC 715 Wireless Communications
- ENG EC 724/ME 724 Advanced Optimization Theory and Methods
- ENG EC 725/ME 725 Queuing Systems
- ENG EC 727 Advanced Coding Theory
- ENG EC 733 Discrete Event and Hybrid Systems
- ENG EC 744 Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing
- ENG EC 749 Interconnection Networks for Multicomputers
- ENG EC 761 Information Theory and Coding
- ENG EC 741 Randomized Network Algorithms
SOFTWARE
- ENG EC 504 Advanced Data Structures
- ENG EC 511 Software Systems Design
- ENG EC 512 Enterprise Client-Server Software Systems Design
- ENG EC 518 Software Project Management
- ENG EC 535 Introduction to Embedded Systems
- ENG EC 544 Networking the Physical World
- ENG EC 712 Advanced Software for Computer Engineers
- ENG EC 728 Design and Testing for Distributed Software-Intensive Systems
Photonics:
LASERS AND APPLICATIONS
- ENG EC 560 Introduction to Photonics
- ENG EC 569 Introduction to Subsurface Imaging
- ENG EC 570 Lasers
- ENG EC 591 Photonics Laboratory I
- ENG EC 760 Advanced Topics in Photonics
- ENG EC 762 Quantum Optics
- ENG EC 763 Nonlinear and Ultrafast Optics
- ENG EC 764 Optical Measurement
- ENG EC 765/BE 765 Biomedical Optics and Biophotonics
- ENG EC 773/BE 773 Advanced Optical Microscopy and Biological Imaging
FIBER OPTICS AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
- ENG EC 560 Introduction to Photonics
- ENG EC 563 Fiber Optic Communication Systems
- ENG EC 568 Optical Fiber Sensors
- ENG EC 591 Photonics Laboratory I
- ENG EC 760 Advanced Topics in Photonics
- ENG EC 770 Guided-Wave Optoelectronics
PHOTONICS MATERIALS AND DEVICES
- ENG EC 560 Introduction to Photonics
- ENG EC 575 Semiconductor Devices
- ENG EC 574 Solid State Devices
- ENG EC 591 Photonics Laboratory I
- ENG EC 760 Advanced Topics in Photonics
- ENG EC 771 Physics of Compound Semiconductor Devices
- ENG EC 774 Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Photonic Devices
- ENG EC 777 Nano-Optics
Breadth Requirement
Students must take 8 credits from other concentration area(s). A course listed under multiple concentrations may be used as either a concentration or a breadth course, but not both. ENG EC 560 may not be taken for breadth requirement by Photonics majors.
Advanced Technical Electives
Students must take 8 credits of EC 700-level coursework. These may also count as concentration or breadth requirements. The 700-level project-oriented courses may not be counted as Advanced Technical Electives.
Thesis or Project Requirement
Students must take four credits of Thesis (EC 901) or Project (EC 910, EC 911, EC 912, EC 913, EC 914, EC 915) or an approved project-oriented course (EC 566, EC 712, EC 757, EC 772). This may also count as a concentration requirement but may not count as an advanced technical elective. Passing the PhD prospectus defense will be considered the equivalent of completing a project course for post-BS PhD students.
Thesis
A thesis is not required, but students wishing to undertake a research project must be supervised by a member of the department or by someone acceptable to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. The suitability of the research is determined primarily by the student’s thesis advisor, based on informal discussions and a brief written thesis proposal. Thesis proposal guidelines are available and should be consulted.
Registration for ENG EC 901: Thesis cannot begin until an acceptable proposal has been submitted. Thesis students register for ENG EC 901 each semester they work on their project, and may apply for up to eight credits of EC 901 registration toward the 32 credits required for the degree.
When a graduate student nears completion of his or her MS research, an oral defense of the work must be scheduled. Deadlines are listed on this website. The thesis advisor and readers are responsible for establishing the format of the public defense.
The results of the student’s research must be communicated to the scientific and engineering communities as a formal thesis. Editorial guidance can be found in A Guide for the Writers of Dissertations and Theses, available in the departmental office or in the College Graduate Programs Office. The student must submit the thesis to Mugar Memorial Library and provide a copy to the advisor and each reader, in addition to a bound copy to the ECE Department.
Project
The project requirement is generally satisfied through one of the 900-level EC project courses (EC 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, and 915). With the exception of EC 912 Software Engineering Project and EC 915 Computer Engineering Team Project, which are offered as regularly scheduled courses, these courses are generally arranged by a student or group of students with an individual faculty member. Faculty members may also announce the availability of projects for interested students.
It is also possible to satisfy the project requirement by taking one of the designated project-oriented courses (EC 566, EC 712, EC 757, or EC 772) that include a substantial project as an integral part of the course material.
Graduate Technical Electives
The remainder of the course requirements may be met through graduate technical electives, which include all courses at the 500 level or above in ENG, as well as courses in the following CAS departments: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive & Neural Systems, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics, except courses for non-majors (e.g., CAS PY 633 Energy). CAS courses require advisor approval and a petition. Certain teaching seminars (e.g., EC 850) and preparatory courses are not allowed.
Academic Standards
All graduate courses will be counted in the cumulative GPA, which must be at least 3.0 for good academic standing and graduation. Only grades of C or above receive graduate credit and fulfill MS curricular requirements.
Approval
All individual programs must be reviewed and approved by the academic advisor and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Approval must be completed before registration for the second semester of study.
Exceptions
Individuals who have outstanding records of professional achievement or academic accomplishment at an advanced level may be exempted, by petition, from some of the MS program distribution requirements listed above, thereby facilitating the planning of a more advanced program. Such a proposal should be accompanied by a clear statement of objectives and a description of how the program will achieve the proposed objectives. In general, a more advanced course in an area may be substituted for a required course in satisfying the degree requirements. Though individuals can be exempted from some of the distribution requirements, they must still meet the credit minimum for the MS degree.
Admission Requirements
Students entering the graduate programs in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering are expected to have completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering. Prospective applicants from other fields such as other engineering disciplines, computer science, mathematics, or physics may be accepted with possible additional requirements for the completion of background courses. Such applicants will be judged individually according to their backgrounds and professional objectives. Required background work should be taken at the start of a student’s program.
Applications for admission may be obtained from the College of Engineering Graduate Programs Office, 44 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215; tel: 617-353-9760; email: enggrad@bu.edu; College of Engineering Graduate Programs website. An electronic application is also available.
