GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 

94 Brett Road · Piscataway · New Jersey 08854-8058

 

Graduate Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering · (732) 445-2578

 

 

Website http://www.ece.rutgers.edu/

 

 

 

It is the policy of the Graduate Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, to make the benefits and services of its educational programs available to students without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, marital status, or veteran status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

1   Introduction                                                                                                         5

 

2   Admission Requirements                                                                                    5

            2.1 M.S. Program                                                                                           5

            2.2 Ph.D. Program                                                                                          6

            2.3 Non-Degree Students                                                                               6

 

3   M.S. Degree Requirements                                                                                 7

            3.1 Course Requirements  Colloquium Requirement - Located here                       7

            3.2 Master's Thesis                                                                                         10

            3.3 M.S.Technical Paper                                                                                11

            3.4 Master's Comprehensive Examination                                                    11

            3.5 Candidacy Forms/Deadlines                                                                    12

            3.6 Checklist for M.S. Degree - Thesis Option                                             12

            3.7 Checklist for M.S. Degree - Non-Thesis Option                                     13

 

4    Ph.D. Degree Requirements  Colloquium Requirement - Located here          13

            4.1 Ph.D. Qualifying Examination                                                                 14

            4.2 Proposal Presentation                                                                               15

            4.2.1 ECE Ph.D. Proposal Presentation Policy                                              15

            4.3 Dissertation Requirements                                                                       15

            4.4 Checklist for Ph.D. Degree                                                                      16

 

5    Scholastic Standing                                                                                            17

            5.1 Academic Probation                                                                                 17

            5.2 Degree Time Limits                                                                                 18

            5.3 Incomplete Grades                                                                                   18

            5.4 Full-Time Student Status Visa Requirements                                         18

 

6    New Graduate Student Information                                                                19

 

7    Ethics                                                                                                                   19

 

8    Appeals Procedures                                                                                           19

 

9    Financial Aid                                                                                                      19       

                                                                       

10  Transfer of Credits                                                                                            20

 

11  Registration Questions                                                                                      20

            11.1 Matriculation Continued                                                                                    20

            11.2 Application for Readmission                                                                 20

            11.3 Assistantship Registrations                                                                    20

            11.4 Special Problems Courses                                                                      20

            11.5 Undergraduate Courses                                                                          21

            11.6 Non-Credit Courses                                                                                21

 

12  Communication With Students                                                                        21              


13  Practical Training                                                                                              21

 

Appendix A    Guidelines for Ph.D. Qualifying Exam                                              23

Appendix B     Faculty Research Areas                                                                      34

Appendix C     Research Facilities                                                                             38

Appendix D    Graduate Courses                                                                               43

 

 

1.  Introduction

 

The faculty and students of the graduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering are divided into five specialization areas:

 

                                        Communications Engineering

                                                        Computer Engineering

                                                        Digital Signal Processing

                                                        Solid State Electronics

                                                        Systems and Control

 

         This information guide describes the degree requirements in these areas and clarifies the procedures used for admission into the M.S. and Ph.D. programs.

 

         The Graduate School catalog should be consulted for additional information regarding the general policies and procedures of the Graduate School.

 

2. Admission Requirements

 

Deadline for all M.S. applicants is January 5 for fall term admission. Deadlines for Ph.D. applicants are January 5 for fall term admission and October 1 for spring term admission. Admission materials are available from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions, 18 Bishop Place, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.

         Admission is competitive. Some applicants who meet or surpass the minimum requirements may be denied admission. Admission is recommended by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Admissions Committee and must be approved by the dean of the Graduate School.  All applicants must choose one out of five areas for graduate study in this department:  (1) Communications, (2) Computer Engineering, (3) Control Systems, (4) Digital Signal Processing, and (5) Solid State Electronics.

         Foreign nationals can only have full-time student status. US Citizens or Permanent Residents may have either full-time or part-time student status. Part-time students are subject to the same admission requirements as that for full-time students.

