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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 3
Major Areas 3
2. ADMISSION 4
3. GENERAL ACADEMIC POLICIES 4
Cognate Course Requirement 4
Course Withdrawal 5
Dual Degree and Certificate Programs 5
English Proficiency 5
Enrollment Status 6
Grades and GPA Requirement 6
COVID Policies 6
Graduation 7
Honor Code 7
International Students 7
Petition for Waiver or Modification of Policy or Requirement 8
4. MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 8
Master’s Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework 9
Master’s Degree Plan of Study 9
Master’s Degree Thesis Option 10
Master’s Degree Timeline 11
Transfer of Credit 11
Applying to PhD Program 12
5. PhD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 12
Relevant Master’s Degree 12
Embedded Master’s Degree 12
PhD Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework 12
PhD Degree Plan of Study 13
Course Equivalency 14
Academic Probation/Dismissal 14
PhD Degree Timeline 16
Qualification Examination 18
Candidacy 20
Research Thesis Proposal 21
Dissertation Defense 22
6. INFORMATION FOR NON-DEGREE (NCFD) STUDENTS 24
7. ECE COURSE LIST 24
8. FORMS 24
9. STUDENT HANDBOOKS and INTERNET RESOURCES 25
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1. INTRODUCTION
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Program Manual provides information on the
requirements for the Master of Science (MS), Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), and Doctor
of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Program is one
of two graduate programs comprising the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Department (EECS) at the University of Michigan. Each of the two programs, Computer Science
Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering have their own areas of research and
courses. Students enrolled in Electrical and Computer Engineering are primarily interested in the
area of Electrical Engineering, Systems Science, and Computer Engineering.
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Program is part of the University of Michigan’s Horace H.
Rackham School of Graduate Studies. The Rackham Graduate School publishes the Graduate
School Academic Policies with regulations that apply to all graduate students. Electrical and
Computer Engineering students should consult both this Manual and the Rackham Academic
Policies. Please click here for Rackham Academic Policies:
https://rackham.umich.edu/academic-policies/
For the remainder of the manual, “Master’s Program/degree” refers to both the Master of Science
and Master of Science in Engineering degrees.
Major Areas
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Program offers these twelve major areas of
concentration:
Applied Electromagnetics & RF Circuits
Computer Vision
Control Systems
Embedded Systems
Integrated Circuits & VLSI
MEMS & Microsystems
Network, Communication, and Information Systems
Optics & Photonics
Power & Energy
Robotics
Signal & Image Processing and Machine Learning
Solid State & Nanotechnology
Please note: Major areas may also be called sub-plans, specializations, technical areas, or
research interest.
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2. ADMISSION
Admission to the ECE Graduate programs is through the Rackham Graduate School. Please click
here for additional information regarding applying:
http://ece.umich.edu/gradapply/
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure the ECE Graduate Program receives the
completed application form by the specified deadlines.
Students desiring admission to the Master’s and PhD Program should have earned a bachelor's
degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences. Admission to the Master’s and PhD
Program requires a completed application, transcripts of all previous academic records, three
letters of recommendation, academic statement of purpose, and personal statement. In addition,
GRE scores are required for the Master’s program from applicants who have graduated or will
graduate with an undergraduate degree from a non-US institution, GRE scores are not required
from applicants who have graduated with an undergraduate degree from a US institution. GRE
scores are no longer included in the admissions process for the PhD program.
Students who enter with an undergraduate electrical engineering degree have a choice of either
the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degrees. Students who
enter without an undergraduate electrical engineering degree receive a Master of Science degree.
PhD students admitted without a master’s degree may complete the master’s requirements as they
progress through the PhD Program.
Current UM undergraduates in EECS may be eligible for the Sequential Graduate/Undergraduate
Study (SGUS) or 3.4 programs. These programs allow students to waive some of admission
application requirements for the Master’s Program. See the ECE MS Graduate Coordinator or the
website for additional information: https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate-
programs/prospective-grad-students/graduate-school-for-u-m-ug-students/
Current UM graduate students in other programs may be eligible to earn a dual degree in ECE.
Adding an additional ECE Master’s degree requires a completed “Add a Degree” application, a
letter of recommendation from research advisor, UM transcript, and Master’s degree plan of study.
Go to the ECE Graduate Program Office or website for additional information.
3. GENERAL ACADEMIC POLICIES
Cognate Course Requirement
The Rackham Graduate School requires PhD students to complete coursework outside of their
major research/interest area. PhD students must complete at least three credits to meet this
requirement. Only letter-graded graduate-level courses may be used to meet this cognate
requirement.
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Any graduate-level course outside of the EECS department not being used as a Major Area course
meets this requirement. Non-cross-listed EECS courses may be counted as a cognate if they are
without* an M or E in the entire row for the course on the ECE Course List
(https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/course-information/graduate-course-list/). Also, cross-
listed courses within the EECS department are allowable unless they are already part of the
student's major area.
Course Withdrawal
Courses dropped after the 3rd week of the registration period will receive a “W” on transcript.
After the eighth week of a full term (fourth week of a half term), courses may be dropped or
changed to Visit/Audit status only under exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the
course instructor, advisor, and the ECE Associate Chair of Graduate Affairs.
