Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
The Master's of Science (MS) degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) has two focus areas:
Quantum, Electronics, and Photonics (QEP)
This focus area centers on quantum, electronic, and photonic fundamentals and technologies. There is currently a strong need for more skilled workers in each of these three target areas, and the rapid pace of technological advancement in these industries necessitates further education and skill development to stay competitive. Emerging technologies such as quantum computing, semiconductor devices, and photonic integrated circuits are reshaping industries and opening new frontiers in applying physics principles to benefit humanity. The QEP thrust will provide a comprehensive understanding of quantum mechanics, the design and operation of electronic devices, and the principles of photonics—all of which are critical for the future of technology in communication, computing, energy systems, defense, and healthcare.
Signals and Computing Systems (SCS)
This focus area centers on signals and computing systems, which sits at the intersection of computing, signals and information processing, controls, networking, communications, and the hardware/software interface. This thrust has a strong dependence on optimization, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This SCS focus area interfaces with nearly all areas of technology development and is an area of ongoing growth and demand for trained engineers.
The primary objective of this master’s program is to train highly skilled electrical engineers with expertise in the fundamental and applied aspects of their area of choice. Students in this degree program will focus on gaining theoretical and experimental knowledge while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in a multidisciplinary context. Graduates will be well-prepared for careers in both academia and industry across nearly all sectors of our modern society.
Flexible Paths to a Tulane Master’s in EE
The program allows for several types of students, including:
• A 4+1 program for existing Tulane undergraduates, with no specific Tulane undergraduate major requirement.
• A standard full-time masters for students straight out of a bachelor’s program (three or four courses per semester, allowing students to complete the program in three semesters).
• A part-time masters for working professionals (one or two courses per semester).
Degree requirements are consistent across all study modes (4+1, full-time, part-time). Students who initiate their studies at Tulane as PhD students will not be eligible for the Master’s in EE program.
Graduates of this program will be prepared for leadership roles in a variety of industries including:
• Quantum computing and quantum communication companies
• Semiconductor manufacturing and R&D
• Optoelectronics and photonic systems companies
• Energy and materials-oriented industries
• Healthcare device and systems industries
• Defense and intelligence industries
• Space technology companies
• Telecommunication and networking companies
• Companies that utilize extensive data streams for optimization and decision-making
• Companies employing advanced controls systems (vehicles, aerospace, robotics, etc.)
• Research institutions and universities
• And many other fields impacted by electrical engineering
A graduating master’s student in Electrical Engineering at Tulane University will have a solid foundation of knowledge, both theoretical and applied, and skills, such as computational and lab skills, relevant to their chosen focus area in Electrical Engineering. The Tulane MS in EE provides flexibility so that students can pursue their interests within this broad field while guiding students towards two primary focus areas: Quantum, Electronics, and Photonics (QEP) and Signals and Computing Systems (SCS). Students may choose one of two paths:
1. Non-Thesis Route: This is the default route and requires the students to complete 30 credits of coursework from the approved curriculum.
2. Thesis Route: A student may opt for the thesis route if they find a faculty member who agrees to supervise their thesis. The thesis route requires the students to complete 24 credits of coursework from the approved curriculum and a 6-credit research thesis supervised by a Tulane SSE faculty member. The thesis must be based on original research and must be approved by a committee consisting of at least three members, including the research supervisor and at least one other full-time member of the SSE faculty. One member may be from another Tulane school or other appropriate outside institution. Approval of the research topic and committee from the Electrical Engineering Graduate Advisor and consent from all committee members are required before embarking on the thesis.
The approved coursework for the Tulane EE Master’s degree is from the following lists. Students must complete a degree plan listing all proposed courses, either selecting one of the below focus areas or creating a custom plan, to be reviewed and approved by the Electrical Engineering Graduate Advisor before the first day of classes at the start of their program. Students will be advised to ensure that they can complete the program in their target time period, based on the current frequency of course offerings. Italicized items are planned new courses or new graduate level cross-listings to existing courses which will be implemented in near future.
