Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Master of Science, Plan A Degree Requirements

A Plan A degree is a traditional research-based Master's program that requires the student develop and complete a research project, and to successfully defend a written thesis.  Refer to the Master's admissions guidelines for minimum requirements.

Plan A Credit Allocation (30 hours minimum - all at 4000 level minimum)

• Minimum 16 Course Hrs in Electrical and Computer Engineering Course Work
• Minimum 3 Course Hrs in Formal Course Work outside the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
• 7 Additional Formal Course Hrs in or out of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
• 4 credits of MS thesis research
• No more than 12 credit hours can be at the 4000 level
• No more than 3 credit hours of independent study

The Plan A thesis document must be presented to the committee and an advertisement must be posted two weeks prior to the defense date. A poster describing the research work must be completed and approved by the student's major professor before the Graduation/Title Form will be signed by the department head.

 

The following documentation is associated with the plan A option:

• University Program of Study Form
• University Degree Completion

 

In addition to the above course work, the student must pass a final oral examination in defense of his or her thesis work. The presentation portion is advertised and is open to the public.

 

Project Poster

• The student is also required to construct a poster describing the research work to be offered for the Plan A final examination
• The poster must be completed and approved by the student's major professor before the Graduation/Title Form will be filled out by the department head

The student is highly encouraged to submit at least one paper to a peer-reviewed conference or journal describing the student's thesis work and to participate in the UW Graduate Student Symposium describing the student's thesis work.