You cannot remove courses from your transcript.
Term-specific deadline dates are posted in the ECE Graduate Program Office and website.
Dual Degree and Certificate Programs
ECE students have the ability to obtain Master’s degrees or graduate certificates in other programs
at UM. Adding a Master’s degree or graduate certificate may require additional coursework and
semesters to a student’s time at UM. In addition, there is a limit to how many courses can be
counted towards the original Master’s degree and the added Master’s degree or graduate
certificate. Adding graduate certificates can only be done if the student is currently enrolled in a
Master’s or PhD program.
Students interested in pursuing these options must contact the graduate program(s) of interest to
find out the requirements to add the degree.
English Proficiency
Based on English language proficiency test scores (such as the TOEFL), some students will be
encouraged by the Rackham Graduate School to take specific academic writing or speaking
courses offered by the English Language Institute (ELI) to support their studies. The ELI courses
are typically 1 to 3 credits, and will help students gain capability and confidence in English. These
courses will not count toward the degree or GPA.
A student's English proficiency is also evaluated as the PhD student participates in the oral
Qualifying Exams and Research Thesis Proposal presentation. If the faculty considers the student
to otherwise be qualified for the ECE PhD program, it may be recommended that the student take
English courses. Students with major deficiencies in English will be found Not Qualified for the
ECE PhD Program.
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Enrollment Status
Regarding courses:
Full-time enrollment is 8 credit hours.
For GSI/GSRA, full time enrollment is 6 credit hours. SUGS students must be enrolled in 9 credits,
even if GSI/GSRA.
ELI courses count towards enrollment status.
Visit/Audit of a class does not count towards enrollment status.
Regarding tuition:
For 1-8 credits, a student’s account is charged an amount for each credit hour.
For 9+ credits, a student’s account is charged a single amount for all credits.
Grades and GPA Requirement
All grades are on the Rackham Graduate School scale:
A+ 4.3 B+ 3.3 C+ 2.3 D+ 1.3
A 4.0 B 3.0 C 2.0 D 1.0
A- 3.7 B- 2.7 C- 1.7 D- 0.7
Course grade must be B- or better for the credit hours to be counted toward any degree
requirement.
The grade point average (GPA) must be at least 3.0, based on Rackham’s 4.0 scale. A cumulative
GPA below a 3.0 will cause the Graduate School to place a notation of “unsatisfactory academic
standing” on the student’s academic record.
A student with unsatisfactory academic standing will not be granted a degree, and may change
programs and transfer credits only with permission of the admitting program.
COVID Policies
Due to the pandemic an amended grading structure for Winter 2020, Fall 2020, and Winter 2021
has been implemented. In Winter 2020, all grades were masked, with grades of B- or above
masked to S and grades C+ and below masked to NRC (No Record COVID), unless unmasked by
student request. In Fall 2020 and Winter 2021, grades were issued, with grades C+ and below
automatically masked as NRC. Students could elect to mask grades B- or above to S within a time-
frame specified by Rackham Graduate School.
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Courses where the letter grade had been masked to an S will count towards the graded course
program requirements. As ECE has a minimum B- grade requirement for courses, any courses
masked with an S will have a sufficient letter grade to count. NRC courses will not be counted
towards degree requirements.
A student must have at least one unmasked course in order to graduate so that a GPA can be
calculated.
Graduation
Graduation for the Master’s or PhD degree is not automatic. A student who has completed the
degree requirements must submit a completed plan of study
via https://deptapps.engin.umich.edu/planstudy/student?dept=216002 as well as apply for graduation
via the Wolverine Access System.
The last day to apply for graduation for the current semester is the last day of classes (not the final
exam period).
Honor Code
All engineering programs at the University of Michigan follow the College of Engineering Honor
Code outlining certain standards of ethical conduct. The Honor Council investigates reported
violations of the Honor Code. Read more about the policy here:
http://elc.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/03/Honor-Code-Pamphlet-2018.pdf
International Students
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students
The intent of CPT is for students to engage in practical job experience that directly relates to
their academic program of study. Students must choose their internships carefully with the
understanding that any job that is NOT specifically related to the applicant’s major area of
study, will likely result in the denial of the CPT request.
Students who want to enroll in CPT should go to
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate-programs/current-grad/grad-internships/ for
the CPT instruction form and complete all necessary paperwork.
Credit for CPT (ENGR 998) may not be counted toward any ECE degree requirements.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students
OPT is defined in the Federal Regulations as temporary employment directly related to a
student's field of study. During OPT, a student remains in F-1 status. The end result of the
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OPT request process is an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by United
States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS).
Processing OPT applications typically requires 60 to 90 days.
Some STEM students may be eligible for a 17-month extension of OPT.
Reduced Course Load (RCL) for F-1 Students
International students who drop below full time status, or who need fewer than 8 credits to
complete their program requirements, may apply for RCL through the International Center.
Students who want/need an RCL can request the letter on their final plan of study.
