Graduate Degree Programs Summary

• Please refer to the current ECE Graduate Handbook for full information. The following is a summary only.
• Students may pursue the research-oriented Master of Science degree program under either Plan A or Plan B.
• A coursework-only Master's degree is available through the Master of Engineering program.
• Students admitted to the doctoral program fulfill the Ph.D. requirements.

Masters Degree Plan A Summary

Course or thesis credits earned more than 6 years ago cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Any student admitted to the ECE MS or PhD program after the Fall 2010 must take the written qualifying examination at its next offering. MS and PhD students will have two opportunities to pass the exam at the required level (60% for MS and 80% for PhD). The exam will typically be offered on the third Thursday of Fall and Spring Terms.

Students must assemble a graduate committee and file the program of study proposal by the middle of their second term. A faculty committee consists of three to five faculty representing student's major and supporting courses areas. An MSU-Bozeman faculty member must serve as chair. If more than 9 credits of the program are from a "supporting course area," the committee must have a member from that area. A majority of committee members must be from the major department, and majority must be from MSU-Bozeman.

Failure to assemble committee and file program proposal by the end of your second semester disqualifies the student for financial support (GRA, GTA etc.)

Program changes must be filed before the end of the affected semester(s).

You must be registered for 3 credits during the term in which you take the comprehensive exam and/or thesis defense and during the term of graduation.

The following deadlines apply to the graduation term:

• File application for Advanced Degree with Grad Studies and the Registrar (by third Friday of term).
• Submit Thesis Outline, if required by the department, to the Thesis Committee (three member subset of Graduate Committee) for approval.
• Schedule Comprehensive Oral Examination and Thesis Defense (two weeks prior to exam).
• Deliver completed Thesis to full Graduate Committee (at least one week prior to exam).

Remember, your committee may require changes or corrections to your thesis, so you should be giving them ample time prior to your defense to read and comment on the document, in order that you can make requested changes and still meet all of your deadlines.

• Pass Comprehensive Oral examination and Thesis Defense (at least two weeks prior to end of term).
• Deliver signed Thesis to Grad Studies (at least two weeks prior to end of term).

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Masters Degree Plan B Summary

Course credits earned more than 6 years ago cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Any student admitted to the ECE MS or PhD program after the Fall 2010 must take the written qualifying examination at its next offering. MS and PhD students will have two opportunities to pass the exam at the required level (60% for MS and 80% for PhD). The exam will typically be offered on the third Thursday of Fall and Spring Terms.

Students must assemble a graduate committee and file the program of study proposal by the middle of their second term. A faculty committee consists of three to five faculty representing student's major and supporting courses areas. An MSU-Bozeman faculty member must serve as chair. If more than 9 credits of the program are from a "supporting course area," then the committee must have a member from that area. A majority of committee members must be from the major department, and majority must be from MSU-Bozeman.

Failure to assemble committee and file program proposal by the end of your second semester disqualifies the student for financial support (GRA, GTA etc.)

Program changes must be filed before the end of the affected semester(s).

You must be registered for 3 credits during the term in which you take the comprehensive exam and/or thesis defense and during the term of graduation.

The following deadlines apply to the graduation term:

• File application for Advanced Degree with the Grad Studies and the Registrar (by third Friday of term).
• Schedule Comprehensive Oral Examination and Thesis Defense (two weeks prior to exam).

Oral exams may be scheduled to occur during either the 5th week or the 13th week of the semester. The 5th week exams are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to retake an exam, should it be necessary, without jeopardizing your graduation date.

• Pass Comprehensive Oral Examination (at least two weeks ahead of term).

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Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering Summary

Course credits earned more than 6 years ago cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Students in the Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering program do not need an assigned advisor or a supervisory committee. The qualifying examination is not required. Program questions can be addressed to the ECE Graduate Coordinator. You must be registered for 3 credits during the term in which you complete the degree requirements. The Application for Advanced Degree must be filed before the deadline (typically the third Friday of the term).

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Ph.D. Requirements Summary

It is typical for a Ph.D. student to earn about 24 credits above the M.S. level, in addition to a dissertation (minimum of 18 credits). In progress toward this degree, the students must pass the following examinations:

• A written qualifying examination is required for all doctoral students in their first year of work beyond the Master's degree.
• A comprehensive examination to be taken six to twelve months after the qualifying examination has been completed.
• A final oral examination relating to the defense of an acceptable thesis based on the student's research.

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