The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department offers the following graduate degrees:

● the Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering

● the Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering

● the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering

General Information on the M.S. Degrees

Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for the M.S. degrees. For the non-

thesis degree, students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework.

Thesis options require 30 credit hours, with six credits of ECE699 devoted to individual

study with a graduate faculty member. This work must culminate in preparing a written

thesis on a significant problem of common interest, followed by an oral defense of the

thesis. Students pursuing a thesis must also complete one credit of Responsible

Conduct of Research training. At the advisory committee’s or Graduate Coordinator’s

discretion, this credit may be substituted for one of the 6 required thesis/dissertation

credits (ECE699).

To earn a master’s degree, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all

courses taken as a graduate student. In both the non-thesis and thesis options, a

minimum of 18 credit hours must be ECE course credit hours, excluding ECE699.

 

M.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)

Admission Requirements:

To be considered for a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, students

must hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, or demonstrate its

equivalent, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). If students do not

have a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, they must complete or demonstrate the

equivalent of at least three of the following five prerequisite courses:

Electronics I (ECE 342)

Fields and Waves (ECE 351)

Feedback Control Systems (ECE 414)

Electric Power Systems (ECE 427)

Digital Signal Processing (ECE 486).

Provisional admission to the program may be granted, contingent upon the completion of

prerequisite course(s) with a grade of B or better.

 

Graduation Requirements:

All students must enroll in one credit of ECE 598 Graduate Seminar during their first

semester. This seminar course is graded on a pass/fail basis and the grade will be

assigned upon graduation. The advisory committee may allow this seminar credit to

replace one of the six required thesis/dissertation credits (ECE699).

Generally, no more than six credits of ECE400 level course work will be accepted for

graduate credits. In addition, a maximum of three credits of ECE 599 may be applied

toward the requirements for a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. ECE

699 cannot be counted as credits in non-thesis Master’s programs. Degree candidates

may also choose to take courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer

Science, and other relevant disciplines that align with their program goals.

 

M.S. Degree in Computer Engineering (MSCE)

Admission Requirements:

In order to be considered for admission to the Master of Science program in Computer

Engineering, students must have completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer

Engineering or an equivalent program, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0

scale). If students do not hold a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, they must either

complete or demonstrate the equivalent of at least three of the following five

prerequisite courses:

Introduction to Unix Systems Administration (ECE 331),

Embedded Systems (ECE 471)

Computer Architecture and Organization (ECE 473),

Digital Signal Processing (ECE 486)

Neural Networks (ECE 490).

 

Provisional admission to the program may be granted to students who have not completed the

prerequisite courses, on the condition that they achieve a grade of B or higher in those

courses.

Graduation Requirements:

All students are required to register for one credit of ECE 598 Graduate Seminar during

their first semester. The grade for this seminar course will be pass/fail and will be

assigned upon graduation. In certain cases, with the approval of the advisory

committee, this seminar credit may be substituted for one of the six required

thesis/dissertation credits (ECE 699). Typically, no more than six credits of ECE or COS

400-level coursework will be accepted for graduate credit. Additionally, a maximum of

three credits of ECE 599 courses may be applied towards the requirements for the

Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering. ECE 699 cannot be counted

towards the credits required for non-thesis Master’s programs. Degree candidates may

also choose to take courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and other relevant

disciplines that align with their program goals.

 

Ph.D. Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering

​​The PhD program requires a minimum of 42 credits beyond the requirements of the BS

EE or CE degree, successfully passing a qualifying examination, completing a

comprehensive examination, and fulfilling the research thesis requirement.

 

Admission Requirements:

To be considered for admission, students with an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering

or Computer Engineering must have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

 

Students without an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

must also meet the GPA requirement of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and meet our M.S.

admission requirements.

 

Graduation Requirements:

All graduate students are required to establish an advisory committee and submit their

program of study within the first year of their graduate program. The PhD advisory

committee must consist of five members, with at least three members being ECE

graduate faculty. ECE graduate students are required to meet with their advisory

committee at least once per year and submit a progress report (PDF) to the ECE

department by the end of each academic year.

 

Coursework:

A doctoral student must complete a minimum of 42 credits of coursework

beyond the requirements for a BS degree. It is important to note that credits earned for

a thesis or dissertation will not count towards this requirement. Out of the 42 credits,

nine must be completed in a field other than Electrical and Computer Engineering,

constituting a minor. Additionally, at least 24 credits out of the 42 must be in ECE

courses. Typically, graduate credit will not be awarded for more than six credits of ECE

400 level coursework. Students must complete at least nine credit hours of registration

in Graduate Research (ECE699). All doctoral students conducting dissertation research

using university facilities are required to register for at least one credit hour each

semester, even after meeting the minimum requirement. Students must also complete

one credit of Responsible Conduct of Research training before accumulating three

credits of ECE699. Ideally, this training should occur prior to starting research. During

their first semester, all students must register for one credit of ECE 598 Graduate

Seminar. The pass/fail grade for this seminar course will be given upon graduation. With

the advisory committee’s approval, this seminar credit may substitute one of the nine

required thesis/dissertation credits (ECE699).

 

Residency (UMaine Graduate School Requirement):

To fulfill the minimum residency requirement for the PhD program, students must enroll in a full-time program of study and/or research, totaling 6 credits per semester, for four semesters beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students who enter the doctoral program with a master’s degree must enroll in a minimum of two semesters of full-time coursework and/or research at the university. It is important to note that the summer session can count as one
semester, in satisfying the residency requirement.

 

Grade Point Average:

In order to continue their studies, students in the PhD program must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.33 (B+). This average is calculated based on all courses that fulfill the requirements of the PhD degree, including any transferred credits from a previous degree.

