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M.Eng. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Cornell’s Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering program empowers students to tackle real-world challenges in emerging technologies like power systems, bioengineering, nanotechnology, and more. With cutting-edge research opportunities, the program prepares graduates to innovate and make a significant impact in their chosen fields.

Format

In-Person

Page Contents

Note: This page provides a general overview. For complete and accurate information, please consult the M.Eng. Student Services Coordinator. For current course offerings and information, refer to the Cornell University Registrar: Courses of Study.

Degree Requirements

  • An overall total of 30 credit hours must be earned to complete the Electrical and Computer Engineering M.Eng. degree.
  • Students must earn a letter grade of “C” or better in all courses that are being used to count towards the M.Eng. degree requirements.
    • There are no exceptions to this rule.
  • A Maximum of two credit hours of courses graded S/U may be counted towards the M.Eng. degree requirements.
    • The ECE 5010 is a required course and is graded S/U; this leaves the option to take only one additional course with the S/U grading option.
    • The course must be at the 5000+ level and must be participatory in nature.
    • Engineering students who enroll in a course that is more than one credit hour using the S/U grading option will not be allowed to use any of the additional credit hours towards the M.Eng. degree requirements.

Required Course

  • ECE 5010

    Professional Seminar for M.Eng. Students (S/U grade)

Note: Cannot be used to satisfy either of the two 5000+ level requirements.

Core Courses

Number of required courses: 4.
Total credit hours expected: 7-8 per semester; 14-16 overall.

  • Courses may ONLY be selected from the approved ECE core course list which will be updated at the start of each semester.
  • Courses must be a minimum of at least three credit hours each.
  • All courses must be at the graduate level (ECE 5000+ Level).
  • No more than one ECE outside core course may be used to satisfy core course requirements.
    • Courses may only be selected from the approved ECE outside core course list.
    • Students should enroll in the correct 5000 level version of an outside ECE core course.
      • Enrollment in an outside ECE core course at 4000 level will NOT count.

Core Course List

  • ECE 5110

    Random Signals in Communications & Signal Processing

  • ECE 5120

    Model-Based Systems Engineering

  • ECE 5240

    Robot Perception

  • ECE 5250

    Digital Signal and Statistical Inference

  • ECE 5280

    Optimal System Analysis and Design

  • ECE 5330

    Quantum Physics and Engineering

  • ECE 5360

    Semiconductor Electronic and Photonics Devices

  • ECE 5470

    Computer Vision

  • ECE 5510

    Electric Power Systems I

  • ECE 5530

    Analog Integrated Circuit Design

  • ECE 5560

    Power Electronics

  • ECE 5570

    Microwave Circuit Design

  • ECE 5660

    Computer Networks and Telecommunications

  • ECE 5690

    Radio Frequency Systems

  • ECE 5725

    Design with Embedded Operating Systems

  • ECE 5730

    Digital Systems Design Using Microcontrollers

  • ECE 5740

    Computer Architecture

  • ECE 5815

    Introduction to Nuclear Science and Engineering

  • ECE 5960

    Advanced Topics in ECE: Sensor Design

  • ECE 6210

    Theory of Linear Systems

  • ECE 6630

    Information Theory for Data Transmission, Security and Machine Learning

  • ECE 6640

    Statistical Interference and Decision

  • ECE 6680

    Bio-Inspired Coordination of Multi-Agent Systems

  • ECE 6695

    Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • ECE 6775

    High-Level Digital Design Automation

  • ECE 6810

    Introduction to Plasma Physics

  • ECE 6950

    Graduate Topics in ECE: Robots as Embodied Algorithms

  • ECE 6950

    Graduate Topics in ECE: Atomic and Quantum Optical Physics and Technology

Note: Courses offered exclusively at the Cornell Tech campus only are not available for Ithaca-based students to enroll in.

5000-5999: These courses that are intended primarily for M.Eng. students. Many of these courses meet simultaneously with undergraduate versions of the same course, and in general these courses are more applied in nature than other graduate courses.

