Graduate Requirements
The Computer Engineering Department (CE) offers a graduate program leading to the master of science (M.S.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Graduate students in these programs begin with fundamental courses in computer architecture and algorithms, and then proceed to a thorough study of their selected area of specialization.
Base Requirement
In their first year, CE graduate students must show proficiency in areas of the base requirements either by:
- passing one of the undergraduate courses listed, or
- having passed an equivalent course elsewhere, or
- by passing the final exam (or project when deemed appropriate by the faculty responsible) of an associated course when it is regularly offered.
Each year one faculty member will be responsible for certifying that the requirement has been met under options 2 or 3 with respect to a specific course. The graduate assistant will certify that the requirement has been met under option 1.
| Subject | Course(s) | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | ||
| Data Structures | CS101 or CS102 or CE177 | De Alfaro |
| Computer Architecture | CE110 | Di Blas |
| Pick one additional course from the following: | ||
| Logic Design | CE100/L | Schlag |
| Circuits | CE121/L or EE70/L* | Elkaim (121/L) or Mantey(70/L) |
| Software Systems | CS104 or CS111 or CS115 | Brandt(104) or Miller(111) or McDowell(115) |
*Although EE70/L may be used to fulfill this requirement, it will not count towards the M.S. degree coursework since it is a lower-division course.
Fulfilling the CE base requirement is a degree requirement for the MS and PhD degree. Each student should obtain the CE Graduate Base Requirement Worksheet from the department office and complete it by obtaining the necessary signatures from the faculty listed above for each subject area. The form must be submitted to the graduate assistant no later than the start of Spring quarter of the first year so that it will be available for the annual review of progress. Enrollment in Spring quarter courses which will be used to fulfill the CE base requirement should be indicated on the form.
Requirements for the Master's Degree
Base Requirement
Computer engineering graduate students must demonstrate proficiency in fundamental areas by fulfilling the CE base requirement.
Degree Course Requirement
Each student is required to take 48-units as follows:
-
CE 200 ( Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering )
- CS 201 ( Analysis of Algorithms )
- CE 202 ( Computer Architecture )
- upto 10 units of CE297 ( Independent Study ) or CE299 ( Thesis Research ).
- upto 10 units of either graduate courses (not seminars) in related disciplines outside the School of Engineering (requires advisor and graduate committee approval), or upper-division undergraduate courses when necessary to strengthen a student's preparation for graduate studies (requires advisor approval),
- all remaining units must be graduate elective courses from the list of approved graduate courses.
The selection of graduate elective courses must show breadth by including 5 units in each of two categories from the list of approved graduate electives. CS201 and CE202 cannot be used to satisfy the breadth requirement.
At least half of units from the graduate-level courses must be computer engineering graduate courses.
Thesis
Completion of a Master's Thesis is required for the Master's degree. To fulfill this requirement, the student submits a written proposal to a faculty member, usually by the third academic quarter. By accepting the proposal, the faculty member becomes the thesis advisor. In consultation with the advisor, the student forms a Master's Thesis Reading Committee with at least two additional faculty members, each of whom is provided a copy of the proposal. The student presents an expository talk on the thesis research, and the final thesis must be accepted by the review committee before the award of the Master of Science degree.
Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
Base Requirement
Computer engineering graduate students must demonstrate proficiency in fundamental areas by fulfilling the CE base requirement.
Degree Course Requirement
Each student is required to take 58 units of graduate courses, which must consist of:
- CE 200 ( Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering )
- CS 201 ( Analysis of Algorithms )
- CE 202 ( Computer Architecture )
- 20 units of graduate computer engineering courses from the list of approved graduate courses,
- at most 10 units of CE 297 (Independent Study ) or CE299 (Thesis Research),
- at most 10 units of graduate courses (not seminars) from related disciplines outside the School of Engineering if approved by the advisor and graduate committee,
- all remaining units should be graduate elective courses from the list of approved graduate courses.
The selection of elective courses must show breadth by including either 10 units in each of two categories or 5 units in each of three separate categories from the list of approved graduate courses. CS201 and CE202 cannot be used to satisfy the breadth requirement. Course selection should form a coherent plan of study and requires advisor approval. Undergraduate courses may not be used to satisfy Ph.D. course requirements.
Ph.D. students who have satisfied the requirements for the master's degree are eligible to receive a master's degree.
Internships
Where appropriate, research internships with companies, research organizations, or government labs are recognized as an integral part of the research leading to the Ph.D. dissertation. At the advisor's discretion, internships in an appropriate company, research organization, or governement lab may be required for individual students.
