M.Sc. in Computer Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers a highly affordable M.Sc. in Computer Engineering that also allows the students to continue in the Ph.D. program.

UNM is a Carnegie Research 1 Institution reserved for Universities that engage in the highest levels of research activity.

Students are asked to select among:

• Computer Vision and Image Processing
• Computer Systems and Networks
• Information Systems
• Computer Architecture & VLSI Design
• Internet of Things

The master’s degree program in Computer Engineering requires 31 semester credit hours for a thesis option (Plan 1) and 31 hours for coursework only option (plan III).

MS Plan I (thesis option) requires 24 hours of coursework, 1 hour of ECE590, and 6 hours of Thesis, while Plan III (coursework only) requires 31 hours of coursework including at least 1 hour of ECE590. Both plans require at least 12 credit hours of ECE core courses, among which 9 hours are required by the emphasis area as three major core courses, and the other 3 hours are selected from another emphasis area as a minor core course. The minor core course must be selected from one of the core courses outside of the student’s major core (emphasis). The remaining courses are free electives.

Prospective Students

The Graduate Program at the UNM ECE Department is vibrant with a truly international and diverse student population. Our graduate students come from all over the world. We thank you for your interest in our graduate program and hope you will find that it is the right match for you. We look forward to welcoming you to the Graduate Program at ECE.

Nearby ECE is the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Kirtland Air Force Base, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Santa Fe Institute, Intel Corporation, and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), all of which provide research collaboration opportunities.

Albuquerque is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the US where Native American, Hispanic, and Latino and Anglo, and other cultural influences are reflected in its rich architecture, artwork, cultural centers, and cuisine. With 310 days of bright sunshine, mild summers and winters, and beautiful surroundings, Albuquerque is perfect for outdoor activities.

M.S. Degree Requirements

Thesis option (Plan I):

1. A minimum of 24 hours of coursework (not including ECE590 and thesis hours), with a mini­mum of 15 hours in ECE.
2. At least 12 credit hours must be ECE core courses of which 9 hours are required by the emphasis area as 3 major core courses. The other 3 hours can be selected from core courses of another emphasis area as a minor core course.
3. A maximum of 6 hours of 400-level ECE courses and no more than 6 hours of 400-level Non-ECE courses (400-level courses must be approved for graduate credit. ECE 495 cannot be used for graduate credit).
4. A maximum of 3 hours in “problems” courses (ECE551 or ECE651).
5. At least 50% of the required coursework must be completed after admission to the graduate program unless further limited by the graduate program.
6. One credit hour of graduate seminar (ECE 590).
7. No more than half of the minimum required coursework hours, exclusive of Thesis, may be taken with a single faculty member.
8. No more than 6 credit hours of coursework can have a grade of C (2.0), C+ (2.33), or CR (grading option selected by student). ECE 590 is excluded from this limitation.
9. The CR grading option is not allowed for ECE Core or minor courses.
10. A student’s cumulative GPA cannot be below 3.0. In addition, the GPA for courses presented in his/her program of studies cannot be below 3.0
11. Six hours of Thesis (ECE599) credit and completion and successful defense of a master’s thesis.

Non-thesis option (Plan II):

1. A minimum of 31 hours of coursework (including ECE590), with a mini­mum of 18 hours in ECE.
2. At least 12 credit hours must be ECE core courses of which 9 hours are required by the emphasis area as 3 major core courses. The other 3 hours can be selected from core courses of another emphasis area as a minor core course.
3. A maximum of 6 hours of 400-level ECE courses, and no more than 6 hours of 400-level Non-ECE courses (400-level courses must be approved for graduate credit. ECE 495 cannot be used for graduate credit).
4. A maximum of 6 hours in “problems” courses (ECE551 or ECE651).
5. At least 50% of the required coursework must be completed after admission to the graduate program unless further limited by the graduate program.
6. At least one credit hour, but not more than two credit hours, of graduate seminar (ECE 590).
7. No more than half of the minimum required coursework hours may be taken with a single faculty member.
8. No more than 6 credit hours of coursework can have a grade of C (2.0), C+ (2.33), or CR (grading option selected by student). ECE 590 is excluded from this limitation.
9. The CR grading option is not allowed for ECE Core or minor courses.
10. A student’s cumulative GPA cannot be below 3.0. In addition, the GPA for courses presented in his/her program of studies cannot be below 3.0.