M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Program Overview

Our advanced degree students work closely with faculty on research projects, many also gain experience in industry settings across energy, biomedical systems, aerospace, and transportation fields. Cross-disciplinary study is encouraged, and advanced degrees in Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering are available through collaborations between Electrical Engineering and other UVM programs.

Elevate your career

When you earn your master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from UVM, you’ll be in demand and at the forefront of addressing global challenges in rapidly expanding fields like power and energy systems, autonomy and robotics, and semiconductor engineering and physics.

Our faculty members include leading researchers in signal processing, communications, control systems, and electronic circuit/system design and testing. 

M.S. in Electrical Engineering graduate catalogue listing

Electrical Engineering Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)

Concentrations

M.S. Thesis Option:

The student must orally present a proposal for their thesis research no later than the semester prior to the semester in which the student plans to graduate. The student's thesis committee will orally examine the student based on the student's coursework and research focus.

M.S. Project Option: 

Under the supervision of an EE graduate faculty member, the student must prepare and present a written proposal for their research project at least 3 months prior to graduation. The student's project committee will orally examine the student based on the student's coursework and research focus.

M.S. Coursework Option: 

The student must complete a written and/or oral comprehensive exam during the final semester of residence at UVM.

M.S. Coursework Option: 

The student must complete an oral comprehensive exam during the final semester of residence at UVM based on course work for EE graduate courses where a grade below a B+ was earned.

Curriculum

Electrical Engineering graduate-level course listings

Master's Degree Overview:

A minimum of:

• 30 credit hours at the 5000 level or higher
• Completion of a comprehensive examination

NOTE: Master's students may choose a thesis, project, or coursework option.

Advanced courses in electrical engineering, physics, computer science, and mathematics (18 to 24 credits, at least 6 of which must be at the 6000-level) with at least 15 credits appropriately distributed in approved areas of study in the Electrical Engineering department. Thesis research (6 to 12 credits).

Students are free to pursue any M.S. degree option: thesis, project, or course-work only options. For students interested in academic research and working closely with a faculty advisor, a thesis is normally expected in the program.

In all cases, successful completion of the M.S. degree will require passing a comprehensive examination. This examination will in part be based on course work that was taken in the pursuit of the M.S. degree. Thesis option students will be tested orally at the time of their thesis proposal while project option students will be asked to write and present a report on a design or research topic of interest.

Deadlines

Fall Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding January 1st

Spring Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding October 1st

Admissions

M.S. Program Admission Requirements

• Admission to the M.S. program requires an accredited bachelor’s or B.S. degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or other appropriate field.
• An undergraduate grade point average above 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale), strong grades in EE course (B average or better), and strong recommendation letters
• In borderline cases, additional information (such as a phone interview) may be used to evaluate candidates.
• All students must meet UVM's Requirements for the Master's Degree

M.S. Candidacy Requirements

• Requires either a bachelors’ degree in electrical engineering from an accredited institution.
• or demonstrated mastery of core electrical engineering material, and completion of the M.S. Comprehensive Exam requirements.

Outcomes

Career Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electrical engineers is projected to grow over the next two decades, with current median pay of $101,780, and those on the high end of the pay scale earning more than $162,930.

A graduate engineering degree will allow you to command a more competitive salary when applying to upper-management roles and increase your earning potential over the span of your career.

Where Our Alumni Work 

Our graduates find employment in industries such as aerospace, auto, energy, and power generation, defense, manufacturing, and telecommunications. With the support of the CEMS Career Readiness Program CEMS graduate students have landed jobs with leading tech companies in the state, across the country, and around the globe.

Some of our graduate employers:

• GlobalFoundries
• Collins Aerospace
• Marvell
• Microstrain
• Intel
• NXP Semiconductors
• Green Mountain Semiconductor
• VELCO
• IBM
• EnergyHub
• Johns Hopkins University
• Galen Healthcare Solutions
• Qualcomm

CEMS M.S. Program Outcomes

A CEMS graduate education gives you depth and breadth of knowledge, along with the skills you'll need for every challenge and opportunity that awaits. Below are the general objectives for CEMS M.S. programs.

Outcome 1: Have an in-depth understanding of the foundational concepts in the field of study.

Outcome 2: Be skilled at communicating technical results in both oral and written form.

Costs and Funding

Costs

 View Graduate College Tuition and Fees (Student Financial Services website)

Funding Options

This is an exceptional time to pursue a graduate degree at UVM, as research funding has increased fourfold during the past three years. Most Ph.D. students and thesis-based master’s students are funded as graduate research assistants (GRA) or graduate teaching assistants (GTA). These positions come with both a stipend and tuition support.

More

Meet Our Faculty

In the Electrical and Computer Engineering program, our faculty are leading researchers in their fields with the awards, funding, and research publications that have helped the University of Vermont reach the coveted R1 Research University status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Read about Assistant Professor Luis Duffault Espinosa's (pictured above) recent CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for using data-driven innovation to pave the way for safer —and more efficient—robots.

Enabling Better Bots

View all our faculty in the Electrical and Computer program