The EECS Graduate Handbook provides EECS graduate students with additional information about our graduate program that is not described in the official University of Kansas graduate catalog. Topics included are:
* An overview of our graduate degree programs
* Descriptions of our areas of focus and their supporting courses
* FastTrack and Early Admission into our graduate program
* A summary of EECS policies and procedures
* Answers to frequently asked questions
If questions arise that are not answered by this handbook or the graduate catalog, please contact your EECS faculty advisor, the staff in the graduate office, or the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
The department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) offers four graduate degree options designed to meet the educational objectives of students preparing for research or development careers in the fields of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Technology (Edwards Campus).
Our doctoral degrees, Ph.D. and D.E., enable students to acquire more extensive breadth and depth through additional course work and by completing a dissertation (Ph.D.) or project (D.E.) in their chosen field of excellence. The University of Kansas EECS department offers Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science and a D.E. degree in Electrical Engineering. Specific degree requirements for each of these degrees are listed in the University of Kansas Graduate Catalog
The Masters of Science degree provides students an opportunity to obtain breadth of knowledge through graduate course work and specialization skills by conducting research leading to an M.S. degree (thesis or nonthesis options). The University of Kansas EECS department offers Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science, and Information Technology.
At the doctoral level the department currently has the following areas of focus:
Plans of study in other areas can be constructed, in conjunction with a faculty advisor, to fit individual student needs.
At the Master's level the department offers the same areas of study as for the Ph.D. Plans of study in other areas can be constructed, in conjunction with a faculty advisor, to fit individual student needs.
Additionally, the EECS department offers a Master's of Science degree in Information Technology at the Edwards Campus in Kansas City. This degree and the courses offered together with the times the classes are taught are customized for working professionals in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
At the University of Kansas, our graduate programs focus on advancing the state of knowledge through research, and educating the next generation of students to become researchers in these fields. Many of our graduate students participate in funded research projects within the EECS department, the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC), and the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS). See the EECS website http://www.eecs.ku.edu , the ITTC website http://www.ittc.ku.edu , and the CReSIS website http://www.cresis.ku.edu for news and detailed descriptions of our research activities.
It is our opinion that the quality of any graduate program is directly proportional to the quality of its students. For this reason, it is our goal to recruit and admit graduate students with the aptitude and motivation to excel in our Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science graduate programs. We hope that you will be among the students joining us in the near future.
Admission to the department's graduate programs is open to college and university graduates whose previous records indicate an ability to succeed with graduate work in the chosen discipline.
An applicant for the Ph.D. or D.E. programs in Electrical Engineering normally presents a B.S. or M.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering. An applicant for the Ph.D. in Computer Science normally presents a B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Especially qualified applicants may be admitted directly into one of the Ph.D. programs or the D.E. program without having a degree in the requisite field, which could require completion of a number of deficiency courses at the undergraduate level. Such courses normally do not count toward the graduate degree.
An applicant for the M.S. program in Electrical Engineering or in Computer Engineering normally presents a baccalaureate degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering. An applicant for the M.S. program in Computer Science or in Information Technology normally presents a baccalaureate degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. However, a student with good preparation in some other field of engineering, mathematics, business, or science may qualify for one of the programs by taking appropriate additional undergraduate courses. Such courses normally do not count toward the graduate degree. Lists of specific prerequisite courses for each M.S. program are available in the EECS graduate office and on the department web site http://www.eecs.ku.edu .
Applicants for graduate admission should demonstrate evidence of aptitude for graduate work, as shown by suitable performance in undergraduate and (if available) graduate course work, by suitable aptitude test scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and by academic letters of reference. The requirement to take the GRE can be waived for students with an undergraduate degree from KU EECS who are judged by the department to be strong. A non-refundable application fee is required.
Unless the applicant's native language is English or the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education, he or she must meet the department's standard for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Prospective students who are applying for graduate teaching assistantships must pass the SPEAK test administered by the Applied English Center at the University of Kansas prior to their appointment as graduate teaching assistants.
Applications and all accompanying materials for Fall admission should be received by January 1 for maximum consideration for fellowships and assistantships. For Fall admission, the application deadline is March 1. For Spring admission, the application deadline is October 1.
