Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2014 - 2015 
    
Graduate Catalog 2014 - 2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Electrical Engineering, MSEE


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Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fenn Hall 332
(216) 687-2589
http://www.csuohio.edu/engineering/ece/academics/graduate.html

Chansu Yu, Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering 
Wenbing Zhao, Graduate Program Director

Areas of Study

  • Communication Systems
  • Computer Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Power Electronics and Power Systems
  • Nanobiotechnology

Introduction

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program integrates theory and applications. Courses are typically scheduled in the late afternoon and early evening to serve the needs of both full-time and part-time students. The program is suitable for students planning to continue their studies at the doctoral level, as well as those who do not plan formal studies beyond the master’s degree. Each student plans a program of study in consultation with an advisor appointed by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The program includes required courses and an integrated selection of courses in the student’s field of interest. The following areas of specialization are offered for graduate study and research:

  • Communication Systems
  • Computer Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Power Electronics and Power Systems
  • Nanobiotechnology

Facilities

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department maintains the following laboratories for instructional purposes:

  • Communications and Electronics Laboratory-Fully equipped to conduct experiments in analog and digital electronics and analog and digital communications, such as analog modulation and demodulation (AM and FM), digital modulation and demodulation (ASK, PSK, FSK), phase-locked loops, and baseband transmission.
     
  • Power Electronics and Electric Machines Laboratory-Equipped with line-frequency single- and three-phase converters, and switch-mode converters, which in combination with synchronous, induction, and DC machines allow for the experimental study of feedback-controlled motor drives
  • Control Systems Laboratory- Equipped to conduct experiments and projects in real-time data acquisition and control, including the capability for modeling and computer control of electromechanical and liquid-level systems.
  • Distributed Computing Systems Laboratory-Equipped with Pentium Xeon dual-processor servers, Pentium Dual-core workstations, and a number of laptops. The research is focused on studying the security, dependability, and concurrency of enterprise-distributed computing systems and platforms, such as CORBA and Web services. 
     
  • Digital Systems Laboratory- Equipped with logic analyzers, testing equipment, prototyping boards, and workstations running synthesis and simulation software. It is used to conduct basic digital circuit experiments, as well as to design, create prototypes, and test large systems. 
     
  • Software Engineering Laboratory- Equipped with sixteen workstations and one server. The workstations run both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux operating systems. The workstations run a variety of software program suites such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Rational Rose, and Eclipse that are used in a number of Software Engineering courses. 
     
  • Network Security and Privacy Laboratory- Configured to emulate real network defense systems. The lab can equip students with real world experience on defending security attacks launched from networks and preserving privacy.

The following facilities also are available to support research:

  • Applied Control Research Laboratory- Equipped to conduct joint research projects with industry, giving students the opportunity to apply state-of-the-art technology in real-world problem solving.
     
  • Digital Communication Research Laboratory-Equipped with electronics and communications instruments, high-speed workstations, and computer-simulation packages (such as Matlab-Simulink) to conduct research projects in digital modulations, error-control codes, satellite communications, mobile wireless communications, and spread-spectrum communications.
     
  • Embedded Control Systems Research Laboratory- Focuses on the theoretical development and real-time implementation of control and signal processing algorithms. Theoretical directions that are of particular interest include optimal control, Kalman filtering, H-infinity control and estimation, neural networks, and fuzzy logic.
     
  • Power Electronics and Electric Machine Research Laboratory- Recently funded by National Science Foundation, NASA Glenn Research Center and Fenn College of Engineering. It consists of seven state of the art test benches such as: Modular Lab-Volt Power Electronics and Electric Machines Training System, DSPACE controller boards, PWM converters, transducers, sensors, induction, synchronous and DC machines as well as instrumentation. It is fully equipped to conduct research in the power area. 
     
  • Mobile Computing Research Laboratory- Fully equipped with a variety of mobile systems including PDAs (iPAQs), wireless sensor nodes, and software radio platforms to conduct research on energy efficiency, network capacity, mobility support, and interoperability issues in mobile ad hoc networks, wireless sensor networks, wireless mesh networks, and pervasive computing systems.
     
