School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science consists of three independent but interrelated programs: the Computer Engineering (CpE) program, the Computer Science (CS ) program, and the Electrical Engineering (EE) program.

Director of the School: Erol Gelenbe
Computer Engineering Program Director: Christian S. Bauer
Computer Science Program Director: Ronald D. Dutton
Electrical Engineering Program Director: Zhihua Qu
Computer and Electrical Engineering Graduate Coordinator: Michael Georgiopoulos
Computer Science Graduate Coordinator: Ronald D. Dutton

Application Deadlines

Fall admission March 1*
Fall admission July 15
Spring admission December 1
Summer admission April 15

* Students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply for the Fall semester by this date.

Computer Engineering Program

Computer Engineering Program Director: Christian S. Bauer
ENGR 407C, (407) 823-2236.
E-mail: csb@engr.ucf.edu

Computer and Electrical Engineering Graduate Coordinator: Michael Georgiopoulos
ENGR 407B, (407) 823-5338.
E-mail: michaelg@mail.ucf.edu

Faculty

Professors: C. S. Bauer, Ph.D.; A. J. Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: R. DeMara, Ph.D.; H. I. Klee, Ph.D.; D. G. Linton, Ph.D; B. E. Petrasko, D. Eng.; J. Zalewski, Ph.D.; G. Walton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: F. Gonzalez, Ph.D.

The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Engineering. Students in the CpE program receive a broad background in the areas of software engineering, digital systems, computer architectures and knowledge-based systems while specializing in a research area of their interest. Research interests of the CpE faculty include digital systems, computer architecture, software engineering, artificial intelligence, expert systems, simulation, computer communications and computer vision.

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

The Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering (M.S.Cp.E.) requires a baccalaureate degree in Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution. Admission requirements for regular status include a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) (A = 4.0) in the last 60 attempted hours of the undergraduate degree program and a minimum of 1000 in the quantitative and verbal portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). International students, except those who are from countries where English is the only official language or those who have earned a degree from an accredited American college or university, are required to submit a score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Students with a grade point average of less than 3.0 may be admitted on a trial program basis in some circumstances. Additional courses may also be required to correct any course deficiencies. Students should contact the Computer and Electrical Engineering graduate coordinator for further information.

Articulation

Undergraduate articulation courses may be required for students with bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in fields other than computer engineering. The articulation courses will be determined by the graduate program coordinator in consultation with the student’s adviser on a case-by-case basis.

In general, all students must have had the following undergraduate program or equivalent before admission to graduate study:

Mathematics through differential equations (equivalent to MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302)
College physics with calculus (equivalent to PHY 2048 and PHY 2049)
Computer organization (equivalent to EEL 4767C)
Probability and statistics (equivalent to STA 3032)
Numerical methods and matrix algebra (equivalent to EGN 3420)
Engineering data structures (equivalent to EEL 4851C)
Digital logic circuits (equivalent to EEL 3342C)
Computer design (equivalent to EEL 4767C)

Students without this background must take the appropriate course work. Courses taken to correct deficiencies cannot be used to satisfy minimum degree requirements.

Tracks in Computer Engineering

There are four tracks available in the master’s degree program in computer engineering. They are:
  • Computer Architecture
  • Digital Systems
  • Knowledge-based Systems
  • Software Engineering
Each track has a thesis option and a course work-only (non-thesis) option. The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 semester hours, including 6 hours of thesis registration. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work. Each option requires a minimum of 15 hours at the 6000 level. The actual program of study must be approved by an adviser prior to completing 9 hours of course work. A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate course work taken prior to admission to the program can be used in a graduate degree program.

Thesis Option

This program requires 30 semester hours, at least 15 hours of which must be at the 6000 level and will include 6 hours of thesis credit. The prerequisites for the program are shown below. The Core requirements for all students will be met by Required Courses. A program adviser and committee must be selected prior to completing 9 hours of course work. Non-Core courses taken before a student is in regular status and has a chair may not be accepted toward the M.S.Cp.E. The entire graduate committee must be appointed and a thesis abstract provided to them prior to registering for thesis credit.

Non-Thesis Option

This option requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work and is intended primarily for part-time students. Program requirements are the same as for the thesis option except that the thesis requirement is replaced by 12 hours of course work. Students are required to pass a final comprehensive examination.

Transfer Credits

Graduate students (subject to approval from an adviser) with a bachelor’s degree from Computer Engineering at UCF may transfer up to 9 credit hours of 5000-level work toward a non-thesis M.S. option, and up to 3 credit hours of 5000-level work toward a thesis M.S. option.