Please note that students are eligible for RCL only if they have not yet completed their degree
requirements. Due to Federal regulations, students must apply for their degree in the
semester in which they complete their degree requirements. If a student wants to remain in
the country after completing their requirements, they must apply for OPT. For further
information: http://internationalcenter.umich.edu
Petition for Waiver or Modification of Policy or Requirement
A student may request special permission to adjust the departmental degree requirements or
guidelines for a specific reason or circumstances. It is recommended that the student seek the
advice of their academic/research advisor before submitting the petition.
A student petitioning for waiver or modification of policy or requirement must complete the Petition
Request Form. The student’s academic/research advisor must approve this request, and then it is
submitted to the ECE Graduate Academic Affairs Committee for final approval.
Link to ECE Petition form: https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate-programs/current-
grad/petition-requests/
4. MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The goals of the ECE Master’s Program are to provide students with advanced technical
knowledge to better prepare them for careers in industry and/or to provide them the technical
foundation that will enable them to better understand the current technical literature in order to
better perform research. Accomplishing these goals requires some depth of expertise in an area of
focus as well as some breadth both within ECE disciplines and beyond.
To receive a Master’s degree, a student must satisfy the ECE Graduate Program requirements
outlined below as well as the Rackham School of Graduate Studies General Master’s Degree
Requirements as stated in the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies and the College of
Engineering Regulations as specified in the College of Engineering Bulletin.
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Master’s Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework
The Master’s degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate level credit hours with the following
distribution:
● > 30 graduate level credit hours
○ > 24 credits of technical graded courses
■ > 12 credits of ECE* courses 500 level or higher
■ > 9 credits in an ECE major area
● > 6 of these credits at 500 level or higher (will count toward your 12
cr. of ECE 500 level or higher requirement)
○ Optional
■ < 6 credits of S/U graded courses
● < 3 credit of seminars/courses that are not directed study
● < 6 credits of directed study
*The Link to ECE Major Area Course List:
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/course-information/graduate-course-list/
Master's students wishing to change major areas must pass at least two courses within the major
area to which they were admitted before changing area. A change of area must be approved by
the area advisor for the proposed new major area.
All course requirements must be letter-graded (A, B, etc.) and may not be marked as
satisfactory/unsatisfactory except for the optional requirements.
Technical courses are generally courses from Engineering, Math, Statistics, Physics, and other
science disciplines. The academic advisor must approve courses from Economics, Business, etc.
Entrepreneurship courses and AERO 585 are not technical courses. Three credits of either EER
601 or 602 can be counted as technical graded courses.
AERO 585 can be counted towards ECE degree requirements once.
Courses that do not count toward Master’s degree requirements:
● Math 404, 417, 425, 448, 450 and their cross-listed courses may not be counted for any
degree requirements.
● Courses with number 990, 995 or other course with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or
“preliminary” in the title may not be counted towards Master’s degree requirements.
● Course pairs not allowed in individual areas, e.g., EECS 455/554, due to overlap in content
between the two versions.
● ENGR 998 (Curricular Practical Training) may not be counted for any degree requirements.
● ELI courses cannot count towards degree requirements.
● Courses with insufficiently advanced content and level, or which substantially duplicate in
content and level courses already completed by the student.
Master’s Degree Plan of Study
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The MS Plan of Study is a form that maps out which courses satisfy specific degree requirements.
It is required that students submit a plan of study, approved by their corresponding Academic
Advisors, at the beginning of the first term, within a month after the beginning of their first
semester. Failing to do so will risk the student’s ability to register the following semester.
It is also required that a student get pre-approval from their Academic Advisor or the Graduate
Coordinator on a revised Plan of Study each time they wish to make changes to it. Failing to do so
will risk the student’s ability to graduate with a Plan of Study that had not been pre-approved. It is
highly recommended that students meet with their academic advisors to discuss the plan at the
beginning of each term.
Link to MS Plan of Study:
https://deptapps.engin.umich.edu/planstudy/student?dept=216002
Please Note: It is the responsibility of the student to submit to the ECE Graduate Program
Coordinator an updated, approved final MS Plan of Study when applying for graduation. Failure to
submit the MS Plan of Study timely could delay graduation.
Master’s Degree Thesis Option
The option of writing a Master’s thesis is available to ECE Master’s students in good academic
standing.
A student wishing to exercise this option may initiate the process through these steps:
1. Find an EECS faculty member willing to serve as the Thesis Advisor; the Thesis Advisor is
responsible for supervising the work of the Master’s thesis project.
2. Enroll in the Master’s thesis course for one to six credits.
3. Complete the Thesis Proposal form. It’s the same form the PhD students use.
4. Arrange for a Master’s Thesis Committee to be approved by the ECE Graduate Program
Chair.
○ The Master’s Thesis Committee will consist of the Thesis Advisor, as chair, and two
additional faculty members.
○ At least two of the thesis committee members must be ECE tenure-track faculty with
more than a 0% ECE appointment.
○ The committee members will be available for consultation and will evaluate the
thesis.
The student must satisfactorily complete the Master’s thesis course (EECS 698) for a maximum of
six (6) credits. These credits may be spread over more than one term. The course may be taken
for one to six credits per term on an S/U basis.
The student must write a report that is substantially consistent with the Rackham format for theses.
