Electrical Engineering, M.S.

On April 25, 2022, the CSU Chancellor’s Office issued a memo that GWAR will no longer apply to new and continuing graduate students (regardless of catalog year) at CSULB. Catalog copy has been updated on 07/21/2022 to account for this change.

This program affords an opportunity for engineers and others to advance their competency in analysis and design to better meet the high technology needs of local industry. Each student selects two core courses and three graduate courses in one area of emphasis, and the remaining courses must augment and support the area of emphasis. Some current examples of areas of emphasis are Biomedical, Communications/Networking/Digital Signal Processing, Power/ Control Systems, and Electronics/Digital System. Students will choose one of the two alternatives: thesis, or comprehensive exam. Successful completion of a thesis provides a unifying culmination to the program, and an enhanced resume for future industrial or academic endeavor. A limited number of laboratory and teaching assistantships are available to qualified graduate students.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in electrical engineering or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering, natural science or other appropriate program with the requirement that essential undergraduate deficiencies in electrical engineering are removed prior to Advancement to Candidacy.
The student should apply online at Cal State Apply. Do not send an application to the Department. International students should apply online at Cal State Apply or through the Center for International Education.

To be considered for admission the prospective graduate student must have attained a GPA of at least 2.8 for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted prior to entry in the MSEE program.

(Please note, the GRE is no longer required of applicants and has been removed from this list. 8/25/22)

Requirements

Take the following two courses:

E E 508 - Probability Theory and Random Processes (3 units)
E E 511 - Linear Systems Analysis (3 units)

Complete 30 unit minimum in 400-, 500-, or 600-level courses as approved in advance by the graduate advisor.

Select one of the following alternatives:

Thesis Alternative:

500/600-level EE courses including core and four courses forming the area of emphasis (18 units);
E E 698 Thesis or Industrial Project (6);
400/500/600-level courses in EE as elective courses (6 units), excluding E E 405 (Special Topics) and E E 490 (Special Problems);
A maximum of two 400 level EE elective courses are accepted toward MSEE degree.
Comprehensive Oral Exam on Thesis.

Comprehensive Exam Alternative:

500/600-level EE courses including core and four courses forming area of emphasis (18 units);
400/500/600-level EE courses as elective courses (12 units), excluding E E 405 (Special Topics) and E E 490 (Special Problems);
A maximum of two 400 level EE elective courses are accepted toward MSEE degree.
Comprehensive Written Exam on the area-of-emphasis.

Tentative Program

Upon matriculation graduate students must consult with the graduate advisor and a tentative program must be approved by the advisor by a few weeks into the first semester. The program must contain two core courses and exhibit an area of emphasis comprised of at least three related graduate courses (500 or 600 level). Students should obtain the MSEE Handbook, which covers the procedures and requirements, from the advisor or Electrical Engineering Department office or Electrical Engineering web site.

Advancement to Candidacy

At least one semester before the graduating semester students must advance to candidacy. To apply for advancement to candidacy students must satisfy the following requirements:

All deficiencies must have been completed with a GPA of at least 3.0.
Currently enrolled in a regular session.
Completion of at least 18 units as a graduate student in residence while maintaining both an overall GPA and a program GPA of at least 3.0. Students are advised to seek advancement by completing 18 units of the program.