Required Courses (Core)—9 Semester Hours

EEL 5708 High Performance Computer Architecture (3 hours)
EEL 5874 Expert Systems and Knowledge Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 5881 Software Engineering I (3 hours)

Computer Architecture Track

Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6707 Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6763 Current Topics in Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6769 Parallel Knowledge Processing Systems (3 hours)
Electives (Selected in consultation with adviser) (6 hours)
Thesis (6 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—30 Semester Hours

Non-Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6707 Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6763 Current Topics in Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6769 Parallel Knowledge Processing Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)
Electives (selected in consultation with adviser) (15 hours)
Final Exam (0 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—36 Semester Hours

Digital Systems Track

Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6707 Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6763 Current Topics in Parallel Processing (3 hours)
Two courses in one of the following areas: Controls, Digital Signal Processing, or Microelectronics (6 hours)
Electives (Selected in consultation with adviser) (3 hours)
Thesis (6 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—30 Semester Hours

Non-Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6707 Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6763 Current Topics in Parallel Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)
Three courses in one of the following areas: Controls, Digital Signal Processing, or Microelectronics (9 hours)
Electives (Selected in consultation with adviser) (9 hours)
Final Exam (0 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—36 Semester Hours

Knowledge-based Systems Track

Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
*EEL 4872 Engineering Applications of Intelligent Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6875 Engineering of Artificial Intelligence Systems (3 hours)
At least one of the following courses (3 hours):
EEL 6876 Current Topics in AI in Engr. Systems
EEL 6878 Modeling and Artificial Intelligence
Electives (Selected in consultation with adviser) (6 hours)
Thesis (6 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—30 Semester Hours

Non-Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
*EEL 4872 Engineering Applications of Intelligent Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6875 Engineering of Artificial Intelligence Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6876 Current Topics in Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6878 Modeling and Artificial Intelligence (3 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)
Electives (selected in consultation with adviser) (12 hours)
Final Exam (0 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—36 Semester Hours

* If the student has taken this course or an equivalent as an undergraduate, then an elective, chosen in consultation with the adviser, can be used to replace this course.

Software Engineering Track

Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)
At least one of the following courses:
EEL 6885 Software Engineering Quality Assurance Methods (3 hours)
EEL 6887 Software Engineering Life-Cycle Control (3 hours)
EEL 6897 Software Development for Real-Time Engineering Systems (3 hours)
Electives (selected in consultation with adviser) (9 hours)
Thesis (6 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—30 Semester Hours

Non-Thesis Option
Core (9 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)
At least two of the following courses (6 hours):
EEL 6885 Software Engineering Quality Assurance Methods
EEL 6887 Software Engineering Life-Cycle Control
EEL 6897 Software Development for Real-Time Engineering Systems
Electives (selected in consultation with adviser) (18 hours)
Final Exam (0 hours)
Total Hours Required for M.S.Cp.E.—36 Semester Hours

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is primarily intended for students with a master’s degree in Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline who wish to pursue a career in research or academia. Specializations include digital systems, computer architecture, software engineering, intelligent systems, image processing, computer networks, and simulation systems.

Admission

Students must satisfy university requirements and have completed either a master’s degree in computer engineering or a closely related discipline with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum of 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or a closely related discipline with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 attempted semester hours of the bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections of the GRE. Admissions decisions using these results and supplemental information are made by the graduate program coordinator.

Students are required to pass a Qualifying Examination. Then the student must form a dissertation committee and submit an approved program of study before continuing in degree-seeking status usually within the first year of doctoral study.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 81 semester hours of graduate course work, 24 of which must be dissertation hours. Graduate course work includes 5000 or higher level courses, with a maximum of 12 hours of independent study. Up to 6 hours of 4000 level work are acceptable if transferred from a master’s degree program. At least 6 hours must be taken outside the department while at UCF. There is a residency requirement of two contiguous semesters in full-time graduate student status (minimum of 9 semester hours) after acceptance to the graduate program at UCF. A program of study must be developed with an advisory committee and meet with departmental approval at the beginning of the Ph.D. program, at which time transfer credit will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. The degree must be completed within seven years from the entry date to the doctoral program.

Transfer Credits

Up to 36 credit hours may be transferred from a master’s degree obtained at a regionally accredited institution toward these requirements, including a maximum of 6 hours of 4000-level courses; no 3000-level courses; and no courses with grades less than “B.”

Qualifying/Comprehensive Examinations

The prospective doctoral student must take a written Qualifying Examination. This exam covers relevant material typically learned at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and serves to verify the student’s capability and readiness for the Ph.D. program.

This examination consists of two days of written examinations with an optional third day for an oral examination. The oral examination will be held approximately within two weeks of the written examination and is at the option of Computer Engineering Examination Committee. The exam will be offered twice per year, in April and in November.

The written exam will consist of two separate tests given on two consecutive days.

Day #1 Fundamentals of Computer Engineering (4 hours)
The student must pass an examination in the following areas:

Digital Systems and Computer Architecture
Software Engineering
Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Methods

The examination is closed-book and notes, with two 8 1/2 x 11 handwritten reference sheets permitted. No stored program calculators are permitted.