6000-6999: These courses are intended for both M.Eng. and Ph.D. students. While these courses prepare students for research and are generally more advanced than the 5000-level courses, most M.Eng. students will have sufficient preparation to take them if they wish.

7000-7999: These courses are intended primarily for Ph.D. students. While M.Eng. students are permitted to enroll in these courses, they should consult with the instructor to ensure they have adequate preparation.

Design Project

Number of required courses: 2 – ECE 5995 (Fall), ECE 5996 (Spring).

Total credit hours expected overall to satisfy design project requirement: 3-8.

Credit hours expected to enroll in per semester: 1-4.

  • The Design Project is completed over the course of two semesters in both the fall and spring.
  • All students are required to enroll in a minimum of at least one credit hour of the Design Project in their first semester of full-time enrollment.

Design Project Required Courses

  • ECE 5995

    Master of Engineering Design Project I (Fall)

  • ECE 5996

    Master of Engineering Design Project II (Spring)

Note: Students must consult with their design project advisor on the appropriate total number of credit hours to enroll in for each semester. Design Projects must be two semesters in length.

Technical Electives

Number of suggested courses: 2-4.

Total credit hours anticipated: 6-16 overall.

Suggested credit hours to enroll in per semester: 3-8.

  • Engineering students may use the following to count towards the tech elective requirement.
    • ECE courses at the 5000+ Level.
    • Courses at the 5000+ level offered within Cornell Engineering.
    • Select courses from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management (ONLY courses from the approved tech electives list may be used).

Note: There are no minimum requirements for total number of courses or credit hours for tech electives. Students will likely need to enroll in 2-4 in order to reach the minimum requirement of 30 credit hours overall to graduate. Undergraduate courses of any kind (4000 level and below) will not count towards the M.Eng. degree requirements.

Tech Elective Course List

  • NCC 5500

    Financial Accounting (Johnson School core course)

  • NCC 5540

    Managing and Leading in Organizations (Johnson School core course)

  • NCC 5560

    Managerial Finance (Johnson School core course)

  • NBA 5070

    Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers (Johnson School business administration course)

  • NBA 5550

    Fixed Income Securities and Interest Rate Options (Johnson School business administration course)

  • NBA 5640

    The Business of Entrepreneurship (Johnson School business administration course)

  • NBA 6390

    Data Driven Marketing (Johnson School business administration course)

Note: This is not an exclusive list. It is a suggested list to give you an idea of what you may use. All courses offered by any of the graduate fields within Cornell Engineering that are 5000+ level may be used as tech electives to satisfy your M.Eng. degree requirements. This includes: Applied and Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering Communications, Engineering General Interest, Engineering Management, Information Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Operations Research and Information Engineering, Statistical Science, Systems Engineering.

Internship Participation

Students enrolled in the Electrical and Computer Engineering M.Eng. program that voluntarily extend their degree program for a third semester are considered eligible to participate in an Internship.

  • Internships are not required for the Electrical and Computer Engineering M.Eng. curriculum or degree requirements.
  • Students are responsible for finding an internship on their own.
  • Internships take place during the summer session between the second and third semesters of enrollment.
    • Participation in an internship that is longer in duration and would require a leave of absence status in the third semester is very unlikely to happen due to strict U.S. immigration policies.
    • I-20s are not allowed to be extended for an additional, or fourth semester, without a legitimate academic reason.
  • Foreign national students who participate in an internship must consult with the Office of Global Learning to confirm all details in advance.
    • Foreign national students must apply for Curricular Practical Training if they are participating in a paid internship.
  • In order to satisfy the Curricular Practical Training requirements, foreign national students must enroll for one credit hour in the ECE 5999 – M.Eng. Technical Internship course for a letter grade option in the semester directly following the internship.
    • Successful participation in this course will involve the writing and submission of an 8 – 10 page paper documenting the student’s experience in the internship.
      • The paper will be graded by the Electrical and Computer Engineering M.Eng. Director.