MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering Khalifa University

The degree of Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (M.Sc. in ECE) is awarded for successfully completing the requirements of a program of study, which includes taught courses as well as a thesis. The thesis is an independent investigation of specialized areas within the general field of electrical and computer engineering and associated disciplines. The M.Sc. in ECE gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of ECE and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through the conduct of original research.

Candidates for this degree are taught and supervised by experienced faculty and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. In addition to successfully completing the taught course component of the program, candidates prepare and present a thesis on their chosen area. Research may be undertaken on several topics corresponding to the areas of focus identified by the University.

Objectives

A student graduating with an M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering will be able to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve advanced electrical and computer engineering problems through the application of modern tools and techniques and advanced knowledge of mathematics and engineering science.
• Acquire knowledge of contemporary issues in the field of electrical and computer engineering.
• Design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze, interpret data and make decisions.
• Conduct research and document and defend the research results.
• Function on teams and communicate effectively.
• Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner.

Overall Structure and Requirements

The MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours. The required program credits are distributed as follows: 12 credits of Program Core courses (including 3 credits of engineering mathematics courses), 12 credits of Program Elective courses, and 12 credits of ECE Master’s Thesis work. A student may organize the selection of the elective courses and the master’s thesis topic to follow a specialization track within the broad field of ECE. In such cases, the track will be noted on the student’s transcript. The table below presents a summary of the MSc in ECE degree program structure and requirements. All the MSc in ECE program courses, with the exception of the Research Seminar and the Master’s Thesis, have a credit rating of three credits each.

Summary of MSc in ECE Degree Program Structure and Requirements

Category - Credits Required

• Program Core: 12
• Program Electives: 12
• ECE Master’s Thesis: 12
• Total: 36

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of MSc in ECE must successfully complete a minimum of 36 credited hours as specified in the categories detailed in this section, with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0.

Program Core

The MSc in ECE degree program core requires a minimum of 12 credits, consisting of 3 credits of engineering mathematics, 9 credits of ECE core courses, and the research seminar course which has zero credit rating. The courses for each one of the core categories are specified below.

1. Engineering Mathematics Courses (3 credits)
   • Students must select at least one course from the list below:
   • ENGR 602 Engineering Numerical Methods
   • ENGR 605 Systems Optimization
   • ENGR 606 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
2. ECE Core Courses (9 credits):
   • Students must select at least three courses from the list below:
   • ECCE 610 Digital Signal Processing
   • ECCE 620 Real-Time Embedded Systems
   • ECCE 630 Advanced Computer Networks
   • ECCE 635 Deep Learning System Design
   • ECCE 650 Linear Systems
   • ECCE 660 Power Systems Analysis
   • ECCE 661 Power Electronics
   • ECCE 671 Fabrication of Nano Devices (if the student has taken ECCE 495 Fabrication course or equivalent) else ECCE 670 Micro/Nano Processing Technologies
   • ECCE 672 Principles and Models of Semiconductor Devices
3. ENGR 695 Seminar in Research Methods (0 credits)

Program Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of electives. The list of electives that students can select from includes any core courses not used to meet the ECE Core requirement above as well as those listed below. Students can also select up to two elective courses (6 credits) from other MSc programs in the College of Engineering at KU subject to the approval of their research advisor.

• ECCE 611 Advanced Digital Signal Processing
• ECCE 612 Multimedia Processing
• ECCE 621 Digital ASIC Design
• ECCE 622 RF and Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
• ECCE 623 High-Speed Communication Circuits
• ECCE 624 Analog Integrated Circuits
• ECCE 625 Digital Integrated Circuit Design
• ECCE 627 Computer-Aided Design of Microelectronic Systems
• ECCE 628 Computer Architecture
• ECCE 631 Blockchain Fundamentals and Applications
• ECCE 632 Advanced Operating Systems
• ECCE 633 Machine Vision and Image Understanding
• ECCE 636 Human-Computer Interaction
• ECCE 637 Parallel Programming
• ECCE 640 Communication Systems Design
• ECCE 641 Wireless Communications Systems
• ECCE 642 Broadband Communication Networks
• ECCE 643 Radar Systems
• ECCE 652 Modeling and System Identification
• ECCE 653 Advanced Digital Control Systems
• ECCE 654 Adaptive Control
• ECCE 655 Artificial Intelligence for Control Engineering
• ECCE 656 Nonlinear Control
• ECCE 657 Process Instrumentation
• ECCE 658 Autonomous Robotic Systems
• ECCE 659 Modeling and Control of Robotic Systems
• ECCE 662 Electric Drives
• ECCE 663 Distribution Systems Design and Operation
• ECCE 664 Distributed Generation
• ECCE 665 Electric Power Quality
• ECCE 666 Power System Protection
• ECCE 667 High Voltage Engineering
• ECCE 668 Electric Machines
• ECCE 669 Power System Operation
• ECCE 671 Fabrication of Nano Devices
• ECCE 673 Fundamentals of Photonics
• ECCE 674 Semiconductor Optoelectronic Devices
• ECCE 675 Nanoscale Integrated Circuits Technology
• ECCE 694 Selected Topics in ECCE
• COSC 606 Machine Learning
• COSC 604 Artificial Intelligence
• CSEC 630 Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Cyber-Security
• ENGR 610 Risk, Reliability, and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems

Master's Thesis

• ECCE 699 Master's Thesis (12 credits)

A student must complete a master’s thesis that involves creative research-oriented work within the broad field of ECE, under the direct supervision of the main advisor, who must be a full-time faculty in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as co-advisor. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination. Furthermore, the research should lead to publishable quality scholarly articles.

