1. What are the requirements for a Masters or a Ph.D.?
  2. What is the difference between the M.S. non-thesis and M.S. with thesis?
  3. What is the difference between the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) earned online (at a distance) vs. on campus?
  4. What is the difference between Ph.D. and D.Eng.?
  5. I have taken a graduate level course in which I got a C. This course is already present on my degree plan. Can I keep the course on the degree plan?
  6. Can I change the courses on my degree plan once it is filed?
  7. Can I change my degree status once I've been admitted?
  8. Can I change my degree status once a degree plan is filed?
  9. I do not have a BS degree in electrical engineering. Are there courses I will be required to take before I start my degree plan?
  10. Can leveling courses to be included in the degree plan?
  11. Who should be on my degree plan committee?
  12. When should I file the degree plan?
  13. I already have a M.S./Ph.D. degree. Can I transfer some of the credits toward my current degree plan?
  14. I am currently a graduate student in another department at Texas A&M University and would like to transfer to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. What should I do?

Assistantships

  1. There are two different sessions for the summer--two 5-week terms and one 10-week term? How can I register to satisfy the full-time status for my RA/TA?
  2. How do I apply for a Teaching Assistant (TA) position?
  3. How do I apply for a Research Assistant (RA) position?
  4. I am a foreign student and English is my second language. Can I apply for a TA? What is the requirement?

Recommended Courses for Different Majors

  1. Are these recommended courses mandatory?
  2. I am working on a research topic that requires interdisciplinary expertise. Can I mix the recommended courses together to satisfy my need?

Probation

  1. What are the criteria for probation?
  2. What happens after one semester on probation if my GPR is not back up to 3.0?
  3. What if the GPR requirement is satisfied after one semester, but falls again below 3.0 in another semester?
  4. I understand that an I (incomplete) is changed into an F after one semester if nothing is done. How do they count the summer as one semester or two semesters?
  5. I took a course in which I got an I for incomplete. After one semester, it bececame an F. Now I am on probation. What can I do to change the F back to a better grade?
  6. Does I (incomplete) in 691 (research) or 684 (professional internship) become an F after one semester?
  7. Does an I (incomplete) of 685 (directed studies) become an F after one semester?

Distance Learning

  1. Which degree is offered online?
  2. How do I apply for the distance learning program?
  3. When is the deadline to apply?
  4. What is the cost of the program?
  5. Is financial aid available?
  6. As a veteran or active duty military member, how do I get information on benefits?
  7. Are there any on-campus class meetings?
  8. What technology would I need to complete this program?
  9. Which courses are offered online?
  10. Will my diploma show that I completed an online degree program?
  11. Will I qualify for an Aggie Ring?

Degree Plans - Answers

  1. What are the requirements for a Masters or a Ph.D.?

  2. What is the difference between the M.S. non-thesis and M.S. with thesis?

    • M.S. non-thesis option requiring 30 hours of graduate credit
    • M.S. with thesis option requiring 32 hours of graduate credit

    Accordingly, the M.S. with thesis degree is more research oriented and M.S. non-thesis is more course oriented.

  3. What is the difference between Master of Science (M.S.) earned online (at a distance) vs. on campus?

    • Whether taking classes on campus or through distance learning, the standards for admission, coursework and graduation are all the same. The diploma for both the on-campus and distance learning degrees are also the same.

  4. What is the difference between the Ph.D. and D.Eng. degree?

    • The Ph.D. requires a total of 96 hours. The degree is obtained by completing 64 hours beyond the M.S. hours requirement. The Ph.D. also requires a written and oral exam, plus a final exam on the dissertation.
    • A D.Eng. degree requires a minimum of 96 hours. Candidates are required to take exams, complete an internship and file a record of study.

    Accordingly, the Ph.D. degree is research oriented. The D.Eng. degree is a practice-oriented management program administered by the Academic Dean's Office in the College of Engineering.

  5. I have taken a graduate level course in which I got a C. This course is already present on my degree plan. Can I keep the course on the degree plan?

    Yes. The requirement for graduate students is to maintain a GPA of 3.0 on the degree plan.

    The intent of the degree plan is to identify the appropriate course of study for your chosen degree as determined by your advisor. Once the courses have been chosen and placed on an approved degree plan, it is the student's responsibility to maintain a 3.0.

