Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECpE Offers New Coursework-only Master of Engineering Degrees

 

Contacts:
Akhilesh Tyagi, ECpE Director of Graduate Education, (515) 294-4396, tyagiiastate.edu
Vicky Thorland-Oster, ECpE Student Services Manager, (515) 294-8778, vlthorliastate.edu
Dana Schmidt, communications specialist, (515) 294-3071, schmidtdiastate.edu

Ames, IA — Iowa State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) is introducing two new master’s degree programs: a Master of Engineering in electrical engineering and a Master of Engineering in computer engineering. These two programs require coursework only and do not require an oral examination, thesis, or creative component.
 
“A Master of Engineering degree allows students to do more in-depth study in electrical or computer engineering without having a research component that would require on-campus time. This program is a good alternative for distance education students because it is course-based and requires breadth and depth, as does the Master of Science program the department already offers,” says Vicky Thorland-Oster, manager of ECpE Student Services. “If students take just one course each semester, they can graduate within five years.”

Professor and ECpE Director of Graduate Education Akhilesh Tyagi says the department created this degree because of industry’s demand for a professional, coursework-only degree program.

“We conducted a survey with our Engineering Distance Education (EDE) students asking if they would prefer a coursework-only Master of Engineering degree, a Master of Science with a thesis, or a Master of Science with a creative component,” Tyagi says. “Seventy-one percent preferred coursework only.”

The department routinely enrolls between 30 and 50 students who are employed full-time in industry in its Master of Science programs. Those students currently take their courses through EDE and travel to campus for their final exam and oral presentation. Tyagi says prospective students often ask if the department offers a coursework-only master’s degree program. Because of these two new Master of Engineering programs, the department expects enrollment to increase and degrees awarded per year to jump from between five and nine to more than 20.

An advanced degree in electrical or computer engineering offers a competitive edge to students by refining their advanced technical skills, Tyagi adds. The new Master of Engineering program is directed toward students who do not wish to pursue a research-based career. It will require students to earn at least 30 credit hours of coursework. A minimum 24 of the required credit hours must be in electrical or computer engineering (with 12 of those credits in a single academic area of concentration within electrical or computer engineering) and an additional six credits must be from courses outside the area of concentration.

Admission standards for the Master of Engineering programs are similar to the Master of Science program, except that consideration for relevant work experience will be provided. Applicants with at least two years of experience or an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 are not required to submit GRE test scores.

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