Supplementary Rules For Graduate Students in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

(In addition to the rules of the Graduate College)

(Last revised: 08/2022)

This document, together with the Graduate College Handbook, summarizes information, rules, and regulations governing graduate study in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE). Students pursuing a graduate program in the Department are strongly urged to be conversant with these rules.

ECpE Graduate Program Learning Goals

The ECpE Graduate program should produce graduates who fulfill the following:

1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge and scholarly literature in their fields of study.
2. Understand ethical principles and conduct responsible research
3. Effectively communicate and disseminate their technical contributions.
4. Students pursuing theses/dissertations shall also demonstrate ability to conduct state-of-the-art research and expand the knowledge base in their fields of study

Table of Contents

1 Graduate Programs

1.1 Degree Programs

1.2 Concurrent Bachelor/Master Programs

1.3 Graduate Certificates

1.4 Majors and Academic Areas

1.5 Interdepartmental Programs

2 Departmental Admission Policy

2.1 Admission Criteria for Study toward the Master’s Degree

2.2 Admission Criteria for Study toward the Ph.D. Degree

2.3 Admissions Criteria for Graduate Certificate

2.4 Upper-Half Rule

2.5 Restricted to Full Admission

2.6 Provisional to Full Admission

3 Departmental Policy on Advising Graduate Students

3.1 Advising On-Campus Ph.D. and Master of Science

3.2 Advising On-Campus Master of Engineering

3.3 Advising Off-Campus Graduate Students

4 Supplemental Program of Study (POS) Requirements

4.1 Master of Science with Thesis Option

4.2 Master of Science with Non-thesis Option (Creative Component)

4.3 Master of Engineering

4.4 Ph.D.

4.5 Additional Information and Requirement for Concurrent Bachelor/Master Programs

4.6 Requirements for Graduate Certificates

4.7 Minor and Co-Major Requirements

4.8 Designation of Area of Specialization

5 Ph.D. Examinations

5.1 Qualifying Process

5.1.1 Interdisciplinary Qualifying Process

5.2 Additional Information Regarding the Qualifying Process

5.3 Academic Area and General Skills Courses

5.4 Preliminary Examination Format and Requirements

6 Thesis or Dissertation Quality

7 Completion Requirements

8 Dismissal, Change of Major Professor and Grievance Procedures

8.1 Dismissal

8.2 Reassignment of Major Professor

8.3 Grievance Procedures

9 Ethics

10 Internships

11 Leave and Conference Travel Policies

11.1 Absence Request for Personal or Professional Leave

11.2 Graduate College Professional Advancement Grant (PAG)

11.3 Travel Reimbursement

Appendix A: ECpE Course Lists

Appendix B: List of Forms Referred to in the Document

1 Graduate Programs

1.1 Degree programs

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) offers the following graduate degree programs:

(a) Master of Science (MS)

The Master of Science degree program is offered with two options:

• Master of Science with Thesis
• Master of Science with Creative Component (without thesis)

(b) Master of Engineering (MEng)

Our Master of Engineering programs are based on coursework credits only (no thesis or creative component is required). Off-campus students can pursue this option by taking courses offered via our online streaming media education.

(c) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

1.2 Concurrent Bachelor/Master Programs

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) provides concurrent undergraduate/graduate de­gree programs that allow well-qualified students to be admitted to either the electrical engineering or computer engineering graduate program while still working on their undergraduate degree in computer, electrical or software engineering during their senior year. Stu­dents can double count up to 6 credits of coursework towards both degree programs, allowing them to finish their master’s degree faster. Two concurrent Bachelor/Master programs are offered:

• Concurrent Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (BS/MS)
• Concurrent Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering (BS/MEng)

1.3 Graduate Certificates

The department offers online graduate certificates in a number of areas:

• Certificate in Computer Networking
• Certificate in Embedded Systems
• Certificate in Power Systems Engineering
• Certificate in Software Systems

Students may also be interested in the online graduate certificates offered through interdepartmental graduate programs:

• Certificate in Human Computer Interaction
• Certificate in Information Assurance
• Certificate in Nondestructive Evaluation

1.4 Majors and Academic Areas

Students can major in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Computer Engineering (CprE). Students can pursue graduate research in the following academic areas:

• Bioengineering (EE and CprE)
• Communications and signal processing (EE)
• Computing and networking systems (CprE)
• Electric power and energy systems (EE)
• Electromagnetic, microwave, and nondestructive evaluation (EE)
• Microelectronics and photonics (EE)
• Secure and reliable computing (information assurance) (CprE)
• Software systems (CprE)
• Systems and controls (EE)
• VLSI (EE and CprE)

These academic areas are also known as areas of specialization.

1.5 Interdepartmental Programs

Student may select the ECpE department as their home department to pursue graduate degrees in one of the following interdepartmental programs:

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Information Assurance
• Human-Computer Interaction.

2 Departmental Admission Policy

2.1 Admission Criteria for Study toward the Master’s Degree

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers three master’s options:

• Master of Science with Thesis (MS) —normally expected preparation for Ph.D. study
• Master of Science without Thesis (MS) — includes a creative component
• Master of Engineering (MEng) — course work only, and primarily offered for distance students

A student with the appropriate qualifications may apply for admission into the Master’s programs for these options. Students pursuing the non-thesis and Master of Engineering are unlikely to receive financial aid. The student may change the degree option with the approval of the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE).