It should be noted that successful applicants to our graduate programs have strong undergraduate grades (for the Ph.D. above 3.5 / 4.0 USA, 80% India, or 85% China ; for the M.S. above 3.0 / 4.0 USA, 73% India, or 80% China) and GRE scores above 1200 (500 verbal, 700 quantitative, 700 analytical). International students are expected to have TOEFL scores above 600 on the paper-based exam or above 250 on the computer-based exam. Students who receive department, school or university fellowships are often among the top students in their graduating class and typically have higher test scores than listed.
While usually Ph.D. applicants have already completed their M.S. degree, the EECS department strongly encourages highly qualified students who are completing their B.S. degree to apply for the Ph.D. program. Such applicants must have an excellent GPA and be highly motivated to perform research and follow a career in research or academia.
The advantage of joining our Ph.D. program directly after completing one's undergraduate studies is that the Ph.D. degree can be attained in less time. On average, a student is awarded the M.S. degree after two years of study, followed by four years for the Ph.D. Students entering the FastTrack program usually complete their Ph.D. degree in five years. FastTrack students usually follow the following plan of study:
|
Semester 1 |
3 courses (9 credit hours) |
|
Semester 2 |
3 courses (9 credit hours) |
|
Semester 3 |
2-3 courses (6-9 credit
hours)
|
|
Semester 4 |
1-2 courses (3-6 credit
hours)
|
|
Semester 5 |
1-2 courses (3-6 credit
hours)
|
|
Semesters 6-10 |
1-2 courses (3-6 credit
hours)
|
Students on the FastTrack program who pass their Ph.D. qualifying exam must satisfy all requirements for a Ph.D. degree as described below.
Students on the FastTrack program who fail their Ph.D. qualifying exam twice, must choose to either withdraw from the University or to participate in an oral exam which, if passed, will allow them to receive the nonthesis M.S. degree in their discipline (see below for the nonthesis M.S. degree and its associated oral exam).
Qualified JUNIORS and SENIORS in Electrical Engineering (EE), Computer Engineering (CoE), and Computer Science (CS) at the University of Kansas are encouraged to apply for the Early Application M.S. / Ph.D. Program (Early Application is available only for the M.S. thesis and Ph.D. programs). Students who are admitted to this program receive academic credit for their exceptional preparation, reducing the time necessary to complete their graduate degrees.
Normally the Ph.D. Plan of Study requires 42 hours of graduate course credit past the B.S. (plus the required research hours) and the thesis option M.S. Plan of Study requires 24 hours of graduate course credit (plus the required research hours). Students admitted to the Early Application program receive a 6 hour credit hour reduction upon admission, so they are required to complete 36 or more course credit hours at the 700 level or above for the Ph.D. degree, or 18 or more course credit hours at the 700 level or above for the M.S. degree.
Students who switch to the nonthesis M.S. option after being admitted under the Early Application Program will be required to complete 33 credit hours of course work, and the credit hour course reduction will no longer be valid.
To qualify, juniors and seniors in EE, CoE, and CS must have completed at least 75 hours toward their degrees with both an overall GPA and a GPA in all math, basic science, computer science, and engineering courses of at least 3.50 at the time of applying for the program. If accepted, to remain in the Early Application M.S. / Ph.D. Program, the students must have both an overall GPA and a GPA in all math, basic science, computer science, and engineering courses of at least 3.50 for all remaining undergraduate courses in their B.S. program.
If you are a KU EECS student interested in this opportunity to join our graduate program, submit an application package to the EECS graduate office that includes:
* A completed EECS Graduate School application packet including three letters of reference from your instructors or employers,
* Your proposed schedule for all courses remaining for the B.S. degree, and
* A tentative Plan of Study listing the graduate classes you are most interested in completing.
All Senior Electives for students entering this program must be EECS courses at the 600 level or above. A minimum of two of these courses must be among those normally approved for an M.S Plan of Study.
Acceptance into the program will be based on an evaluation of the application materials by the EECS Graduate Studies Committee, and successful applications will be forwarded to the Associate Dean of Engineering and the Graduate School for approval.
The EECS department offers a wide variety of graduate courses to support our M.S., Ph.D. and D.E. degrees in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The majority of these classes have been developed to support the department's five primary areas of focus:
Additionally, the EECS department offers a Master's of Science in Computer Science with emphasis in Software Engineering at the Edwards Campus in Kansas City.
Students wishing to specialize in one of these areas should work with their faculty advisor to select classes in their area of focus together with additional classes of interest to meet their degree requirements.
Other plans of study outside the above areas of focus can be constructed in conjunction with a faculty advisor to fit individual student needs. Lists of EECS classes supporting the department's areas of focus are listed below. Please note that some of the course numbers are temporary and may change.
