OLD EECS site

This site is now obslete. See the ECE and CSE department pages.

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Graduate

You should visit the new ECE or CSE department's web pages.

EECS | Graduate | The Graduate Programs

CSE Graduate Study

Graduate Program

Graduate programs of study provide a balance between formal classroom instruction and research and are tailored to the individual student's professional goals. The programs appeal to individuals with backgrounds in electrical or computer engineering, computer or information science, mathematics, or the physical sciences. The department offers MS degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science. Each program has slightly different rules. The rules for MS in CS, and the comprehensive/qualifier process for Computer Science can be found online here . For infomation on the MS in Computer Engineering, contact Dr. Michael Schulte.

Research is an essential part of the graduate program. Major research areas :

Information and Computer Engineering: Networking and distributed computing; architecture, distributed processing, error control, security and protection; real-time processing; pipelining and scheduling, signal processing algorithms, VLSI architectures, speech compression and recognition, concurrent processing; fault tolerant computing; hardware/software redundancy, coding theory; use of optics in fiber optic communications, networks, and computers.
Software and Artificial Intelligence: Expert systems; knowledge-based systems in design, electronics packaging, manufacturing, and construction; natural language processing; AI programming languages; learning systems and mechanisms; data models and object-oriented systems; user interfaces; decision-support systems; database interfaces; computer vision, including use of color and polarization, object oriented software and parallel/distributed systems.

Master of Science Degree Requirements

Completion of 30 credit hours of work which may a six credit hour thesis for the Computer Engineering degree and a three credit hour thesis for the Computer Science degree.
No more than six (6) credit hours of special topics courses.
The Computer Science degree requires 30 credits with a distribution requirement as specified online here .
The old "core" requirement of CSc 302 Compiler Design, CSc 411 Advanced Programming Techniques, and CSc 403 Theory of Operating Systems is still allowed for MS students that started before Fall 1999.
A program of study must be submitted in compliance with the graduate school regulations. An oral presentation of the thesis is required.

Master of Engineering Degree Requirements

Completion of 30 credit hours of work, which includes design oriented courses and an engineering project.
An oral presentation of the project is required.
A program of study must be submitted in compliance with the graduate school rules.

Ph.D. Degree Requirmeents

Completion of 42 credit hours of work (including the dissertation) beyond the master's degree (48 hours if the master's degree is non-Lehigh).
Passing the departmental qualifying examination appropriate to the degree within one year after entrance into the degree program.
Passing the general examination in the candidate's area of specialization.
Admission into candidacy.
The writing and defense of a dissertation.
Competence in a foreign language is not required.

Additional graduate program information may be obtained from the department's in online form. Graduate courses are 400 level and above, with limited 300 level courses permitted. Special topics and individual study courses are generally arranged with individual faculty on a semesterly basis and may not show in the course listings.

Why should you consider going to graduate school?

It is certainly true that graduate programs equip their students more effectively than undergraduate programs for better career opportunities and financial returns. The need for well-trained graduate students has been increasing in recent years and promises to increase still further in years to come. This increase is due in part to the rising demand for an ever more sophisticated work force as industry becomes more specialized and needs and services become more complex. Furthermore and more importantly, graduate education leads to an expanded understanding and to a broadened horizon in the intended field of study. People go to graduate school because they are interested in their subject, the belief in its importance, and they take great pleasure in studying it.

Graduate programs leading to a M.S. and or Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, are now offered by a number of accredited Universities and Colleges in United States. The purpose of a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is to train research scholars who can eventually join academia or an industrial research group. A master's degree (M.S.) on the other hand, has a different emphasis. It usually has a research requirement, but it is not intended to prepare research scholars; rather it is designed to provide additional education or training in the student's own specialized branch of knowledge. The content of a master's degree program can be distinguished from that of a doctoral program in that these is much more emphasis on course work.

The requirements for a Master's and or a Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science vary considerably among universities. A prospective graduate student who has already identified a particular area of study is encouraged to consult a faculty member of our Department whose area of specialization is peripheral to this field and discuss the different programs and options offered in this country. The areas of specialization of each faculty member of the EECS Department at Lehigh in the faculty list. If the student is still undecided about a specific field of study in Electrical and Computer Engineering, then more information can be obtained from his/her academic advisor.

The "typical" sequence of steps to apply to graduate school

The application process to join a graduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering should be typically initiated at least one year before the matriculation date. Again, the application requirements vary considerably among Universities. Typically, however, the student is asked to provide official transcripts of his/her grades, two or three letters of recommendation, an application essay and graduate admission tests such as GRE. Admissions are then awarded on a competitive basis, i.e. on the academic qualifications and performance of the candidate.

Financial assistance is also available to graduate students. Universities generally, provide three types of financial support programs: teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships. Financial help can also be provided in the form of fellowships from government organizations and foundations.

At Lehigh, the EECS Department encourages junior and senior students to engage in research with one of its faculty members. This profitable experience helps the students to identify an area of interest which they may later pursue in the graduate school.

Graduate Studies in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Lehigh University

Here at Lehigh, we offer an active and vital program leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The Department numbers 32 faculty, 230 undergraduate majors, and approximately 200 graduate students. We have excellent graduate programs in selected areas of research.

Financial aid is available to graduate students in the form of teaching and research assistantships. In order to ensure consideration for an assistantship, for the Fall Semester, you should submit your application so that it is complete and ready for review by us no later than January 15th. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis, keeping in mind not only the qualifications of the candidates, but also the departmental needs. GRE scores are required if you seek financial aid.

After the Department has received your complete application, the reviewing process will take 4-6 weeks. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.

Applications for the Fall Term should be received by the Department by April 15th - Spring Term applications should reach us by November 1st.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Graduate Coordinator of the EECS Department, 610-758-4072.

This site is no longer being updated but will remain for some time until we remove the old links within Lehigh. You should visit the new department's web pages at ECE or CSE .

The old EECS Department web site at Lehigh University /