The University of Texas - Pan American (UTPA) Electrical Engineering department offers a Master of Science in Engineering degree (MSE). The master's program is designed to accommodate the needs of both traditional full-time graduate students and nontraditional students pursuing a master's degree while employed in industry. Thesis, non-thesis, and report options are available. The flexible degree plan allows students to design their own technical specialization. Students can specialize in computer engineering, communications, systems and controls, signal and image processing, and electronic and solid state.
Full-time students choosing the thesis option should be able to complete the program in three long semesters (1.5 years). Part-time students taking the report option and taking two courses per long semester and one course each summer can complete the program in two years. The times will vary based on student's selected program of work and thesis/report project.
MSE graduate course offerings cover a wide range of technical areas including digital electronics and computer engineering (circuits, testability, performance assessment, architecture, VLSI); linear and nonlinear systems and controls; robotics; communications and signal processing; electromagnetics and microwaves; solid state devices and processing; and advanced courses in mathematical techniques. The MSE program does not have formally defined specialization areas; instead, students may create their own specialization through selection of courses with the aid of a faculty advisor.
Current research opportunities include antennas and propagation, embedded systems, radar signal processing, neural networks, and robotics. Courses are scheduled exclusively in the evenings for the convenience of those working in industry.
Degree requirements for a MSE thesis option include 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours for the master's thesis. The report option includes 30 hours of coursework and 3 hours for the project report. A non-thesis option is 36 hours of coursework