  6. Can I change the courses on my degree plan once it is filed?

    Yes, the student can change the courses by filing a Petition. The Petition must be signed by ALL committee members, the Director of Graduate Programs, and finally, the Graduate and Professional School. 

  7. Can I change my degree status once I've been admitted?

    Yes, once admitted to graduate school, a student may file a Petition to change a degree status. The Petition must be approved by the Director of Graduate Programs and then the Graduate and Professional School.

    International students must check with the International Student Services Office to maintain legal status.

  8. Can I change my degree status once a degree plan is filed?

    Yes, the student must file a Petition. The Petition will include any changes needed to the degree plan. The Petition must be approved by ALL committee members, the Director of Graduate Programs, and finally the Graduate and Professional School.

  9. I do not have a BS degree in electrical engineering. Are there courses I will be required to take before I start my degree plan?

    The student is required to complete leveling courses that are the basic requirements for an undergraduate. Once the leveling courses are completed, the student will have a basic background to begin graduate courses.

  10. Can leveling courses be included in the degree plan?

    No.

  11. Who should be on my degree plan committee?

    M.S non-thesis degree committee:

    • Director of the electrical and computer engineering graduate program

    M.S. with thesis and Ph.D. degree committee:

    • Advisor as chairman
    • A professor from the student's area of study
    • A professor from ECEN, but outside student's area of study
    • A professor from outside ECEN, but within Texas A&M
  12. When should I file the degree plan?

    For all M.S. students, file at the beginning of the second semester, summer semester excluded. For Ph.D. students, file after passing the qualifying exam in January or June, end of the first year.

  13. I already have a M.S./Ph.D. degree. Can I transfer some of the credits toward my current degree plan?

    The courses that have been used towards a previous M.S./Ph.D. cannot be transferred. You may transfer courses that didn’t apply to the previous degree (extra courses) up to 6 credit hours. This transfer must be approved by the student's degree plan advisor and by the committee. An official transcript containing these courses must be on file with the Office of Admissions. List these courses, their prefix and title, on the degree plan as listed on the transcript.

  14. I am currently a graduate student in another department at Texas A&M University and would like to transfer to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. What should I do?

    You will be treated as a new applicant. The previous department will need to send the complete file they have you. A new statement of purpose and resume will be required. Once this is received you will be entered into our graduate application database. Your application will be reviewed, and a decision will be made. If accepted, you will be required to file a Petition (Office of Graduate Studies website) with the change of departments and signed by each department. The petition will need to filed with the Office of Graduate Studies, to change your degree status.

Assistantships - Answers

  1. There are two different sessions for the summer--two 5-week terms and one 10-week term. How can I register to satisfy the full-time status for my RA/TA?

    To be considered a full-time student for the summer, a student must register for a total of 6 credit hours in one of the two following ways:

    • 6 credit hours during the 10-week summer term OR
    • 3 credit hours during each 5-week summer term

    To hold an assistantship for the Spring and Fall semesters, the student needs to register for 9 hours in order to be considered full-time.

    No other combinations are allowed.

  2. How do I apply for a Teaching Assistant (TA) position?

    Students can submit an application for a TA position via this link. TA positions are for spring and fall only and offered on a competitive basis.

  3. How do I apply for a Research Assistant (RA) position?

    In order to apply for a RA, a student must contact the professors in their area of interest. The professors handle funding and will be able to inform students about openings for research positions.

  4. I am a foreign student and English is my second language. Can I apply for a TA? What is the requirement?

    International students whose native language is not English and who wish to apply for a TA position must achieve Level 1 Certification Advance. Level 1 Proficiency Certification is required before a graduate student is eligible to serve as a TA. It is best to meet this proficiency requirement early in a student's program. More information can be found here: https://grad.tamu.edu/academics/academic-success-resources/elp.

Recommended Courses for Different Majors - Answers

  1. Are these recommended courses mandatory?

    The recommended courses are only recommendations that suit most cases. The student's advisor really knows what is required to fulfill a student's research tasks. Students should discuss needs and expectations with their advisors and committee members. Non-thesis students may consult the faculty group leader for their area if needed.

  2. I am working on a research topic that requires interdisciplinary expertise. Can I mix the recommended courses together to satisfy my need?

