M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University of Illinois at Chicago welcomes you to its web site. We hope that these pages will provide a starting point to the information about the department, faculty, staff and students. We welcome prospective students, friends and colleagues to browse through the information that is provided here and to contact or visit us for more information.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.

We are a Department of about 30 faculty, over 450 undergraduate and over 200 graduate students. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is very new, having been created in July of 2001 from the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department.

The origins of this department has its roots in the Department of Information Engineering which existed at the start of the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1965 and eventually evolved into the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department in 1982.

The current Departmental structure is more focused, and provides an opportunity for the development of research and teaching programs in the areas of Electrical and Computer Engineering. We offer a strong and diverse program with nearly 30 experienced faculty members. Our broad and multidisciplinary thrusts have proved to be a significant growth opportunity in terms of research and funding success in all our major thrust areas and concentrations. Our successes in research funding, publications and recognitions of our faculty are listed in the following pages and under News Archive

ECE 401. Quasi-Static Electric and Magnetic Fields. 3 or 4 hours.

Static electric and magnetic fields. Material description, boundary value problems. Field energy, its conversion and scaling laws. Quasi-static fields, field diffusion, eddy currents, energy losses. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 322.

ECE 407. Pattern Recognition I. 3 or 4 hours.

The design of automated systems for detection, recognition, classification and diagnosis. Parametric and nonparametric decision-making techniques. Applications in computerized medical and industrial image and waveform analysis. Course Information: Same as BIOE 407. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 220.

ECE 410. Network Analysis. 3 or 4 hours.

Matrix algebra for network analysis, network parameters, macromodeling, high-frequency measurements, network functions and theorems. Topics in computer-aided analysis. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 310 and grade of C or better in ECE 310.

ECE 412. Introduction to Filter Synthesis. 3 or 4 hours.

Fundamentals of network synthesis, filter approximations and frequency transformations. Active filter synthesis using bi-linear and bi-quad circuits. Topics in computer-aided design. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ECE 310.

ECE 415. Image Analysis and Computer Vision I. 3 or 4 hours.

Image formation, geometry and stereo. Two-dimensional image analysis by fourier and other 2-D transforms. Image enhancement, color, image segmentation, compression, feature extraction, object recognition. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 310 or a grade of C or better in ECE 310.

ECE 417. Digital Signal Processing II. 0-5 hours.

Computer-aided design of digital filters; quantization and round-off effects; FFT algorithms; number-theoretic algorithms; multirate signal processing; DSP architectures and programming. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 317. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 418. Statistical Digital Signal Processing. 3 or 4 hours.

Stochastic signal models, LMS identification, identification of signals from noise, Wiener filtering, blind separation of mixed signal, discrete Wavelet Transforms, compression and denoising, ceptral analysis. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 317 and ECE 341.

ECE 421. Introduction to Antennas and Wireless Propagation. 3 or 4 hours.

Potential, antenna parameters, radiation from linear wires and loops, impedance, arrays, communication links and path loss, tropospheric propagation, fading and diversity. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s):ECE 225 and ECE 322.

ECE 423. Electromagnetic Compatibility. 3 or 4 hours.

EMC requirements for electronic systems. Nonideal behavior of components. Radiated and conducted emissions. Susceptibility. Coupling and shielding. Electrostatic discharge. System design for EMS. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 310 and ECE 322.

ECE 424. RF and Microwave Guided Propagation. 0-5 hours.

Maxwell's equations, transmission lines, Smith chart, strip lines, rectangular and circular waveguides, TE and TM waves, wave impedance, resonators, two-portal parameters, power and energy considerations. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 225 and ECE 322. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 427. Modern Linear Optics. 3 or 4 hours.

Geometrical optics, wave optics, two-dimensional Fourier analysis, scalar diffraction theory, Fourier transforming properties of lenses, coherent and incoherent images, holography, electromagnetic optics, polarization and crystal optics, resonators. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 310 and ECE 322.

ECE 431. Analog Communication Circuits. 0-5 hours.

Introduction to radio frequency circuit design: narrowband transistor amplifiers, impedance matching networks, oscillators, mixers, amplitude and frequency modulation/demodulation, phase-lock loop circuits, amplifier noise and stability analysis. Laboratory. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 311 and ECE 340. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 432. Digital Communications. 3 or 4 hours.