  • Network Security and Privacy Research Laboratory- Equipped to conduct cutting-edge research in network security and privacy-preserving systems in different network settings including both wired networks and wireless networks.
     
  • Secure and Dependable Systems Laboratory- The mission of this laboratory is to advance the state of the art of fault- and intrusion-tolerance techniques for the next generation secure and dependable computer systems. 
     
  • Software Engineering Research Laboratory- This laboratory has the following equipment for conducting research in Software Engineering and Sensor Networks: Six PCs (Pentium) running Windows and Linux connected by a private 100 megabit switched Ethernet, with a server (Xeon) acting as NAT to the Internet via the University’s network; Approximately forty Tmote Sky motes, ten MicaZ motes, and a few Imote2 and Sun SPOT motes. In addition, there are about twenty basic sensor boards suitable for prototyping. The lab also has several custom-built sensor boards for conversion to standard serial-port devices, such as GPS or other data logging units.   A Pentium-class workstation hosts a research web server, which is suitable for distributing software, and disseminating research results. 
     
  • Microelectromechanical (MEMS) Systems Research Laboratory–This lab is w0rking on production of high-performance, reliable and low-cost sensors to make advanced technology economically viable.  Micro-machined inertial sensors, consisting of accelerometers and gyroscopes, are one of the most popular silicon based sensors.  It employs advanced control technology to develop sensors that would meet industries’ cost target while maintaining high-performance.
     
  • Nanobiotechnology Laboratory–This lab forcuses on electrochemical devices for ultrasensitive detection and renewable energy applications such as Ultrasensitive biosensing (the enzymatic field-effect transistor), Nanoparticle-based (enzymeless) sensors and Supercapacitors.

Faculty Research and Publications

The members of the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty are engaged in research in a number of areas suitable for student theses and dissertations. These include computer architectures, reconfigurable computing systems, computer communication networks, bandwidth and power-efficient modulation schemes, error-control coding, multi-carrier communications, spread-spectrum systems, mobile communication systems, robust communications, power systems operation and control, power electronics and motor drives, system identification, advanced control algorithms, and intelligent control systems. Results of research in these areas are published regularly in refereed journals, such as Transactions of IEEE and IEE Proceedings, and are presented at scholarly conferences and symposia.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers a number of research and teaching assistantships and graduate tuition grants. In addition, internships sponsored by the NASA Glenn Research Center and General Electric, and fellowships awarded by the Ohio Space Grant Consortium are available.

Admission Information

Admission to the graduate program in electrical engineering is open to qualified students with baccalaureate degrees in engineering or science. A minimum baccalaureate grade-point average of 2.75 is required, but this minimum score does not guarantee admission. Applicants should make arrangements to have official transcripts sent directly from their undergraduate institutions to the Graduate Admissions Office. Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the student’s undergraduate or graduate work also are required.

The GRE General section is required if one or more of the following conditions is true:

  • The undergraduate degree was awarded by a college or university outside of the United States or Canada, or by a Canadian institution not accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
  • The undergraduate degree was in a discipline unrelated to electrical or computer engineering.
  • The student’s undergraduate cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0.
  • The year of the baccalaureate degree precedes the date of application to the College of Graduate Studies by more than six years.

If the GRE is required, a minimum score on the Quantitative section of  650 (old grading scale) or 151 (new grading scale) is required, but this minimum score does not guarantee admission.

For applicants whose native language is not English, a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based exam, 78 on the internet exam (including at least 20 in reading, 21 in listening, 17 in writing, and 20 in speaking), 6.0 on the IELTS exam, 5.0 on the iTEP exam, or 213 on the computer-based exam, is required.  Students who do not satisfy these requirements, but who do satisfy the University’s TOEFL requirements, will be tested upon arrival at CSU by the English as a Second Language Program.  Depending on test results, students may be required to take a writing (ESL 502) and/or speaking (ESL 503) course.