Each member of the Master’s Thesis Committee must submit a written evaluation of the thesis.
Approval of the thesis by all committee members is required. In addition to the thesis, the Master’s
Thesis Committee may request an oral report.
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The student must elect the thesis option within thirteen months of first enrolling in the Master’s
program. The thesis must be completed within twelve (12) months of the initial election of the
thesis course.
Students choosing the Master’s thesis option may apply at most an additional 3 credits of
research, seminar, or directed study credits towards the ECE Master’s degree, and the required
number of credits in graded graduate technical courses is reduced from 24 to 21.
Master’s Degree Timeline
The timeline below displays a "typical" Master’s student progress in our program in 3 or 4
semesters. Students must complete all work for the Master’s degree within five years from the
date of first enrollment in the program. Those exceeding this limit must petition Rackham for a
time extension or be withdrawn from the program.
Academic Term
Coursework
Research Activities (optional)
Milestones
Year 1: Fall
8-9 credits
Search for a research advisor
>3.0 GPA
Year 1: Winter
8-10 credits
Choose research advisor for Master’s
thesis or to transition to PhD program.
>3.0 GPA
Year 1: Sp/Su
Independent study or Master’s thesis
research
Year 2: Fall
8-11 credits
Independent study or Master’s thesis
research
>3.0 GPA;
(Apply for
graduation)
Year 2: Winter
3-6 credits
Independent study or Master’s thesis
research
Complete Master’s thesis written report
>3.0 GPA;
(Apply for
graduation)
Transfer of Credit
Students who want to transfer credits must follow the Rackham Transfer of Credit guidelines:
● A student is allowed to transfer up to 6 credits from external institutions or 15 credits can be
transferred from within the University of Michigan.
● These credits must be used in whole and cannot be split (e.g., only use 2 of the 4 credits).
To transfer credits:
● Student must complete 8 credits of graded graduate courses at the University of Michigan
to transfer credits.
● Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Transfer credits must meet the following criteria:
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● Be a graduate level course
● Receive a “B” grade or higher
● Cannot have been used to satisfy degree requirements for undergraduate or graduate
degree. (In other words, they must be extra credits taken)
Link to Transfer Credit form: https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate-programs/current-
grad/transfer-credits/
Applying to PhD Program
Current MS students interested in the ECE PhD program must apply by following the Rackham
application process. Such students are strongly encouraged to get involved in research with a
faculty before applying. Current MS students who apply to the PhD program without having first
formed a research relationship with a potential PhD advisor are rarely admitted.
5. PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Relevant Master’s Degree
If a student entering the PhD Program already has a Master’s degree, it is determined at the time
of admission whether the Master’s degree coursework is sufficiently similar to the ECE Master's
degree requirements/coursework. If so, the coursework is deemed to be relevant. Master’s
degrees in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering
and Electrical Engineering: Systems are considered to be relevant.
Embedded Master’s Degree
Students who enter the PhD Program without a relevant Master’s degree are not automatically
enrolled in the ECE Master’s Program. To add the Master’s degree, students need to indicate on
their candidacy plan of study, that they would like a Masters to be added to their studies.
PhD Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework
1) Without a relevant Master’s degree, a student must complete a minimum of 36 graduate level
credit hours with the following distribution:
● > 36 graduate level credit hours
○ > 30 credits of technical graded courses
■ > 12 credits of ECE courses 500 level or higher
■ > 9 credits in an ECE major area
● > 6 of these credits at 500 level or higher (will count toward your 12
cr. of ECE 500 level or higher requirement)
○ > 3 credits of graded cognate area (may count toward your technical course
requirement)
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○ Optional
■ < 6 credits of S/U graded courses
● < 3 credit of seminars/courses that are not directed study
● < 6 credits of directed study
2) With a relevant Master’s degree, a student must complete a minimum of 18 graduate level credit
hours with the following distribution:
● > 18 graduate level credit hours taken at UM Ann Arbor
○ > 6 credits of graded technical courses
○ > 3 credits of graded cognate courses (can be satisfied with course equivalency but
will not count toward the 18 cr. requirement)
○ > 6 credits of graduate level courses approved by the research advisor (including
directed study)
Note:
● There is no additional “major area” requirement here for the extra 6 credits -- just advisor
approval.
● Technical courses are generally courses from Engineering, Math, Statistics, Physics, and
other science disciplines. The academic advisor must approve courses from Economics,
Business, etc.
● Three credits of either EER 601 or 602 can be counted as technical graded courses.
Courses that do not count toward PhD degree requirements:
● Math 404, 417, 425, 448, 450 and their cross-listed courses may not be counted for any
degree requirements.
● Courses with number 990, 995 or other course with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or
“preliminary” in the title may not be counted towards master’s degree requirements.
● Course pairs not allowed in individual areas, e.g., EECS 455/554, due to overlap in content
between the two versions.
● ENGR 998 (Curricular Practical Training) may not be counted for any degree requirements.
● ELI courses cannot count towards degree requirements.
● Courses with insufficiently advanced content and level, or which substantially duplicate in
content and level courses already completed by the student.
