ECE Graduate Studies Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the GRE required?
Yes - Master of Science (thesis or comprehensive exam)
Yes – Doctoral Program (dissertation)
No – Master of Engineering (coursework)
**Please note: We do not disclose our minimum GRE scores.**
Can the GRE be waived?
Only if an M.S. applicant earned an EE or CMPE from an ABET accredited institution.
How long are GRE scores valid?
GRE scores are valid for five years from
date of test. The department will keep GRE scores on file for three years for students who do not apply.
What is the minimum TOEFL Score?
Please visit the University web site for information.
What are the deadlines for applying to the graduate program?
Deadlines for Applying
May I apply after the deadline?
Due to the large number of interested applicants and the necessary processing time for each file, we require applicants to submit their material by the deadline for the relevant term of application. Although we will accept applications submitted after the published deadline, we cannot guarantee an admission decision in time for the specific term. If this is the case, we will consider that application for the following term.
Why are two application packets required?
The ECE Department assesses the academic credentials of an applicant and provides a recommendation to the Office of Admissions. Meanwhile, the Office of Admissions assures that an applicant has met the minimum standards for admission to the university (the criteria is not entirely academic).
DEGREE RELATED
What are the Masters and Doctorate degree requirements?
Please visit the Graduate Handbook for degree requirements.
What PSU courses should I take for my degree?
Once accepted into the Graduate Program you will be assigned a faculty adviser, whom you will work with to devise a study plan of appropriate courses to take. Within the ECE Graduate Handbook you will find course recommendations for your area of emphasis (located in section VII. Degree Requirements - Area of Emphasis).
What is the lowest grade I can get in a course and have it still count towards my degree?
The lowest grade that you can get in your ECE lecture courses is B-. With your faculty adviser's approval you can put one C+ or C course toward this requirement. A C- can only be put used as an elective. For your degree, the cumulative GPA of the 45 credits should be 3.00 or better.
Can I change my Faculty Adviser?
Yes. To change your faculty adviser please complete and return the Change of ECE Graduate Adviser form to the ECE Department.
What about Transfer Credits?
Within program constraints, up to one third of the credits required for an M.Eng. or M.S. degree may be transferred from other institutes with adviser and Departmental approval. After gaining approval from your adviser for a specific course or courses, you will need to complete a GO-21 form.
What if I need to take a Leave of Absence from the program?
If a student does not enroll for any ECE Graduate credits for more than a year, he/she is considered to not be interested in continuing with the program and will be dropped. Therefore, if you plan on taking a leave of absence of more than one term, please notify the ECE department and your faculty adviser about this by email.
*Additional note for International students: International students need to check with the International Students Affairs office for additional University Leave requirements.
How many ECE 507 Seminars do I need to take?
ECE 507 Seminar is no longer required. These credits may be used as elective.
I took and passed a Ph.D. qualifying examination at another
university. Can I use those exam results to get credit for this department's Ph.D. comprehensive exam?
No.
GRADUATION PROCEDURES
What do I need to do to graduate?
By the first week of the term in which you like to graduate you would need to do the following:
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RELATED
I am on an F-1 visa. How many credits do I have to sign up for each quarter? Are there any exemptions?
All students on an F-1 visa need to sign up for 9 or more credits to stay in status. These 9 credits need not be just from the department you are enrolled in. If you are done with your course work and only have your thesis credits remaining, or this is your last quarter, then you can under enroll by submitting the Reduced Course Load Form to International Student Services. Please note that financial or personal reasons are not appropriate reasons for under enrollment and students with these types of problems must see an international student adviser at International Student Services.
INTERNSHIPS, ASSISTANTSHIPS and SCHOLARSHIPS
Getting credits for Internships
Using a By Arrangement Form and Co-op or Internship Form and Info you can sign up for 504 Internship/Co-op credits. The number of credits you can derive from your work depends on time and complexity of your job.
*Additional note for International Students: International students on an F-1 visa after 9 months of study can apply for CPT with the Department of International Student Services. This will allow them to do 1 year of internship during their study. While on internship, international students must be signed up for 9 credits. They can have a maximum of 8 internship credits.
Can I take my internship at any location?
Masters students who have not completed all coursework or PhD students who have not completed the comprehensive exam may not take an internship more than 50 miles from the greater Portland metropolitan area.
What about Research Assistant (RA) and Teaching Assistant (TA) positions?
The ECE department offers two forms of student financial assistance: The research assistant (RA) and the teaching assistant (TA).
1. The RA positions are under control of each individual faculty member. The ECE office does not keep any records on availability. You will need to query each individual faculty member to check on their availability of RA funding. However, you should be aware that a faculty member will most likely NOT offer an RA position unless you are studying and conducting research in their specific research area. For example, if your research area is VLSI design, a faculty member working on a control systems research problem will probably not offer you a RA position. More...
2. Click here to be directed to our TA FAQ page.
All ECE students will be emailed the TA application procedures and deadlines one term prior to term assignments. Click here for current TA assignments.
What about other financial assistance?
To learn about financial aid and scholarships offered by the
Maseeh
College
of Engineering and Computer Sciences click here.
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