Program Tracks

A student may select a group of elective courses to form a specialization track within the MSc in ECE program. The track will be noted on the student’s academic record (transcripts), provided that the student completes:

A minimum of 9 credits from the group of courses designated by the track.

A master's research thesis within the domain of the track.

The tracks supported by the MSc in ECE program and the required courses for each of the tracks are set out below.

Communication and Signal Processing Systems

• ECCE 611 Advanced Digital Signal Processing
• ECCE 612 Multimedia Processing
• ECCE 633 Machine Vision and Image Understanding
• ECCE 640 Communication Systems Design
• ECCE 641 Wireless Communication Systems
• ECCE 642 Broadband Communication Networks
• ECCE 645 Stochastic Processes, Detection, and Estimation

Embedded Systems

• ECCE 621 Digital ASIC Design
• ECCE 622 RF and Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
• ECCE 623 High-Speed Communication Circuits
• ECCE 624 Analog Integrated Circuits
• ECCE 625 Digital Integrated Circuit Design
• ECCE 627 Computer-Aided Design of Microelectronic Systems
• ECCE 628 Computer Architecture
• ECCE 629 Hardware Accelerators for Artificial Intelligence
• ECCE 675 Nanoscale Integrated Circuits Technology

Micro and Nano Systems

• ECCE 622 RF and Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
• ECCE 623 High-Speed Communication Circuits
• ECCE 624 Analog Integrated Circuits
• ECCE 625 Digital Integrated Circuit Design
• ECCE 670 Micro/Nano Processing Technologies
• ECCE 671 Fabrication of Nano Devices
• ECCE 672 Advanced Microelectronics Devices
• ECCE 673 Fundamentals of Photonics
• ECCE 674 Semiconductor Optoelectronic Devices
• ECCE 675 Nanoscale Integrated Circuits Technology

Computing Systems

• ECCE 628 Computer Architecture
• ECCE 632 Advanced Operating Systems
• ECCE 631 Blockchain Fundamentals and Applications
• ECCE 633 Machine Vision and Image Understanding
• ECCE 636 Human-Computer Interaction
• ECCE 637 Parallel Programming

Artificial Intelligence

• COSC 606 Machine Learning
• ECCE 658 Autonomous Robotics Systems
• COSC 604 Artificial Intelligence
• ECCE 633 Machine Vision and Image Understanding
• ECCE 655 Artificial Intelligence for Control Engineering
• CSEC 630 Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Cyber-Security

Robotics, Controls, and Autonomous Systems

• ECCE 633 Machine Vision and Image Understanding
• ECCE 653 Advanced Digital Control Systems
• ECCE 654 Adaptive Control
• ECCE 655 Artificial Intelligence for Control Engineering
• ECCE 656 Nonlinear Control
• ECCE 657 Process Instrumentation
• ECCE 658 Autonomous Robotic Systems
• ECCE 659 Modeling and Control of Robotic Systems

Electrical Power Engineering

• ECCE 662 Electric Drives
• ECCE 663 Distribution Systems Design and Operation
• ECCE 664 Distributed Generation
• ECCE 665 Electric Power Quality
• ECCE 666 Power System Protection
• ECCE 667 High Voltage Engineering
• ECCE 668 Advanced Electric Machines
• ECCE 669 Power System Operation

A student graduating with an MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering will be able to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve advanced electrical and computer engineering problems through the application of modern tools and techniques and advanced knowledge of mathematics and engineering science.
• Acquire knowledge of contemporary issues in the field of electrical and computer engineering.
• Design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze, interpret data and make decisions.
• Conduct research and document and defend the research results.
• Function on teams and communicate effectively.
• Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner.

A master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Khalifa University helps open many career opportunities for future success. The field of electrical and computer engineering is broad, therefore, graduates should have plenty of career opportunities to choose from both locally and internationally. The wide range of industries that utilize electrical and computer engineers include artificial intelligence and computing systems, information and communication technology, renewable and conventional energy, oil and gas, healthcare, cyber security, banking/finance, robotics and autonomous systems, aerospace, nuclear, and transportation. The MSc in ECE program at Khalifa University offers students an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary education, which will help them fulfill the requirement of these career paths. Graduates also go through rigorous training and research experience to enable them to pursue their studies at Ph.D. level.