The Professional Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering is composed of subplans containing advanced courses relevant to working engineers. These subplans lead to a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Program Subplans
Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) Subplan
The Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) subplan provides comprehensive coverage of essential embedded technologies, current tools and trends. It is structured to provide students with a broad, versatile skill set and is coupled with industry input for continuous curriculum updates.
Through flexible core course options and electives, students enrolled in the ESE subplan pursue a 30-credit-hour degree. Many courses offer distance learning options, though certain courses may be but geographically limited due to supply chain availability and shipping costs for lab kits.
High-Speed Digital Engineering (HSDE) Subplan
The High-Speed Digital Engineering (HSDE) subplan is an innovative practical degree plan that prepares students for a career in industry with the specialized knowledge required to be a successful high-speed design engineering team member and to be able to solve complex signal integrity, power integrity and electromagnetic compatibility design problems quickly and efficiently. Simulation and measurement tools used in industry are leveraged to develop and enhance high-speed digital engineering design intuition at the same time fundamental principles are studied through best practices from industry in design, measurement, simulation and analysis. The program facilitates lifelong learning capabilities and is continuously updated with industry input.
Through five core courses and five elective options, students enrolled in this subplan pursue a ten course, 30-credit-hour degree. Most courses emphasize practical, hands-on experience, understanding and solving real world problems faced by the electronics industry today. Students with a background in electrical engineering fundamentals will be well-prepared for this subplan. It is intended for students and engineers with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent, including a background in basic electromagnetics. Students with other relevant engineering or scientific backgrounds may still be admitted to the subplan.
There are no distance course options available for this subplan.
Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) Subplan
The Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) subplan offers five core courses and numerous electives for the 30-credit hour program to prepare students with the specialized knowledge required to practice grid integration of renewable energy into integrated energy systems, taught by instructors from CU Boulder’s faculty and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) research programs
Through flexible core course options and electives, students enrolled in the PPS subplan pursue the degree.
Many courses offer distance learning options.
Power Electronics (PPE) Subplan
Power Electronics is a key enabling technology in essentially all electronic systems and is increasingly important in the grid interface of renewable energy sources and in efficient electrical loads. The necessity for power electronics technology in these rapidly expanding areas creates an increasing need for design engineers equipped with knowledge and skills to actively participate in multidisciplinary teams.
Through flexible core course options and electives, students enrolled in this subplan pursue a 30-credit-hour degree. The subplan is intended for students and engineers with a BS degree in electrical engineering or the equivalent. Entering students must have adequate knowledge of circuits and electronics, as taught in undergraduate courses intended for EE majors.
Many courses offer distance learning options.
Quantum Engineering (QE) Subplan
Inspired by the promise of more powerful computers and better sensors the global rise in funding for quantum technology has skyrocketed. This can be evidenced by the investment in several large companies (Google, IBM, Intel and Amazon). The quantum engineering subplan provides a unique overview of one of the fastest-growing technological fields and will help to prepare students for the quantum workforce of today and tomorrow.
The QE subplan provides students with a working knowledge of the principles of quantum mechanics and how they can be implemented in technological areas such as quantum computing, communications and sensing. Through core course options and electives, students enrolled in this subplan pursue a 30-credit-hour degree. The program is intended for students and engineers with a BS degree in STEM with solid knowledge in calculus, linear algebra and probability.
There are no distance course options available for this subplan.
Distance Education Option
Students can take individual courses toward a master's degree or graduate certificate through distance education (online). For more information, connect with the individual graduate program directly.
Requirements
Admission
A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is required for application to the master's program. Students who are interested in the PhD degree and have strong academics (including 3.50 or higher GPA) should apply directly to the PhD program.
Course Requirements
The following course requirements are subject to change; for the most current information, visit the ECEE department's Professional Master's Program webpage.
Students must complete a total of 30 course credit hours with a grade of C or better and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. At least 24 credit hours must be completed at the 5000-level or above, and at least 18 of those credits must be in sufficiently technical ECEN 5000+ level courses.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within four years of the date of commencing coursework. Most students complete the degree in one-and-a-half to two years.