 

Qualifying Examination:

All PhD students must successfully pass the qualifying exam before the start of their second year. This exam is designed to demonstrate their preparedness and the necessary skills for our PhD program. It consists of a literature

review, a written report, and an oral presentation on a specified research topic, followed by questions from the examination committee.

 

Comprehensive Examination: After passing the qualifying exam and completing the majority of their PhD coursework, students must undertake the Comprehensive Examination. This examination covers graduate-level material relevant to the student’s area of specialization. As outlined by the Graduate School requirements, students are eligible to sit for this examination only after completing at least one and a half years, or its equivalent, of graduate study.

 

The format of the comprehensive examination is primarily determined by the student’s advisory committee. However, it typically includes an oral examination open to all ECE faculty members and other approved participants. Additionally, the comprehensive exam often includes a written component, which involves a research proposal outlining the student’s intended PhD research. The proposed research is reviewed by the student’s Advisory Committee prior to the oral examination, and the committee may request a formal presentation of the proposed research at the beginning of the oral examination. The date, time, and location of the comprehensive exam must be announced to the entire ECE faculty with at least five days notice.

 

Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, students achieve candidacy status. It is crucial for students to attain candidacy status within four years of their registration in order to remain enrolled in the program. All requirements for the doctoral degree must be fulfilled within four years after achieving candidacy.

 

Dissertation:

The doctoral dissertation serves as a demonstration of the candidate’s expertise in their specific research area. It must present the findings of an original investigation in the primary disciplinary field and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in that field. The work must make a significant contribution to the field, considered worthy of publication in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentation at international conferences.

 

The Final Examination:

Conducted orally, the final examination focuses on the thesis topic and the candidate’s understanding of related matters that are essential for proficiency in the primary area of study. This examination aims to showcase the

candidate’s proficiency in research techniques and their ability to organize and present material effectively. The final exam should be scheduled no earlier than the second semester after successfully completing the Comprehensive Examination.

 

Once the doctoral thesis has received approval from the candidate’s advisory committee, it is mandatory for the original copy to be submitted to the Graduate School. Subsequently, the candidate is expected to undergo a final examination conducted by an examining committee comprising at least five members, usually including the student’s advisory committee. The appointment of the examining committee is determined by the Dean of the Graduate School, based on the recommendation of the major advisor. While additional faculty members may attend and contribute to the questioning process, only the committee members have the authority to vote and determine the outcome.

 

4+1 and 4+2 Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

The department offers the opportunity for University of Maine ECE undergraduates to begin taking graduate courses during their senior year, double-counting up to 9 credits toward the BS and the MSEE or MSCE. The 4+1 is for MS with non-thesis, and the 4+2 is for MS with thesis. Details can be found at the department website:https://ece.umaine.edu/41-bsms-degree-programs/

 

Application

Applications are accepted at any time for admission in the Fall (September), or the

Spring (January) semester. The following webpage lists a few frequently asked

questions: https://ece.umaine.edu/faq-for-prospective-graduate-applicants/

 

Application materials can be obtained from the Graduate School, 5775 Stodder Hall,

Rm 42, Orono, M04469-5775, e-mail at graduate@maine.edu, or downloaded from the

web site http://www.umaine.edu/graduate/admissions/admissions

 

Additional Information

Individual faculty may be contacted via the ECE department web site at

http://ece.umaine.edu/graduate/phd-electrical-computer-engineering/

Alternatively, the Graduate Coordinator can be reached by regular mail at Department

of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, by

telephone at (207) 581-2223, or by FAX at (207) 581-4531.

 

Graduate Faculty

Ali Abedi, Ph.D. (University of Waterloo, 2004), Professor, Wireless communications, coding and information theory, sensor networks.

Prabuddha Chakraborty, Ph.D. (University of Florida, 2022), Assistant Professor, System Security, Edge Intelligence, and Internet-of-Things (IoT)

Vikas Dhiman, Ph.D. (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2019) Robotic navigation, localization and mapping, safe control, computer vision, reinforcement learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Nuri Emanetoglu, Ph.D. (Rutgers State Univ. of New Jersey, 2003), Associate Professor, Novel semiconductor materials and devices optoelectronics and photonics, piezoelectric materials, thin films, surface acoustic wave devices, sensors.

Taher Ghomian, Ph.D. (Louisiana State University. 2018) Assistant Professor. nanoscale materials; the interaction of nanomaterials with surroundings; and fabrication of high-performance sensors and energy harvesters

Giovanna Guidoboni, Ph.D. (University of Ferrara, Italy), Professor. mathematical modeling and data science applied to engineering and life sciences.

Donald M. Hummels, Ph.D. (Purdue University, 1987), Professor. Communications, signal processing and pattern recognition

Mohamad T. Musavi, Ph.D. (University of Michigan, 1983), Professor. Artificial Neural Networks, computer vision, power systems and smart grid.

Mauricio Pereira da Cunha, Ph.D. (McGill University, 1994), Professor. Microwave acoustics, signal processing, sensors and applications.

Rosemary Smith, Ph.D. (University of Utah, 1982), Professor. Microsensors, micro and nano fabrication technology, biomedical microdevices.

Reinaldo Tonkoski, Ph.D. (Concordia University, 2011) Research Professor. grid integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems

Vincent Weaver, Ph.D. (Cornell University, 2010), Associate Professor. Highperformance computing, computer architecture, operating systems, embedded programming

Yifeng Zhu, Ph.D. (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2005), Professor. Deep Learning, computer architecture and systems including parallel/distributed computing, and computer storage systems.