ECE MS Workshop
Thursday, September 14
th
, 2023
Graduate Advising Team
Ms. Michelle T. Walker
Graduate Program Coordinator
• Main point of contact
• Reviews and receives all paperwork
• Academic Advising
• Funding Questions
• Faculty and/or student concerns
• mtwalk[email protected]
Professor Lifeng Lai
ECE Graduate Program Chair
• Approves petition to change degree objective
• Faculty and/or student concerns
Professor Weijian Yang
Graduate Advisor (PhD students)
• Academic advising for PhD students
• Faculty and/or student concerns
• Approvals
• Remedial courses & program of study
• Grad studies paperwork
• ECE paperwork
Professor Sebastian Gomez-Diaz
MS Director
• Academic advising for MS students
• Faculty and/or student concerns
• Approvals:
• Program of studies & remedial courses
• Grad studies paperwork
• ECE paperwork
MS Program Director
Professor Sebastian Gomez-Diaz
MS Director
• Goal: Advise MS students so they can be successful.
• Resolve faculty and student concerns.
• Many questions/doubts could be resolved through e-mail: jsgomez@ucdavis.edu
• Administrative paperwork should be directed to Ms. Michelle Walker
• Program of study, remedial courses, etc.
• MS director will review and approve those at due time.
• In-person office hours are offered for MS advising:
• Tuesdays 3:30-4:30pm
• Appointments are required. Use: https://appointments.ucdavis.edu
Topics
• Introduction to the MS Program
• Master Program
• Plan I – Thesis
• Plan II – Comprehensive Exam
• ECE Resources
• Additional information
• Funding
Topics
• Introduction to the MS Program
• Master Program
• Plan I – Thesis
• Plan II – Comprehensive Exam
• ECE Resources
• Additional information
• Funding
Which degree objective are
you planning to pursue?
You do not have to decide it now!
Do you have a major Professor?
• A major Professor will guide your studies at UC Davis.
• MS director will officially serve as your major Professor until you find one.
• A major Professor will supervise your work at UC Davis.
• Dissertation thesis for MS plan I.
• Capstone project for MS plan II.
• You are requested to find, contact, and identify a major Professor to work with.
• ECE Department does not assign major Professors to students.
• As a graduate student, it is your duty to find a major Professor.
How to Find a Major Professor (IV)
Continuation of a project initiated in a graduated course
How to Find a Major Professor (and V)
Contact professors working in the research areas that you are interested in
• Include professors in the ECE Graduate Program
Contacting a Professor
Send a concise e-mail
• Dear Prof. XXX….
• Succinctly introduce yourself
• Highlight the projects/research lines that you are
interested on
• Connect projects with your background
• Request more information / meeting
Do NOT:
• Grammar mistakes / name misspelling
• Send a generic e-mail
• Send reminders everyday
If the professor does not reply
• Send a polite reminder after ~1 week
Explore your options
• Contact several professors and learn
about their research
• Financial support might be available
• Find the best fit
Questions?
Topics
• Introduction to the MS Program
• Master Program
• Plan I – Thesis
• Plan II – Comprehensive Exam
• ECE Resources
• Additional information
• Funding
Degree Requirements
MS Plan I
• Declare a Major Professor
• Program of Study
• Advance to Candidacy
• Thesis Committee Selection
• Thesis
• Graduate Exit Form
• Meeting with a Senior Academic Advisor
MS Plan II
• Declare a Major Professor
• Program of Study
• Advance to Candidacy
• Comprehensive Examination
• Graduate Exit Form
Milestones
Milestones
Milestones
https://ece.ucdavis.edu/graduate/milestones
When you are ready to submit any form(s) that needs a signature from Graduate Advisor or a Graduate Coordinator please :
• Make sure you get all required signatures before sending in the form. Once signatures are complete, email form
to ecegradinfo@ucdavis
.edu
• Your form will be reviewed and signed by the appropriate person in the ECE department and forwarded onto Graduate Studies and your
student file.
• Do NOT send the forms directly to the MS program director.
• Find the form at https://ece.ucdavis.edu/graduate/milestones
• Fill the form
• Obtain your major professor’s signature
• Send the form to ecegradinf[email protected]
Course Requirements (I)
MS Plan I
• Course Requirements: 36 units minimum
(100 and 200 series only)
• At least 16 units of graduate ECE courses
• Excluding 29X and seminar series and 299.
• At most 3 units of graduate seminar
• At most 9 units of EEC 299 research units
• Additional courses might be employed
• Undergraduate upper division and graduate courses
• ECE as well as other departments
• Courses with grades B- or better
• Restricted courses are not allowed
Milestones
MS Plan II
• Course Requirements: 36 units minimum
(100 and 200 series only)
• At least 24 units of graduate ECE courses
• Excluding 29X and seminar series and 299.