The Bioinformatics area focuses on advancing methods and tools geared to biological, biochemical, and medical applications. Bioinformatics investigators work with collaborators in the life sciences to identify research, develop, and apply key computational approaches. These efforts directly involve the biological and medical domains in areas of modeling, analysis, and data management. In addition, concomitant research in traditional computational methods such as algorithm optimization, data- and compute-intensive methodologies, and statistical methods are pursued to meet the specialized needs of these problem domains. This interdisciplinary work in applied and basic research involves investigators from computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, life-science, and medical disciplines. For more information on specific projects, please visit our faculty web pages or the Bioinformatics research page: http://www.ittc.ku.edu/research/view_lab.phtml?lab=BCLSL .
The supporting courses for this area of focus include:
EECS 647 - Introduction to Database Systems
EECS 665 - Compiler Construction
EECS 678 - Operating Systems
EECS 718 - Graph Algorithms
EECS 730 - Introduction to Bioinformatics
EECS 737 - Computational Genomics
EECS 738 - Machine Learning
EECS 739 - Scientific Parallel Computing
EECS 740 - Digital Image Processing
EECS 741 - Computer Vision
EECS 749 - Knowledge Based Systems
EECS 767 - Information Retrieval
EECS 833 - Neural Networks and Fuzzy Systems
EECS 835 - Protein Bioinformatics
EECS 837 - Data Mining
EECS 838 - Applications of Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
EECS 849 - Multiagent Systems
The Communications Systems and Networking area focuses on advancing knowledge of systems interconnected via radio and other technologies. The area also seeks to increase our understanding of and development of new methodologies to determine the performance and protection of Internet-based systems.
Wireless research focuses on software radio systems, radio system implementation (analog and digital), RF system design, communication and radar applications of DSP, smart antennas, communication system simulation and analysis, spread spectrum systems (commercial and military), wireless CDMA, and FPGA applications for DSP. Other work focuses on the theory and evaluation of networks and systems, with a particular emphasis on network control, traffic management system optimization, modeling, and simulation. Integrated voice, data, and video systems are studied as well as networking using lightwave and wireless technologies. Other work is on theory and technologies that enable the delivery of reliable information in support end-user applications independent of the access technology. The area combines communications theory, digital signal processing, communications networks and principles of optical communications systems, and innovative application of signal processing technology to wireless radio and radar. Yet other areas of study look on the application of technology and engineering principles to the design of Internet systems, with emphasis on IP Services and Characteristics, Internet Protocols, IP Routing Protocols, information retrieval, and information security. For more information on specific projects, please visit our faculty web pages or the Wireless Communications and Networking research page:
http://www.ittc.ku.edu/research/view_lab.phtml?lab=CNSL
The supporting courses for this area of focus include:
EECS 563 - Introduction to Communication Networks
EECS 628 - Fiber Optic Communication Systems
EECS 710 - Information Security and Assurance
EECS 711 - Security Management and Audit
EECS 712 - Network Security
EECS 718 - Graph Algorithms
EECS 728 - Fiber-optic Measurement and Sensors
EECS 744 - Digital Signal Processing I
EECS 745 - Implementation of Networks
EECS 766 - Resource Sharing for Broadband Access Networks
EECS 819 - Cryptography and Information Security
EECS 828 - Advanced Fiber-Optic Communications
EECS 842 - Digital Video for Multimedia Systems
EECS 844 - Digital Signal Processing II
EECS 861 - Random Signals and Noise
EECS 862 - Digital Communication Systems
EECS 863 - Analysis of Communication Networks
EECS 864 - Multiwavelength Optical Networks
EECS 865 - Wireless Communication Systems
EECS 869 - Error Control Coding
EECS 881 - High-Performance Networking
EECS 882 - Mobile Wireless Networking
EECS 888 - Internet Routing Architectures
EECS 964 - Simulation of Communication Systems
EECS 965 - Detection and Estimation Theory
EECS 967 - Mathematical Optimization with Communications Applications
EECS 969 - Information Theory
EECS 983 - Resilient and Survivable Networking
A collection of mathematics courses are taught that contribute significantly to background knowledge required for research activities:
MATH 601 - Algebraic Coding Theory
MATH 628 - Mathematical Theory of Statistics
MATH 717 - Nonparametric Statistics
MATH 750 - Stochastic Adaptive Control
MATH 765 - Introduction to the Theory of Functions I
MATH 766 - Introduction to the Theory of Functions II
MATH 781 - Numerical Analysis I
MATH 782 - Numerical Analysis II
As society becomes increasingly dependent on computer-based systems, the need to engineer such systems becomes paramount. The Computer Systems Design foucs area addresses the design of computing systems, ranging from small, embedded elements to large, distributed computing environments. We interpret "systems" in the broadest fashion and address all aspects of the system life cycle, including specification, verification, implementation and synthesis, and testing and evaluation of both hardware and software system components.