Day #2 Advanced Concepts in Computer Engineering (4 hours)
The student must pass an examination in the following areas:

Advanced Software Engineering
Digital Systems and Computer Architecture

In addition, the student must select (at the time of the examination) and pass an examination in one of the following areas:

Analog Electronics Electromagnetics
Communications Electro-optics
Controls Knowledge-based Systems
Digital Signal Processing Physical Electronics

This exam will be open book. It is the policy of the Computer Engineering Program that any calculator used during the qualifying examination may not be used to store user-defined programs.

Candidacy Examination

The Candidacy Examination evaluates the student’s preparation to undertake the research in the student’s dissertation topic. A student may sit for the Candidacy Examination upon: (1) Passing the Qualifying Examination; (2) Completing all conditions placed as a result thereof; and (3) Completing all but six (6) credits or less of the courses prescribed in the plan of study. The Candidacy Examination consists of the following:
  • A Candidacy Proposal developed by the student to identify the chosen area of research.
  • An oral presentation of the Candidacy Proposal to the dissertation committee by the student.
  • A written Candidacy Examination based on the student’s chosen area of research may be required by the major professor. The format is determined by the major professor in consultation with the dissertation committee.
Upon successful completion of the Candidacy Examination, the student can be accepted into Candidacy status, allowing the student to enroll for dissertation credit hours.

The final step in the process is the Dissertation Defense Examination, which is an oral examination taken in defense of the written dissertation before the dissertation committee.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee must consist of a minimum of five members: three must be faculty members from within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and one must be from outside the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The Committee Chair must be a member of the department graduate faculty approved to direct dissertations.

Graduate Certificates in Computer Engineering

Graduate Program Coordinator, Certificates in Computer Engineering: Gwen Walton, Ph.D.
ENGR 407, (407) 823-3276.
E-mail: gwalton@mail.ucf.edu

Certificate in Software Engineering

The current shortage of computer engineers in the United States has been recently described by many in the industry and government as a shortage of crisis proportion. This certificate program provides students with a level of proficiency in software engineering that satisfies the needs of industry.

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5881 Software Engineering I (3 hours)
EEL 5XXX Software Requirements Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 6887 Software Engineering Life-Cycle Control (3 hours)
EEL 6XXX Software Engineering Architecture and Design (3 hours)

Certificate in Software-Intensive Systems

Due to rapid technological development and changes in software engineering, several important application areas, including real-time systems, computer networking, computer graphics, real-time simulation, and intelligent systems, require significant knowledge that is application-specific. This certificate program directly addresses these needs by providing the opportunity for students to pursue their individual interests as well as meet the needs of industry.

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5881 Software Engineering I (3 hours)
EEL 6883 Software Engineering II (3 hours)

Any 2 of the following courses:
EEL 5771C Engineering Applications of Computer Graphics (3 hours)
EEL 5874 Expert Systems and Knowledge Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 6785 Computer Network Design Methods (3 hours)
EEL 6885 Software Engineering Quality Assurance (3 hours)
EEL 6887 Software Engineering Life-Cycle Control (3 hours)
EEL 6895 Current Issues in Real-Time Simulation (3 hours)
EEL 6897 Software Development for Real-Time Engineering Systems (3 hours)

Computer Science Program

Computer Science Program Director: Ronald D. Dutton
CSB 263, (407) 823-2920.
E-mail: dutton@cs.ucf.edu

Faculty

Professors: M. A. Bassiouni, Ph.D.; R. C. Brigham, Ph.D.; N. Deo, Ph.D., Millican Endowed Chair in Computer Science; R. D. Dutton, Ph.D.; T. J. Frederick, Ph.D.; E. Gelenbe, Ph.D.; F. Gomez, Ph.D.; R. K. Guha, Ph.D.; C. E. Hughes, Ph.D.; G. Marin, Ph.D.; J. M. Moshell, Ph.D.; A. Mukherjee, Ph.D.; M. A. Shah, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: O. Favorov, Ph.D.; H. C. Gerber, Ph.D.; K. Hua, Ph.D.; S. D. Lang, Ph.D.; J. Leeson, Ph.D.; A. Orooji, Ph.D.; N. da Vitoria Lobo, Ph.D.; D. A. Workman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: R. Parsons, Ph.D.; J. Rogers, Ph.D.; A. Wu, Ph.D.
Lecturer: U. Vemulapati, Ph.D.

The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Science. Students in the computer science program receive a broad background in the areas of programming systems and languages, computer architecture, and computer science theory while specializing in the research area of their interest. Research interests of the CS faculty include computer architecture, VLSI systems, parallel processing, design and analysis of algorithms, graph theory, microprocessors, programming languages, operating systems, natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, database management systems, computer graphics, interactive graphic systems of instruction, distributed processing networking, and computational complexity.

