The professional Master of Science degree in electrical engineering is a professional degree composed of advanced courses relevant to working engineers.
The department offers many professional degree tracks, each of which result in a professional Master of Science degree in electrical engineering (MSEE).
Program Tracks
Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) Track
The Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) track 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 program pursue a 30-credit-hour MSEE degree. Many courses offer distance learning options through CU Boulder Distance Education.
Power Electronics (PPE) Track
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 program pursue a 30-credit-hour MSEE degree. The program 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.
Photonics (PHO) Track
While 20th-century technology was defined by the growth of electronics, the 21st century belongs to photonics. LEDs will light households powered by photovoltaic panels and filled with displays and cameras communicating by optical fiber to distant owners wearing virtual reality glasses. Laser 3D printing will transform manufacturing. New microscopes and telescopes will peer into the depths of living cells and distant galaxies. Photonics graduates will command skills in design, fabrication and laboratory practice to place them at the forefront of these industries and many more not yet invented.
Photonics is the electrical engineering sub-discipline concerned with the generation, modulation, radiative or guided transmission, sensing and detection of optical-frequency signals. Application areas include optical telecommunications, medical instrumentation, photovoltaic power generation, quantum information processing, optical instruments and environmental sensing. While some of these industries are mature, photonics continues to rapidly grow into new industries such as LED lighting and on-chip silicon photonics for multi-core CPUs.
Through flexible core course options and electives, students enrolled in this program pursue a 30-credit-hour MSEE degree. The program is intended for students and engineers with a BS degree in electrical engineering or the equivalent. Entering students must have adequate knowledge of photonics, as taught in undergraduate courses intended for EE majors.
Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) Track
The Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) track 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 program pursue a 30-credit-hour MSEE degree. Many courses also offer distance learning options.
High-Speed Digital Engineering (HSDE) Track
The High-Speed Digital Engineering (HSDE) track 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 program 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 program. 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 program with a personalized study program to address foundational knowledge gaps.
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 department's Embedded Systems Engineering, Power Electronics, Photonics or Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems webpages.
Students must complete a total of 30 credit hours (including both course and thesis hours) with a grade of C or better and 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
Artificial Intelligence and Communication Engineering (AICE) Track
Students need 10 courses, 30 credit hours to graduate. A grade of B- or better is required for each course applied towards the AICE program.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ECEN 5612 | Random Processes for Engineers | 3 |
| ECEN 5712 | Machine Learning for Engineers | 3 |
| ECEN 5692 | Principles of Digital Communication | 3 |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Choose at least 5 of the following: | ||
| Special Topics | ||
Deep Learning | ||
| Special Topics (Topics in Artificial Intelligence) | ||
Topics in Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Theory and Application of Digital Filtering | ||
| Data and Network Science | ||
| Special Topics | ||
Modern Signal Processing | ||
| Communication Laboratory | ||
| Information Theory and Coding | ||
| Theory and Practice of Error Control Codes | ||
| Convex Optimization and Its Applications | ||
| Open 5000-level Electives | 6 | |
| Choose two 5000-level electives, at least one of which is technical, from the AICE electives, other ECEE courses or courses in other departments with the approval of an academic advisor. Recommended electives include courses in computer science and applied math, such as APPM 5570 Statistical Methods. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
For more information, visit the department's Artificial Intelligence and Information/Communication Engineering webpage.
Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) Track (non-thesis)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Special Topics (Advanced Printed Circuit Board Design for Signal Integrity) | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Security | ||
| High Speed Digital Design | ||
| Advanced Computer Architecture | ||
| Advanced Embedded Software Development | ||
| Embedded Machine Vision and Intelligent Automation | ||
| Practical Printed Circuit Board Design and Manufacture | ||
| Developing the Industrial Internet of Things | ||
| Embedded Interface Design | ||
| Open 5000 Level Electives | ||
| Choose three 5000-level electives from the ESE core, ESE electives, other ECEE courses, or courses in other departments, with approval of academic advisor. | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
For more information, visit the department's Embedded Systems Engineering webpage.
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 (spring) | 3 |
| ECEN 5524 | Principles of Computational Electromagnetics for Signal and Power Integrity (spring) | 3 |
| ECEN 5534 | Practical Signal Integrity Measurements (fall) | 3 |
| ECEN 5730 | Practical Printed Circuit Board Design and Manufacture (fall, spring) | 3 |
| HSDE Program Electives | ||
| Choose two: | 6 | |
| Special Topics (Advanced PCB Design for high-speed serial links (fall)) | ||
| Essential Principles of Signal Integrity (spring) | ||
| High Speed Channel Design for Signal Integrity (spring 2024) | ||
| S-Parameters for Signal Integrity in High Speed Digital Engineering (fall) | ||
| Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) for High-Speed Digital Engineering (fall) | ||
| EM Signal Modeling for HSDE using Ansys HFSS and Q3D (spring) | ||
| Designing PCB Memory Systems using Keysight ADS (fall) | ||
| Choose three more from the above HSDE electives list, or from other STEM electives | 9 | |
| 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 | ||
| At least 3 credit hours of ECEN courses at the 5000 level or above. | ||
| Energy System Modeling and Control | ||
| Building Electrical Systems Design 1 (Building Electrical Systems) | ||
| Distributed Electricity Generation | ||
| Architectural Engineering Special Topic (Grid-Connected Systems) | ||
| Special Topics (Power System Protection) | ||
| 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 | ||
| Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Systems | ||
| The Business of Renewable and Sustainable Energy | ||
| Sustainable Energy Policy | ||
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 | 3 |
| ECEN 5807 | Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Systems | 3 |
| ECEN 5817 | Resonant and Soft-Switching Techniques in Power Electronics | 3 |
| Required Laboratory Courses | ||
| ECEN 5517 | Power Electronics and Photovoltaic Power Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| Choose one 5000-level project laboratory in power electronics (offered every fall). | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select one of the following power electronics electives: | 3 | |
| Special Topics (Power Electronics for Electric Drivetrain Vehicles) | ||
| Adjustable-Speed AC Drives (spring) | ||
| Analog IC Design (fall) | ||
| Grid Integration of Renewables | ||
ECEN 5XX7 | Control of Power Electronics in AC Systems and Micrograms | |
| 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 three technical electives with advisor approval. Recommended electives include courses in control systems, RF/microwaves and engineering management. | 9 | |
| Open Elective | ||
| Choose an additional elective course. | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
For more information, visit the department's Power Electronics webpage.
Photonics (PHO) Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHO core courses | ||
| Offered in Fall: | ||
| ECEN 5156 | Physical Optics | 3 |
| ECEN 5696 | Fourier Optics | 3 |
| ECEN 5345 | Introduction to Solid State Physics | 3 |
| ECEN 5915 | Foundations of Quantum Engineering | 3 |
| Offered in Spring: | ||
| ECEN 5616 | Optoelectric System Design | 3 |
| ECEN 5606 | Optics Laboratory | 3 |
| ECEN 5626 | Active Optical Devices | 3 |
| ECEN 5355 | Principles of Electronic Devices 1 | 3 |
| PHO elective courses | ||
| Offered in variable semesters | ||
| ECEN 5005 | Special Topics (Photovoltaic Devices) | 3 |
| ECEN 5015 | Special Topics (Nanophotonics) | 3 |
| ECEN 5016 | Special Topics (Quantum Mechanics) | 3 |
| ECEN 5026 | Special Topics (Computational Imaging) | 3 |
| ECEN 6006 | Special Topics (Numerical Methods in Photonics) | 3 |
For more information, visit the department's Photonics webpage.