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 EngineeringPower ElectronicsPhotonics 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.

Required Courses
ECEN 5612Random Processes for Engineers3
ECEN 5712Machine Learning for Engineers3
ECEN 5692Principles of Digital Communication3
Electives15
Choose at least 5 of the following:
ECEN 5002
Deep Learning
ECEN 5022
(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 Electives6
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 Hours30

For more information, visit the department's Artificial Intelligence and Information/Communication Engineering webpage.

Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE) Track (non-thesis)

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 Hours30

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. 

HSDE Core Courses
All five required:
ECEN 5224High Speed Digital Design (spring)3
ECEN 5514Principles of Electromagnetics for High-Speed Digital Engineering (spring)3
ECEN 5524Principles of Computational Electromagnetics for Signal and Power Integrity (spring)3
ECEN 5534Practical Signal Integrity Measurements (fall)3
ECEN 5730Practical 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 electives9
Total Credit Hours30

Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems (PPS) Track

Core Courses
ECEN 5797Introduction to Power Electronics3
ECEN 5407Renewable Energy and the Future Power Grid (Renewable Energy and the Future Power Grid)3
ECEN 5417Power System Analysis (Power Systems Analysis)3
ECEN 5427Power System Planning & Operations (Power System Operations & Planning)3
ECEN 5437Distribution 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)
ECEN 5007
(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.

Required Theory Courses
ECEN 5797Introduction to Power Electronics3
ECEN 5807Modeling and Control of Power Electronic Systems3
ECEN 5817Resonant and Soft-Switching Techniques in Power Electronics3
Required Laboratory Courses
ECEN 5517Power Electronics and Photovoltaic Power Systems Laboratory3
Choose one 5000-level project laboratory in power electronics (offered every fall).3
Electives
Select one of the following power electronics electives:3
ECEN 5007
(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 Hours30

For more information, visit the department's Power Electronics webpage.

Photonics (PHO) Track

PHO core courses
Offered in Fall:
ECEN 5156Physical Optics3
ECEN 5696Fourier Optics3
ECEN 5345Introduction to Solid State Physics3
ECEN 5915Foundations of Quantum Engineering3
Offered in Spring:
ECEN 5616Optoelectric System Design3
ECEN 5606Optics Laboratory3
ECEN 5626Active Optical Devices3
ECEN 5355Principles of Electronic Devices 13
PHO elective courses
Offered in variable semesters
ECEN 5005Special Topics (Photovoltaic Devices)3
ECEN 5015 (Nanophotonics)3
ECEN 5016Special Topics (Quantum Mechanics)3
ECEN 5026 (Computational Imaging)3
ECEN 6006 (Numerical Methods in Photonics)3

For more information, visit the department's Photonics webpage.