Core classes cover specification and analysis techniques, operating system and distributed systems design, hardware and software design, and implementation and testing of computer-based systems. Advanced classes provide specialized instruction in specialty areas of the faculty including real-time operating systems, formal specification and analysis, distributed and embedded systems.
Research in the Computer Systems Design area covers diverse topics including real-time operating systems, distributed systems, hardware-software codesign, formal modeling, automated synthesis, simulation and analysis and system testing. For more information on specific projects, please visit our faculty web pages or the Computer Systems Design research page: http://www.ittc.ku.edu/research/view_lab.phtml?lab=CSDL
The supporting courses for this area of focus include:
EECS 563 - Introduction to Communications Networks
EECS 643 - Advanced Computer Organization
EECS 647 - Introduction to Database Systems
EECS 662 - Programming Languages
EECS 665 - Compiler Construction
EECS 678 - Introduction to Operating Systems
EECS 690 - Functional Programming
EECS 710 - Information Security and Assurance
EECS 716 - Formal Language Theory
EECS 718 - Graph Algorithms
EECS 739 - Scientific Parallel Computing
EECS 743 - Static Analysis
EECS 750 - Operating Systems
EECS 752 - Concurrent Software Systems
EECS 753 - Embedded and Real-Time Systems
EECS 755 - System Requirements Software Modeling and Analysis
EECS 761 - Advanced Programming Paradigms
EECS 762 - Programming Language Foundation I
EECS 763 - Introduction to Multiprocessor Systems on Chip
EECS 764 - Analysis of Algorithms
EECS 843 - Programming Language Foundation II
EECS 853 - Introduction to Reconfigurable Computing
EECS 955 - Theoretical Foundations of Software Construction
A collection of mathematics courses are taught that contribute significantly to background knowledge required for research activities:
MATH/EECS 510 - Introduction to the Theory of Computing
MATH 558 - Introduction to Modern Algebra
MATH 601 - Algebraic Coding Theory
MATH 802 - Set Theory
MATH 830/831 - Abstract Algebra
The Interactive Intelligent Systems area focuses on the fundamental advances necessary to create systems that can perform useful tasks. Future systems will require multi-modal interfaces, be able to respond intelligently to user requests, process large quantities of information in many forms, and be able to perform tasks with minimal supervision. Thus, the IIS area encompasses artificial intelligence, intelligent agents, information retrieval, data mining, human-computer interaction, visualization, multimedia systems, and robotics.
Faculty and students in IIS collaborate on a number of research projects including: automatic characterization of contents of information sources, intelligent query routing, multiagent systems, intelligent agents, information fusion and visualization, content-based video indexing, image processing and computer vision, graphics, cognitive robotics, knowledge discovery in databases, machine learning, collaborative patterns of agents, and knowledge-based problem solving systems. For more information on specific projects, please visit our faculty web pages or the Interactive Intelligent Systems research page:
http://www.ittc.ku.edu/research/view_lab.phtml?lab=ISL
The supporting courses for this area of focus include:
EECS 638 - Fundamentals of Expert Systems
EECS 647 - Introduction to Database Systems
EECS 649 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
EECS 672 - Computer Graphics
EECS 690 - Functional Programming
EECS 718 - Graph Algorithms
EECS 735 - Automated Theorem Proving
EECS 738 - Machine Learning
EECS 740 - Image Processing
EECS 741 - Computer Vision
EECS 742 - Digital Video for Multimedia Systems
EECS 747 - Mobile Robotics
EECS 749 - Knowledge Based Systems
EECS 767 - Information Retrieval
EECS 773 - Advanced Graphics
EECS 774 - Geometric Modeling
EECS 775 - Visualization
EECS 781 - Numerical Analysis I
EECS 782 - Numerical Analysis II
EECS 833 - Neural Networks and Fuzzy Systems
EECS 837 - Data Mining
EECS 839 - Mining Special Data
EECS 841 - Computer Vision
EECS 842 - Digital Video for Multimedia Systems
EECS 849 - Multiagent Systems
EECS 867 - Statistical Natural Language Processing
The goal of the Radar Systems and Remote Sensing area is to educate engineers and future leaders in the areas of radars, microwaves, communications, and remote sensing technologies. The area is tightly linked with ongoing research that includes exploring new ways to use electromagnetic waves in the remote sensing of the land (surface and subsurface), sea, polar ice, and the atmosphere as well as developing new remote sensing sensors (primarily radar), and new methods for solving electromagnetic problems.
