MSEE Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering Division
MS and PhD Programs

Computer Engineering Faculty by Area
Architecture Annavaram, Murali
Dubois, Michel
Hwang, Kai
Pinkston, Timothy (Vice Dean)
Prasanna, Viktor
Networks Jain, Rahul
Krishnamachari, Bhaskar
Psounis, Konstantinos
Raghavendra, Cauligi (Vice Dean)
Silvester, John
VLSI/CAD Beerel, Peter
Breuer, Melvin
Gupta, Sandeep
Parker, Alice
Pedram, Massoud
Teaching Nazarian, Shahin
Puvvada, Gandhi
Redekopp, Mark
Ung, Monte
Research Cho, Young
Draper, Jeff
Granacki, John

Who is a Computer Engineering student?

If most of the courses you are interested in appear in this list
Computer Architecture: EE 454L - Introduction to System Design Using Microprocessors
EE 457 - Computer Systems Organization
EE 532 - Wireless Internet and Pervasive Computing
EE 557 - Computer Systems Architecture
EE 653 - Advanced Topics in Microarchitecture
EE 657 - Parallel Processing
EE 659 - Interconnection Networks
EE 677 - VLSI Architectures and Algorithms
Computer Networks: EE 450 - Introduction to Computer Networks
EE 465 - Probabilistic Methods in Comp. Systems Modeling
EE 550 - Design and Analysis of Computer Comm. Networks
EE 555 - Broadband Network Architectures
EE 579 - Wireless and Mobile Networks Design and Laboratory
EE 650 - Advanced Topics in Computer Networks
EE 652 - Wireless Sensor Networks
CAD/VLSI: EE 477L - MOS VLSI Circuit Design
EE 552 - Logic Design and Switching Theory
EE 577A - VLSI System Design I
EE 577B - VLSI System Design II
EE 581 - Mathematical Foundations for Comp. Aided Design of VLSI Circuits
EE 658 - Diagnosis and Design of Reliable Digital Systems
EE 680 - Computer Aided Design of Digital Systems I
EE 681 - Computer Aided Design of Digital Systems II

If you are enrolled in the following degree
programs with primary interest in …
Degree Primary area of interest
Architecture Networks VLSI or CAD
MSEE × × ×
MSCENG × × ×
MSEECN ×
MSEEVL ×
PhDEE × × ×
PhDCENG × × ×

Suggested priority for selecting courses
• MS students
– First priority: 400-level pre-requisites to the 500-level
courses of your interest
• Either enroll in, or pass the placement tests for
– Second priority: Core/required 500-level courses of
your area/program of interest
– Third priority: A coherent set of electives (see
“flowcharts”)
• PhD students
– Also focus on PhD Screening Exam (see advisor)

Placement tests
• Who: If you have previously taken elsewhere a
course that is nearly identical to a 400-level USC
course of your interest
• Why: If you pass the test for a 400-level course,
then you
– Do not have to enroll in that 400-level course, and
– Can enroll in any 500-level course for which this
course is a pre-requisite
• When: Typically in August and January
– This time on August 18

An overview of degree programs
MSEE A general degree which spans all areas in EE
MSEECN A version with MSEE, specialized for
Networks
MSEEVL A version of MSEE, specialized for VLSI or
CAD
MSCENG A degree for breadth across CEng and depth
in one of its areas
PhDEE A doctoral degree which spans all areas in EE
PhDCENG A doctoral degree for those desiring a
rigorous CEng program

MSEE - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be earned
on all course work.
A minimum of 27 units of course work (400 level and above).
At least 18 units in EE.
At least 18 units at the 500 level or above
At least 21 units in the School of Engineering
No more than 3 (three) 400 Level courses may be counted towards
the degree.
No more than 3 courses taken outside of the EE Department may be
counted towards the degree. (Units taken outside of Electrical
Engineering must be approved in advance and must be substantive in
content and related to the degree objective.)

MSEE - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
A MSEE w/ Thesis Option
At least 16 units, not including thesis, must be at the 500 level or
above.
At least 18 units must be completed in EE
At least 4 and not more than 8 units of research (590) and thesis
(594abz).
The minimum thesis requirement in 594a is two units; in 594b, two
units.

MSCENG - Master of Science in Computer Engineering
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be earned on all
course work.
A minimum of 27 units of course work.
A minimum of 15 units must be taken in Electrical Engineering
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT COURSES
CSCI 455 Introduction to Programming Systems Design
EE 357 Basic Organization of Computer Systems
FUNDAMENTAL COURSES
CSCI 402x Operating Systems
EE 450 Introduction to Computer Networks or EE 465 Probabilistic Methods in
Computer Systems Modeling
EE 457x Computer Systems Organization
EE 477 MOS VLSI Circuit Design
A Fundamental Course may be waived taking a Placement Exam. In case a
Placement Exam is not offered, then a fundamental course may be waived by a
designated faculty member.