All applications are evaluated on the basis of academic record, letters of recommendation, GRE, and statement of purpose. The general policy is to admit only those applicants judged to have the highest potential for success as graduate students consistent with the department’s academic and financial resources:

(a) Graduates of domestic engineering schools

Applicants with undergraduate degrees from ABET accredited electrical or computer engineering curricula who are in the upper half of their graduating class are eligible. Applicants are required to submit a recent GRE test result. GRE scores for Master of Engineering will be waived for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above or two years of industrial experience.

Graduates of non-accredited electrical and computer engineering curricula may be considered for restricted admission if they meet all other requirements and show outstanding potential for graduate study. Graduates of accredited electrical or computer engineering curricula that fail to meet some admission requirement but otherwise show outstanding potential may also be considered for restricted admission.

(b) Graduates of international engineering schools

Applicants with undergraduate degrees in electrical or computer engineering from foreign universities are required to submit recent TOEFL and GRE test results. They are expected to have a TOEFL score of at least 88 Internet based (230 computer based or 570 paper based) or a IELTS score of at least 6.5, and a GRE Quantitative test score of at least 155 and be in the upper quarter of their graduating class to be considered for admission.

(c) Other applicants

Applicants with undergraduate degrees in engineering disciplines other than electrical or computer engineer­ing or applicants with non-engineering degrees in some closely related sciences who meet all requirements in (a) or (b) above may be considered for provisional admission.

(d) Concurrent enrollment for undergraduate students

Students currently enrolled in either the undergraduate Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Software Engineering programs at ISU and classified as a senior may be eligible to apply for a Concurrent BS/MS or Concurrent BS/MEng degree program. For concurrent BS/MS admission, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better. For concurrent BS/MEng admission, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and be within 18 credits of completing requirements for their bachelor’s degree.  Application procedures are available on the ECpE website.

2.2 Admission Criteria for Study toward the Ph.D. Degree

ECpE offers a traditional doctoral program for a student with a master’s degree in engineering or a closely related science. Students with a master’s degree from a foreign engineering school shall submit GRE and TOEFL test results as stipulated in 2.1(b). Graduates from domestic schools are required to submit GRE scores. Admission will be either full or provisional depending on the applicant’s background. Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their master’s program, their potential for doctoral level research, and the availability of a major professor in their area of specialization in addition to the previous criteria for admission to the master’s program. Only the most outstanding applicants are admitted.

Also, students with good credentials with a Bachelor of Science degree are encouraged to apply for direct entry to the Ph.D. degree program. A direct entry Ph.D. student will typically take less time to a Ph.D. compared to someone who enters MS first.

Graduates of the department’s master’s degree program wishing to work towards a Ph.D. degree must apply for readmission to the doctoral program and should consult ECpE Student Services for information on the procedures to be followed. The request should be made to the Director of Graduate Education.

2.3 Admissions Criteria for Graduate Certificate

Entry into the Graduate Certificate Program requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering from a four-year college, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

2.4 Upper-Half Rule

It is the department policy that undergraduates must be in the upper-half of their class in order to enroll in 5000-level courses.

2.5 Restricted to Full Admission

Transfer from restricted admission to full admission requires either a GPA of 3.2 or better on 9 hours of graduate credit or a GPA of 3.0 or better on 18 hours, and the recommendation of the student’s major professor.

2.6 Provisional to Full Admission

Transfer from provisional to full admission should occur at the earliest possible time after the student satisfactorily remedies the deficiencies that resulted in provisional admission. Students should complete the Request to Transfer from Provisional to Full Admission form, obtain major professor’s signature, and bring the form to the ECpE Student Services Office for approval.

The DOGE, in consultation with the major professor, can set the course requirements for students accepted in the program with background deficiencies.  As an example, students can be asked to successfully complete, have equivalent material, complete subsequent courses or test out of a number of ECpE courses from the following set of courses:

For Electrical engineering majors: EE 2010, EE 2300, EE 2240, EE 3030, EE 3110, EE 3220 and CPRE 2810.

For Computer engineering majors: EE 2300, CPRE 2810, CPRE 2880, CPRE 3080, CPRE 3100, CPRE 3150 (or COMS 3110), CPRE 3810 in addition to at least one course in high level programming.

3 Departmental Policy on Advising Graduate Students

3.1 Advising On-Campus Ph.D. and Master of Science

(a) All students will be admitted with a temporary advisor – the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE). The advisor will make recommendations on courses to be taken and may also help the student in initiating a research program. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the advisor fully informed of plans to secure a major professor.

(b) Students admitted for a Master of Science degree are required to secure a Program of Study committee and file a Program of Study no later than the end of the 2^nd semester of enrollment. Students admitted for a Ph.D. degree should secure a Program of Study committee by the end of their 2^nd semester and file a Program of Study no later than the end of their 4^th semester. Students failing to have an approved Program of Study by the specified time will have a registration hold placed for future terms.

