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Current Graduate Students

Amy An working on a project

To better help our current graduate students, we have answered some frequently asked questions. Be sure to check here before you ask your advisor, Chris Franco or Jens Gregor, in that order. Online MS students should contact Stephen Marz.


Academic Advisor

Students are assigned an advisor when they enter the program. Course-only MS students can work with that advisor through graduation. Thesis and Project MS students, as well as PhD students, are expected to find a permanent advisor on their own. MS students should do so in the first semester. PhD students should do so in their first year. MS and PhD students who hold a GRA position will be assigned to the faculty member paying them.

The academic (aka major) advisor is your go-to person for all questions about your degree. If they don’t know the answer, they will ask the Director of Graduate Studies.


First Semester Courses

New students are recommended to take the following courses. Note that some are only offered in the spring or the fall.

  • Electrical Engineering: Select entry level courses based on area of interest, e.g., ECE 421 ECE 431, or ECE 481. Alternatives include ECE 511, ECE 531, ECE 533, ECE 545, ECE 551, and ECE 555.
  • Computer Engineering: COSC 530 plus courses based on interest, e.g., COSC 522, ECE 533, ECE 551, ECE 553, ECE 555, ECE 569, or ECE 569.
  • Computer Science: Select one or two core courses the first semester and the remainder the second semester: COSC 530 and COSC 540, COSC 561 or COSC 562, and COSC 580 or COSC 581. Top off with courses of interest.

MS Requirements: In-Person

MS students need 30 credit hours to graduate. You have a choice between course-only, thesis, or project:

  • Course-only students must take 10 courses that meet the requirements of their degree. File course-only admission to candidacy form signed by academic advisor.
  • Thesis students work with a faculty member on a research project. They write and defend a thesis (500) and take 8 courses. File thesis admission to candidacy form signed by academic advisor and committee (formed with input from advisor).
  • Project students work with a faculty member on a research project. They write a report and/or give a presentation on their work (501) and take 9 courses. File project admission to candidacy form signed by academic advisor and committee (formed with input from advisor).

MS students must file for admission to candidacy before their last semester following the Graduate School instructions for electronic signatures. List all credit hours that will count toward the degree. Leave grades for future semesters blank. Thesis students must be signed up for 3 hours the semester they defend.

See the graduate catalog for more details.


MS Requirements: Online

The online MS program offers a 30 credit hour course-only degree. See the graduate catalog for prerequisites, requirements, and concentrations. Admitted students should refer to online advising for details including information on course offerings and graduation.


PhD Requirements

PhD students need a different number of credit hours depending on their degree when starting in the program.

  • PhD students with a BS degree need a minimum 39 course credit hours and minimum 24 dissertation (600) credit hours for a total of 72 hours. A Concurrent MS degree can be obtained along the way.
  • PhD students with an MS degree from the University of Tennessee need a minimum of 15 course credit hours and minimum of 24 dissertation (600) hours for a total of 48 hours.
  • PhD students with an MS degree from another university need a minimum of 24 course credit hours and minimum of 24 dissertation (600) hours for a total of 48 hours.
  • All PhD students must take two or more 600-level courses.

Once you start taking 600 credit hours, continuous enrollment is required through graduation unless you petition for and are granted an exception in connection with doing an internship which isn’t related to the dissertation.

When PhD students are about done with their course work and have started on their research, they create a committee (with input from advisor) and defend an outline of their dissertation research. This is known as the comprehensive exam. They then file their PhD admission to candidacy and continue with their research. See the Graduate School instructions for electronic signatures. List all credit hours that will count toward the degree. Leave grades for future semesters blank.

See the graduate catalog for more details.


Computer Science MS/PhD Core Courses

CS graduate students must take three core courses: COSC 530; one of COSC 540, 561, or 562; and one of COSC 580 or 581. These courses must be completed with a grade of C or better for MS students and B or better for PhD students.


Electrical Engineering PhD Qualifying Exam

ECE PhD students must register for and take a qualifying exam within their first year. A second and final attempt is allowed within the second year. The exam is administered by a committee of three faculty members, selected by the student and their academic advisor (who cannot be on the committee). The exam comprises:

  • A written critical review of current literature on a research topic selected by the student with input from the academic advisor and approved by the examination committee.
  • A presentation on the approved topic, including an oral examination covering the topic and related fundamental knowledge.

The written report, which should not exceed 10 pages, must be submitted to the committee one week prior to the oral examination, which is one hour long and includes a Question and Answer session. Attendance is limited to the student and the committee.

Sign up for the PhD qualifying exam through the registration form at least one month prior to the intended date of the examination.

Bring a printout of the pass/fail form to the examination, and return the completed form to Chris Franco.