MSCENG - Master of Science in Computer Engineering
CORE COURSES
EE 550 Design and Analysis of Computer Communication Networks or EE
555 Broadband Network Architectures
EE 557 Computer Systems Architecture
EE 577a VLSI System Design
ELECTIVE COURSES
Students must take at least 6 units from the following list of elective
courses (cannot overlap with core courses):
Computer Science: CSCI 545, CSCI 546, CSCI 547, CSCI 551, CSCI 555, CSCI
558L, CSCI 561, CSCI 565, CSCI 570, CSCI 584, CSCI 585, CSCI 595
Electrical Engineering: EE 532, EE 533ab, EE 536ab, EE 549, EE 550, EE 552,
EE 554, EE 555, EE 557, EE 558, EE 560, EE 577ab, EE 579, EE 630, EE 650, EE
652, EE 653, EE 657, EE 658, EE 659, EE 677, EE 680, EE 681

MSCENG - Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Thesis Option
The minimum requirement is 27 units; four of these units are to be
thesis. At least 16 units, not including thesis, must be at the 500 level or
higher, and at least 18 units must be in the major department. A total of
not less than four nor more than eight units of 590 Research and 594ab
Thesis must be included in the program. The minimum thesis requirement
in 594a is two units; in 594b, two units.

MSEECN - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
(Computer Networks)
Students are required to have a BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or
Computer Science.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be earned on all course work.
A minimum of 27 units, including:
21 units in the School of Engineering
18 units at the 500 level
15 units in Electrical Engineering (cross-listed courses are acceptable)
The following required courses: EE 549 or EE 550, EE 555 and CSCI 551.
It is expected that each student in this program will take or have taken the equivalent of the
following fundamental courses:
FUNDAMENTAL COURSES
CSCI 402x
EE 450
EE 457Lx
EE 465
Students who have previously taken equivalent courses elsewhere should obtain a waiver by
passing the placement exam at USC, as this will allow additional electives to be taken.

MSEECN - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
(Computer Networks)
REQUIRED COURSES
CSCI 551
EE 549 or EE 550
EE 555
ELECTIVE COURSES
CSCI 530, CSCI 555, CSCI 558L, CSCI 570, CSCI 694a, CSCI 694b, EE 532, EE
535, EE 554, EE 557, EE 558, EE 579, EE 590, EE 599, EE 650, EE 652, EE 659.
Any other course must be approved by a faculty advisor. Total units
required for the degree is 27.
Thesis Option
The minimum requirement is 27 units; four of these units are to be
thesis. At least 16 units, not including thesis, must be at the 500 level or
higher, and at least 18 units must be in the major department. A total of
not less than four nor more than eight units of 590 Research and 594ab
Thesis must be included in the program. The minimum thesis requirement
in 594a is two units; in 594b, two units.

MSEEVL - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
(VLSI DESIGN)
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be earned on
all course work.
Completing the normal requirements for the Master of Science in Electrical
Engineering, with the following additional required courses:
EE 536a; EE 577a; EE 577b or EE 536b; and EE 552.
If a student chooses to take EE 536b as well as EE 577b, the student may
either count EE 536b as one of the courses for Area 2 or EE 577b as one of
the courses for Area 1 or Area 3. (described below).
The student must also take two courses from one of the following areas
and one course from a second area:
Area 1: CSCI 455x, EE 560, EE 577b (see above), EE 658, EE 680 and EE 681.
Area 2: EE 448, EE 504L, EE 536b (see above), EE 537 and EE 630.
Area 3: CSCI 455x, CSCI 570, EE 557, EE 577b (see above), EE 659, EE 677.

MSEEVL - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
(VLSI DESIGN)
Thesis Option
The minimum requirement is 27 units; four of these units are to be
thesis. At least 16 units, not including thesis, must be at the 500 level or
higher, and at least 18 units must be in the major department. A total of
not less than four nor more than eight units of 590 Research and 594ab
Thesis must be included in the program. The minimum thesis requirement
in 594a is two units; in 594b, two units.

PhD Programs: PhDEE and PhDCENG
GPA requirements: For taking screening exams and graduation.
Coursework: Required units with constraints on level and nondepartmental;
also a minor is required.
PhDCENG has more specific requirements
Research: Significant body or original research, under the supervision of
an advisor and a committee. Typically published as papers and as a
Doctoral Disseration.
Exams:
Screening exams
Qualifying exam – dissertation proposal
Defense – dissertation defense
Residency requirements
…
Please see http://ee.usc.edu/academics/grad_degree_programs_phd/
and meet with your advisor.

Questions?