Source coding, quantization, signal representation, channel noise, optimum signal reception, digital modulation: ASK, PSK, FSK, MSK, M-ary modulation. Probability of error. Inter-symbol interference. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 310, ECE 311 and ECE 341.

ECE 434. Multimedia Systems. 3 or 4 hours.

Multimedia systems; compression standards; asynchronous transfer mode; Internet; wireless networks; television; videoconferencing; telephony; applications. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ECE 310.

ECE 435. Wireless Communication Networks. 3 or 4 hours.

Radio technology fundamentals; channel and propagation models; channel multiple access technologies; wireless mobile communication fundamentals; generic wireless mobile network; cellular/PCS wireless mobile network standards. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 432 and ECE 333.

ECE 436. Computer Communication Networks II. 3 or 4 hours.

Explores integrated network architecture of service, control signaling and management, examples of high-speed LAN/WAN, next generation Internet and mobile wireless network. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ECE 333.

ECE 437. Wireless Communications. 3 or 4 hours.

Cellular concept, frequency reuse, mobile radio propagation, channel fading, noise in analog communications, mobile radio channel equalization, multiple access techniques (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA), wireless networking. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 311 and ECE 341.

ECE 440. Nanoelectronics. 3 or 4 hours.

Wave-particle duality, Schrodinger equation, atomic orbitals, band theory of solids. Semiconductor and carbon nanoelectronic materials. Nanostructure device fabrication. Nanoelectromechanical systems. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 346; or consent of the instructor.

ECE 442. Power Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits. 0-5 hours.

Covers the physics of devices encountered in the power-electronic and switching converter systems. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Credit is not given for ECE 442 if the student has credit for EECS 442. ECE 442 is a supplement for ECE 445 and ECE 545. Prerequisite(s): ECE 342 and ECE 346. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 445. Analysis and Design of Power Electronic Circuits. 0-5 hours.

Analysis of different isolated and non-isolated power-converter topologies, understanding of power-converter components, switching schemes. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 342 and a grade of C or better in ECE 310. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 448. Transistors. 3 or 4 hours.

Bipolar junction transistors, electronic processes in surface-controlled semiconductor and dielectric devices. Metal oxide semiconductor filed effect transistors, surface and interface effects, diode lasers, integrated optoelectronic devices. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 346.

ECE 449. Microdevices and Micromachining Technology. 0-5 hours.

Microfabrication techniques for microsensors, microstructures, and microdevices. Selected examples of physical/chemical sensors and actuators. Simulation experiments. Course Information: Same as ME 449. 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Laboratory. Prerequisite(s): ECE 347; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 451. Control Engineering. 3 or 4 hours.

State-space representation of systems; realization theory; stability; performance; modern control design techniques, including: fuzzy, learning, adaptive and nonlinear control. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 350.

ECE 452. Robotics: Algorithms and Control. 3 or 4 hours.

Kinematic and dynamic modeling of robots; configuration space; motion planning algorithms; control of robots; sensors and perception; reasoning; mobile robots. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): CS 201; and a grade of C or better in ECE 210 or a grade of C or better in ECE 225.

ECE 458. Electromechanical Energy Conversion. 0-4 hours.

Electromagnetic forces and torque; magnetic circuits and transformers; DC machines; three-phase AC synchronous and induction machines; laboratory-demonstrations. Projects are required. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in ECE 225. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 465. Digital Systems Design. 3 or 4 hours.

Switching algebra, combinational circuits, Mux, ROM, DCD, PLA-based designs, advanced combinational circuit minimization techniques, sychronous and asynchronous squential circuit synthesis (minimization, hazards, races, state assignment) testing. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PHYS 142; and a grade of C or better in ECE 265 or a grade of C or better in CS 366.

ECE 466. Advanced Computer Architecture. 3 or 4 hours.

Design and analysis of high performance uniprocessors. Topics include arithmetic: multiplication, division, shifting; processor: pipelining, multiple function units. instruction sets; memory: caches, modules; virtual machines. Course Information: Same asCS 466. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 366 or CS 366.

ECE 467. Introduction to VLSI Design. 0-5 hours.

MOS, CMOS circuits VLSI technology, CMOS circuit characterization and evaluation. Static and dynamic MOS circuits, system design, faults, testing, and symbolic layout. Laboratory. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 340. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 468. Analog and Mixed - Signal VLSI Design. 0-5 hours.