• At most 1 units of graduate seminar
• At most 3 units of EEC 299 research units
• Additional courses might be employed
• Undergraduate upper division and graduate courses
• ECE as well as other departments
• Courses with grades B- or better
• Restricted courses are not allowed
Course Requirements (I)
IDP MS Plan I
• Course Requirements: 36 units minimum
(100 and 200 series only)
• At least 12 units of graduate ECE courses
• Excluding 29X and seminar series and 299.
• At most 3 units of graduate seminar
• At most 17 units of EEC 299 research units
• Additional courses might be employed
• Undergraduate upper division and graduate courses
• ECE as well as other departments
• Courses with grades B- or better
• Restricted courses are not allowed
Milestones
IDP MS Plan II
• Course Requirements: 36 units minimum
(100 and 200 series only)
• At least 18 units of graduate ECE courses
• Excluding 29X and seminar series and 299.
• At most 3 units of graduate seminar
• At most 5 units of EEC 299 research units
• Additional courses might be employed
• Undergraduate upper division and graduate courses
• ECE as well as other departments
• Courses with grades B- or better
• Restricted courses are not allowed
Important Advice
• Do not overload your schedule
• Some courses could be challenging and time consuming.
• Find a balance: graduate courses / undergraduate upper-division courses / research / TA.
• Talk with your major professor to take EEC299 units for your research project.
• Be smart about your schedule
• First quarter could be quite challenging – Do not take more than 1 (maximum 2) graduate courses
• Upper division undergraduate courses count toward your program of study and MS program
• They may be pre-requisite for graduate courses
• Do not assume that you have the level to follow a graduate course.
• Have a strategy: take courses that are related to your research interests.
• Take language courses
• Adjusting to UC Davis and the quarter system may take some time
• GPA is important
• You must maintain an average above 3.0 to be in a good standing state
EEC200 Navigating Grad School
ECE200 – Syllabus
• Mandatory course
• Goal is to orient first-year graduate students (MS and PhD)
• Topics of the course include
Finding a major professor
Constructing a degree plan
Developing effective time-management and study skills while maintaining a good work-life balance
Learning the essential of research integrity/ethics
• Several professors will join to talk about their research lines
• This course will NOT count toward your program of studies.
Full-time student status
https://ece.ucdavis.edu/course-schedules
• All active students must enroll in at least 12 units per quarter.
• Several options to obtain units
Graduate courses (ECE & other departments)
Upper-division undergraduate courses (not restricted). ECE & other departments
GSR – Research work carried out under your major professor supervision (EEC299)
TA work – Work as a teaching assistant
• All courses count toward your full-time student status
Not all course might count toward your Program of Study
• Advice:
Do not take 3 graduate courses to be in full-time student status. You will likely not be successful.
Find a balance with graduate courses, upper-division undergraduate courses, languages, courses from other
departments, teaching assistant position, EEC299 research units, etc. This will help boosting your GPA.
Milestones
Graduate Engineering Courses
• 16 units ECE courses
Program of Study – Plan I
Research Units
• EEC299 – Maximum 9 units
• Approved by your major professor
Seminar
• EEC290 – Maximum 3 units
Other courses
• Include upper-division undergraduate
courses and graduate courses
• ECE and other departments
Milestones
Graduate Engineering Courses
• 24 units from ECE courses
Research Units
• EEC299 – Maximum 3 units
• Approved by your major professor
Seminar
• EEC290 – Maximum 1 unit
Other courses
• Include upper-division undergraduate
courses and graduate courses
• ECE and other departments
Program of Study – Plan II
Remedial Courses
• Students without a B.S. in ECE
Meet with Academic Advisor during first quarter of residence
Determine if some remedial ECE courses must be taken.
Remedial courses DO NOT contribute to your program of studies
Remedial courses DO contribute to full-time student status
Once all remedial courses have been taken, a form must be filled and routed to the Graduate Coordinator.
Six courses must be selected from a least three of the six areas listed
Remedial courses
Academic Probation
https://grad.ucdavis.edu/forms
https://ucdavis.app.box.com/v/AcademicHoldRelease
• GPA < 3.0
• Graduate studies is notified
• Academic hold
• You cannot register for new courses
• Must meet with the MS Program Director to define a strategy to graduation
• You cannot TA
• You cannot graduate if you are in academic probation
Questions?
