Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering MS, PhD Degree Programs

Seek Emerging Pathways

This master's or doctoral program allows students to determine a flexible mix of coursework in electrical and computer engineering, engineering from related fields, physical sciences, and computer science to meet their educational and career goals. Pursue graduate study in electrical energy systems, robotics, signal and image processing, communications, embedded systems, electro-magnetics, optics, and photonics. Learn the connections between hardware, software, and the physical world. Explore the convergence of electrical engineering and computer engineering.

A Flexible Program

There are no required courses.
Applicants with undergraduate backgrounds in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mechanical engineering, and other diverse areas are welcome.
Students benefit from an interdisciplinary yet rigorous program.
Both the master's and doctoral programs are offered both on campus and online.

The curriculum structure of the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MS EECE) program has three options: Coursework, Report, and Thesis. All require 30 credits of graduate work beyond the BS degree.

Accelerated Master's of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Accelerated Master's programs allow a student who earned their bachelors at Michigan Tech to count up to nine senior-level credits* (must have earned a B or higher) toward both a Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. If Michigan Tech students have earned senior rule credits, they will apply to the graduate degree.

An Electrical and Computer Engineering Accelerated Master's student is typically admitted on the coursework option path. A thesis option and a report option are available for students who want to gain a competitive edge in industry with an accelerated advanced degree. There is a growing demand for graduates with a Master's degree in electrical and computer engineering, and the accelerated program will provide you with a pathway to meet this need in fewer semesters.

*Note: Beginning fall 2024, up to nine double-counted credits may be applied. Prior to fall 2024, six double-counted credits may be applied

Advising

Each student who begins graduate study will work with a faculty advisor who is a member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty. The advisor's primary responsibility is to supervise the student's research, academic and professional growth, and development of an academic plan for enrolling in the appropriate courses.
The academic plan developed by the student and academic advisor will need written approval from the faculty advisor and the Departmental Graduate Program Director

Tailored to Meet Your Goals

There are no required courses in this program. However, the Graduate Program Director and the departmental faculty will help the students tailor programs to fit their interests and needs..

The credit requirements for the three master's options are summarized in the table below.

	Coursework	Report	Thesis
5000 level EE, CS, BE, MA, ME, or PH	18 minimum	12 minimum	12 minimum
4000 level courses	12 maximum	12 maximum	9 maximum
Co-op credits (included in above)	3 maximum	3 maximum	3 maximum
Research credits	0	2-6	6-10

Detailed Degree Options

PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Requirements

Credit Catagory	Entering Without MS	Entering With MS
Total Required Courses	60	30
Total Non-research Course Credits	Minimum of 30	9-12
EE 5000 and 6000-level Credits	Minimum of 21	Minimum of 9
Other Approved Course Credits	Maximum of 9	Minimum of 3
Allowed 4000-level Course Credits	Maximum of 9	Maximum of 0
Co-op Credits at 5000-level	Maximum of 3	Maximum of 0
Project/Research Credits	Minimum of 21	18-21

Notes

Course credits exclude research/project courses (e.g. EE 599X and EE 699X), other directed study or project courses, and ENT courses. No credits of EE 5805 can be included in the coursework requirements for the PhD program. Coursework credits do not include Responsible Conduct for Research Training (RCR).
Transferring in Graduate Credits: For PhD entering with MS, no transfer credits are allowed.
For entering without MS option: other courses must be at 4000-level or above. A maximum of 9 credits is allowed of 4000-level courses, and a maximum of 30 credits of Co-op credits at 5000-level is allowed. For entering with MS option: only courses 5000-level or above are allowed.
Courses outside of the Department should be approved by the research advisor as well as the Graduate Program Director. Usually, courses offered in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, and Applied Computing can be approved.
Online PhD modality is only allowed after a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering or similar disciplines approved by the Graduate Program Director during admission. All the other rules apply for both on-campus and online PhD students.
Project/research credits may include credits needed to meet the Advanced RCR requirement. All PhD students must take advanced RCR training. Advanced RCR must be taken within the first three semesters.

To complete the PhD ECE degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements above)
Complete an Advanced RCR training in the first 3 semesters (approved training list is kept by the Graduate School)
Pass qualifying examination
Pass research proposal examination
Prepare and submit approved dissertation
Pass final oral defense

MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering: Coursework Option

No Oral Examination

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Note: The ECE department has higher standards for its coursework credits than the graduate school standard. 3000-level credits will not be counted.