Students are directly involved in all aspects of these research activities including sensor development, data collection, data analysis and modeling, and data dissemination. RSRS faculty and students are currently involved in several projects including development of a high-resolution radar system for characterizing Martian soil, a high-resolution airborne radar for measuring accumulation over the polar ice sheets, a laser radar system that uses RF pulse compression for improved sensitivity, and a ground-penetrating radar system for reliable detection of landmines. Other ongoing research projects involve satellite sensors development and data processing. For more information on specific projects, please visit our faculty web pages or the Radar Systems and Remote Sensing research page:
http://www.ittc.ku.edu/research/view_lab.phtml?lab=RSL
The supporting courses for this area of focus include:
EECS 622 - Microwave and Radio Communication Systems
EECS 713 - High Speed Digital Circuit Design
EECS 720 - Electromagnetics for Communications and Radar
EECS 721 - Antennas
EECS 723 - Microwave Engineering
EECS 725 - Introduction to Radar Systems
EECS 744 - Digital Signal Processing I
EECS 814 - RF Circuit Design
EECS 820 - Electromagnetic Theory
EECS 821 - Adaptive Antenna Arrays for Communications and Radar
EECS 823 - Microwave Remote Sensing
EECS 824 - Microwave Remote Sensing II
EECS 825 - Radar Systems
EECS 826 - InSAR and Applications
EECS 829 - Scattering Theory
EECS 844 - Digital Signal Processing II
EECS 861 - Random Signals and Noise
EECS 869 - Error Control Coding
EECS 920 - Advanced Electromagnetics
EECS 923 - Microwave Remote Sensing II
EECS 929 - Electromagnetic Propagation and Scattering in Random Media
EECS 945 - Geophysical Signal Processing
EECS 965 - Detection and Estimation Theory
The EECS Department is now offering a new Master's of Science in Information Technology (MSIT). Information on the MSIT program can be found at http://people.eecs.ku.edu/~saiedian/MSIT/
Graduate classes in the EECS department are offered on a two year rotation. Some classes are offered every semester, some are offered once per year, and some advanced courses are offered once every four semesters. Please check the University Registrar website http://www.registrar.ku.edu/ for a complete listing of our graduate course offerings and online enrollment instructions.
International graduate students must visit the Applied English Center (AEC) in 204 Lippincott Hall to pick up their enrollment forms their first semester at the University of Kansas.
All EECS graduate students are expected to work with their faculty advisor to develop an appropriate plan of study for their degree program and their academic and research interests. Students are expected to meet regularly with their advisor during office hours or on advising days to select classes each semester and revise their plan of study as needed.
Developing a plan of study has two important components. First you must select the EECS graduate classes you wish to take to support your areas of interest and research program. Then you must decide how many classes to take each semester and work out a schedule based on class prerequisites and when EECS graduate classes are offered.
Time is probably the most important factor when deciding how many classes to take each semester. Students with Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), or other time commitments need to distribute their EECS graduate classes appropriately to succeed in their classes. For students working towards an M.S. degree, the majority of students schedule classes over three or four semesters.
All new students and current students who have not submitted a plan of study will be assigned a temporary faculty advisor by the EECS graduate office. Please meet with your temporary advisor during advising office hours to develop a preliminary plan of study and to select classes for the next semester. All students must submit an online plan of study in order to have their online enrollment hold released .
The assignment of temporary faculty advisors to new graduate students is literally intended to be temporary. Once you become acquainted with faculty in your area of interest, you are encouraged to choose a permanent faculty advisor and meet with him/her during office hours to refine your plan of study to support your research. This may require that you submit a new plan of study to the EECS graduate office. As a courtesy, please inform your temporary advisor of this change.
The M.S., D.E., and Ph.D. requirements are described in the EECS Graduate Catalog.
This page contains links to online copies of all of the EECS graduate forms you will need during your graduate studies. Please see the sections below for detailed instructions.