Link to ECE MS Major Area Course List:
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/course-information/graduate-course-list/
PhD Degree Plan of Study
Students develop a PhD Plan of Study in conjunction with their academic or research advisor(s).
The plan of study can be changed as the student progresses through the program. The PhD Plan
of Study must satisfy the following requirements and be approved by the student’s research
advisor(s).
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The PhD Plan of Study must satisfy all Rackham coursework requirements (including GPA,
residency, and cognate requirements). For further information:
https://rackham.umich.edu/academic-policies/section4/
Link to PhD Plan of Study:
https://deptapps.engin.umich.edu/planstudy/student?dept=216002
Course Equivalency
If a student has taken a course elsewhere that is “substantially equivalent” to an EECS course, it
may not be necessary to retake the course. The student should consult with their academic and/or
research advisor at the earliest opportunity to determine whether or not equivalency is appropriate.
Students entering with a Master’s degree must submit a Course Equivalency Form as part of the
planning and advising process at the beginning of their first term in the graduate program.
For course equivalency approval, additional supporting documentation is required such as
syllabus, course description, homework, etc.
Link to Course Equivalency Request form:
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/ECE-Equivalency-Request.pdf
Academic Probation/Dismissal
Continued enrollment and guaranteed financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic
and research progress by the student.
Student evaluations are conducted annually via a Progress Report at the end of the winter term.
Evaluations can also be initiated by the student’s advisor at any time. Submission of the Progress
Report during an evaluation is mandatory. The student and their research advisor will both
complete and sign the Progress Report.
This report will identify one of three possible outcomes:
● Satisfactory
● Concerns
● Unsatisfactory
Failure to submit the Progress Report may lead to a rating of ‘Unsatisfactory’. When a student’s
progress is deemed to be ‘Concerns’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’, another Progress Report will have to be
submitted after an interval determined by the Graduate Chair of no less than two months. If
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progress is still deemed to be insufficient, the student advisor or Graduate Chair may recommend
that the student be placed on Academic Probation.
A student who voluntarily chooses to leave their advisor but has not acquired a new advisor, or a
student who has not met a Program-mandated deadline to find an advisor, can be recommended
for Academic Probation at the discretion of the Graduate Chair.
An Academic Probation Committee consisting of three faculty members will then be formed by the
Graduate Chair. This committee will determine by majority vote whether the student is to be placed
on Academic Probation. The Graduate Chair will notify the student and Rackham in writing before
the probationary period begins, explaining the reasons and conditions of probation; the start and
end dates of the probationary period; funding support; conditions, if any, for returning to
satisfactory standing; and options for appeal.
The probationary period may be no shorter than two months. For a student placed on probation
within two months of the end of the fall term, the probationary period will extend into the winter
term for a total of at least two months. For a student placed on probation within two months of the
end of the winter term, the probationary period may include the spring or summer half-terms or the
following fall term, for a total of at least two months. A student may be placed on probation starting
in the spring or summer half term for a minimum of two months, and does not need to be enrolled
during these half terms. A student with guaranteed financial support will continue to be funded
while on probation.
A student who has been placed on probation may request a leave of absence from Rackham or
withdraw. The leave or withdrawal will stop the clock on the probationary period, which resumes
when the student returns to active status or is reinstated. Probation will remain in effect until the
conditions are remedied or the student is dismissed.
At the end of the probationary period, and upon the recommendation of the Graduate Chair and
the consent of the Graduate School, a student may either be returned to good academic standing
or dismissed from the program. Dismissal will occur by a majority decision of the Academic
Probation Committee. The Graduate Chair will notify the student and Rackham in writing of the
dismissal decision. A student with guaranteed financial support will continue to be funded until the
end of the term in which Dismissal occurs, and will have at least one month of funding after
Dismissal.
Students may appeal the Academic Probation or Dismissal decision. In this case, the Graduate
Chair will form a new committee with three faculty members, none of which are members of the
original Academic Probation Committee. This committee will either confirm or overturn the
Dismissal decision by a majority vote. Students may use the Graduate School’s Academic Dispute
Resolution process only for procedural issues of fair and equal treatment under the policy of the
program, and not to appeal the academic reasons for the decision.
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Students who fail to meet standards of academic or professional integrity or who have been found
responsible for violations of other University standards of conduct may be dismissed in accordance
with separate procedures described in Rackham Academic and Professional Integrity Policy:
https://rackham.umich.edu/academic-policies/section8/
PhD Degree Deadlines
Number of full semesters (Fall & Winter) after entry by which milestone should be completed
Milestone
Enter without relevant
Master’s
Enter with relevant
Master’s
Master's degree coursework
4
N/A
PhD degree coursework
6
3
Qualification Exam
4
3
Candidacy
4
3
Thesis Proposal
6
5
Thesis Defense
9 - 12
7 - 10
A student may be given 4 additional months/1 term to complete each milestone with
approval from their Research Advisor and the Graduate Program Chair.
Students must complete any remaining credits after achieving Candidacy and prior to
giving their Thesis Proposal.
PhD Degree Timeline
Below is the typical timeline for the PhD student. The PhD is unique to each student due to
the nature of research and is subject to greater flexibility in timing.