Elementary transistor stages and analog components; low-power design; comparison of bipolar, CMOS, and BiCMOS; s-parameters and high-frequency ASIC design and modeling; RF wireless communication system components; behavioral modeling. Course Information: 4 undergraduate hours. 5 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): ECE 467. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture-Discussion.

ECE 469. Computer Systems Design. 3 or 4 hours.

Analysis and modeling of digital systems; hardware description languages; CAD tools for simulation, synthesis, and verification of computer systems. Project: a simple processor design. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Same as CS 469. Prerequisite(s): CS 366; or ECE 366 and ECE 368.

ECE 491. Seminar. 1-4 hours.

Topics of mutual interest to a faculty member and a group of students. Offered as announced by department bulletin or the Timetable. Course Information: May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 493. Special Problems. 2-4 hours.

Special problems or reading by special arrangement with the faculty. Course Information: No graduation credit for students in the following: MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering or PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 499. Professional Development Seminar. 0 hours.

Graduating seniors will be provided with information regarding future career paths and will provide information regarding the program to be used for assessment purposes. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Open only to seniors; and approval of the department. Must be taken in the student's last semester of study.

ECE 510. Advanced Network Analysis. 4 hours.

Characterizations of networks. The indefinite-admittance matrix. Active two-port networks. Theory of feedback amplifiers. Stability of feedback amplifiers. Multiple-loop feedback amplifiers. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 410.

ECE 513. Advanced Analog Filter Synthesis. 4 hours.

The active biquad, sensitivity analysis, realization of active two-port networks, design of broadband matching networks, and the theory of passive cascade synthesis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 412.

ECE 515. Image Analysis and Computer Vision II. 4 hours.

Image analysis techniques, 2D and 3D shape representation, segmentation, camera and stereo modeling, motion, generic object and face recognition, parallel and neural architectures for image and visual processing. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 415; or consent of the instructor.

ECE 516. Adaptive Digital Filters. 4 hours.

Properties of signals; optimal filters, Wiener and Kalman filters; signal modeling, adaptive filters channel equalizing, echo canceling, noise canceling, and linear prediction; filter properties. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 317 and ECE 341.

ECE 517. Digital Image Processing. 4 hours.

Operations on 2-D digital images: transforms, enhancement, restoration, warping, segmentation, registration, compression, water marking, steganography, and reconstruction from projection. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 317 andECE 341.

ECE 520. Electromagnetic Field Theory. 4 hours.

Maxwell's equations. Potentials. Constitutive relations. Special relativity. Boundary conditions. Green's functions. Polarization. Radiation from antennas and charged particles. Waveguides and resonators. Exterior boundary - value problems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 421.

ECE 521. Computational Electromagnetics. 4 hours.

Finite-element, finite-difference solution. Computer aided solutions: integral equations, method of moments, transform and iterative solutions. FD-TD, singularity expansion method. Practical problems in radiation and scattering. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 520.

ECE 522. Advanced Microwave Theory. 4 hours.

Microwave integrated circuits: analysis, design. Microwave devices: filters, cavities and phase shifters. Millimeter waves: components and circuits, millimeter wave applications. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 420 and ECE 520.

ECE 523. Advanced Antenna Engineering. 4 hours.

Radiation from helix and spiral; aperture antennas; linear and planar array synthesis; Hallen's and other methods for impedance; design of array feeds; reflector and lens antennas. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 421 and ECE 520.

ECE 526. Electromagnetic Scattering. 4 hours.

Exact solutions of exterior boundary-value problems. Low-frequency expansions. High-frequency methods, including geometrical and physical theories of diffraction. Hybrid techniques. Radar cross-sections. Course Information: Prerequisite(s):ECE 520.

ECE 527. Optical Electronics. 4 hours.

Optical resonators. Radiation and atomic systems. Laser oscillation. Laser systems. Parametric amplification and oscillation. Electrooptics and acoustooptics. Phase conjugate optics. Modulation, detection and noise. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 520.

ECE 528. Fiber and Integrated Optics. 4 hours.

Propagation in thin films and fibers. Mode launching, coupling, and losses. Sources, detectors, modulators, interferometers. Fabrication and measurement techniques. Fiber optics systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 520 or the equivalent.

ECE 530. Random Signal Analysis. 4 hours.

Probability for communications, properties and series representations of random processes, random processes through linear and non-linear systems, minimum MSE and maximum SNR systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 341 or consent of the instructor.

ECE 531. Detection and Estimation Theory. 4 hours.

Bayes, Neyman-Pearson and minimax detection for discrete and continuous time random processes. Estimation of random and non-random signal parameters. Estimation of signals. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 418 or consent of the instructor.

ECE 532. Advanced Digital Communications. 4 hours.

Characteristics of digitally modulated signals; digital signals in additive noise; communication over fading channels and with intersymbol interference; source and channel coding; synchronization; spread spectrum techniques. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 432 or consent of the instructor.

ECE 533. Advanced Computer Communication Networks. 4 hours.

Computer and telecommunication networks; integrated (data, voice, and video) services; network performance; Quality of Service provisioning. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 333 and ECE 341; or consent of the instructor.

ECE 534. Elements of Information Theory. 4 hours.

Entropy and mutual information, fundamentals of coding theory, data compression, complexity of sources, channel mutual information and capacity, rate distortion theory, information theory applications. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 341or consent of the instructor.

ECE 535. Advanced Wireless Communication Networks. 4 hours.

2nd generation: IS-95-based wireless mobile network; 2nd generation: GSM-based wireless mobile network; 2.5 generation: wireless mobile data/voice network; 3rd generation: broadband wireless mobile multimedia network. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 435.

ECE 537. Wireless Data Communications and Networking. 4 hours.

The course discusses data services evolution in (2G) wireless systems to achive specified data rates of 3G. The course focuses on wireless data services in the wide and local area networks Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 432 andECE 435; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

ECE 540. Physics of Semiconductor Devices. 4 hours.

Electrons in periodic lattice; equilibrium carrier distribution; energy band diagrams in junctions, in homogeneous semiconductors; recombination and generation; non-equilibrum processes, radiation and electric fields; diodes. Course Information: Same as PHYS 540. Prerequisite(s): ECE 346 or the equivalent.

ECE 541. Microelectronic Fabrication Techniques. 4 hours.

Current fabrication techniques of microelectronic technology; plasma and CVD processes; etching techniques; ion implantation; surface analytical methods. Course Information: Same as ME 541. Prerequisite(s): ECE 347 or ECE 449.

ECE 542. Advanced Semiconductor Devices. 4 hours.

Bipolar Transistor and Related Devices, MOSFET Transistor and Related Devices, MESFET and Related Devices, Quantum-Effect Devices, Photonic Devices. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 540.

ECE 545. Advanced Power-Electronics Design. 4 hours.

High-frequency-magnetics design and measurement, parasitics, modeling, estimation, and measurement, soft switching for DC-DC converters, distributed DC-DC converters, and design layout. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 445.

ECE 550. Linear Systems Theory and Design. 4 hours.

State variable description, linear operators, impulse response matrix, controllability, observability, reducible and irreducible realizations, state feedback, state observers and stability. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 350.

ECE 551. Optimal Control. 4 hours.

Optimal control of dynamic systems in continuous and discrete time, maximum principle, dynamic programming and constraints, learning systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 550 or consent of the instructor.

ECE 552. Nonlinear Control. 4 hours.

Nonlinear phenomena, linear and piecewise linear approximations, describing functions, servomechanisms, phase plane, limit cycles, Lyapunov's stability theory, bifurcation, bilinear control, vibrational control, learning systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 550 or consent of the instructor.

ECE 553. System Identification. 4 hours.

On-line and off-line identification of control systems in frequency and time domain, considering noise effects, nonlinearities, nonstationarities and distributed parameters. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 550.

ECE 559. Neural Networks. 4 hours.

Artificial neural networks, perceptron, backpropagation, Kohonen nets, statistical methods, Hopfield nets, associative memories, large memory networks, cognition. Course Information: Same as CS 559. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 560. Fuzzy Logic. 4 hours.

Crisp and fuzzy sets; membership functions; fuzzy operations; fuzzy relations and their solution; approximate reasoning; fuzzy modeling and programming; applications; project. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 565. Physical Design Automation. 4 hours.

Computer-aided physical design of integrated circuits; circuit partitioning and placement; floorplanning; global and detailed routing; timing optimization; general optimization tools: local search, constraint relaxation. Course Information: Same asCS 565. Prerequisite(s): CS 401; and CS 466 or ECE 465.

ECE 566. Parallel Processing. 4 hours.

Parallel processing from the computer science perspective. Includes Architecture (bus based, lockstep, SIMD), Programming Languages (Functional, traditional and extensions), compilers, interconnection networks, and algorithms. Course Information: Same as CS 566. Prerequisite(s): CS 466 or ECE 466; and CS 401.

