MS Computer Engineering

Overview

Thesis and non-thesis options are available for the M.S. Computer Engineering. For a non-thesis degree, a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework is required. Thesis options require 30 credit hours, of which six credits of ECE699 shall be devoted to individual study with a graduate faculty member. This work must culminate in preparing a written thesis on a significant problem of common interest and an oral defense of the thesis. Students completing a thesis must also complete one credit of Responsible Conduct of Research training.  At the advisory committee’s or Graduate Coordinator’s discretion, this credit may be substituted for one of the 6 required thesis/dissertation credits (ECE699).

To obtain a master’s degree in Computer Engineering, a student must have at least a GPA of 3.0 for all courses taken as a graduate student. In both the non-thesis and thesis options, at least 18 credit hours must be ECE course credit hours.

Admission Requirements

For students to become candidates for a Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering, they must either have completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering or at least demonstrated its equivalent, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale).  If students do not hold a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, they must complete or demonstrate the equivalent to at least three of the following five prerequisite courses:  Introduction to Unix Systems Administration (ECE 331), Embedded Systems (ECE 471), Computer Architecture and Organization (ECE 473), Digital Signal Processing (ECE 486), and Neural Networks (ECE 490). A student may be provisionally admitted to the program pending the completion of prerequisite course(s) with a grade of B or better.

Graduation Requirements

All students must register for one credit of ECE 598 Graduate Seminar during the first semester.  This seminar course’s pass/fail grade will be given upon graduation. At the advisory committee’s discretion, this seminar credit may be substituted for one of the 6 required thesis/dissertation credits (ECE699).  

The majority of course credits taken must be in Computer Engineering focused courses, that is 15 credit hours for thesis students and 18 credit hours for non-thesis students. Normally no more than 6 credits of ECE or COS 400-level coursework will be acceptable for graduate credit. In addition, no more than three credits of ECE599 courses may be taken toward fulfilling the requirements for a Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering. ECE699 cannot be counted as credits in the non-thesis Master’s programs. Degree candidates may also choose to take courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and other disciplines which are consistent with his/her program goals. All course work is documented in the student’s Program of Study (POS). This POS is discussed with and approved by the student’s thesis committee for thesis-based MS-CEN students, and by the student’s advisor for non-thesis students. Final approval rests with the Graduate Coordinator who must verify that the POS meets Graduate School and ECE requirements.

Catalog

Details about courses, graduate school policies, and schedules are available in the UMaine Graduate Catalog.