Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Ignite Your Career

Level up your professional opportunities by advancing your development skills, participating in exciting research and expanding your understanding of electrical and computer engineering. Whether you are seeking to gain a competitive edge in the job market or want to pursue a doctorate, this program will set you up for success.

Courses are available onsite at Potsdam or online. Our Capital Region Campus also oversees an MS in Electrical Engineering for Working Professionals.

Why Earn an MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering From Clarkson University?

A master's in electrical & computer engineering from Clarkson can open the doors to more senior positions, PhD programs and other professional goals.

Our program immerses you in the most recent innovations and strategies. Coursework is experiential, and what you learn can be applied to tackle the most complex challenges facing the industry today. You also have the option to complete your degree on our main campus or online, giving you the ability to meet your work obligations and continue your studies in tandem.

We keep our class sizes small, so our nationally recognized faculty can give you the personalized guidance needed to help you achieve your goals. You can also tap into our extensive alumni network and our award-winning Parker '81 Career Center to plot the next step in your ambitious path. 

What You'll Learn

This program consists of 30 credit hours, with a major portion of those being spent learning from Electrical & Computer Engineering faculty. You will also be required to complete one of the following: a written thesis based on independent research, a comprehensive examination, or a professional special project. If you choose the online option, you will be placed in the project-based track, though you can choose to do a thesis with faculty approval.

Some of the sample courses include:

  • Adaptive Signal Processing
  • Cloud Systems and Networks
  • Data Communications and Networks
  • Detection and Estimation Theory
  • Digital Circuits
  • Digital Design
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Electronic Power Conversion
  • Introduction to Antenna Theory
  • Introduction to Biometrics
  • Linear Control Systems
  • Modeling & Control of Energy Conversion
  • Stochastic Processes in Engineering
  • Wireless Sensor Networks

Research areas in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department are broadly distributed. Our faculty specializations can be categorized into the following tracks:

  1. Power Engineering 
  2. Electronics and Materials
  3. Control Engineering
  4. Communication and Signal Processing
  5. Computer Hardware
  6. Computer Software

MS Degree Requirements

  • 30 credit hours
  • 18 credit hours of graduate coursework (500-600 level courses)
  • A majority or portion (more than 50%) of the course work will be in the ECE department
  • 2 credit hours of seminar work
  • Maximum of 10 credit hours transfer credit (grade of B or better)
  • All candidates must satisfactorily complete one of the research or professional experience components listed below.
    • A written thesis based on independent research
    • A comprehensive examination
    • An appropriate, professional special project
  • Students admitted for online study will be paced in the project-based track. With faculty approval, some students may be approved to change to the thesis-based track.  
  • The electrical engineering courses fall into the following general categories (the catalog contains helpful course descriptions):
    • power/energy conversion
    • power systems
    • controls
    • energy
    • communications and signal processing
    • data communications and networks
    • computer hardware
    • software engineering
    • biomedical engineering
    • biometrics
    • cybersecurity
    • special interest areas

Sample Courses and Concentrations

  • Digital Design
  • Linear Control Systems
  • Electronic Power Conversion
  • Modeling & Control of Energy Conversion
  • Introduction to Antenna Theory
  • Data Communications and Networks
  • Digital Circuits
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Stochastic Processes in Engineering
  • Introduction to Biometrics
  • Detection and Estimation Theory
  • Wireless Sensor Networks
  • Adaptive Signal Processing
  • Cloud Systems and Networks

This program is located on our main campus in Potsdam, New York. Many of our full-time, research-based master's and PhD programs are housed here, as well. You will be in close proximity to research facilities, onsite laboratories, university-run housing and other resources.

Potsdam Campus

With evening courses and part-time study, this program offers the only engineering program in the Capital Region designed for working professionals. You’ll learn and network with other engineers advancing their knowledge and leadership. Coursework is also well-matched to recent graduates who want to benefit from learning alongside experienced professionals.

Learn more about the MS in Electrical Engineering for Working Professionals.

Clarkson has been at the forefront of virtual learning. Reflecting this level of innovation, many of our online graduate programs, including those in engineering, are considered some of the best in the nation. Virtual classes are live and encourage interaction among attendees. You will be taught by the same faculty that teach on our main campus, and the material is just as rigorous. What you learn in the classroom can be immediately applied to your own professional role.

A limited number of one-year and/or partial-year tuition scholarships are available for qualified full-time students. A limited number of stipends are also available. Most scholarships and/or stipends are associated with department assistantships or completion of a master’s thesis as part of the qualified applicant’s plan of study to complete his/her degree program.

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Online Application Form
  • Resume.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation.
  • Official Transcripts.
  • GRE Test Scores.
    • Waived: The GRE requirement will be waived for Fall 2023 applicants.
  • For international applicants, an English proficiency test is required.
    • Minimum test score requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) or Duolingo English Test (115).
    • The English language-testing requirement is not waived based on language of instruction, nor do we accept university certificates. English testing is waived if an applicant has a degree from a country where English is the Native Language. Click here to see the list of these countries.

Prerequisites: A BS in electrical engineering or equivalent field.

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Online Application Form
  • Resume.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation.
  • Official Transcripts.
  • GRE Test Scores.
    • Not Required.
  • For international applicants, an English proficiency test is required.
    • Minimum test score requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) or Duolingo English Test (115).
    • The English language-testing requirement is not waived based on language of instruction, nor do we accept university certificates. English testing is waived if an applicant has a degree from a country where English is the Native Language. Click here to see the list of these countries.

Prerequisites: A BS in electrical engineering or equivalent field.

Career Opportunities

Electrical and computer engineers are in high demand from some of today's fastest-growing industries. The degree opens the doors to diverse career opportunities in corporations, government, business, research and higher education. The median wage tends to be above $100,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Positions for those with an MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering include:

  • Broadcast engineer
  • Computer hardware engineer
  • Controls engineer
  • Design engineer
  • Electrical engineer
  • Hardware engineer
  • Instrumentation engineer
  • Network engineer
  • Project engineer
  • Power systems engineer
  • Project manager
  • Systems analyst
  • Systems engineer

Recent Employers

Recent graduates of the MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering program have secured positions or advanced their careers with:

  • ATC Nuclear
  • Center for Identification Technology Research
  • Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
  • CHA Consulting, Inc.
  • Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc.
  • Eversource Energy
  • Frost Productions
  • General Dynamics Mission Systems
  • General Electric (GE)
  • GlobalFoundries
  • KAPL
  • Leidos
  • National Grid
  • Naval Nuclear Laboratory
  • New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
  • Northeast Power Systems, Inc.
  • VeeThree
  • STEM OPT Eligible

Contact Us

Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@clarkson.edu
Phone: 518-631-9831

Interested in learning more about the MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering? Contact the location you intend to attend:

Potsdam

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
PO Box 5720
Potsdam, NY 13699-5720
Phone: 315-268-7648
Fax: 315-268-7600

Capital Region Campus

Graduate Admissions Team
graduate@clarkson.edu
518-631-9831

Find out more about the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department in the Coulter School of Engineering.

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99% Placement Rate - 2023 Graduate School Overall

Research Centers and Laboratories

Students have access to several research centers and laboratories, including the Biomedical Signal Analysis Laboratory, the Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science, and the Smart Power Systems and Controls Lab. Find out more about the groundbreaking research being conducted in these facilities.

Research Centers and Laboratories

Advance Your Career

Sharpen your technical skills and develop an area of expertise in an exciting field with an MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Clarkson.