ECE 567. Advanced VLSI Design. 4 hours.

VLSI subsystem and system design: synthesis, design styles, design process, testing. Case Studies: switching networks, graphics engine, CPU. Projects use computer-aided design tools. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): ECE 467.

ECE 568. Advanced Microprocessor Architecture and Design. 4 hours.

Microprocessors; embedded control; processor core; system-on-chip; power-aware design; SMT design; Java processors; media processors; network processors; crypto processors; trusted processor architectures; architecture simulation. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): ECE 466 and consent of the instructor.

ECE 569. High-Performance Processors and Systems. 4 hours.

Instruction-level parallelism, multiple-instruction issue, branch prediction, instruction and data prefetching, novel cache and DRAM organization, high-performance interconnect, compilation issues, case studies. Course Information: Same as CS 569. Prerequisite(s): CS 466 or ECE 466; and graduate standing.

ECE 572. Nanoscale Semiconductor Structures: Electronic and Optical Properties. 4 hours.

Electronic and optical properties of nanscale semiconductors and devices, carrier interactions in dimensionally-confined nanostructures, deformation potential, piezoelectric potential, polar-optical-phonon interaction potential. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): PHYS 244 & ECE 346. Recommended background: Background in semiconductor device fundamentals such as covered in ECE 346 as well as the underlying physical principles as covered in PHYS 244.

ECE 594. Special Topics. 4 hours.

Subject matter varies from term to term and section to section, depending on the specialities of the instructor. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 595. Departmental Seminar. 0 hours.

Seminar by faculty and invited speakers. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated.

ECE 596. Individual Study. 1-4 hours.

Individual study or research under close supervision of a faculty member. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. No graduation credit for students in the following: MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

ECE 598. M.S. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.

M.S. thesis work under the supervision of a graduate advisor. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. For ECE majors only.

ECE 599. Ph.D. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.

Ph.D. thesis work under supervision of a graduate advisor. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. For ECE majors only.

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission are individually evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee. A complete set of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work is required before an application is evaluated for admission. In addition to the application requirements of the Office of Admissions and the policies set by the Graduate College, applicants should meet program requirements for admission. Meeting minimum requirements does not, however, guarantee admission. Program requirements are given below:

• Baccalaureate Field Electrical or computer engineering, or other closely related curriculum.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study is expected.
• Tests Required All international applicants should report general test scores of GRE. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution are not required to provide GRE scores; however, GRE scores may improve prospects for financial aid.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL 590 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
  • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
  • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
• Letters of Recommendation Not required for admission unless specifically requested by the Graduate Admissions Committee after reviewing academic and other credentials.
• Personal Statement Not required.
• Deadlines The application deadline is the same as the Graduate College deadline for each term.

There are several different forms of financial aid available to graduate students.

• UIC University Fellowship is the most prestigious (and most competitive) form of financial aid. Nominations for University Fellowships are submitted by the ECE Department to the Graduate College by the end of January, which implies that your application must be complete and ready for processing by January 1 for Fall admission.
• Teaching Assistants (TAs) are responsible for grading and staffing laboratory sections of undergraduate ECE courses. Approximately 15 entering graduate students receive Teaching Assistantships each year. Decisions about the Teaching Assistant positions for new students for the Fall semester is made about the middle of February. For full consideration for a TA position, your application must be complete and ready for processing by the end of January. All foreign applicants from non-English speaking countries are required to pass the Test for Spoken English (TSE) or an equivalent test from our university known as SPEAK test. The minimum required score is 50. This requirement is not satisfied by the TOEFL examination.
• Research Assistants (RAs) assist faculty in funded research projects. Research assistantship is awarded by an individual faculty member. The decision is based on an applicant's qualifications and faculty's project needs. Strong candidates with research experience should contact individual faculty member after they have been admitted. Prior to admission, faculty members do not have access to applicants' transcripts, recommendation letters, and other application materials.
• Graduate assistantships (GAs) are available on campus to continuing students. There are various sources at UIC including the medical school, the business school, the library, and other departments in the college of engineering that provide financial support to continuing students. If you are interested in a GA position, pay attention to those announcements on campus after you arrive at UIC.
• Tuition and Fee Waivers (TFWs) are available on a competitive basis to continuing graduate students.