M.S. Computer Engineering

1. A Baccalaureate degree in a technical field *(e.g., Engineering, Physics or Mathematics from an accredited university or college) with an overall GPA of at least 2.75.
2. Have at least a 2.7 undergraduate grade point average in the last sixty semester units or ninety quarter units attempted.
3. International students are required to submit a brief statement of purpose and 3 letters of recommendations.

*Regardless of undergraduate degree, all students must fulfill with a 3.0 GPA or higher.*

Please check the "Prerequisite Courses" accordion item for more information on Mathematics, Physics, and Electrical Engineering courses required for the program.

** The ECE Graduate Coordinator will determine which course(s) will be required.

1. Fulfill University requirements for classified status.
2. Complete prerequisite courses with 3.0 GPA or higher.
3. Submit a tentative program of graduate study approved by the ECE graduate coordinator.
4. Minimum grade in any course taken must be "C" or better while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher

For the Degree:

1. Completion of 30 units under either the Thesis Plan or the Project Plan. Note: Students may not take a course (counting toward an MSEE degree) which is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward ones undergraduate program.
2. Formal approval of granting the degree by the Engineering Faculty.

Thesis Plan:

1. 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 15 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses. Select a minimum of 12 units of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science courses plus 6 units selected from Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses.
2. 6 units of ECE 698(Thesis) and a successful oral defense of the thesis before the thesis committee.

Project Plan:

1. 27 units of coursework applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses. Select a minimum of 12 units of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science courses plus 9 units selected from Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses.
2. 3 units of ECE 698 (Graduate Project) culminating in a comprehensive report.

Graduate Program:

The 30 units of coursework in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study that consists of suggested and courses from Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The 30 units may include one graded unit of ECE 699A (Internship) as an elective course. Any additional enrollment in ECE 699A can only be taken on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis and will not be included in the 30 units required for the degree.

Application forms can be accessed through Cal State Apply and are submitted online. The code number for the MSCompE is 562445M. Application deadlines for admission are set by the Office of Admissions.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must receive a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based or 79/80 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Besides TOEFL and IELTS, CSUN currently accept other tests such as Duolingo. All acceptable English language tests and minimum scores are listed on the International Prospective Students page.

Continuing students in either Post Baccalaureate or Graduate status may change their objective and seek admission to a MS in Computer Engineering by filling out a change of objective form that can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records.

It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all University regulations and restrictions such as:

1. No more than 9 units of transfer or extension work
2. No more than a total of 9 units of ECE 400-level Digital course and/or Comp 400-level courses taken in residence can be counted toward Master in Computer Engineering
3. Probation and Disqualification
4. Repeat of courses rules
5. Advancement to Candidacy
6. Academic leave
7. 7-years time limit for the completion of the degree
8. Graduation with Distinction

For details on the above, students are advised to attend one of the ECE graduate orientation meetings to meet with the Graduate Coordinator. Prior to the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by the Graduate Coordinator. After the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by their Committee Chair. All courses taken towards the MS degree must be approved by the Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator. 

For this degree, the student must define a program that conforms to the general M.S. in Computer Engineering degree requirements as established by the Department.

Students are advised to meet with an advisor as soon as possible to plan their program. No more than a total of 9 units of ECE 400-level Digital courses and/or Comp 400-level courses taken in residence can be counted toward Master in Computer Engineering.

Students may not take a course (counting toward MSCompE degree) which is the same or equivalent to a course taken toward one’s undergraduate program.

Students must select a minimum of 14 units of 500 or 600-level required Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses listed below:

• ECE 520/L System on Chip Design and Laboratory (3/1)
• ECE 524/L FPGA/ASIC Design and Optimization Using VHDL and Lab (3/1) or ECE 526/L Digital Design with Verilog and System Verilog and Lab (3/1)
• ECE 620 Advanced Switching Theory (3)
• ECE 621 Computer Arithmetic Design (3) or ECE 622 Digital Systems Structure (3)

and a minimum of 6 units of 500 or 600-level Computer Science (COMP) elective courses in the following list:

• COMP 522 Embedded Applications (3)
• COMP 528 Mobile Computing (3)
• COMP 528L Mobile Computing Lab (1)
• COMP 529/L Advanced Network Topics and Lab (2/1)
• COMP 541 Data Mining (3)
• COMP 542 Machine Learning (3)
• COMP 560 Expert Systems (3)
• COMP 565 Advanced Computer Graphics (3)
• COMP 587 Software Verification and Validation (3)
• COMP 620 Computer System Architecture (3)

If students choose to do the Graduate Project (3 units of ECE 698C), the remaining 7 units must either be from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses.

If students choose to do the Thesis (6 units of ECE 698C), the remaining 4 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses.

All graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

Biomedical Engineering

Communications and Radar Engineering

Control Engineering

Digital and Computer Engineering

Electronics Solid State Devices & Integrated Circuits Engineering

Microwave and Antenna Engineering

Power Systems Engineering