 

2.1. M.S. Program

 

 The requirements for admission into the master's degree program are:

 

     1.    A bachelor's degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 on a 4.0-point scale.

 

     2.    Three letters of recommendation

 

     3.    The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The minimum expected scores are:

     Verbal 600, Quantitative 730, Analytical  660 (Analytical Writing 4.5). The subject GRE in engineering is not required.

 

         In addition, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all foreign applicants whose native language is not English unless an undergraduate degree was received in the USA. A minimum score of 250 is expected. Students who obtain a TOEFL score below 250 may be accepted in exceptional cases, but will be required to attend classes in the Program in American Language Studies (PALS). This score corresponds to the new TOEFL Scores: Writing 22, Speaking 23, Reading 21, and Listening 17.

         Students with bachelor's degrees in closely related areas such as Physics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics or Engineering Technology may be considered for admission if they have outstanding GPA's and GRE's and after the following undergraduate electrical engineering courses are completed with a grade of B or better:

 

332:221,222          Principles of Electrical Engineering I,II

332:231                Digital Logic Design

332:252                Programming Methodology I

332:321                Probability and Random Processes

332:322                Principles of Communication Systems

332:331                Computer Architecture and Assembly Language

332:345                Linear Systems and Signals

332:346                Digital Signal Processing

332:361                Electronic Devices

332:362                Analog Electronics

332:366                Digital Electronics

332:382                Electromagnetic Fields

332:415                Introduction to Automatic Control

 

2.2. Ph.D. Program

 

 The requirements for admission into the Ph.D. degree program are:

 

     1.    A master's degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale and an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or better.

 

     2.    Letters of recommendation.

 

     3.    GRE examination with the same minimum scores as for the M.S. program.

 

Foreign applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree in the USA must also submit their TOEFL scores.

 

Students with masters degrees in closely related areas such as Physics, Computer Science, or Applied Mathematics may be accepted on the condition that some or all of the undergraduate EE courses listed in Section 2.1 be completed with a grade of B or better.

 

Students who have completed the M.S. degree requirements at Rutgers and wish to continue for the Ph.D. must meet the 3.5 GPA requirement and submit a change of status form to the graduate director for approval. Foreign students are also required to obtain the approval of the Financial Aid Office regarding their financial status. Final approval is made by the Graduate School.

 

2.3. Non-Degree Students

 

Qualified students may apply to the Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate program for nonmatriculated (nondegree) status. Students must have academic credentials that are comparable to those required for regular admission. Transcripts are required. Initial application is made through the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. The completed application materials are then submitted to the Nondegree Graduate Study program. Nondegree students must either be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.

       The course schedules of nonmatriculated students must be approved by the graduate director. After completing 12 credits of relevant graduate courses with a grade of B or better, a nonmatriculated student may apply for matriculated (degree) status. Only 12 credits of non-degree study are allowed.

         The criteria for admission into the regular degree programs for nonmatriculated students are the same as for regular degree students. The graduate secretary can provide more information to interested students.

 

3. M.S. Degree Requirements

 

Master of Science degree candidates may follow either a thesis or a nonthesis program of study.

         The thesis program requires 24 credits of course work, 6 credits of research leading to a master's thesis, and the final defense of the thesis.

          In the nonthesis program, the candidate must complete 30 credits of course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and write a technical paper which must be presented in public as a seminar and approved by at least three members of the ECE Graduate Faculty.

 

 3.1. Course Requirements

 

At least 15 credits for the thesis option and 21 credits for the nonthesis option, must be fulfilled by the required and elective courses that are relevant to the student's area of specialization. The computer engineering option has some additional requirements explained below. All M.S. Students are required to take 2 semesters of 16:332:699 Colloquium in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In order to be graded "Satisfactory", you must attend 80% of the lectures (attendance is taken).

         The elective courses must be approved by the student's advisor or the graduate director before registration. A list of recommended electives is provided under each area of specialization.

 

Communications Engineering