Nevertheless, the ECE Program expects the majority of students to complete the PhD
degree in no more than five years. Students who take longer than five years (4 years with
a relevant Master’s) to complete the PhD degree may lose financial support.
The Rackham Graduate School allows up to 7 years from the first term of enrollment.
Students who do not complete the PhD degree in 7 years must submit a petition to
Rackham requesting an extension.
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Academic Term
Coursework
Research Activities
Milestones
Year 1: Fall
2-3 courses
Departmental and area
research seminars,
Faculty/student research
meetings
>3.0 GPA
Year 1: Winter
2-4 courses
Departmental and area
research seminars,
Faculty/student research
meetings
>3.0 GPA
Year 1: Sp/Su
Identify a topic for
Qual research project,
begin preliminary
readings and a
preliminary problem
statement
Year 2: Fall
2-3 courses
Directed research,
prepare for Qual
Exam
Faculty/student research
meetings in area of
interest, directed
research with research
advisor
>3.0 GPA, refine the
problem statement and
begin research,
prepare for Qual Exam
Year 2: Winter
2-3 courses +
directed research,
take Qual Exam
>3.0 GPA, *Expected*
to take the qualifying
exam in January (1
st
attempt). Achieve
Candidacy at the end
of Winter term,
complete master’s
degree requirements
and apply for master’s
degree
Year 2: Sp/Su
Final attempt to retake
the Qual Exam in May.
Continue/begin
research for Thesis
Proposal
Year 3: Fall
EECS 995 +
1 course (max), if
already a candidate
Research with research
advisor, faculty/student
research meetings in
other areas of interest
Problem formulation,
preliminary readings
and derivations for
PhD Thesis Proposal
Year 3: Winter
EECS 995 +
1 course (max)
Research with research
advisor, faculty/student
research meetings in
other areas of interest
Problem statement,
refinement, form
dissertation committee
and present a Thesis
Proposal
Year 3: Sp/Su
PhD research
Year 4: Fall
EECS 995 +
1 course (max)
PhD research
Update dissertation
committee on research
progress (at least once
during the academic
year)
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Year 4: Winter
EECS 995 +
1 course (max)
PhD research
Update dissertation
committee on research
progress (at least once
during the academic
year)
Year 4: Sp/Su
PhD research
Year 5: Fall
EECS 995 +
1 course (max)
PhD research
Update dissertation
committee on research
progress (at least once
during the academic
year)
Year 5: Winter
EECS 995 +
1 course (max)
PhD research
Final defense of
dissertation before
dissertation committee,
complete any
dissertation revisions,
graduate with PhD
Qualification Examination
In addition to course/credit requirements, must pass the PhD Qualification Exam.
Goals of Qualification Exam process:
● Encourage students to engage in research in their first 16 months of graduate study, while
working on degree coursework requirements, e.g., reading literature, learning experimental
methods and/or analysis methods, learning to identify important problems and develop
solutions independently, presenting ideas orally and in writing.
● Promote dialog between students and multiple faculty members about their research well in
advance of preparing a thesis proposal.
● Prepare students to answer questions about assumptions, methods, problem importance,
related literature, etc.
● Assess students’ fundamental technical knowledge from coursework, including their ability
to synthesize material across course topics and to apply it to their research.
● Maintain consistent standards within ECE about qualification for candidacy.
Qualification Exams are offered during a two-three week period near the beginning of the Fall
(September), Winter (January) and Spring/Summer (May) terms. The student must submit a
Qualifying Exam Application and a written report of the Research-Oriented Directed Study.
Research-Oriented Directed Study
In advance of the exam, the student will submit to the ECE PhD coordinator a written report based
on their directed study (EECS 599 or 699). The report should be equivalent in content and quality
to at least a four-page conference publication plus sufficient background material to convey the big
picture to an examiner outside the immediate area of the student.
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Scheduling & Content
The PhD qualifying exam will consist of separate 60-90 minute exams with each individual
examiner. Students should be prepared for the following components of the exam:
● A prepared presentation (using slides, typically) of the directed study that would last 15-20
minutes (if uninterrupted) typically including an overview accessible to non-specialists,
methods, preliminary results, and possible future plans. During and after this presentation
the examiner may ask questions related to the research and its foundations. Students
should also be prepared to explain their directed research.
● Oral questions emphasizing coursework-related material in four relevant ECE courses as
indicated on the student’s Qualifying Exam Application. The student’s research advisor
must approve the four courses.
Examiners
The Graduate Program Chair will select four faculty members to examine each student. The
student’s research advisor and co-advisor(s) are ineligible. Typically the Graduate Program Chair
will select at least one examiner who is not in the student’s immediate area of research focus.
Timing
The timing of the exam depends on the student’s status prior to starting as a PhD pre-candidate at
UM, as shown in the following table that lists months from the time of first enrollment as a pre-
candidate in the ECE doctoral program. Students are strongly encouraged to take the
Qualification Exam at the earliest possible date, in consultation with their research advisor, so that
they are more likely to have a second try if needed. A second chance is not guaranteed.