There is a preparatory program designed for students without a sufficient background in electrical engineering.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html

Accelerated Program in Electrical Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering also offers an Accelerated Program that would enable students to a earn a Bachelor of Electrical or Computer Engineering degree as well as a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 5 years. Students are eligible to apply after they have completed sixty credit hours in their undergraduate program, with at least 30 credit hours earned at CSU. Once admitted to the combined program, the student may complete up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses while enrolled in the undergraduate program. These 12 credit-hours count towards both the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree requirements, either as electives or as requirements. For more details, please refer to the department webpage http://www.csuohio.edu/engineering/ece/academics/graduate.html.

Degree Requirements


Students in the MS in Electrical Engineering program may elect a thesis option or a non-thesis option. All students, and particularly those intending to pursue a doctoral degree, are encouraged to select the thesis option.  Students who receive research funding are required to complete the thesis option.

Each student in the program must meet all College of Graduate Studies requirements and the following departmental requirements.

Preparatory Program


Graduate students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering must complete the following courses with a grade of B or better. This program is intended to prepare students for graduate courses in electrical engineering. Students who previously earned a grade of B or better in an equivalent course can have the corresponding requirements waived with prior authorization by the program.

Bachelor Graduate other than Engineering or Computer Science


  • ESC 250
  • EEC 310
  • EEC 311
  • EEC 313
  • EEC 382
One of the following courses:

  • EEC 440, or
  • EEC 450, or
  • EEC 470, or
  • EEC 487

Bachelor Graduates in Electronic Technology


  • ESC 250
  • EEC 311
One of the following courses:

  • EEC 440, or
  • EEC 450, or
  • EEC 470, or
  • EEC 487

Bachelors in Engineering (not Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering)


  • EEC 311
  • EEC 313
  • EEC 382
One of the following courses:

  • EEC 440, or
  • EEC 450, or
  • EEC 470, or
  • EEC 487

Bachelor Graduate in Computer Science


  • EEC 311
  • EEC 382
One of the following courses:

  • EEC 440, or
  • EEC 450, or
  • EEC 470, or
  • EEC 487

Note(s)


In addition, EEC 361 is required for all MSEE students (including graduates of our own BCE program) except for students specializing in Computer Engineering. Prior to satisfactory completion of the entire Preparatory Program, no course may be taken toward the fulfillment of the graduate degree program unless authorized by the academic/research advisor.

Credit by Exam


Students can obtain credit for the preparatory courses by taking an examination with the permission of the ECE Graduate Program Committee (GPC). Exams will be offered the week before fall and spring semester each year. The credit by exam fee must be paid and the Graduate Credit by Examination form must be submitted to the GPC at least two weeks before the first day of class. An exam can be attempted only once per course.

Program Options

1. All students:

 a.   A maximum of 16 credit hours (nanobiotechnology specialization) or eight credit hours (all other specializations) of graduate course work from outside the department may be applied toward the degree.  All out-of-department courses must count toward a graduate degree in the offering department and must be approved in advance by the student’s advisor.

b.  The seminar course EEC 601 and 400-level courses may not be applied for credit toward the MSEE degree.

 c. Students must take at least four course subjects from their area of specialization including its core course(s).

 

Communication Systems

Control Systems

Power Electronics and Power Systems

Computer Systems

Nanobiotechnology

2. Thesis Option:

  1. A minimum of 30 total credit hours, including at least six credit hours of thesis, and at least 24 credit hours of course work. The course work must include at least eight credit hours of 600-level EEC courses.
  2. Successful completion and defense of a thesis. A graduate committee guides the thesis work.
  3. Thesis students must give an oral presentation of the thesis.  
3. Non-thesis Option:

  1. A minimum of 32 total credit hours, including at least twelve credit hours of 600-level EEC courses. 
4. CPT Students

     a.  In addition to the credit hour requirements specified above, students who take curricular practical training (CPT) are required to take 1 credit hour of EEC 602 for each internship semester.

Exit Requirements


Thesis students must follow the Thesis and Dissertation Format Guidelines, available on the College of Graduate Studies web page:
http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/students/thesis/.

Acceptance of the thesis by the thesis committee and the passing of an oral defense of the thesis are required.

Non-thesis students must complete the course requirements.

For further information about the MS in Electrical Engineering program, contact the department at (216) 687-2589.

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