Electrical & Computer Engineering > Graduate > Electrical Engineering – MS

Electrical Engineering – MS

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Our MSEE Program provides five concentration areas students can choose from: Circuits, Computing Systems, Devices, Power Electronics and Energy Systems, and Signals and Systems. Students seeking a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering need to select a concentration area and complete 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate. For each concentration area, students must complete three core courses and eight elective courses (of which six must be Electrical Engineering graduate courses, and two can be graduate courses offered by the Erik Jonsson School). It is highly recommended that students consult the EE Concentration Electives Advising list when choosing elective courses in their respective concentration areas.

MSEE Concentrations

CIRCUITS

The curriculum in the Circuits concentration aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and skills related to the design and analysis of advanced electronic circuits. This educational focus encompasses practical applications and theoretical foundations of contemporary electronic devices, circuits, and systems. The scope of the curriculum includes:

Digital Circuits that address design and operation using fundamental logic gates, simple and complex combinational and sequential logic, and finite state machines. The use of digital systems in a variety of applications spanning from advanced computing architectures for general and domain specific processing to digital communications for high-speed data transfer.
Analog Circuits address fundamental designs like switches, amplifiers, filters, oscillators, and signal modulators using operational amplifiers, transistors, and passive components. These circuits find immense applications in the design of audio processing systems, power management, power converters, sensing and actuation, and more.
RF Circuits find applications in wireless communications, antenna design, and radar systems and use fundamental components, including mixers, amplifiers, and filters specifically designed for very high-frequency operation.

The courses within this curriculum emphasize core design principles across these areas, ensuring that students gain a robust and versatile foundation in the essential aspects of digital, analog, and RF circuits. This holistic approach prepares students to tackle various challenges in electronic circuit design and analysis. The coursework is well supported by practical projects that use EDA tools, circuit simulation methods, PCB design, and exposure to very advanced equipment.

Required courses:

EECT 6325 VLSI Design
EECT 6326 Analog Integrated Circuit Design
EERF 6311 RF and Microwave Circuits

Approved electives must be taken to make a total of 30 semester credit hours.

COMPUTING SYSTEM

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for addressing challenges in the design and analysis of computing systems, a critical field for numerous high-technology industries. Given the rapid technological advancement, expertise in this area is essential for contributing to sectors such as chip design, artificial intelligence, hardware and software security, data centers, consumer electronics, automotive systems, and more. The scope of the curriculum includes:

Hardware Design focuses on fundamental digital systems design and the design and analysis of advanced computer architectures, embedded systems, and advanced VLSI systems. Modern electronic systems demand very stringent performance, power and energy, security, reliability, and safety requirements. A variety of courses cover all aspects of computing hardware design.
Software Design using efficient algorithms is critical for designing embedded systems and applications that are executed on advanced platforms. Large-scale systems require understanding data structures to solve computational problems, manage hardware and software resources, manage memory, and test and verification systems. A variety of courses cover all aspects of software design.
Analysis and Modeling involve techniques for evaluating and optimizing computing systems’ performance, including benchmarking, profiling, and performance modeling. They involve creating abstract models of computing systems to understand their behavior and predict performance under different conditions.

By focusing on these three key areas, the curriculum ensures that students are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of computing systems.

Required courses:

EEDG 6301 Advanced Digital Logic
EEDG 6302 Embedded Systems
EEDG 6304 Computer Architecture

Approved electives must be taken to make a total of 30 semester credit hours.

Devices

The curriculum is structured to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills related to the design, fabrication, and analysis of solid-state devices, microsystems, and modern optical devices, materials, and systems. This comprehensive education is crucial for advancing technology, especially as semiconductor manufacturing becomes a critical need worldwide. The curriculum includes:

Solid-State devices cover understanding the basic physical properties and behaviors of semiconductors and other solid-state materials. It also addresses design of various solid-state devices such as diodes, transistors (e.g., MOSFETs, BJTs), and other semiconductor components that are the building blocks of modern electronic systems.
Microsystems include Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) for sensing, actuation, and microfluidic devices. They also address how microsystems can be integrated with electronic circuits to create smart systems used in various applications, such as automotive sensors, medical devices, and consumer electronics.
Modern Optical Devices and Systems with a focus on optical principles, optoelectronic devices, photonic materials, and optical systems.

The concentration in devices encourages collaboration across disciplines to solve complex problems, integrating knowledge from physics, materials science, electrical engineering, and computer science. By focusing on these key areas, the curriculum ensures that students are well-prepared to contribute to advancing technology in solid-state devices, microsystems, and optical systems, making significant impacts in various high-technology industries.

Required courses:

EEGR 6316 Fields and Waves
EEMF 6319 Quantum Physical Electronics
EEMF 6322 Semiconductor Processing Technology

Approved electives must be taken to make a total of 30 semester credit hours.

Power Electronics and Energy Systems

The curriculum is structured to equip students with the knowledge and skills to meet the increasing demands in power electronics and energy-related fields. These areas are critical for developing efficient, sustainable energy solutions and advanced power management technologies for various industries. The curriculum includes:

Fundamentals of Power Electronics covers basic concepts like power conversion, transformation, and control of electrical power. It also studies devices such as diodes, MOSFETs, and IGBTs that are essential for switching and controlling electrical power. Finally, it designs power converters in various topologies and discusses control techniques for controlling power electronic systems.
Design and Control of Motor Drives study different types of electric motors, design and implement motor drive systems that control the speed, torque, and position of electric motors, techniques for controlling motor drives and understanding the use of motor drives in various applications such as industrial automation, electric vehicles, robotics, and HVAC systems.
Energy Systems explores renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) and their role in sustainable energy systems. Challenges and solutions for integrating renewable energy sources into the electrical grid, including innovative grid technologies and microgrids. Methods for improving energy efficiency in industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.

By focusing on these key areas, the curriculum ensures that students are well-prepared to contribute to the advancement of technology in power electronics and energy systems, address the growing needs of contemporary industries, and promote sustainable energy solutions.

Required courses:

EEPE 6354 Power Electronics
EEPE 6398 General Theory of Electric Machines
EEPE 6357 Control, Modeling and Simulation in Power Electronics

Approved electives must be taken to make a total of 30 semester credit hours

Signals and Systems

This concentration emphasizes the application and theory of signal processing, modern communication theory and applications, and control systems that emphasize methods to predict, estimate, and regulate the behavior of electrical, mechanical, or other systems, including robotics. The curriculum includes:

Signal Processing covers the theoretical foundations and practical applications of signal processing. Analyzing, modifying, and synthesizing signals in the form of audio, video, sensor data, and others are covered via various courses. These courses focus on key techniques such as Fourier transforms, filtering, and spectral analysis.
Modern Communication Theory and Application is a sub-area where students are introduced to the principles of modern communication systems, including modulation, coding, and information theory. Wireless communications using established and emerging technologies are a major part of the curriculum. Students also learn about network protocols, data transmission, and cybersecurity measures to protect communication systems.
Control Systems, with a focus on developing methods to predict, estimate, and regulate the behavior of various systems, are part of signals and systems. Students learn to create mathematical models of electrical, mechanical, and other systems. Key concepts such as feedback loops, stability, and control strategies (like PID control and state-space methods) are covered.

The coursework relies on theory and hands-on projects that include designing and simulating various systems, building prototypes, and working on real-world problems.

This concentration has one required course and allows a choice of two out of three core courses.

Required course: