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The Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering offers two master's degree plans and one doctoral degree. We receive approximately 800 applications for admission to our MSEE/PhD programs for Fall semester each year. We recommend that students apply for the highest degree they think they would like to receive from the Electrical Engineering program at the University of Minnesota. The admissions committee will consider applicants for the degree they are requesting but can also decide to admit them to a different degree or contact them suggesting that they would like to admit them to a higher degree. Of the Fall semester 2007 pool of applicants, we admitted to our program approximately 150 PhD students and 75 MSEE students. We base admissions decisions primarily on your undergraduate academic record, your GRE scores, (TOEFL scores for International students,) statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. We generally do not consider applicants with an overall undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent). Occasionally, we will accept transfer students from other institutions or other University of Minnesota programs and apply the same admission criteria as for those who are submitting new outside applications to our program. Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)All master's degree plans include a total of 30 semester credits. Minimum course requirements for all master's degree plans include 14 credits from electrical engineering courses and 6 credits from courses outside electrical engineering in the minor or related field. On average, a student with an assistantship completes the MSEE program within two years after the award of the BS degree. The MSEE degree can be earned via the Plan A: Thesis option or the Plan C: Coursework Only option. The MSEE Plan A degree includes a total of 20 course credits and 10 thesis credits. The MSEE Plan C degree includes a total of 30 course credits, with the requirement that students complete independent research, a written report, and an oral presentation as part of their course work. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)The PhD degree requires a total of 40 semester credits and 24 thesis credits (if you enter with a MS degree, most course credits from your MSEE degree will count toward PhD course credit requirements). Minimum course requirements include 6 credits from 8000-level courses (the most advanced graduate-level courses offered), 14 credits in electrical engineering, and 12 semester credits in the minor or supporting program. The remainder of the course credits can be from electrical engineering or from the minor or related field. A minimum of 14 coursework credits must be taken at the University of Minnesota. A written preliminary examination based on undergraduate and first-year graduate material must be passed within the first year (if entering with a MS degree) or the second year of study (if entering with a BS degree). Students are given two chances to pass the exam. An oral preliminary examination is taken when the course work is substantially complete. On average, a student with an assistantship completes the PhD program within five or six years after award of the BS degree.
Financial SupportPriority for financial assistance is given to PhD students. Graduate School fellowships, teaching assistantships (TA) and research assistantships (RA) are available to new students. Outstanding applicants will be nominated for a Graduate School Fellowship which is a University-wide competition. Those nominees who are not awarded a Fellowship will be highly considered for TA/RA positions. Applicant files are available to our faculty members who may contact you directly about a research assistantship in their group. Not all of our admitted students will receive initial support, therefore, we urge you to give thought to how you are going to cover your financial expenses should you not receive a research or teaching assistantship the first semester. In addition to a stipend, fellows and teaching and research assistants (50% appointments; 20 hours work/week) receive full tuition for up to 14 semester credits and 95% health insurance for those not covered by another policy. We also encourage applicants to apply to external fellowships. Below are links to some programs that provide fellowships.
Opportunities after GraduationThe Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is a thriving center of high technology, with numerous large and small firms specializing in electronics, computers, telecommunications, magnetic storage, and biomedical devices. Over the years, students and faculty members have served as key sources of scientific and engineering talent, expertise, and entrepreneurial ideas for these enterprises. Most graduates find positions immediately upon completion of their degree program either in industry or academia.
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