Program Tracks
Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum of 5 ESE core courses (15 credit hours) and 2 ESE elective courses (6 credit hours) from the ESE course list are required. | ||
| ESE Core Courses | ||
| Choose five of the following: | 15 | |
| Embedded System Design | ||
| Real-Time Embedded Systems | ||
| Mastering Embedded Systems Architecture | ||
| Principles of Embedded Software | ||
| Internet of Things Embedded Firmware | ||
| Low Power Embedded Design Techniques | ||
| Embedding Sensors and Motors | ||
| Programmable Logic Embedded System Design | ||
| ESE Program Electives | ||
| Choose two of the following (or additional ESE core courses): | 6 | |
| Advanced Embedded Software Development | ||
| Embedded Computer Vision | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Security | ||
| High Speed Digital Design | ||
| Advanced Computer Architecture | ||
| Practical Printed Circuit Board Design and Manufacture | ||
| Concurrent Programming | ||
| Compiler Construction | ||
| Datacenter Scale Computing - Methods, Systems and Techniques | ||
| Computer-Aided Verification 1 | ||
| Special Topics (Embedded AI (another ECEN 5003 will be Advanced Programmable Logic)) 2 | ||
| Developing the Industrial Internet of Things 3 | ||
| Embedded Interface Design 4 | ||
| Open 5000 Level Electives | 9 | |
| Choose three 5000-level electives from the ESE core, ESE electives, other ECEE courses, or courses in other departments, with approval of academic advisor. | ||
| Concurrent Programming | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | Can also optionally take ECEN 5523 Compiler Construction and/or ECEN 5253 Special Topics: Datacenter Scale Computing, when available. |
| 2 | Embedded AI, potentially in Spring 2027, but remains to be seen Advanced Programmable Logic, not in 2026-27, but in future |
| 3 | Not projected to be offered 2026-27, but in future |
| 4 | Not projected to be offered 2026-27, but in future |
For more information, visit the department's Embedded Systems Engineering webpage. (At that page, please click on the "Embedded Systems Engineering Courses" button to see particular semesters of course availability).
High-Speed Digital Engineering (HSDE) Track
This program track consists of 10 courses totaling 30 credits. Five of the courses (15 credits) must be the core courses of the curriculum. A minimum of two additional courses (6 credits) must be chosen from the HSDE PMP elective courses list. The remaining three courses (9 credits) may be chosen from the HSDE PMP elective courses list OR from the courses that fulfill general ECEE Master’s degree requirements.
A grade of C or better is required for each course applied towards the HSDE PMP track for degree-seeking students.
For HSDE courses taken non-degreed, and subsequently wanting to transfer maximally 9 credit hours toward a degree, the minimal grade in each course must be a solid B or better.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSDE Core Courses | ||
| All five required: | ||
| ECEN 5224 | High Speed Digital Design (spring) | 3 |
| ECEN 5514 | Principles of Electromagnetics for High-Speed Digital Engineering (fall) | 3 |
| ECEN 5524 | Principles of Computational Electromagnetics for Signal and Power Integrity (spring) | 3 |
| ECEN 5534 | Signal Integrity Measurements for High Speed Digital Engineering (fall) | 3 |
| ECEN 5730 | Practical Printed Circuit Board Design and Manufacture (fall, spring) | 3 |
| HSDE Program Electives | ||
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| PCB and System Design for Signal Integrity Using Simulations (fall) | ||
| Signal Integrity in Memory and Storage Systems (spring) | ||
| Choose your final four courses from the above HSDE electives list, and/or from other STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) electives | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- For more information, visit the department's High-Speed Digital Engineering webpage.
Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ECEN 5797 | Introduction to Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECEN 5407 | Renewable Energy and the Future Power Grid (Renewable Energy and the Future Power Grid) | 3 |
| ECEN 5417 | Power System Analysis (Power Systems Analysis) | 3 |
| ECEN 5427 | Power System Planning & Operations (Power System Operations & Planning) | 3 |
| ECEN 5437 | Distribution System Analysis (Distribution System Analysis) | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Three credit hours of ECEN electives from the following list (one course) plus 12 more credit hours (four courses) of open 5000-level electives, either NGPES elective, other ECEE, or other technical coursework in College of Engineering and Applied Science departments (must be approved by academic advisor). Students may take one nontechnical elective, if approved by academic advisor. | 15 | |
| Building Electrical Systems Design 1 (Building Electrical Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (Electrified Transportation) | ||
| Special Topics (Power System Protection) | ||
| Special Topics (High Voltage AC and DC Transmission) | ||
| Power System Dynamics with Renewable Energy | ||
| Energy Systems Optimization | ||
| Data Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making for Modern Power and Energy Systems | ||
| Power Electronics and Photovoltaic Power Systems Laboratory | ||
| The Business of Renewable and Sustainable Energy | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Power Electronics (PPE) Track
This curriculum is built around a core of three theory courses and two laboratory courses that provide practical laboratory and design experience of specific relevance to the practice of power electronics.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Theory Courses | ||
| ECEN 5797 | Introduction to Power Electronics (fall) | 3 |
| ECEN 5807 | Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Systems (alternate spring) | 3 |
| ECEN 5817 | Resonant and Soft-Switching Techniques in Power Electronics (alternate spring) | 3 |
| Required Laboratory Courses | ||
| The degree also requires completion of the following laboratory course in power electronics. | ||
| ECEN 5527 | Power Electronics Design Laboratory (fall) | 3 |
| ECEN 5517 | Power Electronics and Photovoltaic Power Systems Laboratory (spring) | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select at least one of the following power electronics electives: | 3 | |
| Digital Control for Power Electronics | ||
| Digital Control for Power Electronics (fall) | ||
| Electric Vehicles | ||
| Power Electronics for Electrified Transportation (alternate fall) | ||
| Power Management Integrated Circuits | ||
| Analog IC Design (alternate fall) | ||
| Grid Integration of Renewables (variable semesters) | ||
| Renewable Energy and the Future Power Grid | ||
| Power System Analysis | ||
| Power System Planning & Operations | ||
| Distribution System Analysis | ||
| Power System Dynamics with Renewable Energy | ||
| Energy Systems Optimization | ||
| Data Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making for Modern Power and Energy Systems | ||
| Technical Electives | ||
| Choose up to three technical electives with advisor approval. | 9 | |
| Open Elective | ||
| Choose an additional elective course with advisor approval. | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
For more information, visit the department's Power Electronics webpage.
Quantum Engineering Track
Quantum engineering has a wide variety of hardware platforms to choose from and quantum engineers need a broad range of skills that are more traditional EE topics. To address this diversity and help quantum engineers make informed choices, the program offers a wide range of options, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and to the specific demands of the quantum industry.
1-Both of the two core courses below are required.
2-Two quantum electives are also required (of the four listed below, with the offerings changing semester to semester).
3-Additionally, students may request specific 5000-level (graduate) courses be counted on a case-by-case basis.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum Core Courses | ||
| Foundations of Quantum Engineering | ||
| Foundations of Quantum Hardware | ||
| Quantum Information and Computing | ||
Quantum Metrology & Sensing. (Currently ECEN 5005 Special Topics: Optical & Quantum Metrology) | ||
| Quantum Elective Courses | ||
CSCI 7000 Special Topics: Intro Quantum Comp Arch/Sys | ||
CSCI 7000 Special Topics: Quantum Complexity and Beyond | ||
| Other Electives | ||
| Electromagnetics / RF Electives | ||
| Electromagnetic Theory | ||
| Computational Electromagnetics | ||
| Microwave and RF Laboratory | ||
| Passive Microwave Circuits | ||
| Special Topics (Active Microwave Circuits) | ||
| Optics Electives | ||
| Physical Optics | ||
| Fourier Optics | ||
| Introduction to Optical Electronics | ||
| Computational Optical Imaging | ||
| Optoelectric System Design | ||
| Special Topics (Crystal & Nonlinear Optics) | ||
| Embedded Systems Engineering Electives | ||
| Real-Time Embedded Systems | ||
| Mastering Embedded Systems Architecture | ||
| Advanced Computer Architecture | ||
| Embedded Interface Design | ||
| Programmable Logic Embedded System Design | ||
| Theory Electives | ||
| Machine Learning for Engineers | ||
| Quantum Theory 1 | ||
| Quantum Theory 2 | ||
| Introduction to Solid State Physics | ||
| Quantum Optics | ||
By petition, other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) courses will be considered if not explicitly listed.
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the necessary understanding and skillsets with specific kinds of software and hardware in order to perform at a relatively strong level in industry jobs, both for optional industry internships and in post-graduation employment.
- Practice the necessary technical and interpersonal skills to gain meaningful employment within their chosen field of study through university relations with local and national companies and laboratories in addition to career events.
- Demonstrate a deeper, specialized set of technical skills through successful completion of additional, concentrated coursework in a chosen specialty within the field of study.
- Demonstrate the experimental and/or analytical skills essential to a career in their chosen field of study.