Admission

Admission is based on satisfying the regular university requirements. Additional requirements are:
  • An undergraduate degree in computer science is desirable but not required. Applicants without a strong undergraduate background in computer science will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the material covered in the following courses:
    CDA 4150 Computer Architecture
    COP 4020 Programming Languages I
    COP 4600 Operating Systems
    COT 4210 Discrete Computational Structures
  • The student may choose to demonstrate the knowledge of these courses by scoring well on the Subject (Advanced) GRE in Computer Science. It is estimated that more than 85 percent of this GRE deals directly with the material covered in these courses.
  • International students must obtain a minimum score of 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  • Applicants desiring financial support (assistantships or fellowships) are advised to take the Computer Science Graduate Record Examination in order to receive favorable consideration.

Master of Science in Computer Science

Degree Requirements

Required Courses—9 Semester Hours
(Students must receive an “A” or “B” grade in these courses.)
CDA 5106 Advanced Computer Architecture I (3 hours)
COT 5405 Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3 hours)

Select One:
COP 5611 Operating Systems Design Principles (3 hours)
COP 5021 Program Analysis (3 hours)
COT 5310 Formal Languages and Automata Theory (3 hours)

Restricted Electives—21-27 Semester Hours
Restricted electives must include two 6000-level Computer Science courses taught by Computer Science faculty, exclusive of independent study, and may not include any courses for which the grade received is below a “B.” Additional credits will normally be taken from 5000- and 6000-level Computer Science courses. Approval may be granted for at most 6 semester hours to be taken from graduate courses outside Computer Science.

Two options are available. The Non-Thesis option is a 36-semester-hour program that allows at most 6 hours of independent study. The Thesis option is a 30-semester-hour program exclusive of independent study. The thesis is intended to span two semesters, and students are to enroll in 3 credit hours of thesis (XXX 6971) each semester. Beyond these two semesters, students are required to be enrolled in at least one hour of thesis until the thesis requirement is satisfied. After appropriate research the student is required to prepare and defend a formal thesis in accordance with university requirements. The final thesis will be bound with two copies provided to the library and one copy provided to the School of Computer Science.

Regardless of the electives or option chosen, the plan of study for each student must satisfy the following:

  • Contain 30-36 semester hours depending on the option selected
  • Grades “C” or better with no more than 6 hours of “C” work and a grade point average of 3.0 or better
  • No courses below the 5000 level
  • No more than 6 hours (or two courses) of independent study in the Non-Thesis option and none in the Thesis option
  • Two 6000-level courses, with grades of “B” or better, taught by the School of Computer Science
  • Six credits of thesis (XXX 6971) for those in the Thesis option
Minimum Hours Required for M.S.—30-36 Semester Hours

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

Admission

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science is formalized by the university upon the recommendation of the Computer Science Graduate Committee. In addition to satisfying the regular university requirements and the minimal M.S. admission requirement, the applicant must pass Phase I of the Ph.D. qualifying examination. Any transfer credits toward requirements for the Ph.D. program must be approved by the university and the department. Normally, these credits must correspond to equivalent requirements and performance levels expected for the program.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Outstanding students with a bachelor’s degree are encouraged to apply directly into the doctoral program. Phase I of the qualifying examination, normally taken within the first two semesters of graduate work, determines whether a student will be allowed to continue for the Ph.D.

Phase I consists of a written examination in which students must successfully pass questions covering at least four areas from a list of areas supplied by the program. To pass the questions of an area requires that the student must clearly convey at least a strong undergraduate knowledge of the area. These written examinations will be offered twice per academic year, normally in September and January. Students are allowed two attempts to pass the Phase I examination. Upon passing, students are officially placed in the Ph.D. program.

Phase II of the qualifying examination consists of the acceptance of a professional paper, normally under the supervision of the student’s adviser, by a peer-reviewed conference or journal. It is expected that the Phase II goal should be satisfied within the first eighteen months of graduate work.

Research Committee

The formation of a research committee should occur as soon as the student has identified a potential research area. This committee will consist of no more than five faculty members, three of whom must be Computer Science graduate faculty and at least one of whom must be from outside the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Plan of Study

The Ph.D. plan of study will consist of a minimum of 15 semester hours of Ph.D. dissertation (CAP, CDA, COP, or COT 7980) credits and at least 57 semester hours of non-dissertation graduate (5000-level or above) credits. The latter must include CDA 5106, COT 5310, COT 5405, at least 15 semester hours of advanced (6000-level) computer science courses, exclusive of Special Topics courses, and 6 graduate hours from outside computer science. The remaining credits are normally selected from computer science regularly scheduled courses, Special Topics courses, seminar courses, and Independent Study. No more than 12 credits of Independent Study can be used.