The primary purpose of the plan of study is to list the specific classes you intend to take to meet your M.S. degree requirements. It is important to develop a plan of study with your faculty advisor early in your graduate program so you can make the most effective use of your time as a graduate student.
1. Read the graduate handbook and graduate catalog to learn more about the areas of focus and graduate classes in the department.
2. Decide on your area of focus, and any secondary interests.
3. Decide if you want the thesis option or the nonthesis option.
4. Work with your advisor to select four classes in your area of focus and additional classes to make up your required number of hours (24 hours for thesis, 33 hours for nonthesis).
5. Keep in mind EECS rules about classes from outside our department and our limit on the number of 500-699 level classes allowed.
6. Go to the EECS plan of study system to create your plan which will send electronic copies to your advisor and committee members.
7. Your plan of study will be automatically sent to the EECS graduate office once it has been electronically signed by everyone on your committee.
It is important to keep your plan of study up to date so the graduation check by the department and the Engineering Dean's office are performed smoothly. This process is quite simple once you have created an online plan of study.
1. Work with your advisor to decide what graduate classes meet your academic objectives.
2. Go to the EECS plan of study system to make additions and corrections to your plan.
3. After you have completed your changes, your online system will send electronic copies to your advisor and committee members.
4. Your plan of study will be automatically sent to the EECS graduate office once it has been electronically signed by everyone.
Students are admitted to either CS, CoE, or EE M.S. programs based on their undergraduate degree and subsequent training or job experience. Students who wish to change majors need to do the following:
1. Get the change of major form [ major.pdf ].
2. Meet with your graduate advisor to develop a new plan of study. In many cases, additional undergraduate classes will be required to provide adequate preparation for your new major. Generally, these deficiency courses will not count towards the graduate degree.
3. Submit your completed change of major form to the EECS Graduate Office.
4. Update your plan of study and class schedule to include undergraduate preparation classes suggested by your advisor or the EECS graduate committee.
At least three weeks before you intend to defend your M.S. thesis you must do the following:
1. Check with your faculty advisor and the staff in the Engineering Dean's office to make sure you have completed all degree requirements and verify that your M.S. thesis meets the University specifications.
2. Make sure that your M.S. plan of study is complete, correct, and on file in the EECS Graduate Office.
3. Schedule a time and location for your M.S. defense with your M.S. committee members and the staff managing meeting rooms.
4. Download and complete the M.S. thesis defense notice form [ notice.pdf ]
5. Submit your completed M.S. thesis defense notice to the EECS Graduate Office three weeks prior to the exam.
6. Distribute a final copy of your M.S. thesis (not a rough draft) to each of your committee members for their comments and corrections.
7. Prepare your PowerPoint / overhead slides and practice your thesis presentation.
After your thesis presentation you must do the following:
1. Make final corrections to your M.S. thesis as directed by your committee.
2. Get the title page and acceptance pages of your thesis signed by all committee members.
3. Deliver the signed pages to the Engineering Dean's office.
4. The creation and submission of Electronic Theses and Dissertations are done online .
5. Deliver bound copies of your thesis to your M.S. committee members (if requested).
This page contains links to online copies of all of the EECS forms you will need during your graduate studies. The most important form is the Ph.D. plan of study. It is important for students to work with their graduate advisors to complete their plan of study and submit them early in their first semester of graduate studies. Please see the sections below for detailed instructions for each EECS graduate form.
1. Read the graduate handbook and graduate catalog to learn more about the Ph.D. areas of focus and graduate classes in the department.
2. Decide on your area of focus, and any secondary interests.
3. Work with your advisor to select 18 hours of classes to support your dissertation research and your intended area of focus. See the graduate catalog for course selection guidelines.
4. Go to the EECS plan of study system to create your plan online which sends electronic copies to your advisor and committee members.
5. Discuss your plan of study with four additional committee members.
6. Your plan of study will be automatically sent to the EECS graduate office once it has been electronically signed by everyone on your committee.
Each doctoral student must take and pass a doctoral Qualifying Examination (Qual). The Qual will be offered once each year in the Spring Semester. Students failing the exam are allowed to retake it exactly one more time at the first opportunity. After a second fail, a candidate will not be allowed to enter the doctoral program in the EECS Department.
Students who are formally accepted into the doctoral program must take their Qual the first semester it is available after having completed 24 course credit hours past their Bachelor's degree (undergraduate courses taken past the Bachelor's in order to correct deficiencies, as well as 891, 899, and 998 do not count towards these 24 course credit hours).
