Computer Engineering, MS

Degree: Master of Science (MS)
Field of Study: Computer Engineering


Admission

Graduate students shall be admitted to one of three MS degree tracks (thesis-focused, project-focused, course-focused) upon recommendation of the faculty of the Department.  Requirements for admission include a strong record of scholarship in a completed bachelor's degree program in a field of engineering, mathematical or physical sciences, and fluency in written and spoken English. 

For a thesis-focused or project-focused track, the University requires all foreign applicants to show English proficiency by achieving a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the internet-based exam.  For a course-focused track, a minimum TOEFL score of 80 is required.  If there is any professional student-to-student interaction, e.g. as a teaching assistant, a lab instructor, or a tutor, then a minimum TOEFL score of 90 is required. 

Submission of GRE scores for graduate applications is NOT required.  Applications from students with a bachelor's degree in fields other than those listed above may be granted admission on a provisional basis.  Such provisional students may be advanced to full standing upon completion of prerequisite conditions stipulated in the letter of admission.

Registration

Course registration is performed through the Student Information System (SIS). Each semester before registration, students should update any personal information that may have changed by logging into SIS and editing the appropriate information.  All registration holds must be lifted in order to successfully complete the registration process.

Advising

Upon admission to the graduate program, each graduate student is assigned an academic advisor to assist in registration as well as planning a program of study (Academic Program).  This is a temporary assignment made by the Department Chairperson based on the student's academic and research interests as identified at the time of application.

During the first semester in the program, it is strongly suggested that each student meet with various members of faculty to discuss academic objectives/goals and research opportunities.  In order to complete the research component of their respective degree program, each student must identify a faculty member who is willing to serve as the student's research advisor.  Students are expected to pick a research advisor by the end of their first semester in the program who will supervise their thesis or project. Each student, in consultation with their advisor, must submit an Academic Program preferably before completing 9 credit hours of coursework.  This should specify all courses and thesis work that will be counted toward the 30 credit hour requirement. 

The research advisor will also serve as the student’s permanent academic advisor if they are a member of the department faculty.  If, however, the research advisor is not a member of the department faculty, the student is required to find a permanent academic advisor from the department faculty.  For students enrolled in an MS Thesis-Focused degree program, the research advisor is commonly known as the “thesis advisor”.

Students may change advisors for a variety of reasons of which one of the most common is a change of the student's field of interest.  It should be noted that a change in research advisor may require that the student start a new research project, which could result in delaying graduation.  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the ECSE Office of Student Affairs in the event of a change in advisor.  In addition, the student must file all appropriate forms with Graduate Studies.

Appeals

Any decision by an academic advisor, thesis guidance committee or department associate chairperson may be appealed, in writing, to the department associate chairperson who shall present the appeal, with their recommendations, to the faculty at its next regular faculty meeting. The faculty's decision shall be final.

Other Regulations

All students pursuing graduate studies in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering must abide by the academic regulations of the School of Graduate Studies and the Case School of Engineering contained in the most recent issue of the Bulletin of Case Western Reserve University, and supplemented by the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering regulations.

Graduate Policies

For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.