Candidacy Examination

The candidacy examination consists of two parts: (1) a four-hour written examination in the specialty area as defined by the plan of study, to be designed by the chair in consultation with the members of the research committee, and (2) the presentation of a written doctoral research prospectus to the committee with an oral review of the proposal.

Students cannot register for dissertation credit (XXX 7980) until the term following successful passing of the candidacy examination.

Residence Requirement

Students in the Ph.D. program are normally expected to be, for at least two consecutive semesters, registered for a minimum of 9 hours in each of the two terms.

Time Limitation

The student has seven years from the beginning of regular graduate status in the Ph.D. program to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Special Degree Requirements

Students are expected to demonstrate competency in an area relevant to their research. This must be carefully defined by each student’s committee and approved by the Computer Science Graduate Committee and Office of the Dean.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Students must write a dissertation on their research which describes a significant original contribution to the field of computer science. The oral defense of the dissertation is administered by the research committee, which makes a critical inquiry into the work reported in the dissertation and into the areas of knowledge that are immediately relevant to the research. All members vote on acceptance or rejection of the dissertation. The dissertation must be approved by the dissertation adviser and committee, the school director or designee, and the dean of the college or designee. Format approval is required from the Thesis and Publications Editor and final approval of satisfaction of degree requirements by the Office of Graduate Studies (AD 230).

Electrical Engineering Program

Electrical Engineering Program Director: Zhihua Qu
ENGR 446, (407) 823-5976.
E-mail: qu@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

Computer and Electrical Engineering Graduate Coordinator: Michael Georgiopoulos
ENGR 407B, (407) 823-5338.
E-mail: michaelg@mail.ucf.edu

Faculty

Professors: J. J. Liou, Ph.D.; D. C. Malocha, Ph.D., P.E.; W. B. Mikhael, Ph.D.; H. R. Myler, Ph.D., P.E.; R. L. Phillips, Ph.D.; N. S. Tzannes, Ph.D.; P. F. Wahid, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: I. Batarseh, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science; M. Georgiopoulos, Ph.D.; T. Kasparis, Ph.D., R. N. Miller, Ph.D., P.E.; Z. Qu, Ph.D.; S. M. Richie, Ph.D., K. B. Sundaram, Ph.D.; J. S. Yuan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: M. G. Haralambous, D. Sc., P.E., T. Wu, Ph.D.
Joint Appointees: L. C. Andrews, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics; M. Bass, Ph.D., Professor of Physics; B. Chai, Ph.D., Professor of Physics; M. Richardson, Ph.D., Professor of Physics; W. T. Silfvast, Ph.D., Professor of Physics; G. Stegeman, Ph.D., Cobb-Hooker Professor of Physics; E. W. Van Stryland, Ph.D., Professor of Physics; D. J. Hagan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics; R. Peale, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics

The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in electrical engineering. Students in the EE program receive a broad background in areas such as communications, controls/power, digital signal processing, electromagnetics, electronics, electro-optics, and solid state and microelectronics while specializing in a research area of their interest. Research interests of the EE faculty include antennas, microwave and millimeter circuits and devices, communication systems, digital signal/image processing, IFF devices, electromagnetic theory, speech processing, VLSI design, spread spectrum systems, SAW and ACT devices, spectral estimation, solid state device modeling and CAD techniques, communication networks, integrated services digital networks, neural networks, systems and controls, robotics, robust control, computer control, microelectronics, semiconductors, thin films, power system stability, bipolar device modeling, solid state lasers, optical propagation, fiber optics, optical signal processing, laser-induced damage, optical testing, diffractive optics, phase conjuction, infrared detectors, fourier optics, lens design, and nonlinear optics.

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

The Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.) is intended for students with a baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Admission requirements include a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) on the last 60 attempted semester hours of the bachelor’s degree and a minimum combined score of 1000 on the verbal-quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination. International students, except those who are from countries where English is the only official language or those who have earned a degree from an accredited American college or university, are required to submit a score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Students with a grade point average of less than 3.0 may be admitted on a trial program basis in some circumstances. Additional courses may also be required to correct any course deficiencies. Students should contact the ECE graduate program coordinator for further information.

Detailed information on the tracks and research activities is available in the department. Students must have an adviser appointed and an official program of study submitted before completing nine semester hours of course work. For more information, see the department website at http://www.ece.engr.ucf.edu/.

Articulation

Undergraduate articulation courses may be required for students with BS and/or MS degrees in fields other than electrical engineering. The articulation courses will be determined by the graduate program coordinator in consultation with student’s research adviser on a case-by-case basis.

In general, students with a nonelectrical engineering degree must have had the equivalent course work or satisfy the following articulation program:

Mathematics through Differential Equations (MAP 2302 or equivalent)
Physics with Calculus (PHY 2048, PHY 2049 or equivalent)
Electronics I (EEL 3307C or equivalent)
Electromagnetic Fields (EEL 3470 or equivalent)
Signal Analysis and Communications (EEL 3552C or equivalent)
Semiconductor Devices I (EEL 3306 or equivalent)

Additional courses may also be required to correct any undergraduate course deficiencies. Courses taken to correct deficiencies cannot be used to satisfy minimum degree requirements.