The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (Qual) is a written examination based on a set of papers which is provided to students eight days in advance. There will generally be one set of papers for each Ph.D. focus area, as defined by the department: Bioinformatics, Communications Systems and Networking, Computer Systems Design, Interactive Intelligent Systems, Radar Systems and Remote Sensing. Students who are not in one of the focus areas must choose the most suitable one in consultation with their advisor. A student who passes the Qual and then decides to do his/her research in a different focus area will not be required to repeat the Qual in the new area. A list of preparation topics for each focus is provided by the department.
The set of technical papers will usually include one paper which is an overview or tutorial paper covering a relatively broad technical area such as one would find in IEEE Proceedings, IEEE Communications, IEEE Network, IEEE Spectrum, ACM Communications, ACM Computing Surveys, or other such publications. The other papers will generally be narrower and deeper within the same area. The format will be a written exam accomplished within a single day. No technical materials will be allowed, and if computers are to be utilized, they will be supplied by the department and will be protected against outside communication.
After passing the Qualifying Examination, each aspirant to the Ph.D. or D.E. degree must complete the research skill requirement before being permitted to take the Comprehensive Examination. Selection of a particular requirement must be approved by the student's doctoral committee. Selection of a non-standard skill requirement must also be approved by the department's graduate committee. The skill requirement options are:
The student must take the doctoral Comprehensive Examination after passing the qualifying examination, completing the research skills requirement, and completing at least two-thirds of the course work requirements for the doctoral degree. The student must complete the comprehensive examination before detailed work on the Ph.D. dissertation or D.E. project begins. Before the examination, the student must submit in writing to the committee a detailed proposal for a possible Ph.D. dissertation or D.E. project. In the comprehensive examination, the student is examined upon the proposal and on knowledge and insight in the field of specialization, and a dissertation committee is formed.
The examining committee for the comprehensive examination consists of five or more members of the Graduate Faculty, at least one of whom must be from KU outside the EECS department and at least three of whom are in the EECS department. It normally includes the student's doctoral committee. The department's Graduate Office must be notified of the membership of the examination committee three weeks in advance of the examination to ensure that the external member is informed of their responsibilities to the Graduate School. If the student passes the comprehensive examination and then later chooses another substantially different topic for the dissertation, a new proposal must be presented in writing and orally for the approval of the doctoral committee.
At least three weeks before you intend to hold your Ph.D. comprehensive exam, you must do the following:
1. Make sure that your Ph.D. plan of study is complete, correct, and on file in the EECS Graduate Office.
2. Schedule a time and location for your comprehensive exam with your Ph.D. committee members and the staff managing meeting rooms.
3. Download and complete the Ph.D. comprehensive exam notice form [ notice.pdf ].
4. Submit your completed comprehensive exam notice to the EECS Graduate Office three weeks prior to the exam.
5. Distribute a written proposal for your Ph.D. dissertation to your committee.
6. Start preparing and practicing your proposal presentation.
7. Prepare your PowerPoint / overhead slides and practice your comprehensive presentation.
Three weeks before you intend to defend your Ph.D. dissertation, you must do the following:
1. Check with your faculty advisor and the staff in the Engineering Dean's office to make sure you have completed all degree requirements and verify that your Ph.D. dissertation meets the University specifications.
2. Make sure that your Ph.D. plan of study is complete, correct, and on file in the EECS Graduate Office.
3. Schedule a time and location for your Ph.D. defense with your Ph.D. committee members and the staff managing meeting rooms.
4. Download and complete the Ph.D. dissertation defense notice form [ notice.pdf ].
5. Submit your completed Ph.D. dissertation defense notice to the EECS Graduate Office three weeks prior to the exam.
6. Distribute final copies of your Ph.D. dissertation to your committee.
7. Prepare your PowerPoint / overhead slides and practice your dissertation presentation.
After your dissertation presentation, you must do the following:
1. Make final corrections to your Ph.D. dissertation as directed by your committee.
2. Get the title page and acceptance pages of your dissertation signed by all committee members.
3. Deliver the signed pages to the Engineering Dean's office.
4. The creation and submission of Electronic Theses and Dissertations are done online .
5. Deliver bound copies of your dissertation to your Ph.D. committee members (if requested).
This section contains answers to many of the frequently asked questions from graduate students. If you have questions that are not answered below, please contact the EECS Graduate Office Phone: (785) 864-4487 or Email: graduate@eecs.ku.edu .
