Graduate Program

• Masters of Science Program
• Doctor of Philosopy Program
• Admissions Requirements
• Financial Aid Statement

Welcome

The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) offers graduate programs leading to the Masters of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. There are several active research areas in the EE Department, including solid state materials, optics, communications, signal processing, remote sensing, power, and VLSI design, for example. Details of the various research groups within the department can be viewed on the research homepage. Specific information concerning each faculty member can be viewed on the individual faculty homepages.

Lincoln has a population of approximately 200,000 and is the educational center and state capital of Nebraska. It is situated in a gently rolling terrain and has attractive wide streets, fine parks, and excellent public transportation and bicycle routes. The city has a strong, progressive public school system. The average educational level of Lincoln's citizens is one of the highest in the country. The University, two other colleges, and the community together offer a wide variety of rec12/18/200569, the Lincoln campus of the University of Nebraska is the state's land-grant university and the only comprehensive university in Nebraska. Through its three primary missions of learning, discovery and engagement, the University of Nebraska is the state's intellectual center and has been recognized by the Legislature as the primary research and doctoral-degree g 12/18/2005 select group of research universities that holds membership in the Association of American Universities - a distinction granted in 1909. Nebraska was the first university west of the Mississippi to establish a graduate college (in 1896); today, NU is one of the top 50 American universities in the number of doctoral degrees granted annually. The University of Nebraska boasts 22 Rhodes Scholars and two Nobel laureates among its alumni.

Masters of Science Program

The EE Department offers three programs leading to the MS degree in Electrical Engineering. The choice of MS option depends on the interests and future plans of the student. The length of time necessary to complete the MS program varies, but is typically two years for full-time enrollment.

• Option I: The vast majority of M.S. students in the EE Department choose Option I. Students considering a Ph.D. degree would also generally choose this option. For this degree option, a minimum of 30 credit hours and a written thesis are required. At least six credit hours must be taken as thesis research. Of the remaining hours, a minimum of 24 hours of formal course work must be taken with at least nine credit hours in graduate-only courses. Of the total minimum of 30 credit hours, at least 15 credit hours must be EE credits.
  
• Option II: Option II does not require thesis research and provides the student with a broader range of courses in his/her program. Normally, this option is not appropriate for students interested in continuing with a PhD degree. A minimum of 36 credit hours of formal course work are required and a single minor must be designated. The program must consist of a minimum of 18 credit hours in EE and nine hours in the minor field. A minimum of 12 credit hours of graduate-only courses are required.
  
• Option III: Option III is designed for students who anticipate continuing their graduate studies toward a Ph.D. degree here at UNL. This option does not require a masters thesis but has a minimum course requirement of 36 credit hours. At least 18 credit hours must be earned in graduate-only courses. A minimum of 18 credit hours must be EE courses. No minor is required.

Doctor of Philosophy Program

The Ph.D. program in the College of Engineering is a unified program with various participating fields, one of which is Electrical Engineering. The time necessary to complete the doctoral degree varies greatly, but three to four years beyond the M.S. degree is typical. A Ph.D. supervisory committee, in consultation with the student, arranges an appropriate program of study for completion of the doctoral requirements. A minimum of 90 graduate credit hours (including transfer hours from an approved MS degree) beyond the B.S. degree is required for a doctoral degree. At least 45 hours must be completed at UNL, and 27 credit hours must be completed within 18 consecutive months to satisfy the Ph.D. residency requirement. The University's language and research tool requirements are waived by the EE Department. After graduate course work has been substantially completed, the doctoral student must pass a written comprehensive examination administered by the supervisory committee.

In addition to graduate course work, doctoral students must complete a written Ph.D. dissertation with an oral presentation and defense. The dissertation topic must be approved by the supervisory committee and the Graduate Committee Chair. The dissertation itself should reveal a capacity to perform independent research and should represent a significant advancement of knowledge.

Admission Requirements

All applicants for either the M.S. or Ph.D. programs in Electrical Engineering must take the GRE general examination. There is no minimum score on the GRE examination although the average is approximately 775 on the Quantitative portion of the examination. Official transcripts and three letters of recommendation must be submitted along with the graduate application. Foreign students without a bachelors degree from a US institution are further required to take the TOEFL examination. The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 550 (213 computer-based). After the minimum requirements are met, the EE Graduate Committee evaluates each case on an individual basis.

Generally, applications for the Spring semester must be complete before the previous October 1st, and for the Fall semester must be complete before the previous March 1st. Formal and complete graduate application procedures for UNL are described in the Graduate Studies Admissions Guide. On-line applications and information request forms may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies.

• M.S. Admissions: Admission to the M.S. program in Electrical Engineering requires completion of undergraduate course work substantially equivalent to the BS Electrical Engineering program of the University of Nebraska. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in other areas may be admitted to the MS degree program with the requirement of additional course work to eliminate the deficiencies.
  
• Ph.D. Admissions: Students holding the MS degree in electrical engineering from a recognized engineering school or having substantially completed the requirements for that degree may apply for admission to the unified Ph.D. program in engineering. Those with the M.S. degree in other disciplines may be required to eliminate prerequisite deficiencies. Those holding only the B.S. degree will be requested to first enter a program leading to the M.S. degree. To become a Ph.D. candidate, students must pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination by the end of their third semester after starting the program.

Financial Aid Statement

Financial assistance is an important issue during graduate school. Currently, both research and teaching assistantships provide tuition waiver and a stipend of $1350/month for Ph.D. students and $1250/month for M.S. students. However, admission to the graduate program in Electrical Engineering does not guarantee financial assistance. Admitted students without firm offers of financial support must be prepared to cover the full cost of tuition, supplies, room and board, etc., from personal sources.

• Expected Costs: Graduate tuition in 2004-2005 is $199.00 per credit hour for Nebraska residents and $512.00 per credit hour for nonresidents. Fees for all full-time students are approximately $400 per semester. Teaching and research assistants pay at the same rate as Nebraska residents, except that their first nine credit hours each semester are free. Room and board charges for students living on campus are approximately $6000/year. Off-campus housing costs and living expenses in Lincoln are affordable.
  
• Teaching Assistantships: Several teaching assistantships (TA) are continually supported by the EE Department. Duties typically include teaching of undergraduate laboratories, grading, or other tasks related to undergraduate instruction. No teaching duties are required during the Summer session but the student is expected to progress significantly on his or her research during the Summer. All international graduate students who wish to be employed as a TA at UNL must successfully complete the International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Institute conducted by the Office of Graduate Studies. However, incoming international students with exceptional qualifications may be granted a TA but they are required to complete the ITA Institute within one year after arriving at UNL. If you believe you are qualified and are interested in applying for TA support, please complete the TA Application Form, which is provided in pdf format. The form should be sent directly to the EE Department graduate secretary by March 1 for students beginning in the Fall semester and October 1 for the Spring semester.
  
• Research Assistantships: Research assistantships (RA) are administered by individual faculty members, and thus selection for these requires a close match between the needs of the faculty member and the applicant's qualifications. In exceptional cases, RAs may be awarded to incoming students who have outstanding credentials. You are encouraged to contact faculty members via email to explore opportunities for RA funding. Details of each faculty members research can be viewed on the individual faculty homepages. Use this as a starting point for determining a possible match with a particular faculty member.

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