Graduate Program Policies and Procedures
These requirements have been set by the Graduate School, the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, and/or the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Consult the Graduate Handbook for more information.
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Change of Degree Status
Graduate students who wish to change degree programs within the department must submit the following to the Graduate Committee for approval:
- A letter to the Graduate Committee explaining the reason for the requested change of degree, including a description of the intended research area if the change is to study for a research degree.
- A letter of recommendation in support of the application from a faculty member expressing willingness to serve as the chair of the student’s supervisory committee.
- The completed Request for Supervisory Committee form for the requested degree.
- The completed program of study for the requested degree. If a student wishes to change from a thesis to a non-thesis degree program, a separate sheet must be included indicating at least 12 hours of coursework to be taken after the change is approved.
- A current University of Utah transcript.
ECE 6970/7970 hours cannot be used for the M.S. Coursework or Project Options.
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Control Courses
The ECE Graduate Committee has approved graduate students wanting to take control courses to be able to count up to TWO of the following courses for ECE 6000-level coursework:
- ME EN 6210, State Space Methods (cross-listed as ECE 6652)
ME EN 6220, Robotics (cross-listed ECE 6650)
ME EN 7200, Nonlinear Controls
ME EN 7210, Optimal Controls - ME EN 6200, Advanced Modeling and Control, will NOT count toward ECE 6000-level coursework but may be counted as an allied course if taken. Of course all Programs of Study must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
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Correspondence/Home Study
Correspondence or home study courses are not eligible for graduate credit.
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Credit/No Credit Courses
Graduate students are granted the option, subject to approval by the Department Graduate Committee and review by the Dean of the Graduate School, to enroll in some courses in which they will be graded on a credit/no credit (CR/NC) rather than on a letter-grade basis.
The intent of the CR/NC option is to free students to extend their studies to areas outside their major or specialty and to take classes they otherwise might not take if they had to compete with majors for a letter grade.
Students may not register for CR/NC courses in their major department unless a course in the major department is offered only on a CR/NC basis.
Consult the University’s Graduate Handbook for further information on the CR/NC policy.
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Dual Degree
Students within the College of Engineering are not allowed to be candidates for a Master of Science degree and a research-oriented degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) simultaneously in any one department or in a combination of departments. Students who are candidates for research degrees outside of the College of Engineering cannot simultaneously be candidates for a Master of Science degree in the College of Engineering. Any exceptions must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee and by the dean or associate dean for academic affairs of the College.
Students wishing to pursue more than one graduate degree must have a separate supervisory committee and program of study for each degree. Courses may not be counted for credit for more than one degree.
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Establishing Utah Residency for Tuition Purposes
The Graduate School requires that U.S. citizens who are in a graduate program at the University of Utah apply for Utah residency once 40 graduate credit hours are reached to be eligible for in-state tuition. The Admissions Office website gives the following information on qualifying as a resident:
University of Utah Residency Policies
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Health Insurance
The Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty advises students to purchase health insurance. Health insurance coverage may be obtained through the University Student Health Insurance plan, a private plan, a spouse’s plan, an employer’s plan, or a parent’s plan (if the student qualifies).
University Student Health Insurance rates and benefits are available from the Student Health Insurance Coordinator. We recommend that students carefully review any plan they are considering to ensure that they will receive adequate coverage for unexpected medical expenses.
Visit Campus Coverage to compare insurance plans available to students.
Beginning Fall 2004, the Graduate School is offering subsidized health insurance to eligible teaching and research assistants through the Graduate Student Health Insurance Benefit Program. The graduate student health insurance plan is also available for all students who are not TAs or RAs at the student’s own expense without subsidy. Visit the Graduate School website for more information
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Leave of Absence
Students who do not plan to take classes during a fall or spring semester must complete a âRequest for Leave of Absence form and have it approved by the Department and the Graduate School in advance of the planned absence. Students who do not maintain continuous registration or make arrangements to take a leave of absence will be discharged from the program and will have to reapply for admission.
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Registration Requirements
The cumulative GPA on the courses listed on the program of study must be at least 3.0 with no grade lower than C-.
Full-time graduate students in Electrical and Computer Engineering are required to register for nine semester hours each semester. All students who are on visas must be registered for at least nine credit hours in every semester (excluding summer), including their final semester, unless they receive permission from the Department Graduate Committee prior to the beginning of the semester. Students being supported by research or teaching assistantships who qualify for the Tuition Benefit Program must register for 9 credit hours each semester. See the Tuition Benefit section for further details.
