Create and Innovate New Devices with a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Purdue’s online MS Electrical and Computer Engineering degree develops global technology leaders.

School: Purdue School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Program:  Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Description: Purdue’s Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum provides the foundation to excel and lead in a global engineering environment. Our electrical and computer graduate program is consistently ranked in the top ten master’s programs in this discipline by U.S. News and World Report. This master’s program is specifically designed for working engineers and provides the foundation to excel and lead in a global technology environment. We offer both thesis and non-thesis degree options.

Where is it: West Lafayette, Indiana

Format: Online

Degree you get:  Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MSECE)

Prerequisites:  Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer engineering or equivalent; three semesters of Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra.

Size of the Program: 23 (plus additional 20 MSE students with declared concentration in ECE)

Credit hours: 30 credit hours

Thesis: Thesis and non-thesis options

How long will the program take?  2.5-3 years (approx.)

When to apply: May 1—Fall; September 15 – Spring

Tuition: $3,416 per course for residents of Indiana; $3,774 per course for non-residents

Minimum Admission Requirements:

  • BS in ECE or related discipline
  • Transcripts
    • Yes
    • Minimum GPA 3.25
  • TOEFL
    • Yes, for international students
    • Minimum Paper-Based Test (PBT) Score Required: 550
    • Minimum Internet-Based Test (IBT) Overall Score Required: 77, with minimum section requirements Reading 19, Listening 14, Speaking 18, Writing 18
  •   Essay (statement of purpose)
    • Yes
  • Resume
    • Yes
    • Minimum years experience varies
  • Letters of Reference
    • Yes, 3 letters required
  • GRE
    • Yes
    • Average score: Verbal 154, Quantitative 166, Analytical Writing 4.0

Who should take this course?

  • Working professional engineers pursuing careers in the electrical and computer engineering fields.

Claim to fame:

  • The MS ECE program features Purdue Faculty and one of the largest and most diverse 100% online course offerings available, with more than 20 different ECE courses scheduled through 2021.

With the prevalence of electronics and electronic devices in use every day—both at the consumer and the industrial level—electrical engineers are at the heart of creating and innovating for today, as well as designing for the future.

These engineers are responsible for creating new energy production and storage technologies such as batteries, new electronic devices for the home and factory, wearables, computers, communications devices, nanotechnology, robotics and much more. 

Almost every big-name company these days needs electrical engineers, because everything from cars to buildings to clothing is becoming infused with electronic sensors and devices.

To get a great career requires great education, and the Master’s of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) from Purdue can give you the knowledge you need to lead the pack and succeed in your career.

The MS ECE curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in electrical and computer engineering, with defined areas of study including:

  • Automatic controls
  • Biomedical imaging and sensing
  • Communications networks, and signal and image processing
  • Computer engineering
  • Energy sources and systems
  • Fields and optics
  • Microelectronics and nanotech
  • VLSI and circuit design

Purdue’s MS ECE degree requires 30-credit hours (10 courses), with a focus on the student’s chosen area of specialization.

Taking an Online Master’s Degree at Purdue?

Online education is the best way for engineers to pursue the degree they need to further their career with the needs of full time employment.  Purdue’s MS ECE is specifically designed for these working engineers, with flexible schedule options for lectures and other participation.

The MS ECE is administered through Purdue Engineering Online program, using the Blackboard online learning platform.  Students have the option of attending lectures through live video streaming, or accessing recorded and downloadable MP4 video files to watch lecture content at their convenience.  Course content is the same for both online and on-campus students, as well as assignments and other course work, and both types of students are held to the same rigorous standards of work.

Many students who have been out of school and working full-time have concerns over balancing schoolwork with work when deciding to pursue a Master’s degree.  Online programs offer the necessary flexibility, including for students to begin by taking a single course each semester until they find a workload that is comfortable.  Students can then choose to enroll in more than one course at a time, if their schedule permits, or remain doing single courses and still complete the degree in approximately three years.

Tuition is paid as a flat rate per course, which varies depending on whether the student is a resident of the state of Indiana.  Tuition amounts to about $34,160 for residents of Indiana, and $37,740 for non-residents for the full degree.

Tuition Rate

Fall 2017 – Summer 2018
Nonresident of Indiana

Fall 2017 – Summer 2018
Resident of Indiana

3-credit course

$3,774.00

$3,416.00

1-credit course

$1,352.00

$1,232.00

*3-credit Project course (by special arrangement only)

$5,033.00

$4,675.00

Customize Your Degree with One of Eight Specializations

The online MS ECE at Purdue offers students the flexibility to customize their degree in one of the eight topic specializations listed above.  This means that students can tailor their studies to successfully conform to their needs and career goals.

All Purdue graduate students work with a faculty graduate advisor and advisory committee to develop their individual Plan of Study (PoS) for their degree.  These faculty advisors will assist students with course selection, assignments and coursework, and will support the student throughout their education.

Core course requirements will differ depending on the specialization chosen, but there are a wide variety of courses available to students to complete their degree requirements.

Graduate Courses in Electrical & Computer Engineering

  • ECE51012 Electromechanics
  • ECE51300 Diffraction, Fourier Optics and Imaging
  • ECE53800 Digital Signal Processing I
  • ECE54400 Digital Communications          
  • ECE54700 Introduction to Computer Communication Networks
  • ECE55200 Introduction to Lasers
  • ECE58000 Optimization Methods for Systems and Control
  • ECE59500 Electromechanics
  • ECE60000 Random Variables and Signals
  • ECE60200 Lumped System Theory           
  • ECE60400 Electromagnetic Field Theory
  • ECE60600 Solid-State Devices
  • ECE60800 Computational Models and Methods
  • ECE61000 Energy Conversion
  • ECE61014 Electromagnetic and Electromechanical Component Design
  • ECE61016 Power Electronic Converters and Systems
  • ECE61700 Antennas: Design and Application
  • ECE63300 Modeling and Simulation of Power System Components
  • ECE63700 Digital Image Processing I
  • ECE64100 Digital Image Processing II
  • ECE68000 Modern Automatic Control
  • ECE69500 Electromagnetic and Electromechanical Component Design

Purdue University has sponsored this post.  All opinions are mine.  –Meghan Brown