The Department of
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
New Graduate Student Orientation
Monday August 16, 2021
Dr. Jens Gregor
Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Department Head
jgregor@utk.edu
MK311
974-4399
Click here to download a PDF version of the information below
Welcome to UTK & EECS
- Departmental overview
- Abbreviated Who’s Who
- MS and PhD requirements
- Assistantship expectations
- Important deadlines
- Helpful on-line resources
- Student organizations
EECS Degrees Offered
- Electrical Engineering: BS, MS, PhD
- Computer Engineering: BS, MS, PhD
- Computer Science: BS, MS, PhD
- CS Minor (not available to CpE students)
- AI & ML Graduate Certificate
- Fire Protection Engineering Certificate
- Power and Energy Systems Certificate
- Intercollegiate Graduate Minor in
Computational Science: MS, PhD
Faculty and Student Numbers
Professors | Assoc. Prof. | Asst. Prof. | Lecturers | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 56 |
Fall 2020 overall student enrollment
Students | Elec. Engr. | Comp. Engr. | Comp. Sci. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
BS | 187 | 167 | 493 | 847 |
MS | 32 | 14 | 39 | 85 |
PhD | 99 | 20 | 55 | 174 |
Fall 2021 new graduate students
Students | Elec. Engr. | Comp. Engr. | Comp. Sci. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
MS | 5 | 5 | 11 | 21 |
PhD | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
Business Office Staff: MK401
- Ms. Janie Fielden – Graduate students
- Ms. Angela Joshi – Purchasing
- TBA – Undergraduate students
- Ms. Erika Adams – Business manager
- Ms. Angie Chance – Front desk
- Ms. Lori Houser – HR & visas
- Ms. Melanie Kelley – Travel M-Z, payroll
- Ms. Linda Robinson – Financial specialist
- Ms. Tracy Smith – Travel A-L, reimbursement
IT Staff: MK423
- TBA – Manager
- Mr. Justin Forbes – Staff
- Mr. Joe Jones – Staff
- Mr. Drew Schneider – Staff
- Mr. Markus Iturriaga Woelfel – Staff
- Graduate assistants
- Undergraduate assistants
Your Major Professor
- Academic Advisor/Mentor
- Guides your thesis/dissertation research
- Keeps track of your academic performance
- Answers questions about degree program
- Serves as your graduate committee chair
- Everybody must have one …
- If you don’t have one, find one (ASAP!)
- Dr. Gregor only meant as place holder
- Keep Janie Fielden informed of changes
MS Requirements
- Min 30 credit hours
- Option 1: MS Thesis
- 24 course credits + 6 x 500
- Option 2: MS Project
- 27 course credits + 3 x 501
- Option 3: Courses-Only
- 30 course credits, no exam
- Course requirements vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
- All MS students need advisor + committee
- Max 10 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
- Min 20 hours of 5XX/6XX incl 500/501
- Thesis: Plagiarism check by iThenticate
- Committee: EECS advisor + 2 TT faculty (one member from minor if applicable)
PhD Requirements
- BS-to-PhD: Min 72 credit hours
- 39 course credits + 24 x 600 + 9 either type
- MS-to-PhD: Min 48 credit hours
- 24 course credits + 24 x 600 (non-UT students)
- 15 course credits + 24 x 600 + 9 either type (UT)
- Course specifics vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
- Continuous enrollment in 600 enforced!
- All PhD students need advisor + committee
- BS: Max 12 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
- MS: Max 6 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
- Min 6 hours of 6XX excl 600 (dissertation)
- Residence: 6+6+6 or 9+9 back-to-back load
- Comprehensive exam: Research proposal
- Continuous enrollment: 600 (dissertation)
- Dissertation: Plagiarism check by iThenticate
- Committee: EECS advisor + min 2 TT faculty + 1 external member (other academic unit)
Concurrent MS for Direct PhD
- 30 credit hours
- Option 1: MS Thesis
- 24 course credits + 6 x 500
- Option 2: MS Project
- 27 course credits + 3 x 501
- Option 3: Courses-Only
- 30 course credits, no exam
- Course requirements vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
- All options require advisor + committee
Click here to download the Request for Concurrent Master’s Degree form
Min. GPA / Repeating a Course
- Graduate students must maintain 3.0 GPA
- Low GPA results in academic probation (followed by termination if not corrected)
- Only failed courses (D/F) may be repeated
- Max one repeat per course, max two total
- Graduate School petition required (filed by student and advisor, not department)
- All grades remain on transcript and count toward GPA – may impact assistantships
ECE PhD Qualifier
- Critical literature review
- Presented to committee
- Done during first year
CS MS/PhD Core Courses
- CS530 + CS540|561|562 + CS580|581
- MS: Grades of C or better required
- PhD: Grades of B or better required
Paid Internships
- Domestic students: Any time, any where
- International students: Need CIE approval
- Curricular Practical Training (CS/ECE 592)
- Optional Practical Training (no course credit)
- PhD: 600 Continuous Enrollment Exemption
Click here to download the 600 Continuous Enrollment Exemption form
MS Admission to Candidacy
- Form that lists all credits to be counted toward degree (courses + thesis/project)
http://gradschool.utk.edu/forms-central/
- Signed by advisor and committee, then by Director of Graduate Studies
- Must be filed before graduating semester
- See Graduate School webpage for dates and other information regarding graduation
http://gradschool.utk.edu/graduation/
Click here to download the Admission to Candidacy, Masters or Specialist Degree form
PhD Admission to Candidacy
- Form that lists all credits to be counted toward degree (courses + dissertation)
http://gradschool.utk.edu/forms-central/
- Signed by advisor and committee, then by Director of Graduate Studies
- Filed following research proposal defense
- Must be filed before graduating semester
- See Graduate School webpage for dates and other information regarding graduation
http://gradschool.utk.edu/graduation/
Click here to download the Admission to Candidacy, Doctoral Degree form
The Graduate School Staff
- Jennifer Rawdon
Graduation Specialist (A–K)
(865) 974-1346
jrawdon@utk.edu - Julie Harden
Graduation Specialist (L–Z)
(865) 974-1347
jharden@utk.edu - Thesis/Dissertation Consultant
(865) 974-1337
thesis@utk.edu
How to Ask For Help
- Rule 1: Help yourself using:
- Rule 2: Ask your advisor. Ask experienced fellow students. Ask Julia Elkins.
- Rule 3: When all else fails, contact your friendly Director of Graduate Studies
GTA Requirements
- OPIc (aka SPEAK Test)
- Required if native language not English
- Repeat test until score is Advanced High
- Lower score limits student interactions
- Note: Was done online Aug 2-13, 2021
- Work with instructor to prepare
- Labs, homework, test, office hours etc.
- Must register for 6-11 hrs. per semester
- GTAs are evaluated each semester
GRA Requirements
- Work with project leader to
- Deliver research results, publish papers
- Must register for 6-11 hrs. per semester
- GRAs are evaluated each semester
GTA and GRA Expectations
- This is a job. Take it seriously.
- Be on time. Work your hours.
- Deliver what’s asked for when it’s due.
- Be respectful to fellow students.
- Graduate School offers “Best Practices in Teaching Programs for Graduate Assistants Certification”
Student Organizations
- ACM: CS student chapter
- IEEE: ECE student chapter
- Systers: Women in EECS @ UTK
- HackUTK: Computer and network security
- UTKML: Machine learning
- UTARC: Amateur radio club
Get Social!
- Look out for departmental events
- Connect with EECS on social media for news, photos, videos, job postings, etc.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/eecs.utk
- Twitter: @EECS_UTK
- Make friends. Network. Participate.