Suggested Last chance
BS (or non-relevant Master’s) 17 months (Jan. Quals) 21 months (May Quals)
Relevant Master’s 13 months (Sept. Quals) 17 months (Jan. Quals)
Decision
A qualifying decision meeting comprised of all ECE faculty members will be held. A decision on the
qualification status of each student under consideration will be made by majority vote of the
convened faculty based on the examining committee’s evaluations and recommendations, the
student’s performance in coursework and the research (co-) advisor’s written and verbal input.
Abstention votes will not be considered when tallying votes, as if the voter were absent. Faculty
with >0% ECE affiliation are eligible to vote. Other faculty who are (co-) advisors of students
taking quals may attend and give written and verbal input.
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Possible decisions are:
● Qualified for the Doctoral Program.
○ Students with minor deficiencies in English proficiency may be required to
satisfactorily complete certain English language courses.
● Not qualified for the Doctoral Program but allowed to retake the qualifying examination.
○ This will not apply to students who take Quals at the last chance in the Table above
or who have already taken Quals twice.
● Not qualified for the Doctoral Program.
Candidacy
Completing the coursework required for Candidacy status takes place parallel to the Research-
Oriented Directed Study. Rackham expects students to achieve candidacy no later than three
calendar years after their first enrollment in their doctoral program. A student who does not
achieve candidacy within three years will be placed on Academic Probation, unless the ECE
Graduate Program petitions Rackham to request additional time because of extenuating
circumstances.
Requirements
1) Satisfy the following coursework requirements:
a) For students entering with a BS degree: have completed the “Master's Degree
Coursework Requirements” given above (30 credits).
b) For students entering with a relevant Master’s degree: have completed the 18 residency
credits required by Rackham. These credits can include S/U graded courses such as
EECS 599. Through a combination of letter graded and S/U graded courses, a student
with a relevant Master’s should be able to satisfy the coursework requirements for
candidacy in two semesters.
c) Be in satisfactory academic standing.
2) Pass the ECE Qualifying exam.
3) Satisfy all Rackham candidacy requirements (including GPA, residency, etc.). Click here for
further details:
https://rackham.umich.edu/academic-policies/section4/
4) Candidacy is not automatic; once all ECE and Rackham requirements are met, a student must
apply for candidacy by submitting the appropriate forms, including a PhD Plan of Study approved
by the student’s PhD advisor(s).
5) Complete the College of Engineering’s Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship
program. This program consists of 4 distinct workshops, all 4 workshops must be completed. For
further information and to register for workshops: http://rcrs.engin.umich.edu
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For satisfactory progress, a student must meet the candidacy coursework requirements by the end
of their 4th semester as a pre-candidate, and pass the qualifying exam by the end of their 21st
month (typically in May of their second academic year) as a pre-candidate.
Link to PhD Plan of Study: https://deptapps.engin.umich.edu/planstudy/student?dept=216002
Course Enrollment
Once a student has attained Candidacy status, they will enroll in 8 credits of EECS 995 each term.
Tuition reduces to the Candidacy rate.
In addition to EECS 995, candidates may elect one course per term without paying tuition beyond
candidacy tuition. This course may be taken for credit or as a visit (audit). A student who does not
elect a course during a term of EECS 995 enrollment may elect two courses in the next term of
EECS 995 enrollment; no more than one course may be deferred in this manner (an additional
course may not be taken in anticipation of taking none in a future term of EECS 995 enrollment).
Candidates who choose to take more courses than those for which they are eligible with candidacy
tuition will be assessed additional tuition per credit hour.
It is the student's responsibility to cover the tuition costs for any courses taken in addition to the
free course described above, even if the student is being funded through a fellowship, GSI or
GSRA position.
Research Thesis Proposal
After passing the Qualifying Exam, a student continues to work with their Research Advisor(s) who
become(s) the Dissertation Committee Chair(s). The student will write a concise Research Thesis
Proposal and give a formal oral presentation of the work to the Dissertation Committee. The
primary role of the Dissertation Chair(s) is to guide the student toward completion of the PhD and
assist the student with forming their Dissertation Committee.
When the student is ready to complete the Research Thesis Proposal, the student must complete
the following:
1. Submit the Research Thesis Proposal Form to the ECE Graduate Program Coordinator.
2. Submit a final plan of study to the ECE Graduate Program Coordinator.
3. Schedule an oral presentation with the Dissertation Committee.
4. Submit the written thesis proposal to the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks in
advance of the oral presentation.
Link to Thesis Proposal/Dissertation Committee form: https://ece.engin.umich.edu/wp-
content/uploads/sites/4/2019/09/ECE-Thesis-Proposal.pdf
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During the Thesis Proposal presentation, the student should:
1. Precisely identify and describe the area of research.
2. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the area, including mastery of the literature on
the subject area.
3. Give a general description of the research problem to be addressed.
4. Provide an outline of the methodology to be utilized.
During and after the Thesis Proposal presentation, the Dissertation Committee will explore the
proposed research with the student in order to provide guidance and make an evaluation of its
suitability. The committee will determine if the student has or does not have an acceptable
proposal.
Failure to have an acceptable proposal requires revising the proposal and scheduling another
formal oral presentation to the committee. If the proposal is not acceptable, the student has twelve
months to prepare and present a satisfactory proposal.
