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Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Are you considering an undergraduate or a graduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering? The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at OU offers a great environment for you to learn.

Accelerated BS/MS Degree

Learn More about Accelerated BS/MS Program 

M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering

Learn more about ECE M.S. Program 

ECE also offers a 5-Year Accelerated Dual (BS/MS) Degree Program for OU Computer Engineering bachelor’s degree candidates. This program makes it possible for select students to receive their bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with reduced cumulative credit hours. Interested OU junior level students with the required 3.00 GPA or better should obtain information from the ECE office. This program is designed for current ECE undergraduate students and is not open to new university applicants.

  • Solid State
  • Power/Energy Management
  • Signal/Image Processing
  • Bioengineering
  • Controls/ Instrumentation
  • Switching/Computer Systems
  • Weather Radar

Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Master of Science ECE degree candidates may choose to pursue the degree with either a thesis or one of two non-thesis options. Any option may be used to enter the Ph.D. program.

The MSECE non-thesis option requires 33 hours of coursework.

  • The General Track requires a minimum of 18 credit hours in ECE  or C S courses, subject to limitations specified above. The M.S. General Track also requires at least 12 credit hours in technical electives and the M.S. Comprehensive Examination required by the Graduate College. The remaining requirements, except for Thesis Research, ECE 5980, are the same as for the thesis option.

M.S. Non-Thesis Program Description (PDF)

The MSECE thesis option in electrical and computer engineering requires a minimum of one year of full-time study. The total number of required credits is 30 semester hours. At least 12 credit hours must be ECE or C S; however 12 credit hours (not including thesis) must be in 5000-level or higher ECE coursework. Graduate credit will not be allowed for any courses that are numbered below 4000 or are part of the required undergraduate electrical or computer engineering curriculum. A maximum of 12 hours of 4000-level graduate credit courses are allowed. Enrollment in six credit hours of ECE 5980, Thesis Research, is required, and the student must write a thesis and successfully defend it before an examining committee.

M.S. Thesis Program Description (PDF)

The Comprehensive Examination (“Exit Exam”) is held after completion of at least 24 hours of course work. It will normally be held during the semester of intended graduation. The exam requires written authority from the Graduate College.

  1. Your Comprehensive Examination committee will be chaired by the Graduate Liaison and will include two other members of the Graduate Studies Committee.
  2. The Comprehensive Examination is a written exam and will be offered at a common time once during each fall (October) and spring (March) semester.
  3. You must register for the exam with the ECE Graduate Office. The ECE Graduate Office will obtain your written authority form from the Graduate College.
  4. You are allowed a maximum of two attempts to pass the exam.

Students may choose five, letter graded, ECE 5000+ level courses for their comprehensive exam. On the day of the exam, students will read over each assessment and eliminate one assessment. The exam is made up of four assessments. The exam is pass/fail.

Students must have an accurate Program of Study on file with the Graduate College. If the courses listed on your current Program of Study do not represent what has been taken the Program of Study must be updated with the Graduate College.

Notes are not allowed. Students will bring a pen and a calculator. Scratch paper will be provided.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering

A student and a teacher sitting at a laptop and multiple computer monitors.

The total number of credits required to complete the Ph.D. is 90 semester hours beyond the B.S. degree. This normally includes 30 credit hours for a doctoral dissertation. Students are allowed to transfer up to 44 credits (in accordance with the Graduate Bulletin) from a master's degree toward the 90 hours required.

Specific requirements for the Ph.D. are set by each student's doctoral committee in conformance with the current rules of the Graduate College. A General Examination is required of all students.

Successful completion of a General Examination, consisting of both written and oral parts, is required before preparation of the dissertation. The main intent of this exam is to evaluate the student's total preparation for conducting research and successfully completing the doctoral dissertation. Within the general requirements stipulated by the Graduate College, the specific format and requirements for the General Examination are determined by the student's doctoral committee in compliance with Graduate College's policy.

Also, there is a mandatory Preliminary Examination that must occur after the General Examination and at least one semester before the final dissertation defense.

All Graduate College policies can be found in the Graduate Bulletin

All Graduate College deadlines and forms can be found on the Steps-to-Degree website.

Graduate Program Contact

Christa Seedorf.
Christa Seedorf

Graduate Student Coordinator

(405) 325-4721

christaseedorf@ou.edu