EECS M.S. Advising & Program of Study

Committee and Advisor

Upon entering the program, the Chair of the EECS Graduate Committee can act as the student's temporary advisor until a major advisor has been obtained. In most cases, the Chair will not assist the student with course selection; rather, he or she will direct the student to an EECS faculty member with similar research interests for advice on course selection. The student should understand that giving such advice does not mean that the faculty member has agreed to serve as the student’s major advisor. This faculty member will aid the student in course selection for no more than two semesters.

The major advisor is a faculty member in the student's field of interest who will confer with the student and plan a Program of Study no later than the end of the sixth week of the first semester after the student has completed 9 hours of formal coursework. The student is responsible for obtaining the cooperation of the major advisor, by mutual consent. The student is expected to inform the& major advisor of his or her progress on a regular basis.

The student's examining committee is chosen, in consultation with the major advisor, no later than the end of the sixth week of the first semester after the student has completed 9 hours of formal coursework. The examining committee consists of four (4) members: major advisor, who serves as chair, two (2) other EECS faculty members, all of which must be Graduate Faculty or Associate Graduate Faculty in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and one (1) external representative, who is recommended to and approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. The external representative must come from a school/department outside the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Program of Study

Immediately after (or during) the selection of the student's examining committee, the student must plan a Program of Study in consultation with the major advisor. The Program of Study is recorded on a form. After completing the form, the student must obtain the signatures of the major advisor and all examining committee members. The completed form is then submitted to the EECS Graduate Programs Office for final approval by the EECS Graduate Committee Chair.

The Program of Study must be submitted by the end of the sixth week of the first semester following the student's completion of 9 hours of formal coursework.

Changes to the Program of Study may be made by obtaining the appropriate form from the EECS website. Signatures of the major advisor and all examining committee members must be obtained. The completed form is then submitted to the EECS Graduate Programs Office for final approval by the EECS Graduate Committee Chair.

No changes in the Program of Study will be approved for the addition or deletion of a course for which a grade has already been received.

Transfer of Credit

A maximum of 8 semester hours, or the equivalent, may be transferred from an accredited university and applied toward a student’s M.S. degree providing:

• The credits are designated at the transferring institution as graduate level only.
• The credits were obtained by taking formal coursework within the past five years.
• Grades earned on all transfer credits are B or better.

Time Limit

Students must complete all degree requirements within six (6) calendar years from the date of admission to the M.S. program. This is an Ohio University requirement.