Students entering the PhD Program without a relevant Master’s degree must write and orally
present the Research Thesis Proposal within 36 months of entry. Students entering with a
relevant Master’s degree must present within 30 months.
Dissertation Defense
In collaboration with the Dissertation Chair(s), the student forms a Dissertation Committee
following specific guidelines regarding the composition of the Committee. An ECE PhD student’s
dissertation committee first must satisfy Rackham’s Guidelines for Dissertation Committees:
http://www.rackham.umich.edu/current-students/dissertation/committees
Dissertation Committee formation rules
The following rules apply to students in the ECE PhD program:
1. The committee must consist of four or more members; at least two of the members
must be affiliated with the ECE program.
2. The Research Advisor (or Co-Advisors) will serve as Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the
committee. The Chair, or at least one of the Co-Chairs, must be affiliated with the
EECS Department. Affiliation means 0% or more appointment in EECS.
3. One of the Committee members must be designated as "cognate member." Cognate
members must be a tenured-track faculty in a Rackham graduate program.
a. Faculty with 0% affiliation in ECE (including CSE faculty without an ECE affiliation)
may serve as cognates for ECE thesis committees.
b. Faculty having more than 0% ECE affiliation (including CSE faculty with more than
0% ECE affiliation) may not serve as cognates for ECE thesis committees.
4. The ECE Graduate Program Chair must approve the thesis committee.
23
Dissertation Progress Reviews
Once the student has successfully presented the Research Thesis Proposal, the student should
meet informally (or formally at the discretion of the Dissertation Chair). The student should meet
with the Dissertation Committee at least once per year. During these meetings, the committee will
determine if the student is making satisfactory progress toward finishing the dissertation. The
committee, at the request of the Dissertation Chair, will report to the ECE Graduate Committee if
the student is not making satisfactory progress. After two consecutive unsatisfactory progress
reviews, the ECE Graduate Committee may terminate the enrollment of the student in the ECE
doctoral program.
Final Defense
Each PhD Candidate must prepare a dissertation, giving evidence of their ability to conduct
original, advanced research and to present the results of that research in well-written form. The
student must also defend their work orally in an open examination called the Final Defense.
A final and complete copy of the written dissertation must be given to each member of the
Dissertation Committee at least 17 business days before the scheduled date of the Final Defense
to allow sufficient time for a written evaluation. The Final Defense will only be held if the
committee deems the dissertation acceptable. Once all members of the Dissertation Committee
find the dissertation acceptable, the Final Defense is held.
Course Enrollment
The student must be enrolled in 8 hours of EECS 995 the term of the Final Defense. The student
must defend and complete all Rackham degree requirements before the final doctoral degree
deadline for the term.
Timing/Grace Period
Rackham allows several additional weeks beyond the end of each semester for PhD students to
complete all of the doctoral degree requirements. This additional time is known as the Grace
Period. The Grace Period enables the student to complete their work without needing to register
for the new semester. However, the degree is still awarded at the end of the new semester.
Please click for further details:
http://www.rackham.umich.edu/current-students/policies/doctoral/phd-students/doctoral-degree-
deadlines
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6. INFORMATION FOR NON-DEGREE (NCFD) STUDENTS
The ECE Division will occasionally admit qualified students who are not candidates for a degree
(NCFD students) to enable them to take graduate courses. Such students typically have a full-time
job in a local industry or business in Southeastern Michigan and take relatively few courses.
NCFD status is only granted for one term at a time for up to two semesters.
A student who is interested in a graduate degree program is strongly encouraged to apply as a
regular graduate student, and not as an NCFD student. However, students can transfer these
credits once they are officially admitted into a graduate degree program.
7. ECE COURSE LIST
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/course-information/graduate-course-list/
8. FORMS
Plan of Study:
https://deptapps.engin.umich.edu/planstudy/student?dept=216002
Petition Request:
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate-programs/current-grad/petition-requests/
Course Equivalency Request:
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/ECE-Equivalency-Request.pdf
Thesis Proposal/Dissertation Committee;
https://ece.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/09/ECE-Thesis-Proposal.pdf
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9. STUDENT HANDBOOKS AND INTERNET RESOURCES
The Rackham Graduate School Student Handbook and the Engineering College Bulletin are
among the numerous UM publication available online. The Rackham Handbook gives details
about the graduate degree requirements imposed by the Graduate School, and should be
consulted by all graduate students. Some important topics include the continuous enrollment
policy and fees. All EECS course descriptions are available on the web as well.
Rackham Graduate School: http://www.rackham.umich.edu
College of Engineering: https://www.engin.umich.edu
UM Wolverine Access: https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu
UM Registrar: http://ro.umich.edu
Student Financial Services: http://www.finance.umich.edu/finops/student/
UM International Center: internationalcenter.umich.edu
ECE Division: https://ece.engin.umich.edu
EECS Department: https://eecs.engin.umich.edu
CoE Honor Code: https://bulletin.engin.umich.edu/rules/#subnav-1
Student Rights and Responsibilities:
https://oscr.umich.edu/article/statement-student-rights-and-responsibilities
Consumer Information: https://finaid.umich.edu/getting-started/consumer-information
