Masters of Science Degrees
The Master’s Degrees offered in the electrical and computer engineering department can enhance and strengthen a career in industry. The degree is designed for the recent graduate or professional who wishes to expand their engineering knowledge, with or without a thesis, depending on the degree. The degrees emphasize practical aspects of engineering, along with management and communication coursework, allowing graduates to rapidly advance in their career.
The degrees are a bridge to industry, designed to provide advanced learning and specialized training in the applied aspects of ECE technology.
Your success is at the forefront, with a variety of programs in-place to help you succeed as a researcher. These include panels and workshops covering research skills, Ph.D. careers in academia or industry, technical communication, and job hunting.
Purposeful Academics
Programs at NC State provide a variety of excellent education and research opportunities for outstanding students from around the world. With constant feedback from employers and alumni, our courses are carefully designed—including complex projects, demonstrable knowledge and real-world skills. Employers know our graduates are ready to be productive from their first day at work.
Financial Support
We’re committed to our students, making every effort to ensure that your time on our vibrant campus prepares you for your future.
We work with our Master’s students to provide financial support from fellowships, scholarships, and financial aid as you progress with your degree.
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Thesis and Non-Thesis
With thesis and non-thesis variants of the Master’s degree, our students are a critical part of a nationally recognized research program in power electronics, power systems, nanoelectronics, photonics, communications, controls and robotics, signal processing, and machine learning.
Students develop the analytical, technical and engineering design skills necessary to innovate and create electronic components, sensors and systems which are the foundation for mobile and deep space communications, optical networks, robotics, biomedical devices, renewable energy sources, power generation and distribution, vehicle electronics, imaging systems, and all consumer electronics.
Academic Advisor
- Dr. Ginger Yu
Areas of Specialization
- Circuits
- Communications
- Microwave Circuits and Applied Electromagnetics
- Nanoelectronics and Photonics
- Power Electronics and Power Systems
- Robotics, Mechatronics, Control and Instrumentation
- Signal Processing and Computational Intelligence
Requirements
Plan of Work: EE and CPE Requirements
Minimum Overall and Major (ECE courses) GPA to Graduate: 3.0
Credit Hours Required to Graduate: 31
Maximum hours transferred from another institution: 12
Residency Requirement: 1 year
#3 in Online Electrical Engineering Master’s Programs
NC State ranks #3 in top online electrical engineering master’s degree. Online master’s in electrical engineering programs lead to master of engineering and master of science in engineering degrees in a host of specializations.
Masters of Science in Computer Engineering
Thesis and Non-Thesis
Our Computer Engineering Master’s (thesis and non-thesis) programs prepare students to succeed in a world where computers are now embedded in nearly everything ranging from smartphones and household appliances to autonomous vehicle systems and medical diagnostic systems. They now involve not only computation, but multi-modal sensing, signal processing, machine learning, communications and cyber-physical systems. Functions that were previously considered to be strictly software or strictly hardware can no longer be distinguished in that way.
Providing hands-on experience through projects within their coursework, and through collaborations with leading researchers, we provide an in-depth understanding of the concepts of digital and mixed-signal integrated circuit design; of computer architecture, networks, and system software; and of cutting-edge machine learning techniques.
Academic Advisor
- Dr. Ginger Yu
Areas of Specialization
- Computer Architecture
- Networking
- Software
- VLSI Systems
Requirements
Plan of Work: EE and CPE Requirements
Minimum Overall and Major (ECE courses) GPA to Graduate: 3.0
Credit Hours Required to Graduate: 31
Maximum hours transferred from another institution: 12
Residency Requirement: 1 year
#2 in Online Computer Engineering Master’s Programs
NC State ranks #2 in top online computer engineering master’s degree. Online master’s in computer engineering programs lead to master of engineering and master of science in engineering degrees in a host of specializations.
Masters of Science in Computer Networking
Thesis and Non-Thesis
The Computer Networking Master’s program (thesis and non-thesis) is a joint effort between Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering, in collaboration with the College of Management, and is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in operations, services, development, and research in the networking and IT industries.