A total of 30 advisor approved credits consisting of the following components:

A minimum of 18 credits of advisor approved 5000 level or higher ECE, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Math, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics.
A maximum 12 credits of advisor approved 4000 level courses
A maximum of 3 credits of co-op experience.
Students must meet the Graduate School's requirements for degree completion.
Must meet with the department's Graduate Program Director at the time of application to develop a preliminary program of study.

MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

Note: The ECE department has higher standards for its coursework credits than the graduate school standard. 3000-level credits will not be counted.

A total of 30 advisor approved credits consisting of the following components:

20 credit minimum of coursework consisting of:
- 12 credits minimum of advisor approved 5000 level or higher ECE, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Math, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics (not including EE 5990).
- 9 credits maximum of 4000 level if approved by the Graduate Academic Advisor.
At least 6 and up to a maximum of 10 credits of EE 5990 Thesis Research.
A maximum of 3 credits of co-op experience.
Students must meet the Graduate School's requirements for degree completion.
To help expedite degree completion, a student should begin to work with a faculty research advisor at the time of application to Master's program.

MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

Note: The ECE department has higher standards for its coursework credits than the graduate school standard. 3000-level credits will not be counted.

A total of 30 advisor approved credits consisting of the following components:

24 credit minimum of coursework consisting of:
- 12 credits minimum of advisor approved 5000 level or higher ECE, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Math, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics (not including EE 5991)
- 12 credits maximum of 4000 level if approved by the Graduate Academic Advisor.
At least 2 and up to a maximum of 6 credits of EE5991 Project Research.
A maximum of 3 credits of co-op experience.
Students must meet the Graduate School's requirements for degree completion.
To help expedite degree completion, a student should begin to work with a faculty research advisor at the time of application to the Master's program.

Online Focus Area

Earn a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a focus on power systems, from the comfort of your office or home. View lectures at your convenience. Off-campus students enroll in the same classes as on-campus students. Both follow the same syllabus and schedule and, with few exceptions, complete the same coursework.

Coursework Option

With 30 credits required over a four-year period we offer a minimum of 21 course credits in electric power. The faculty will work with you to identify other courses, either at Michigan Tech or other universities, to fill out your degree program.

The student version of MATLAB software is required and can be purchased through MTU's Campus Bookstore

Request Information

How to Apply

Graduate Program Director:

Aurenice Oliveira

Graduate Program Assistant:

Lynn McCormick

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

1 Letter of Recommendation (waived for online students and Michigan Tech undergrads)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
No GRE required
No Additional Documents Accepted

International Students

TOEFL scores as of January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 5
- For tests taken before January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 100 iBT
IELTS: Recommend Score of 7.0 overall<

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 4.5 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: February 15

Spring Semester: August 15

Summer: Please contact the Graduate Program Director

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Electrical and Computer Engineering Accelerated MS Additional Information

The Accelerated MS degree option is for students who have earned their BS at Michigan Tech. Due to this, students pursuing this path have different admission requirements. This has allowed the program to be designed to give students a more efficient pathway to an advanced degree.

Accelerated MS Admission and Program Requirements

Program Specific

Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Robotics Engineering
Other majors considered on a case-by-case basis

Credits

Students must earn 30 credits past the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer System Science, or Software Engineering to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering (MSEE); however, up to nine credits taken as an undergraduate student can be applied toward both the BS and MSEE, so long as they satisfy the requirements for both degrees, and the student completes a minimum of 152 combined credits (without double counting any credits). Double-counted courses must be clearly identified on the student's graduate degree schedule and approved by their graduate advisor. If Michigan Tech students have earned senior rule credits they will apply to the graduate degree.

GPA

Only students in good academic standing are eligible to enter the Electrical and Computer Engineering Accelerated Master's programs. A student must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for the program at the time they apply. Undergraduate students who are accepted to the program must maintain an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 for the remainder of their undergraduate studies or they will be dropped from the Accelerated Master's program with no readmission possible (but may continue in the graduate program provided the usual requirements, e.g. GPA of 3.0 or higher, are met).

Undergraduate students must apply for admission to the Accelerated Master's program through the standard Graduate School application.
The Accelerated Master's program requires students to be accepted into the Graduate School and the Master of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering program prior to the awarding of a Bachelor's degree. Students can apply anytime after they reach junior-level status as an undergraduate.
Students eligible for the Accelerated Master's program must complete their BS in the Michigan Tech Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
Students already enrolled in a graduate program may not retroactively enroll in the Electrical or Computer Engineering Accelerated Master's program.

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.