Thesis Option

This option requires a minimum of thirty semester hours of approved course work.

Non-Thesis Option

This option requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work and is intended primarily for part-time students. Program requirements are the same as the thesis option except that the thesis requirement is replaced by 12 hours of course work. Students are required to pass a final comprehensive examination.

Transfer Credits

Graduate students (subject to an approval from an adviser) with a bachelor’s degree from Electrical Engineering at UCF may transfer up to 9 credit hours of 5000-level work toward an M.S. non-thesis option and up to 3 credit hours of 5000-level work toward an M.S. thesis option.

Degree Requirements

  • Required courses from one of the following tracks:
       Communications
       Controls/Power
       Digital Signal Processing
       Electromagnetics
       Electronics
       Electro-optics
       Solid State and Microelectronics
  • One course from any other 2 areas listed above (6 hours total).
  • No more than 6 credits of thesis will count toward the degree requirement.
  • The remainder of the program courses is chosen in conjunction with an adviser in an approved program of study.
  • At least 15 credit hours must be from 6000-level courses.
  • Continuous enrollment in one hour of thesis for those pursuing the thesis option until the thesis requirement is satisfied, beyond the six hours minimum for the thesis.

Communications Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5542 Random Processes I (3 hours)
EEL 6530 Communication Theory (3 hours)

One course from two of the following tracks: Controls/Power, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, Electronics, Electro-optics, Solid State and Microelectronics (6 hours)

Electives
EEL 6504 Communications Systems Design (3 hours)
EEL 6543 Random Processes II (3 hours)
EEL 6537 Detection and Estimation (3 hours)
EEL 5555C RF and Microwave Communications (3 hours)
EEL 5762 Performance Analysis of Computer and Communication Systems (3 hours)
EEL 5547 Introduction to Radar Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6785 Computer Network Design (3 hours)
EEL 6590 Advanced Topics in Communications (3 hours)

Thesis Option—18 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (12 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—24 Semester Hours
Electives (24 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Controls/Power Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5630 Digital Control Systems (3 hours)
EEL 5173 Signal and System Analysis (3 hours)

One course from two of the following tracks: Communications, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, Electronics, Electro-optics, Solid State and Microelectronics (6 hours)

Electives in Controls
EEL 6621 Nonlinear Control Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6671 Modern and Optimal Control Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6674 Optimal Estimation for Control (3 hours)
EEL 6617 Fundamentals of Modern Multivariable Control (3 hours)
EEL 6616 Adaptive Control (3 hours)
EEL 6680 Advanced Topics in Modern Control Systems (3 hours)

Electives in Power
EEL 5245C Power Electronics I (3 hours)
EEL 6208 Advanced Machines (3 hours)
EEL 6255 Advanced Power Systems Analysis (3 hours)
EEL 6269 Advanced Topics in Power Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 6246 Power Electronics II (3 hours)

Thesis Option—18 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (12 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—24 Semester Hours
Electives (24 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Digital Signal Processing Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 4750 Digital Signal Processing Fundamentals (3 hours)
EEL 5513 Digital Signal Processing Applications (3 hours)
One course from two of the following tracks: Communications, Controls/Power, Electromagnetics, Electronics, Electro-optics, Solid State and Microelectronics (6 hours)

Electives
EEL 6502 Adaptive Digital Signal Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6505 Multidimensional Digital Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6558 Advanced Topics in Digital Signal Processing (3 hours)
EEL 5820 Image Processing I (3 hours)
EEL 6823 Image Processing II (3 hours)
EEL 5825 Pattern Recognition (3 hours)

Electromagnetics Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 6488 Electromagnetic Fields (3 hours)

One of the following courses is required:
EEL 4436C Microwave Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 5462C Antenna Analysis and Design (3 hours)
EEL 5434 Microwave Circuits and Devices (3 hours)

One course from two of the following tracks: Communications, Controls/Power, Digital Signal Processing, Electronics, Electro-optics, Solid State and Microelectronics (6 hours)

Electives
EEL 5555C RF and Microwave Communications (3 hours)
EEL 6463 Antenna Analysis and Design II (3 hours)
EEL 6492 Advanced Topics in Electromagnetics and Microwaves (3 hours)

Thesis Option—18 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (12 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—24 Semester Hours
Electives (24 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Electronics Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 6371 Advanced Electronics I (3 hours)

One of the following courses is required:
EEL 5245C Power Electronics I (3 hours)
EEL 5357 CMOS Analog and Digital IC Design (3 hours)

One course from two of the following tracks: Communications, Controls/Power, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, Electro-optics, Solid State and Microelectronics (6 hours)