MS Advancement to Candidacy
Eligibility
• Maintain 3.0 GPA in all coursework listed on the Program of Study
• Program of Study is approved
Selecting Your Committee Members
• Coordinate with your major professor to make your selection
• Visit the ECE Directory for ECEGP members
• The majority of your members must be from the ECEGP list
• Faculty listed by Research area Faculty & Research
• External Membership
• External Membership Application
• CV of the member you are requesting to be member of your committee
MS Plan II Route:
Comprehensive exam vs Paper critique route
Comprehensive exam
Written report
Oral presentation
Paper critique route
MS director is the Major Professor
• Rare option for exceptional cases
• Discuss your case with the MS director
Critique of a paper
• Specific to your research area
• Paper database provided by ECE faculty
• Evaluation by ECE faculty + MS director
• Poster/oral presentation
Preparing for Graduation
Graduation Documents
Thesis
•
Preparing and Filing Your Thesis or
Dissertation
1. Title Page
2. Copy of your abstract
3. Copyright/Embargo Agreement
4. Graduate Exit Form
5. Meet with a Senior Academic Advisor
Comprehensive Exam/Paper Critique
• Schedule your exam
1. Verification of Completion of the
Comprehensive Exam
2. Master’s Report Form
3. Written report in IEEE format
4. Graduate Exit Form
Student Assessment Report (SPA)
• Courses
• Degree Progress
• Committee Members
• Accomplishments and Expectations
• Career Goals
• Overall Assessment (Completed by major professor)
• Satisfactory
• Marginal
• Unsatisfactory
1. A survey to keep track of students’ performance and collaboration with Professors
• Help identifying potential challenges
2. Student completes the SPA
3. Major Professor reviews and finalizes the SPA
4. MS Program Director approves
Tips: Student Assessment Report
• Be specific
• Understand the degree requirements
• Have personal expectations, set clear goals
• Communicate with your major professor
• Goals/Expectations
• Degree requirements
• Accomplishments
• Graduation date
Questions?
Topics
• Introduction to the MS Program
• Master Program
• Plan I – Thesis
• Plan II – Comprehensive Exam
• ECE Resources
• Additional information
• Funding
Student Status
Full-time – All active student must enroll in at least 12 units
Part-time – Submit a Part-time Petition Webform by the 10
th
day of instruction
• F-1 or J1 status cannot drop below 12 units without SISS authorization
• Register for 6 units or less
Planned Educational Leave Program
• PELP up to a year
• Email Graduate Program Coordinator for PELP application
• International students must return to their home country
In-Absentia - In absentia is a reduced-fee registration status for full-time, regularly enrolled
students who have an academic need to conduct research or study outside of the state of
California for a period of one academic year.
Filing Fee
• Must have Advanced to Candidacy (program of studies approved)
• Research project should be have completed, except cosmetic edits
Transferring Coursework
Petition to Transfer Coursework
You may transfer coursework from another
university as long as the course was not required
for your undergraduate degree objective
• Coursework must be approved by Graduate
Faculty Advisor
• Submit syllabus for the course
• Must have a letter that confirms the course was
not
required for your undergraduate degree
Funding Information
Master’s students are self-funded
• You are supposed to cover your tuition fees
Potential funding sources
• Teaching assistant (TA) appointment
• GSR might be available
• Professors may have funded projects available
• Funding may vary
• FAFSA (Domestic Students) – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Teaching Assistant Positions (I)
Teaching Assistants - TA appointment
• You work as a support teacher in an undergraduate or graduate courses ECE and other departments
• You will receive an e-mail every quarter with a list of TAs positions. You should apply if you are interested.
Eligibility
• Full-time status
• Good academic standing
(3.0 GPA minimum)
• Complete EEC 390
• Language Proficiency
TA Orientation website
EEC390 is Mandatory
• Register as soon as possible
• Only available in the Fall
• 2-day course
• Does not count toward your
program of study.
• September 25 & 26, 2023.
If you are working as a TA…
• Enroll in EEC396 to get units (1
to 4) to satisfy full-time student
status requirements.
• These units cannot be employed
in your program of study
Employment Eligibility & Work Study
Employment
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Full-time status a 12 units for the quarter
• 50% total appointment maximum during the academic year
• GSR Appointment – 21 academic quarters max
Note: Must file a Petition for Exception to Policy (to the Dean of Graduate Studies) if any of these criteria are not met during a given
quarter
Work Study
• Must be a Domestic Student (US citizen/permanent resident)
• FAFSA Required each year by June 30th
• Must demonstrate Financial Need
• Must have at least a 25% GSR Appointment with a faculty Research Advisor
Thank you!!
Resources:
• Milestones - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/graduate/milestones
• Schedules and Classes - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/schedules-classes
• MS Plan I Degree Requirements - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/graduate/ms-degree-plan-i-thesis
• MS Plan II Degree Requirements - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/graduate/ms-degree-plan-ii-exam
• Faculty & Research - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/faculty-research
• Faculty Directory - https://ece.ucdavis.edu/directory
• Graduate Studies Forms - https://grad.ucdavis.edu/financial-support/forms
• Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation
• Master’s Exam or Project Filing Requirements
• Academic Calendar
• Form Store – Electronic payments
Questions?
