Welcome to Graduate Studies in ECEE
Thank you for your interest in graduate studies in Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. These pages contain an overview of our program.
Students with diverse backgrounds and interests find a vibrant, stimulating program. Our goal is to help students build a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in electrical engineering and information technology.
Our faculty include 7 IEEE Fellows, 3 OSA Fellows,
and 2 RASEI Fellows.
Our faculty are active in research with expenditures
totaling nearly $9 million annually. Research is concentrated in
ten areas, and includes two interdisciplinary, industry-sponsored centers.
Grants from NASA, DARPA, NSF, NOAA, and collaborative industrial and
military funding provide support for qualified graduate students.
Unique facilities and equipment for experimental and theoretical
training and for conducting subject-specific research is available.
For more information, see our ECEE Research Groups and Centers page.
Degrees Offered
The Department offers three graduate degrees:- Master of Engineering.
The Master of Engineering (ME) is a technical management oriented degree
specially tailored for those individuals who anticipate becoming
technical managers or entrepreneurs. The ME degree requires 30 semester
hours of course work; up to 15 hours may be in business and/or
management courses. For complete requirements, see the
M.E. Degree Requirements
page.
- Master of Science -- two options:
- With thesis (MS-I). This option also requires 30 semester hours, of which 4 to 6 are thesis credits. The remaining hours are technical courses in ECEN or approved science, engineering, and math. For specific requirements, see the M.S. Degree Requirements page.
- Without thesis (MS-II). This option is essentially the same as MS-I except thesis hours are replaced with course work, and specific requirements are somewhat less stringent. For complete requirements, see the M.S. Degree Requirements page.
- Ph.D. Degree. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the terminal degree for those seeking a technical or research career in ECEE. It requires completion of an M.S., 30 hours of dissertation, passing preliminary and comprehensive examinations, and a successful dissertation defense. There is a foreign language requirement. For complete requirements, see the Ph.D. Degree Requirements page.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing (or the equivalent) and submit official transcripts showing that degree.
- Have adequate technical preparation to enter graduate study in ECEE.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher. Note: provisional admission is sometimes possible for applicants with lower GPAs.
- Submit GRE general exam scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections all required) if applying for the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. GRE scores are not required for admission to the M.E. program.
- Provide four letters of recommendation from qualified referees.
- Provide a statement of purpose describing the applicant's goals and interests.
- For non-native English speakers only, provide certification of adequate spoken and written English. A TOEFL score greater than 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (internet-based) is desired. Equivalently, one or more years (evidenced by transcripts) of prior instructon at a U.S. university or at a university in a country in which English is one of the official languages may be accepted. An IELTS score of 6.0 or higher is accepted in lieu of a TOEFL score.
Application Deadlines
| Fall Admission | |
| Visa (international) student deadline | November 1 for full financial aid consideration, otherwise February 1 |
| U.S. citizen/permanent resident deadline | December 1 for full financial aid consideration, otherwise February 1 |
| Spring Admission | |
| Visa (international) student deadline | September 1 |
| U.S. citizen/permanent resident deadline | September 1 |
| Summer Admission | Only for those enrolled and advancing to Ph.D. |
How to Apply
**Please note that the University has recently changed to a new online application software. If you experience problems or concerns with the new software, please contact gradadm@colorado.edu directly.**
- Visa Student On-Line Application:
- - Please note that at http://admissions.colorado.edu/graduate/international you will find the links to submit an electronic application.
- - Read the "Preparing to Apply" section.
- - Click on the "How to Apply" link and then on the "Complete Your Application" link.
- - Please follow the rest of the links, at that site, in order.
- Domestic Student On-Line Application (includes U.S. Citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and refugees only):
- - Please note that at http://admissions.colorado.edu/graduate/apply you will find the links to submit an electronic application.
- - Read the "Preparing to Apply" section.
- - Click on the "How to Apply" link and then on the "Complete Your Application" link.
- - Please follow the rest of the links, at that site, in order.
- Adam Sadoff, Graduate Program Advisor, ECEE 1B63, (303) 735-0490, Adam.Sadoff@colorado.edu
- Fabio Somenzi, Graduate Director, ECOT 348, (303) 492-3466, Fabio@colorado.edu
Application Submission
Submit online via the web site listed above. For specific requirements, see application information for
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance in the form of offers for Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships is highly competitive and the number of positions available is limited. Offers for TA positions are made prior to April 15 for the following academic year and are determined by the professors who will supervise the TA's. A few offers are also made in mid-December for the spring semester that begins in January. All applicants are automatically considered for TA offers; no additional paperwork is necessary.Research Assistant positions are awarded as research money becomes available throughout the year. These offers are usually made only after faculty get to know the students and their abilities and interests. At any given time, about one-third of currently enrolled graduate students are funded by either a teaching or research assistantship. As with TA's, no additional application is required.
For more information about the requirements for holding a TA or RA position or for information about graduate fellowships or scholarships, see the financial aid section of this web site.