Electives
EEL 5353 Semiconductor Device Modeling and Simulation (3 hours)
EEL 5370 Operational Amplifiers (3 hours)
EEL 6354 Advanced Semiconductor Devices II (3 hours)
EEL 6372 Advanced Topics in Electronics (3 hours)
EEL 6246 Power Electronics II (3 hours)

Thesis Option—18 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (12 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—24 Semester Hours
Electives (24 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Electro-optics Track

Required Courses – 9 Semester Hours
EEL 5441 Introduction to Wave Optics (3 hours)
EEL 6560 Laser Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 6561 Fourier Optics (3 hours)

Electives
Courses from the following tracks can serve as electives: Communications, Controls/Power, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, Electronics, Solid State and Microelectronics. The elective courses depend on the sub-option chosen in the Electro-optics track. The sub-options are: Photonics, Optical Communications, Electro-optics Systems, Imaging Systems, Remote Sensing, and Laser Engineering. More details of these sub-options can be obtained from the graduate office at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Thesis Option—21 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (15 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—27 Semester Hours
Electives (27 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Solid State and Microelectronics Track

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5355C Fabrication of Solid-state Devices (3 hours)
EEL 6354 Advanced Semiconductor Device I (3 hours)

One course from two of the following tracks: Communications, Controls/Power, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, Electronics, Electro-optics (6 hours)

Electives
EEL 5332C Thin Film Technology (3 hours)
EEL 5353 Semiconductor Device Modeling and Simulation (3 hours)
EEL 5357 CMOS Analog and Digital IC Design (3 hours)
EEL 5517 Surface Acoustic Wave Devices and Systems (3 hours)
EEL 5352 Semiconductor Material and Device Characterization (3 hours)
EEL 6354 Advanced Semiconductor Device II (3 hours)
EEL 6338 Advanced Topics in Microelectronics (3 hours)

Thesis Option—18 Semester Hours
EEL 6971 Thesis (6 hours)
Electives (12 hours)

Non-Thesis Option—24 Semester Hours
Electives (24 hours)

Total Hours Required for M.S.E.E.—30 or 36 Semester Hours

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is primarily intended for students with a master’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline who wish to pursue a career in research or academia. Specializations include communications, digital signal processing/image processing, controls, electro-optics, electromagnetics, electronics, and solid-state/microelectronics.

Admission

Students must satisfy university requirements and have completed either a master’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum of 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 attempted semester hours of the bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1100 on the combined verbal-quantitative portion of the GRE.

Students are required to pass a qualifying examination within their first year of doctoral study. The student must then form a dissertation committee and submit an approved program of study before being allowed to continue with the doctoral program.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 81 semester hours of graduate course work, 24 of which will be dissertation hours. Graduate course work includes 5000 or higher level courses, with a maximum of 12 hours of independent study. Up to 6 hours of 4000- level work are acceptable if transferred from a master’s degree program. At least 6 hours must be taken outside the department while at UCF. There is a residency requirement of two contiguous semesters in full-time graduate student status (minimum of 9 semester hours) after acceptance to the graduate program at UCF. A program of study must be developed with an advisory committee and meet with departmental approval at the beginning of the Ph.D. program, at which time transfer credit will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. The degree must be completed within seven years from the date of entry to the doctoral program.

Transfer Credits

A limited number of credit hours may be transferred from a master’s degree toward these requirements, including a maximum of 6 hours of 4000-level courses; no 3000-level courses; and no courses with grades less than “B.”

Qualifying/Comprehensive Examination

The prospective doctoral student must take a written Qualifying Examination before being admitted to full doctoral student status. This exam covers relevant material typically learned at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and serves to verify the student’s capability and readiness for the Ph.D. program.

The written examination will consist of two separate tests given on two consecutive days. It is the policy of the department that any calculator used during the qualifying examination may not be used to store user-defined programs.

  1. Fundamentals—This is a closed book four-hour examination on the fundamentals of electrical engineering. The student must pass four of the eight subject areas on the test:
    Circuits Electromagnetic Fields
    Communications Electronics
    Controls/Power Physical Electronics
    Digital Systems Digital Signal Processing
  2. Advanced—This is an open book four-hour examination in areas of advanced study of electrical engineering. The student must pass three of the eight areas listed below:
    Communications Electro-Optics
    Digital Signal Processing Electromagnetics
    Controls/Power Physical Electronics
    Digital Systems Electronics
NOTE: The test on the fundamentals is closed book, and the advanced level is open book. At the advanced examination, tests and student notes are permitted, but published solution manuals for texts are not allowed.