(c) Each Program of Study committee formed for an MS student must contain at least one tenured or tenure-track faculty member in ECpE. Each Program of Study Committee for an MS student, thesis option, must consist of at least three (3) members. Each Program of Study Committee for an MS student, non-thesis option, must consist of at least one (1) member.

(d) Each Program of Study committee formed for a Ph.D. student must contain at least three tenured or tenure-track faculty members in ECpE, including the major professor. Each Program of Study Committee for a Ph.D. student must consist of at least five (5) members.

(e) A faculty member with adjunct or courtesy appointment may serve as major professor. The Department Chair will make this decision for each courtesy or adjunct faculty at time of appointment or renewal. The factors to consider in making this decision include prior graduate advising experience and the degree of overlap between the department and the faculty member’s research.

(f) Students are expected to discuss their registration plans with their major professor/advisor. Course registra­tion numbers for research 5990, 6990 and independent study 5950X sections can be obtained from ECpE Student Services.

3.2 Advising On-Campus Master of Engineering

(a) All Master of Engineering (MEng) students will be advised by the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE).

(b) Students must have a Committee Appointment and a Program of Study approved by the Graduate College one semester prior to graduation.

3.3 Advising Off-Campus Graduate Students

(a) All off-campus master students will be advised by the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE). The advisor will make recommendations on courses to be taken and may also help the student decide on thesis, non-thesis, or a course-based degree option.

• If the student wishes to write a creative component or thesis, the student will choose a major professor and will reach an early agreement on the details of the final project or thesis.
• Students must have a Committee Appointment and a Program of Study approved by the Graduate College one semester prior to graduation.

4 Supplemental Program of Study (POS) Requirements

The following requirements are to be met for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees and Graduate Certificates in ECpE.

4.1 Master of Science with Thesis Option

• (a) Requires 30 credits. No fewer than 22 of these credits shall be earned at ISU.
• (b) Requires a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of nine (9) research/thesis credits.

(c) Eighteen (18) credits must be course work from within ECpE: twelve (12) credits must be from a single academic area (depth requirement), and six (6) credits must be from outside this academic area (breadth requirement).

(d) Up to 8 transfer credits are allowed on the POS. Transfer credits must have a grade of B or better. Research credits cannot be transferred.

(e) A maximum of three (3) credits can be taken from either of EE 5950X or CPRE 5950X.

(f) With POS committee approval, undergraduate courses may be used on the POS. No 1000 or 2000 level courses can be used. Up to nine (9) credits of 4000 level courses, or three (3) credits of non-ECpE 3000 level courses and six (6) credits of 4000 level courses may be used. Non-ECpE 3000 level courses with a significant overlap with CPRE/EE core courses will not be allowed.

(g) Students are expected to perform original and creative research and report their research results in a thesis.

(h) Each student is required to attend at least two (2) Ph.D. or MS defenses during her/his tenure as requirements for graduation. This rule applies to on-campus students only, but off-campus students are encouraged to attend Ph.D. and M.S. defenses.

(i) Each student is required to attend at least two (2) departmental seminars per semester. This rule applies to on-campus students only.

(j) Each student needs to fulfill the publication requirement of at least one (1) journal or peer-reviewed conference paper submission.

(k) Requires the satisfactory completion of a final oral examination.

4.2 Master of Science with Non-thesis Option (Creative Component)

A student who elects not to write a thesis shall be required to demonstrate ability to do independent work in one of two ways: (1) by studying literature on a topic of current interest and presenting a written and oral report on that topic, or (2) by completing an assigned task of measurements, design, construction, or computation, and presenting a written and oral report of the results. The students shall seek the approval of the major professor in choosing the creative component work. This work will be conducted under EE 5990 or CprE 5990 and graded either as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The written report should demonstrate substantial evidence of creative endeavor. Additional requirements are as follows:

1. Requires 30 credits. No fewer than 22 of these credits shall be earned at ISU.
2. Requires a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) creative component credits.
3. Eighteen (18) credits must be course work from within ECpE: twelve (12) credits must be from a single academic area (depth requirement), and six (6) credits must be from outside this academic area (breadth requirement).
4. Up to 8 transfer credits are allowed on the POS. Transfer credits must have a grade of B or better. Research credits cannot be transferred.
5. A maximum of three (3) credits can be taken from either of EE 5950X or CPRE 5950X.
6. With POS committee approval, undergraduate courses may be used on the POS. No 1000 or 2000 level courses can be used. Up to nine (9) credits of 4000 level courses, or three (3) credits of non-ECpE 3000 level courses and six (6) credits of 4000 level courses may be used. Non-ECpE 3000 level courses with a significant overlap with CPRE/EE core courses will not be allowed.
7. Each student is required to attend at least two (2) Ph.D. or MS defenses during her/his tenure as requirements for graduation. This rule applies to on-campus students only, but off-campus students are encouraged to attend Ph.D. and M.S. defenses.
8. Each student is required to attend at least two (2) departmental seminars per semester. This rule applies to on-campus students only.
9. Requires the satisfactory completion of a final oral examination and a report summarizing the work.