Quantum, Electronics, and Photonics (QEP) Focus Area Course List
It is recommended to take at least 4 courses from this list of core topics:
• PHYS 7170 Quantum Mechanics I OR ELEN 6XXX Engineering Quantum Mechanics
• PHYS 7130 Solid State Physics
• PHYS 6600 Nanoscience & Technology
• MPEN 6570 Semiconductor Devices
• MPEN 6560 Photonic Materials and Devices
• PHYS 6230 Quantum Information Science & Engineering
• PHYS 6310 Quantum Optics
• ELEN 6XXX Quantum Devices and Electronics
Additional courses may be selected from the following list or from the list above:
• PHYS 6650 Optics
• PHYS 6700 Electronic Properties of Materials
• BMEN 6170 Biomedical Optics
• BMEN 6840 Medical Imaging Physics
• BMEN 6970 TRIZ – Theory of Inventive Design
• MPEN 6620 MicroFab and Nanotech
• MPEN 6390 Synthesis of Nanomaterials
• PHYS 6710 Quantum Field Theory
• PHYS 7160 Atomic/Molecular Physics
• MPEN 6290 Computational Materials Science & Engineering
• PHYS 7230 Electromagnetic Theory I
• PHYS 7240 Electromagnetic Theory II
• PHYS 6170 Computational Physics and Engineering
• MPEN 6380 Materials for Energy
• CENG 6140 Electrochemistry
Signals and Computing Systems Focus Area Course List
It is recommended to take at least 2 courses from this list of core topics:
• PHYS 6180 Introduction to Feedback Control and Control Theory
• ELEN 6160 Probabilistic Systems and Signal Processing
• BMEN 6730 Biomedical Signals and Systems
• CMPS 6280 Information Theory
• CMPS 6510 Computer Organization
Additional courses may be selected from the following list or from the list above:
• PHYS 6170 Computational Physics and Engineering
• PHYS 6230 Quantum Information Science & Engineering
• MPEN 6290 Computational Materials Science & Engineering
• BMEN 6800 BME Data Science: Medical Imaging/Machine Learning
• BMEN 6840 Medical Imaging Physics
• BMEN 6970 TRIZ – Theory of Inventive Design
• CENG 6680 Data Science and Machine Learning for Scientific Research
• CMPS 6620 Artificial Intelligence
• CMPS 6720 Machine Learning
• CMPS 6740 Reinforcement Learning
• CMPS 6750 Computer Networks
• CMPS 6770 Operating Systems
• CMPS 6780 Computer Architecture
• CMPS 6790 Data Science
• CMPS 6830 Computer Vision
Computer Science Limit: To avoid direct overlap with the existing MS in Computer Science, students must take at least three non-CMPS courses (nine non-CMPS credits), not including thesis credits, as part of the EE MS degree.
Math Course Option: Students may be interested in acquiring or enhancing mathematics skills by enrolling in courses offered by the Mathematics Department. With approval of the EE MS Advisor, EE MS students may take up to 3 credits of graduate level MATH courses at Tulane, as a substitution for one of their EE MS courses.
Commercialization and Policy Course Option: With approval of the EE MS Advisor, students interested in technology entrepreneurship, commercialization, and policy may complete one of the following courses to fulfill up to 3 credits towards their EE MS degree, or another similar course:
• MGMT 6160 New Venture Planning
• MGMT 7210 Management of Technology and Innovation
• SCEN 6000 Entrepreneurship in Engineering and Bioscience
• BMEN 6080 Technology Invention & Commercialization
• ENRG 7100 Energy Markets, Institutions, and Policy
• ENRG 7120 Energy Data Analysis
• ENRG 7610 Energy Trading: Wholesale Electric Markets
Other current and future graduate-level SSE courses, including ones designated as BMEN, CENG, CHEM, CMPS, ELEN, MCEN, MPEN, NSCI, and PHYS, may be suitable electives for EE MS students, with approval from the EE MS Advisory Committee.
GPA Requirement: a GPA of 3.0 is required at graduation. Courses receiving less than B- will contribute no credit toward the Master’s degree requirements.
No undergraduate major is specified for admission. Applicants must have completed at least 24 credit hours in science and engineering (3.0 GPA or higher). Adequate background coursework in mathematics, physical science, computer science, and core aspects of electrical engineering is required. For example for students interested in the QEP focus area, courses in modern physics, optics, or electromagnetic theory are appropriate, along with at least four semesters of math and at least one undergraduate electrical engineering course (such as circuits or electronics). For the SCS focus area, courses demonstrating programming proficiency are required, in areas such as algorithms and systems, along with at least four semesters of math (discrete math preferred) and one electrical engineering course (such as digital logic or signals & systems). Provisional admission with required remedial coursework is possible. Students who have not taken the appropriate introductory coursework will be allowed to take such courses at Tulane without credit towards the graduate degree to make up for this deficiency. Applicants may also demonstrate proficiency in the introductory material by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in electrical and computer engineering. Students must submit a transcript, a personal statement (which should include a statement about which EE area they would like to focus on), at least one letter of recommendation, and proof of proficiency in English (undergraduate degree from a program in which English was the language of instruction, or TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent standardized score). Applicants should select “Quantum, Electronics, and Photonics Focus Area”, “Signals and Computing Systems Focus Area”, or “Custom Focus Area” in Slate at the time of application.
Tulane 4+1 students must have a letter of recommendation from a Tulane SSE faculty member. 4+1 students should indicate their intention to pursue the program before the end of the third year at Tulane and will complete between 6 and 12 credits of coursework towards the MS degree by the end of the fourth year. Six of these credits can count simultaneously towards the credits required for the bachelor’s degree.
Students admitted to graduate programs are admitted specifically into either the terminal MS or a PhD program. A student admitted to the EE MS program should not assume admission to a PhD program. A separate application is required for admission to any PhD program for a student to be eligible to work toward the PhD degree. If accepted, coursework from the Master’s program can be applied towards the PhD degree, subject to approval by the department overseeing the PhD.
Please use the Online Application System to apply for the program. The application deadlines are May 15th for Fall admission and October 15th for Spring admission.
