M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Admission to the MSECE program requires students to have:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or other related fields from a regionally accredited institution (or an equivalent international degree) with minimum 3.0 GPA, and
• English language proficiency. This requirement can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
  • A degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or another nation where English is the main language, such U.K. or Australia to cite but a few
  • A minimum score of 92 on the TOEFLiBT

Applicants without a B.S. degree in either electrical or computer engineering may meet the admission requirements with a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field. To determine admission eligibility, prospective students should contact the MSECE Graduate Programs Advisor.

Applicants must also meet the minimum admission requirements for the Graduate School at the University of Washington, as detailed in Understanding the Application Process.

The MSECE program has two options: the course-work only option or thesis. The coursework option is meant for students who want to seek employment in industry while the thesis option, which involves more in-depth research, is designed for students who may consider pursuing a Ph.D.

The degree requirements for the MSECE program are the following:

• A minimum of 45 credits are required for the MS ECE degree.
• A minimum grade of 2.7 is required in each course counted toward the degree.
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation.
• Students must be registered for at least 2 credits in the quarter the degree is earned.
• Students must complete all degree requirements within six years.

In addition the general requirements, the two options require the following:

Thesis Option Requirements

• 15 credits of 500-level TECE courses from the breadth course list 
• 15 credits of 500-level TECE courses from the depth course list 
• Optional credits - either: 
  • Up to 5 credits  of non-ECE, -EE or -CES courses, 400-level or above, such as computer science, business or mathematics
  • 10 additional credits from the breadth course list 
• 9 credits of TECE 700 (thesis), with a maximum of 15 credits
   

Coursework-Only Option Requirements

• 20 credits of 500-level TECE courses from the depth course list 
• 15 credits of 500-level TECE courses from the breadth course list 
• Optional credits - either: 
  • Up to 5 credits  of non-ECE, -EE or -CES courses, 400-level or above, such as computer science, business or mathematics
  • 10 additional credits from the breadth course list 
• 5 credits (maximum) of 500-level TECE Capstone

Educational Objectives

MSECE graduates will be able to:

1. Design complex engineering devices by applying advanced technology, engineering methodologies and tools.
2. Develop deeper understanding of a subfield of ECE.
3. Communicate professionally and effectively.
4. Collaborate effectively on professional or research teams (Thesis/Coursework-only options).

Learning Outcomes

MSECE graduates will be able to:

1. Master a specific subfield of study within electrical and computer engineering.
2. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying advanced technology, engineering methodologies and tools.
3. Design and validate a complex device or process that meets realistic constraints.
4. Communicate professionally and effectively with a range of audiences.
5. Collaborate on projects.

Find current tuition information on the UW Tacoma's Office of the Registrar site, under Tier III. Note that costs are different for Washington State Resident and Non-Resident, as shown in the tuition tables.

Most applicable fees are included in the listed tuition rate, but some courses will require additional fees.

Applications are accepted through the UW Graduate School. The process includes:

• Creating or updating your graduate applicant profile (one profile for all program applications)
• Making sure required documents have been submitted
• Paying the application fee

For more details, see SET Graduate Program Application Process.