Electrical & Computer Engineering Degree Program

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department offers study leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in the field of study of Electrical Engineering with an area of concentration based on a wide selection of courses and research activities in the department. The official areas of concentration available under the Electrical Engineering Degree are as follows.

  1. Electronics, Photonics, and Biophotonics,
  2. Information, Communication, Decision, and Biosystems

The department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering for students whose primary area of research is in Computer Engineering.

An M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering for students interested in Nanotechnology is an option (see below under Electronics, Photonics, and Biophotonics.)

An M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering without an area of concentration is also available.


Information, Communication, Decision, and Biosystems

The ECE department offers a graduate program in Information, Communication, Decision, and Biosystems leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The emphasis of this program lies in the analysis and design of high-technology engineering systems using advanced mathematical tools and digital computation.

The areas in which graduate students typically pursue their advanced studies, via course offerings and independent research, include the following:

  • human/team decision making
  • adaptive control
  • multiobject and low-observable tracking
  • optimal control
  • combinatorial optimization
  • game theory
  • manufacturing systems
  • automated testing
  • power systems
  • communication theory
  • stochastic control
  • estimation and detection
  • digital control
  • tracking human cells
  • information theory and coding
  • adaptive signal processing
  • queuing networks
  • communication/computer networks
  • wireless communications
  • computational methods
  • distributed algorithms
  • fault tolerant system design and evaluation
  • digital and optical signal analysis and processing
  • holographic-based optical computing
  • optical pattern recognition and associative processing
  • neural networks
  • multivariable and mathematical system theory.

A wide range of M.S. and Ph.D. level courses are offered by the Systems faculty on these and related topics. Extensive government and industry sponsored research programs, under the direction of faculty that are leaders in their field, along with excellent research and educational facilities, create an ideal environment for graduate studies. The recognition of the faculty from this group is such that they have held top leadership positions in major conferences, professional organizations, and journal editorships.


Electronics, Photonics, and Biophotonics

Activities in this area include research in:

  • quantum electronics
  • optoelectronics
  • lasers
  • solar cells
  • electron transport theory
  • semiconductor device modeling
  • nanophotonics
  • fabrication and characterization
  • VLSI implementation
  • antenna design
  • microwave technology
  • acoustical and optical holography and imaging
  • dielectrics
  • medical imaging

The research programs in these areas are supported by a broad range of graduate courses and sponsored by industry and government agencies. The associated faculty members are well-recognized for their research contributions as evidenced by their positions in technical societies, conferences, and journal editorships.

Nanotechnology track

Under the Electronics, Photonics, and Biophotonics area of concentration, the students also have the option of pursuing the Nanotechnology track at the M.S. level. The suggested courses for this track are listed under Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (nonthesis).

Computer Engineering track

The ECE department offers a graduate program track in Computer Engineering leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The emphasis of this program lies in the analysis, design, implementation, optimization, and application of computing systems.

The areas in which graduate students typically pursue their advanced studies, via course offerings and independent research, include the following:

  • VLSI design and testing
  • computer-aided design and electronic design automation
  • low power design
  • application specific instruction set processors (ASIP)
  • computer architecture
  • computer systems
  • fault-tolerant and reliable computing
  • reconfigurable computing
  • embedded systems
  • storage systems
  • distributed systems
  • networking
  • communications
  • digital signal processing
  • sensor networks
  • mobile computing

The research programs in these areas are supported by a broad range of courses and sponsored by industry and government agencies.