M.S. in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)

Degree requirements

Thesis MSEE

• 30 earned semester credit hours with a minimum of 18 lecture course credits and 6 thesis direction credits
• Submit and defend a written thesis completed under the guidance of an EE faculty advisor
• Pass M.S. comprehensive exam

Admissions requirements

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or physical sciences
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is recommended
• TOEFL/IELTS scores if you come from a country where English is not the official language.
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Transcripts from each post-secondary institution
• Statement of intent
• At least 3 letters of recommendation

Cost

Students in the program pay tuition. There is no departmental or college financial support for students seeking an MSEE degree.

FAQs about applying to the MSEE program

How do I apply?

Apply online to the MSEE program. Start your application by setting up an account, and you can work on it periodically, saving it as needed.  Due to course sequencing, M.S. applications will only be considered for the Fall semester.  The deadline for Fall applications is December 15.  

Is there a minimum required GPA?

There is no minimum required GPA. However, a strong GPA of at least 3.75 on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent is recommended to be a competitive applicant.

Do I need to take the GRE?

We strongly recommend the GRE for students with GPAs below 3.75/4.0.  GRE test scores provide another data point that can offset a low GPA.  

Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS if I am an international student?

If you are an international student who obtained your degree outside of the U.S., then either the TOEFL or IELTS is required. The minimum TOEFL IBT score is 80 with a 23 on the speaking section. If your speaking score is below 23, we still encourage you to apply, but we may request a phone or video interview. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0.

If you are a non-native English speaker who spent a minimum of two academic years at an academic institution whose primary language of instruction was English, then you do not have to take the TOEFL or the IELTS. If it is not obvious that the institution’s primary language of instruction was English, a letter from the Registrar’s Office (or the office responsible for academic records) confirming English as the language of instruction, is required.

DUOLINGO test scores are not recommended as a replacement for the TOEFL/IELTS test scores. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Do I need letters of recommendation?

Yes, we require 3 letters of recommendation. Enter the recommender’s name and address into a form in the online application. You may add as many as five recommenders; three are required. The recommender will receive an email providing secure access to the recommendation form and instructions to complete the recommendation electronically.

Please note that as soon as a recommender is added to an application, they will receive this email. Applicants should only add recommenders when they are prepared for this email to be sent and for a recommendation to be submitted for that application.

Letters of recommendation are very helpful to us in evaluating an application. Letters that discuss your potential as a graduate student are particularly helpful, especially those that can cover your readiness for graduate level research.

We recommend that you contact your letter writers early in the application process so that they have enough time to write a strong letter and to submit it by the application deadline.

What should go in the statement of intent?

The statement of intent is a very important part of the application. We are looking for approximately two pages that describe:

• Your passion for research, why you want to go to graduate school, and how it fits into your career goals.
• Your preparation for graduate school and, especially, graduate research, including past research experiences, your accomplishments, and the research skills you have developed (developing and testing a hypothesis, experimental skills).

Is it possible to request an application fee waiver?

The fee is required for each application. We do award fee waivers occasionally. We will consider a request if you exhibit both genuine financial hardship and exceptional academic caliber.

What type of financial support is available for MSEE students?

We do not provide financial support to students only seeking the MSEE degree.  

How much does it cost to attend the MSEE program?

MSEE students pay tuition (~$60k/year), support themselves (~$30k/year), and pay for health insurance (~$3k/year).  

What is the average time to degree?

The MSEE (thesis and non-thesis) degree can be completed in 3 semesters.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about my application?

If you have technical issues with the application platform, please contact the Graduate School Admissions team (gradapp@nd.edu)