Electrical and Computer Engineering

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M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering

Title:  Department ChairTitle:  Graduate Coordinator
Chair:  Dr. Xiaojun (Ashley) GengName:  Dr. Xiaojun (Ashley) Geng
Office:  JD 4509Office:   Jacaranda Hall 3343
Phone:  (818) 677-2190  Phone:   (818) 677-4755
Email: xjgeng@csun.edu
Emailxjgeng@csun.edu

1. Admission to the Graduate Program

  1. A Baccalaureate degree in a technical field *(e.g., Engineering, Physics or Mathematics from an accredited university or college) with an overall GPA of at least 2.75.
  2. Have at least a 2.7 undergraduate GPA in the last sixty semester units or ninety quarter units attempted.
  3. International students are required to submit a brief statement of purpose and 3 letters of recommendation.

2. Prerequisite Courses

Regardless of an undergraduate degree, ALL students must fulfill with a 3.0 GPA or higher, the undergraduate prerequisite courses in Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering outlined below.

** The ECE Graduate Coordinator will determine which course(s) will be required.

 Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescription
MATH 150ACalculus I
MATH 150BCalculus II
MATH 250Calculus III
MATH 280 or ECE 280Applied Differential Equations
PHYS 220A/LMechanics and Lab
PHYS 220B/LElectricity and Magnetism and Lab
ECE 206/LComputing in Engineering and Science and Lab
ECE 240/LElectrical Engineering Fundamentals and Lab
ECE 309Numerical Methods in Electrical Engineering, or Numerical Analysis of Engineering Systems
ECE 320/LTheory of Digiital Systems and Lab
ECE 340/LElectonics I and Lab
ECE 350Linear Systems I
ECE 351Linear Systems II
ECE 370Electromagnetism Fields and Waves I
ECE 450Probabilistic Systems in electrical Engineering - Design and Anlysis
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering
ECE 4XX and ECE 4YYTwo 400-Level Classes Relevant to Study Objective and Appoved by Graduate Coordinator

3. Advancement to Classified Graduate Status

  1. Fulfill University requirements for classified status.
  2. Complete prerequisite courses with 3.0 GPA or higher.
  3. Submit a tentative program of graduate study approved by the ECE graduate coordinator.
  4. Minimum grade in any course taken must be "C" or better while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or  higher.

For further questions and/or academic advisement, please call the ECE office at (818) 677-2190 to schedule an appointment with the ECE graduate coordinator.

For the Degree:

  1. Completion of 30 units under either the Thesis Plan or the Project Plan or 33 units under the Comprehensive Exam Plan.  Note:  Students may not take a course (counting toward an MSEE degree) which is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward ones undergraduate program.
  2. Formal approval of granting the degree by the Engineering Faculty.

Thesis Plan:

  1. 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 15 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses.
  2. 6 units of ECE 698(Thesis) and a successful oral defense of the thesis before the thesis committee.

Project Plan:

  1. 27 units of coursework applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses.
  2. 3 units of ECE 698 (Graduate Project) culminating in a comprehensive report.

Comprehensive Exam Plan:

  1. 30 units of coursework applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 21 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses.
  2. 3 units of ECE 697 (Directed Comprehensive Studies) and completion of the comprehensive exam with a grade of B or better.

Graduate Program:

The 30 units of coursework in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study that consists of suggested and elective courses from one of the seven options currently offered in the ECE department.  The Thesis Plan must not include  graded ECE 699 C (Independent Study) and the Project Plan may include at most 3 graded units of ECE 699 (Independent Study).   Any additional ECE 699  units  may be taken as CR/NCR only.

4. Admission Procedure and University Rules

Application forms can be accessed through Cal State Apply and are submitted online. The code number for the MSEE is 562440M. Application deadlines for admission are set by the Office of Admissions.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must receive a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based or 79/80 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Besides TOEFL and IELTS,  CSUN currently accept other tests such as Duolingo. All acceptable English language tests and minimum scores are listed at  https://www.csun.edu/prospective-students/international/graduate.

Continuing students in either post-baccalaureate or graduate status may change their objective and seek admission to M.S. in Electrical Engineering by filling out a change of objective form.

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all University regulations and restrictions such as:

  1. No more than 9 units of transfer or extension work
  2. Probation and Disqualification
  3. Repeat of courses rules
  4. Advancement to Candidacy
  5. Academic leave
  6. 7-years time limit for the completion of the degree
  7. Graduation with Distinction
  8. No more than 9 units of 400 level courses.

For details on the above, students are advised to attend one of the ECE graduate orientation meetings to meet with the Graduate Coordinator. Prior to the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by the Graduate Coordinator. After the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by their Committee Chair. All courses taken towards the MS degree must be approved by the Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator.

5. Required Courses (30 units)

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Within this degree students may choose an area of concentration in Biomedical Engineering, Communications and Radar Engineering, Control Engineering, Digital and Computer Engineering, Electronics, Solid State Devices and Integrated Circuits Engineering, Microwave and Antenna Engineering and Power Systems Engineering. Suggested courses for each of the concentrations are indicated in the listings that follow. 

Note: No more than 9 units of ECE 400 level courses are applicable toward an MSEE degree.

In general, graduate students are not required to take ECE labs of 400-level courses. However, some courses may require the concurrent enrollment in the lab sections. Students are advised to meet with an advisor as soon as possible to plan their program. All graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

Core Courses: Students are required to complete the following core courses.