With input from the diverse computing industry in the Triangle Area, this exciting program provides a wide variety of technical courses in computer networking, supplemented with management courses, for a truly unique educational opportunity. We offer an optional Professional Science Master’s concentration to encourage students to develop workplace skills highly valued by employers while pursuing their degree.
Master’s graduates in computer networking are in increasing demand throughout industry as world markets increase their reliance on deploying and securing networking infrastructure.
Academic Advisor
- Dr. Mihail Sichitiu
Areas of Specialization
- Networking Design
- Network Hardware
- Network Software
- Networking Services
- Internet of Things
Requirements
Minimum Overall and Major (ECE courses) GPA to Graduate: 3.0
Credit Hours Required to Graduate: 31
Maximum hours transferred from another institution: 12
Residency Requirement: 1 year
FREEDM + MS-EPSE: A Unique Partnership
Created in 2008, the FREEDM Systems Center is building the internet of energy and unlocking barriers to electrification. MS-EPSE students benefit from hands-on training and opportunities provided through FREEDM industry partners.
Master of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering
Non-Thesis
This non-thesis master’s degree program provides graduate students a thorough understanding of the tools, methods, and practice of electric power engineering. The program provides an education that is directly applicable to a career in industry—and shaped with constant input from industry partners. It is suitable for a new or recent graduate, as well as experienced professionals who want to receive the necessary retraining to change careers.
The program includes professional skills training through two integrated courses that introduce project management, communication skills, and the business aspects of electric power utilities; solid hands-on experience with a capstone project; and industry experience and exposure by involving experts from industry in teaching.
Partnering with the NSF FREEDM Systems Center on campus, the degree program provides a curriculum that enables graduates to develop devices, simulations, and algorithms to study and control the power distribution system, with the goal of preventing blackouts, integrating renewable energy, and making this critical infrastructure more reliable and more secure around the world.
Academic Advisor
- Dr. Mesut Baran
Requirements
Minimum Overall and Major (ECE courses) GPA to Graduate: 3.0
Credit Hours Required to Graduate: 30
Maximum hours transferred from another institution: 12
Residency Requirement: 1 year
Financial Aid/Funding
Students are funded through Fellowships, Teaching Assistant appointments and Research Assistant appointments. For more information visit the ECE Department Fellowships and Graduate School Financial Support webpages.
Accelerate Your Master’s
Continue Your Education Online
As an accredited land grant institution, NC State University strives to serve the people of North Carolina and the world beyond. To further this mission, the College of Engineering established distance engineering programs in 1978. This division, now Engineering Online, eliminates the barriers of the physical campus and engages students around the world. By providing distance engineering and computer science courses for both academic credit and professional development, Engineering Online allows distance learners to remotely access the same quality education and academic resources available to on-campus students.
The ECE Department distance education degree programs are limited to those individuals who work or reside in the United States and to United States military personnel serving overseas. We accept International applications from applicants who are affiliated with a partnering corporation. For more information visit the Engineering Online website.
Accelerated Degrees
The Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) degree program allows exceptional undergraduate students at NC State an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits (500 or 700 level) and obtain a non-thesis master’s degree within 12 months of completing the bachelor’s degree or obtain a thesis based master’s degree within 24 months of completing the bachelor’s degree.
Graduate Plans of Work
The Plan of Work is a formal list of the courses a graduate student plans to enroll in to complete the academic requirements for the desired degree. The Plan of Work must be completed online in consultation with the Advisor and Advisory Committee. Master’s students must submit their Plan of Work at the beginning of the semester in which they intend to graduate. Doctoral students must submit their Plan of Work and their Advisory Committee prior to taking the Preliminary Oral Examination. Details of ECE degree requirements are given in the ECE Graduate Student Handbook.
Consult the Master’s Plan of Work Worksheet for more information.
Examples of recommended Plans of Work in various specialty areas are given below.
Graduate Catalog
The Graduate Catalog contains Graduate School requirements and pertinent information for individual graduate programs, a current list of graduate faculty, and a selection of other resources for new students.
Course Details & Specialty Areas
Find out more about the various specialty areas of research and instruction and the relevant courses offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Still have questions?
The staff of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Office is available to answer any questions you may have.