1. May I inquire about a friend's admission status?
No. This is personal information, which is only given to the applicant directly by mail/email. As a university policy, this information is never given over the telephone, since we have no way to confirm the applicant's identity over the telephone.
2. How many credit hours are required for the MS degree?
The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 student credit hours of approved graduate course work. Students normally take 24 hours of courses and 6 hours of thesis (EECS 899). The nonthesis requires a minimum of 33 student credit hours of approved graduate course work.
3. May I take more than 30 (or 33) hours for the MS if I choose to?
Yes. Students are allowed to take a "reasonable number" of classes beyond their EECS degree requirements to satisfy their personal interests. Normally, this would consist of one or two classes at the undergraduate level or in another department to strengthen their background. Students who wish to take more than six hours beyond their MS degree requirements, should first complete their EECS degree, and then return as a Ph.D. student or non-degree seeking student to take additional classes.
4. What is the enrollment process at KU?
Print out a copy of your enrollment forms, meet with your EECS faculty advisor to select classes, bring your class selections (and an updated plan of study if necessary) to the EECS department office to have the enrollment hold released, and go online to enroll in your classes. Please check the online catalog at www.opensections.ku.edu for our current graduate offerings. International graduate students must visit the Applied English Center (AEC) in 204 Lippincott Hall to pick up their enrollment forms their first semester at the University of Kansas.
5. What do I need to do to withdraw from an EECS class?
Every semester is divided into two "drop periods" and the withdrawal procedure is different for each period. In the first drop period, you can drop your class online and no grade will be recorded for the class. In the second drop period, you need the class instructor's signature who gives you either a 'WP' or a 'WF' grade. These grades will show on the transcript. Dropping a class will have a financial penalty, as you may not get money back (see the University's policy on that). In conclusion, if you decide to drop a class, it is best to withdraw from classes as soon as possible.
6. Do I have to keep the faculty advisor I was assigned at enrollment?
No. You may choose another professor to work with, as long as he/she is agreeable to taking you on. You should revise your plan of study as needed with your new advisor and submit it to the Graduate Committee for approval. As a courtesy, you should inform your old advisor that you are working with someone else.
7. What if I do not have a plan of study?
All graduate students are required to have an approved plan of study submitted to the Graduate Office by the end of their first semester of graduate studies in EECS. If you do not have a plan of study by this time, the department will not release your enrollment hold, which means that you cannot enroll. Work with your faculty advisor to complete a plan of study.
8. What if I want to change something on my plan of study later?
All graduate students are expected to work with their faculty advisors to keep their plan of study up to date. Minor changes can be easily made using the online plan of study system. A new plan of study is required if you change major or change advisors.
9. How can I change my major from CS, CoE, or EE to a different major in EECS?
Meet with your advisor or another faculty member in the area you wish to move into to discuss your academic background and make an appropriate plan of study for your intended major. This may include a number of preparation (deficiency) classes which would not count towards your graduate degree. Pick up a change of major form in the EECS Graduate Office. After it is filled out, return it and your revised plan of study to the Graduate Office for submission to the Graduate Committee.
10. How many hours can I transfer from another school?
The graduate school at the University of Kansas has limited the number of transfer hours to 6 credit hours. Transfer classes must be included in your plan of study and approved by your advisor, your committee, and the EECS Graduate Studies Committee in order to count towards your MS or PhD.
11. How do I petition for transfer of credit?
Meet with your advisor to determine if the classes are appropriate for your plan of study. If so, pick up a transfer credit request form in the EECS Graduate Office. After it is filled out, return it and your revised plan of study to the Graduate Office for submission to the Graduate Studies Committee.
12. I have some EECS hours on another degree as electives, can I use them towards my EECS degree?
No. As a general rule the same credits may never be used for more than one degree. Only classes that are taken above and beyond your other degree requirements would be eligible for your EECS degree.
13. Do I need to enroll, if I only have to take my final orals?
Yes. You must be enrolled at the time you take your finals orals, unless you take them within the first two weeks of classes of the semester during Fall and Spring and the first week of classes during Summer. M.S. and PhD students should enroll for at least one hour per semester, unless the student has requested an official leave of absence from the graduate program (see Graduate Office).
14. How can I enroll if I am working in another city?
Enrollment is done online, however, you need to have your "Permit to Enroll" form signed by your advisor in order for the Graduate Office to release your hold. Have your advisor contact the Graduate Office if you are out of town.