Candidacy Examination

The Candidacy Examination evaluates the student’s preparation to undertake the research in the student’s dissertation topic. A student may sit for the Candidacy Examination upon: (1) Passing the Qualifying Examination; (2) Completing all conditions placed as a result thereof; and (3) Completing all but six (6) credits or less of the courses prescribed in the plan of study. The Candidacy Examination consists of the following:
  • A Candidacy Proposal developed by the student to identify the chosen area of research.
  • An oral presentation of the Candidacy Proposal to the dissertation committee by the student.
  • A written Candidacy Examination based on the student’s chosen area of research may be required by the major professor. The format is determined by the major professor in consultation with the dissertation committee.
Upon successful completion of the Candidacy Examination, the student can be accepted into Candidacy status, allowing the student to enroll for dissertation credit hours.

The final step in the process is the Dissertation Defense Examination, which is an oral examination taken in defense of the written dissertation before the dissertation committee.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee must consist of a minimum of five members: three must be faculty members from within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and one must be from outside the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The committee Chair must be a member of the department graduate faculty approved to direct dissertations.

Graduate Certificates in Electrical Engineering

Graduate Program Coordinator, Certificates in Electrical Engineering: Michael Georgiopoulos, Ph.D.
ENGR 407, (407) 823-5338.
E-mail: michaelg@mail.ucf.edu

Certificate in Antennas and Propagation

Antenna design and electromagnetic propagation is of great importance in several areas, such as radar, wireless communications, and remote sensing. This certificate program provides the knowledge and training needed for people to work in this area.

Required Courses—15 Semester Hours
EEL 4436 Microwave Engineering (3 hours)
EEL 5432 Satellite Remote Sensing (3 hours)
EEL 5462C Antenna Analysis and Design (3 hours)
EEL 5547 Introduction to Radar Systems (3 hours)
EEL 6488 Electromagnetic Fields (3 hours)

Certificate in Communications Systems

Every day we use a variety of modern communication systems and communication media, including the telephone, radio, television, electronic mail, and facsimile. Through these media we can communicate (nearly) instantaneously with people on different continents, transact our daily business, and receive information about developments and events of note that occur around the world. This certificate program provides the basic principles in the analysis and design of communication systems. After presentation of the background concepts of probability, random variables, and stochastic processes, students will be able to analyze existing or new communication systems. The fundamental elements of all communication systems (transmitter, channel, and receiver) will be thoroughly investigated and a number of practical communication systems will be discussed in detail.

Required Courses—9 Semester Hours
EEL 5542 Random Processes I (3 hours)
EEL 6504 Communications Systems Design (3 hours)
EEL 6530 Communication Theory (3 hours)

Certificate in Digital Signal Processing

Digital signal processing encompasses many types of applications, ranging from the processing of speech signals to the automatic recognition of characters in a scanned document. This certificate program provides students with a basic understanding of digital processing techniques by building on a formal foundation in sampling of analog signals, finite impulse response filters, and infinite impulse response filters.

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 4750 Digital Signal Processing Fundamentals (3 hours)
EEL 5513 Digital Signal Processing Applications (3 hours)

Any 2 of the following courses:
EEL 5820 Image Processing I (3 hours)
EEL 6823 Image Processing II (3 hours)
EEL 5825 Pattern Recognition (3 hours)
EEL 6502 Adaptive Digital Signal Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6505 Multidimensional Digital Processing (3 hours)
EEL 6558 Advanced Topics in Digital Signal Processing (3 hours)

Certificate in Electronic Circuits

This certificate program emphasizes modern design practice for power electronics, CMOS-integrated circuits, computer-aided circuit simulation, semiconductor device modeling, advanced analog and digital circuits, and advanced machinery. The power electronics courses cover principles of power electronics, power semiconductor devices, inverter topologies, switch-mode and resonant dc-to-dc converters, cyclo-converters, and advanced topics (soft-switching techniques, small-signal modeling of PWM and resonant converters, control techniques, power factor correction circuits). Conventional analog circuits such as ideal and non-ideal OP-amps, active RC and switched-capacitor filters, non-linear and other functional circuits, frequency stability and compensation of OP-amps will also be included. For electronic circuit design, SPICE circuit simulation is an essential computer-aided design tool, and course work focuses on semiconductor device modeling for circuit simulation, illustration of semiconductor device physics, and design principles of advanced CMOS analog and digital circuits in mixed-signal integrated circuits. Extensive circuit simulation and design examples will be provided.

Required Courses—12 Semester Hours
EEL 5245C Power Electronics (3 hours)
EEL 5357 CMOS Analog and Digital IC Design (3 hours)

Any 2 of the following courses:
EEL 5353 Semiconductor Device Modeling and Simulation (3 hours)
EEL 5370 Operational Amplifiers (3 hours)
EEL 6208 Advanced Machines (3 hours)
EEL 6246 Power Electronics (3 hours)




| Graduate Studies |
| Home | Index | Search | News | Events | Contact UCF | Help |
Copyright © 2000
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
(407) 823-2000
Page last updated on:
Maintained by Graduate Studies