    Yes, definitely. Please refer to #1 in this section and discuss with advisor and committee members.

Probation - Answers

  1. What are the criteria for probation?

    Electrical Engineering graduate students are expected to maintain a Grade Point Ratio (GPR) equal to or better than 3.0 throughout the duration of their graduate study. This requirement applies to the cumulative and degree plan GPF. It is also a prerequisite for receiving a graduate degree at Texas A&M.

    When a student's GPR (either cumulative or semester) falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation by the department and is blocked from pre-registration for the following semester. Notifications are made by letter to the student, the advisor, and other pertinent offices within the university. The student will then be allowed one semester to return the GPR back to 3.0. A student who is on probation will not be allowed to hold a teaching assistantship during the probation period. A student will be allowed to register for the following semester only after official transcripts are issued indicating that the GPR has been brought back up to 3.0.

  2. What happens after one semester on probation if my GPR is not back up to 3.0?

    If, after one semester on probation, a student's cumulative or degree plan GPR is not back up to 3.0, the student will be dismissed from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Notification will be made by letter to the student, the advisor, the Graduate and Professional School, and other pertinent offices within the university.

  3. What if the GPR requirement is satisfied after one semester but falls below 3.0 again in another semester?

    The department will dismiss the student. No more than one semester with a GPR below 3.0 is permitted throughout the duration of graduate study in the graduate program.

  4. I understand that an I (incomplete) is changed into an F after one semester if nothing is done. Does the summer count as one semester or two semesters?

    The summer semester is counted as one semester. The I will be changed to an F at the end of the Fall semester unless the professor submits a grade change request via the Howdy portal.

  5. I took a course and got an I for incomplete. After one semester, it became an F. Now I am on probation. What can I do to change the F back to a better grade?

    The student must complete the course work for which an I was received by submitting it to the professor. The professor will then submit a grade change request. This change may or may not change the student's GPR. The student will remain on probation until the registrar has changed the grade on the student's official record.

  6. Does an I (incomplete) in 691 (research) or 684 (professional internship) become an F after one semester?

    No, these courses are excluded from that rule.

  7. Does an I (incomplete) in 685 (directed studies) become an F after one semester?

    Yes, if you receive an I in 685, it will turn into an F after one semester. ECEN 685 is a letter-grade course and is not excluded from the rule.

Distance Learning - Answers

  1. Which degree is offered online?

    Degrees offered online are listed on the Online Graduate Study Programs page.

  2. How do I apply for the distance learning program?

    Visit the ECEN Graduate Admissions page for more information. At this time, the program is available to all U.S. residents; however, we expect to open the program to the international community in the near future.

  3. When is the deadline to apply?

    The application deadlines are Aug. 1 for a fall start date and Nov. 15 for a spring start date.

  4. What is the cost of the program?

    Visit the College of Engineering Distance Education site for details on Cost of Attendance.

  5. Is financial aid available?

    Texas A&M University offers many financial aid options to help you pay for college costs. For more information, visit the Scholarships & Financial Aid page.

  6. As a veteran or active duty military member, how do I get information on benefits?

    Founded in 1876 as a military academy, Texas A&M University is proud of its long standing tradition with the military. Texas A&M has served student veterans since 1919 and is a national leader in service to our students who are veterans, active duty, military dependents and survivors. Visit TAMU Veteran Services for information on benefits, assistance with admissions, and other resources for veterans and active duty military.

  7. Are there any on-campus class meetings?

    No. This program is offered completely online.

  8. What technology would I need to complete this program?

    See our Technology Requirements page for details.

  9. Which courses are offered online?

    Courses offered online may vary each term. Course offerings for the current/upcoming term may be found on our Online Master's program, Courses Offered page. We expect to continue adding new online courses each year.

  10. Will my diploma show that I completed an online degree program?

    Upon completion of all degree requirements, you will obtain a Master of Science degree from the College of Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Your diploma will not state that you took courses online, as the curriculum requirements for the distance learning program are exactly the same as the M.S. degree that on-campus students earn.

  11. Will I qualify for an Aggie Ring?

    Absolutely! ECEN graduate students meet the qualifications for an Aggie Ring, which they may order during their second year in the program. Please see the Association of Former Students for more information.