Departmental Overview

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers advanced studies leading to the Master of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering with specialization in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The goals of the MS program are to prepare graduates with advanced engineering and research skills and state-of-the-art knowledge in selected areas for positions in industry and for advanced studies towards the Ph.D. The MS-ECE degree program can be pursued with either a thesis option or a non-thesis option.

The departmental faculty have expertise in the following areas of electrical engineering: circuits and signal processing; control, robotics and instrumentation, digital systems, computers, and VLSI circuit design; nuclear engineering; physical phenomenon and lasers; electric power; and telecommunications, wireless communications and networking. Graduate students may carry out their research for their thesis/dissertation in any one (1) of the above areas under the supervision of a faculty member having expertise in that area. Faculty advisors assist graduate students in developing individual programs of study depending on their career goals and thesis/dissertation research interests. The student's advisory committee assists the student in the development and execution of the program of study and monitors and evaluates the student's work towards the degree.

Many departmental faculty members actively participate in research related to the three Centers of Excellence operated within the University: two within the College of Engineering and one under the Office of Research & Economic Development. The resources and facilities of the Centers greatly enhance the graduate program of the Department.

Departmental Admission Requirements

An applicant for admission to the College of Engineering is expected to have earned a BS degree from an approved program, or its equivalent.

Admission is decided based on a multi-parameter criterion that can include the following items to be evaluated by the department: *undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,

*GRE® General Test (GRE) scores with Quantitative greater than or equal to 50%; Verbal greater than or equal to 33%; Analytical Writing greater than or equal to 33%. Students with BS degrees in related fields from TTU are not required to take the GRE.

*Three (3) letters of recommendation that demonstrate strong evidence for success in the graduate program.

*Availability of appropriate faculty to serve as research advisor(s).

*Participation in undergraduate research.

*Post-BS degree professional experience relevant to planned degree of study.

*Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or award-winning presentations in technical conferences.

International students must score at least 550 (213 computer-based or 79 internet-based) on the TOEFL or a minimum base score of 6.0 on the IELTS.

Based on the level of satisfaction of the above criterion, the department will either recommend admission to Full Standing, Provisional Standing, or Special Standing, or deny admission.

Standing status may be changed to Full Standing after the student satisfies the requirements specified by the department at the time of admission.

Note: The program is designed for graduates of approved undergraduate programs. Thus, a baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering is required for full standing. Applicants that have an undergraduate degree in a closely related field will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be admitted to full standing upon completion of identified background courses.

Fast Track MS Program


The Fast Track program is designed to enable TTU ECE undergraduates to accumulate up to six (6) credit hours of graduate coursework while still pursuing their undergraduate degree and to transition to the graduate program smoothly, with accelerated completion. Up to six (6) hours of graduate coursework, exclusive of directed study, taken during the student's senior year can be used to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. These courses must be taken at Tennessee Tech University and must be approved as appropriate substitutions in the undergraduate curriculum for senior ECE electives. In order to remain in the Fast Track program, the student must demonstrate ongoing scholarship by continuing to meet the GPA admission requirements during the semester that the student enrolls in the first of their graduate courses. The student must earn a minimum grade of "B" in the graduate courses in order to apply them to their M.S. program of study and to continue in the Fast Track program. Additionally, Fast Track students will be integrated into ECE research projects and/or capstone design projects while enrolled as seniors with the expectation that this research will directly coordinate with their M.S. thesis research. Either a thesis or non-thesis M.S. option may be pursued. ECE Fast Track students that graduate with their B.S. in the spring semester can be expected to complete their M.S. requirements in either the spring or summer term of the following calendar year.

Fast Track students are only eligible for graduate teaching or research assistantship during the fifth (graduate) year of their studies. Students who do not succeed in their first graduate course during their senior year (B grade or better) will be advised to withdraw from the Fast Track program and complete their B.S. degree in a normal manner.