Students must maintain continuous registration until the completion of their degree requirements by registering for at least three hours per semester (excluding summer semester). Students who do not maintain continuous registration and who have not been granted a Leave of Absence by the Graduate School are inactivated and will have to reapply for admission. See the Graduate Handbook for details.
Students must be registered for at least three semester hours during the semester of an exam, even if the exam takes place during summer semester. This includes the comprehensive exam, Ph.D. qualifying exam, and the thesis defense.
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Residency Requirement
Master’s students must complete at least 24 semester hours in resident study at the University of Utah.
Students studying for the Ph.D. or E.E. degree must spend at least one year of study in full-time academic work at the University of Utah (i.e., the student must enroll for a minimum of nine hours per semester for two consecutive semesters, summer optionally excluded).
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Safety and Wellness
Your safety is our top priority. In an emergency, dial 911 or seek a nearby emergency phone (throughout campus). Report any crimes or suspicious people to 801-585-COPS; this number will get you to a dispatch officer at the University of Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS; dps.utah.edu). If at any time, you would like to be escorted by a security officer to or from areas on campus, DPS will help — just give a call.
The University of Utah seeks to provide a safe and healthy experience for students, employees, and others who make use of campus facilities. In support of this goal, the University has established confidential resources and support services to assist students who may have been affected by harassment, abusive relationships, or sexual misconduct. A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found here.
Your well-being is key to your personal safety. If you are in crisis, call 801-587-3000; help is close. The university has additional excellent resources to promote emotional and physical wellness, including the following:
- Counseling Center
- The Wellness Center
- Women’s Resource Center
- Counselors and advocates in these centers can help guide you to other resources to address a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction.
You may also call the ECE department at 801-581-6941 if you need help or have questions.
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SPEAK Test
All international graduate students (except Master of Science Coursework Option and Project Option students) who have not earned a degree from an English-speaking country are required to take the SPEAK Test within the first semester of their studies in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Students participating in the International Teaching Assistant Workshop may use the SET test to fulfill this requirement as this test is required for the workshop. The department will deregister students who have not taken one of these tests by the first week of the second semester of study.
A passing score of 50 is required. A student who receives a lower score may be required to take English courses to improve their English-language skills.
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Special Studies
M.S. Coursework Option students are not permitted to take ECE 6950 (Special Studies).
M.S. Project Option students may take a minimum of 3 credit hours and a maximum of 6 credit hours of ECE 6950 (Special Studies). These hours will count toward the ECE required hours.
M.S. Thesis Option students are not permitted to take ECE 6950 (Special Studies).
Ph.D. students may take up to three semester hours of ECE 7950 (Special Studies) which will count toward the required 42 coursework hours.
Students must get permission from the Graduate Committee before taking any Special Studies courses. Permission is obtained by completing and filing the Special Studies Request form with the Graduate Coordinator. The general guidelines state that for every hour of credit, a course generally requires two hours of study per week outside of class. Therefore, it will be understood that for every credit hour of Special Studies, the student will be expected to spend three hours per week on the activity. Special studies courses from other departments cannot be used for the program of study. Special Studies may not include the material of any class taught by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
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Safety and Wellness
Your safety is our top priority. In an emergency, dial 911 or seek a nearby emergency phone (throughout campus). Report any crimes or suspicious people to 801-585-COPS; this number will get you to a dispatch officer at the University of Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS; dps.utah.edu). If at any time, you would like to be escorted by a security officer to or from areas on campus, DPS will help — just give a call.
The University of Utah seeks to provide a safe and healthy experience for students, employees, and others who make use of campus facilities. In support of this goal, the University has established confidential resources and support services to assist students who may have been affected by harassment, abusive relationships, or sexual misconduct. A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found here.
Your well-being is key to your personal safety. If you are in crisis, call 801-587-3000; help is close. The university has additional excellent resources to promote emotional and physical wellness, including the following:
- Counseling Center
- The Wellness Center
- Women’s Resource Center
- Counselors and advocates in these centers can help guide you to other resources to address a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction.
You may also call the ECE department at 801-581-6941 if you need help or have questions.
Return to Table of Contents