Master of Science

• Completing nine additional units from any area list other than the chosen depth area

• All breadth units must be letter graded and at the 200-level or above

• If a course is listed in the chosen depth area, it cannot be used to count in the breadth area

Completion of 15 units of courses in engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or statistics

• At least nine of the 15 units must be lecture courses at the 200-level or above

• EE courses must be 200-level or above

• A maximum of six units can be graduate-level independent study and/or 100-level courses; all units must be letter-graded

• All technical units must be letter-graded

• Independent study units may not be taken in place of the nine units of 200-level or above letter-graded lecture courses.

• Mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering courses are acceptable, provided they use quantitative or scientific methods to analyze, design, or optimize artificial or natural systems. Courses primarily addressing entrepreneurship, management, economics, collaboration, design philosophy, language, or public speaking are typically unacceptable. Consult with your advisor or the Degree Progress Officer before selecting courses in Economics, GSB, d.school, MS&E, Psychology, or other departments offering semi-technical or non-technical courses.

Completion of at least nine additional units. These units must be at the 100-level or above and letter-graded or CR/NC in EE or other departments relevant to the EE MS degree and at the graduate level.

Suggested courses include:

•      Depth/breadth courses
•      Additional technical courses
•      Independent study (e.g., EE 390, EE 391)
•      Curricular Practical Training (e.g., EE 290A)
•      Seminars
•      Entrepreneurial or design courses

Please note: Athletics courses do not count toward the 45 units. EFSLANG (English for Foreign Students) courses do not count toward the 45 units. If the university requires you to take any of these classes, they are additional units above the required 45 units.

All units must be at the 100 level or higher. No courses numbered below the 100 level can count toward a graduate degree. Note: Athletics courses do not count toward the 45 units. EFSLANG (English for Foreign Students) courses do not count toward the 45 units. If the university requires you to take any of these classes, they are additional units above the required 45 units.

All units must be at the 100 level or higher. No courses numbered below the 100 level can count toward a graduate degree.

A graduate student enrolled in 8-10 units who wishes to pursue the MS in Electrical Engineering (EE) with distinction in research must first identify a faculty advisor who agrees to supervise and support the research work. The research advisor must be a member of the Academic Council and must hold an appointment in Electrical Engineering. The student and principal advisor must also identify another faculty member who need not be in the Department of Electrical Engineering to serve as a secondary advisor and reader for the research report. In addition, the student must complete the following requirements beyond those for the regular MS in EE degree:

1. Research Experience – The program must include significant research experience at the level of a half-time commitment over the three academic quarters. In any given quarter, the half-time research commitment may be satisfied by:

   a. 50 percent appointment to a departmentally supported research assistantship

   b. Six (6) units of independent study (EE 300 or EE 391)

   c. A prorated combination of the two (such as a 25 percent research assistantship supplemented by three (3) units of independent

   study)

   d. An equivalent research experience while fully supported on a Stanford-funded or externally funded fellowship. Students and research advisors must document the planned research experience before the quarter starts and its completion at the end. Note: Fellowship must provide full support at the 10-unit tuition level and allow the student to pursue degree-related research in addition to their full-time course enrollment. This research must be carried out under the direction of the primary or secondary advisor.

2. Supervised Writing and Research – In addition to the research experience outlined in the previous requirement, students must enroll in at least three (3) units of independent research (EE 300 or EE 391) under the direction of their primary or secondary advisor. These units should be closely related to the research described in the first requirement but focused more on preparing the research report described in the next section. The writing and research units described in parts (1) and (2) may be counted toward the 45 units required for the degree.

3. All independent study units (EE 300 or EE 391) must be taken for letter grades, and a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained.

4. Research Report – Students must complete a significant report describing their research and its conclusions. The research report represents work publishable in a journal or at a high-quality conference, although it is presumably longer and more expansive in scope than a typical conference paper. A copy of the research report must be submitted to the student services office in the department three weeks before the beginning of the examination period in the student’s final quarter. The primary and secondary advisors must approve the research report before the distinction-in-research designation can be conferred.

The Joint MS in Electrical Engineering /MBA Degree Program (EE/MBA) opens in a new tab enables students to pursue simultaneously a Master of Business Administration at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the Stanford School of Engineering. Joint MS/MBA degree students will be interested in technology and leadership and want to become managers or entrepreneurs in technologically-inclined businesses. The Joint MS/MBA Degree Program requires an application opens in a new tab to, and acceptance for admission by, the Electrical Engineering Department (EE) and the GSB. MS/MBA students typically apply to and gain approval for admission to both programs within the same year. However, it is possible for current EE (or MBA) students who previously did not apply for the joint degree option to apply for and pursue the Joint MS/MBA Degree Program. EE students in the second year and MBA students in the second year may not apply for the Joint MS/MBA Degree Program.

Additional information on the MS in Electrical Engineering/MBA Joint Degree Program and its requirements is available on the Electrical Engineering Department’s website. opens in a new tab