Examinations and Dissertation
To continue in the Ph.D. program, students must pass a preliminary examination in their chosen research area by the end of their third year. Preliminary examinations are held during the first three weeks of each spring quarter; students must petition the graduate committee for an examination in their chosen area two weeks before the end of winter quarter. Examination committees consist of four faculty members, two chosen by the student and two by the graduate committee. The format of this oral examination is up to the examination committee; the examination will typically evaluate both general knowledge of the chosen area and specific understanding of selected technical papers. The preliminary examination requirement is waived for students who advance to candidacy by the end of their third year.
Each student writes a Ph.D. dissertation. The dissertation must show the results of in-depth research, be an original contribution of significant knowledge, and include material worthy of publication. As the first step, a student submits a written dissertation proposal to a CE or CS faculty member. By accepting the proposal, the faculty member becomes the dissertation supervisor. The dissertation proposal is publicly and formally presented, in an oral qualifying examination given by a Qualifying Exam Committee approved by the graduate committee and the graduate council. The student must submit his or her written dissertation proposal to all members of the committee and the graduate assistant one month in advance of the examination.
Students are advanced to candidacy after they have completed the course requirements, passed both the preliminary and qualifying examinations (or just the qualifying examination if passed prior to the end of the student's third year in the program), cleared all Incompletes from their records, have an appointed Dissertation Reading Committee and have paid the filing fee. Students who have not advanced to candidacy by the end of their fourth year will be placed on academic probation.
Each Ph.D. candidate submits the completed dissertation to a reading committee at least one month prior to the dissertation defense. The appointment of the Dissertation Reading Committee is made immediately after the qualifying exam and is necessary for advancing to candidacy. The candidate presents his or her research results in a public seminar sponsored by the dissertation supervisor. The seminar is followed by a defense of the dissertation to the reading committee and attending faculty, who will then decide whether the dissertation is acceptable or requires revision. Successful completion of the dissertation fulfills the final academic requirement for the Ph.D. degree.
Transfer Credit
Up to 3 CE-approved UCSC courses fulfilling the degree requirements of either the MS or Ph.D. degrees may be taken before beginning the graduate program through the UCSC concurrent enrollment program.
MS students who have previously successfully completed graduate-level classes in a related field at another institution may substitute courses from their previous institution with the approval of the graduate committee. The number of courses that can be substituted is limited so that, in all cases, the students must complete a minimum of 4 graduate-level classes during their matriculation at UCSC. These classes must be graduate-level classes from the list of approved graduate courses list of approved graduate courses.
Petitions for course substitutions should be submitted along with the transcript from the other institution or UCSC extension. For courses taken at other institutions copies of the syllabi, exams, and other course work should accompany the petition. Such petitions are not considered until the completion of at least one quarter at UCSC.
Ph.D. students who have previously earned a master's degree or have successfully completed graduate-level classes as regular students in a graduate program in a related field at another institution may apply for a modified program of course requirements taking into account their previous coursework. Such a modified program should specify the coursework that will be completed at UCSC, which must include no less than 4 courses from the list of approved graduate courses list of approved graduate courses. These 4 courses must be taken while in the graduate program at UCSC.
Application for a modified program of course requirements must be made within the first year of graduate study at UCSC, and will be reviewed by the graduate director and a committee of three faculty members approved by the graduate director. The application should be accompanied by copies of the syllabi, exams, and other course work, as well as the relevant transcript from the other institution. Interviews with the committee members may be required to properly assess the coursework. The petition for a modified Ph.D. course study can be downloaded here.
Acceptance of prior work for course transfer and modified programs of study is at the discretion of the department.
Review of Progress
Each year, the faculty reviews the progress of every student. Students not making adequate progress towards completion of degree requirements (see Graduate Handbook for policy on satisfactory academic progress ) are subject to dismissal from the program. Students with academic deficiencies may be required to take additional courses. Full-time students with no academic deficiencies are normally expected to complete the degree requirements at the rate of at least two courses per quarter. Full-time students must complete CS 201 and CE 202 within two years and normally must complete the all course requirements within two years for the MS and three years for the PhD.
Students receiving two or more grades of below B or U (fail) in School of Engineering (SoE) courses are not making adequate progress and will be placed on academic probation for the following three quarters of registered enrollment. Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence does not count as enrollment. Part time enrollment is counted as a half quarter of enrollment.
Should any Computer Engineering graduate student fail an SoE course while on probation, the Computer Engineering Department may request the Graduate Dean to dismiss that student from the Graduate Program. If after being removed from probation, the student again fails an SoE course, he or she will return immediately to academic probation.
Graduate students experiencing circumstances or difficulties that impact their academic performance should contact their advisor and the graduate director immediately. Students may appeal their dismissal.
*If you were admitted to the CE graduate program in the academic year 2000-2001 or before, please use the 1997-2000 version of this page, available here.
For graduate admissions information and applications, please direct email inquiries to gradadm@cats.ucsc.edu.