Engineering Mathematics

Select one course from the following:

ECE 580 Digital Control Systems (3)
ECE 650 Random Processes (3)

Engineering Physics

Select one course from the following:

ECE 545 Solid State Devices (3)
ECE 571 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II (3)
ECE 578 Photonics (3)

Engineering Circuits

Select one course from the following:

ECE 524/L FPGA/ASIC Design and Optimization Using VHDL and Lab (3/1)
ECE 526/L Digital Design with Verilog and System Verilog and Lab (3/1)

Engineering Systems

Select one course from the following:

ECE 501 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (3)
ECE 511 Distributed Energy Generation (3)
ECE 561 Digital Communication Systems (3)

 

6. Suggested Courses for Biomedical Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 401/LElectrical Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab3/1
ECE 425/LMicroprocessor Systems and Lab3/1
ECE 440/LElectronics II and Lab3/1
ECE 442/LDigital Electronics and Lab3/1
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
ECE 480LFundamentals of Control Systems and Lab3/1
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 501Introduction to Biomedical Engineering3
ECE 503Biomedical Instrumentation3
ECE 602Biomedical Engineering I3
ECE 603Biomedical Engineering II3
ECE 650Random Processes3
ECE 580Digital Control3
ECE 581Fuzzy Control3

7. Suggested Courses for Communications Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 450Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering - Design and Analysis3
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
ECE 451/LReal-time Digital Signal Processing and Lab2/1
ECE 460/LIntroduction to Communication Systems and Lab3/1
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 561/LDigital Communications Systems and Lab3/1
ECE 562Data Communication Networks3
ECE 635Error Detection and Correction Systems Design3
ECE 637Pattern Recognition3
ECE 642RF Electronics Design3
ECE 650Random Processes3
ECE 651Digital Signal Processing I3
ECE 652Digital Signal Processing II3
ECE 658Signal Detection and Estimation Theory3
ECE 659Information Theory and Coding3
ECE 660Modulation Theory and Coding3
ECE 661Wireless Communications3
ECE 665Radar Systems3
ECE 666/LFiver-Optic Communications and Lab3/1
ECE 669Advanced Topics in Communications/Radar3

8. Suggested Courses for Control Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 410/LElectrical Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab3/1
ECE 411Electric Power Systems3
ECE 450Probabilistic Systems in Electrical Engineering - Design and Analysis3
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
ECE 480/LFundamentals of Control Systems and Lab3/1
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 580Digital Control Systems3
ECE 581Fuzzy Control3
ECE 650Random Processes3
ECE 651Digital Signal Processing I3
ECE 652Digital Processing II3
ECE 681Nonlinear Control Systems3
ECE 682State Variables in Automatic Control3
ECE 683Optimal Control3
ECE 684Stochastic Control3

9. Suggested Courses for Digital and Computer Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 420Digital Systems Design w/ Programmable Logic3
ECE 422Design of Digital Computers3
ECE 425/LMicroprocessor Systems3/1
ECE 442/LDigital Electronics3/1
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 520/LSystem On Chip Design and lab3/1
ECE 524/LFPGA/ASIC Design and Optimiation Using VDHL and Lab3/1
ECE 526/LVerilog HDL for Digital Integrated Circuit Design and Lab3/1
ECE 527/LApplication Specific Integrated Circuit Development and Lab3/1
ECE 546Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design3
ECE 620Advanced Switching Theory3
ECE 621Computer Arithmetic Design3
ECE 622Digital System Structure3
ECE 623Diagnosis and Reliable Design of Digital Systems3
ECE 624Digital Systems Design Automation and VHDL Modeling3
ECE 625Microprocessor Interfacing and Applications3
ECE 629CSeminar in Digital Systems and Components3
ECE 635Error Detection and Correction Systems Design3
ECE 639Robotic Sensing and Computer Vision3

10. Suggested Courses for Electronics, Solid State Devices and Integrated Circuits Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 440/LElectronics II and Lab3/1
ECE 442/LDigital Electronics and Lab3/1
ECE 443/LPulse and Waveshapring Circuit Design and Lab3/1
ECE 445Introduction to Solid State Devices3
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 545Solid State Devices3
ECE 546Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design3
ECE 571Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II3
ECE 572/LRF and Microwave Active Circuit Design3
ECE 578Photonics3
ECE 640Modern Electronic Techniques3
ECE 642RF Electronics Design3
ECE 648Electrical Network Theory3
ECE 649Active Network Synthesis3
ECE 650Random Processes3
ECE 673Microwave Semiconductor Devices3

11. Suggested Courses for Microwave and Antenna Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 445Introduction to Solid State Devices3
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 545Solid State Devices3
ECE 546Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design3
ECE 571Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II3
ECE 572/LMicrowave Active Circuits and Lab3/1
ECE 578Photonics3
ECE 642RF Electronics Design3
ECE 648Electrical Network Theory3
ECE 650Random Processes3
ECE 665Radar Systems3
ECE 671Microwave Engineering3
ECE 672Advanced Microwave Circuit Design3
ECE 673Microwave Semiconductor Devices3
ECE 674Antenna Engineering3
ECE 675Seminar in Antenna Engineering3
ECE 676Numerical Techniques in Applied Electromagnetic3
ECE 677Lasers and Masers3

12. Suggested Courses for Power Systems Engineering

Recommended Prerequisite Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 410/LElectrical Machines and Energy Conversion and Lab3/1
ECE 411Electric Power Systems3
ECE 412Power Electronics and Motor Control3
ECE 440/LElectronics II and Lab3/1
ECE 455Mathematical Models in Electrical Engineering3
ECE 460/LIntroduction to Communication Systems and Lab3/1
ECE 480/LFundementals of Control Systems and Lab3/1
Elective Courses
ClassDescriptionUnits
ECE 610Fault Analysis in Power Systems3
ECE 611Power Distribution Systems3
ECE 612Selected Topics in Power Systems3
ECE 666/LFiber-Optic Communications and Lab3/1

13. Faculty Areas of Specialization