Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 
    
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Engineering (Electrical Engineering - Accelerated)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs

The accelerated degree program (ADP) allows qualified undergraduate students in the Electrical Engineering program to complete requirements for the master’s degree at an accelerated pace. Currently, earning 129 undergraduate credit hours is required to receive a bachelor’s degree. The master’s degree requirement is 33 graduate credit hours with the non-thesis option, or 30 hours with the thesis option. In either case, at least 15 hours must be taken at the 6000-level. Having enrolled in the ADP program a student may count up to 12 credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies at WMU toward a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Full-time students may be able to complete both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a five-year time period.

Application to the Accelerated Degree Program

A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission below) must set up a meeting with the ECE undergraduate advisor and the ECE graduate advisor to complete the Accelerated Degree Program Planning form for the master’s degree program.

Before admission to an ADP program can be finalized, a student must submit the standard application for admission to the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions including:

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Copy of all college transcripts
  4. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores

Criteria for Admission to the Accelerated Degree Program:

The student must apply through the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions and must also apply for admission to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. After admission into the ADP, the student’s record will indicate the ADP status. Admission to the accelerated program is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:

  1. A student must have at least junior standing and earned a minimum of fifteen (15) hours from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department with a major GPA of 3.2/4.0 or better.
  2. A student must have a minimum accumulated GPA of 3.4/4.0 based upon credit hours earned at WMU. This GPA is based on at least 30 credit hours at WMU.

Requirements for Participation and Graduation

1. Students must complete the bachelor’s degree prior to entering the master’s program. Students in the ADP may not elect to bypass the bachelor’s degree.

2. The Accelerated Degree Program Planning form for the master’s degree must clearly indicate the 5000-level courses (a maximum of 12 credit hours) that will be counted for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

3. Students will only be allowed to count a maximum of twelve (12) 5000-level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward their master’s degree. No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work may be counted towards the requirements of both degrees.

4. Students must receive a grade of “B” (3.0/4.0) or better in the 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies. Students who do not meet this criterion will have the earned grade applied to their undergraduate program only, and must apply for readmission into the graduate program.

Continuing Eligibility

1. It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.

2. A student completing the bachelor’s degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.0/4.0 is no longer eligible to count the 5000-level credit hours specified on the ADP Planning form toward the master’s degree.

3. A student who does not follow the approved ADP Planning form may become ineligible to participate in the ADP program.

4. A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from the ADP program cannot count any of the courses specified on the Accelerated Degree Program Planning form for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These courses, however, may be counted toward the student’s bachelor’s degree upon the discretion of the ECE undergraduate advisor.

5. A student who becomes ineligible to participate in the accelerated degree program must be informed by the ECE undergraduate advisor in writing of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student must be sent to the Graduate College.

Withdrawal

A student may, at any time, withdraw from the accelerated degree program by informing both the ECE undergraduate advisor and the ECE graduate advisor, in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate College and the Registrar’s Office.

Example


The following is an example of an electrical engineering student’s schedule in the ADP program during their senior year:

Seventh Semester (17 hours)

  • General Education   Credits: 3 hours
  • ECE 4810 - Electrical/Computer Engineering Design I   Credits: 2 hours
  • IME 3100 - Engineering Economy   Credits: 3 hours
  • ME 2580 - Dynamics   Credits: 3 hours
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering Elective Group   Credits: 6 hours - Choose from the above listed 5000-level ECE courses with the approval of the undergraduate and graduate advisors.


Eighth Semester (15 hours)

  • Departmental Approved Technical Electives   Credits: 3 hours - Choose from  the ECE 5000-level courses listed above with approval of the undergraduate and graduate advisors
  • General Education   Credits: 3 hours
  • ME Engineering Science Elective   Credits:   3 hours
  • ECE 4820 - Electrical/Computer Engineering Design II   Credits: 3 hours
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering Elective Group   Credits: 3 hours - Choose from the above listed 5000-level ECE courses with the approval of the undergraduate and graduate advisors.

This sample schedule would allow twelve (12) credits of the 5000-level courses to be counted towards the student’s masters’ degree if all terms and conditions of the ADP program are met.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs