INFORMATION FOR ECE UNDERGRADUATES

 

Permission to take Graduate Level Classes

  • The School urges qualified Georgia Tech undergraduates to attend graduate school since the Master's degree is increasingly regarded as the starting point of a professional career.  
  • The School provides two ways for a qualified undergraduate to get a head start on the Georgia Tech graduate degree requirements: the B.S.-M.S. Program and the Graduate Option.

The B.S.-M.S. Program  

  • The Joint B.S./M.S. degree program affords undergraduate electrical or computer engineering majors the opportunity to broaden their studies and improve their career prospects.
  • Interested undergraduate students can apply during their sophomore year or later. The BS/MS program is a continuous enrollment program. The application should be submitted for the semester immediately following graduation from the BS program in accordance with the application deadlines as noted at the Joint BS/MS page. 
  • Students interested in applying for the B.S.-M.S. program will submit a graduate school application and a brief Statement of Purpose addressing interests and ambitions, how a graduate level degree will support these plans and offering a brief recap of academic and personal accomplishments that support their interest in graduate level work.
    • One letter of recommendation from a faculty member or former supervisor/mentor. Additional recommendation letters are discouraged.
    • Unofficial Georgia Tech undergraduate transcript (Required if admitted. Tech will obtain an official transcript on your behalf upon graduating from the BS program.)
    • Employment history (if applicable) or Resume/curriculum vitae (optional)
    • The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and application fee requirements are waived for students admitted through the B.S.-M.S. program.
  • Once admitted, B.S.-M.S. students are expected to maintain a strong grade point average through the remainder of their undergraduate program.
    • The final undergraduate GPA is expected to be 3.50 or higher.
    • Students admitted into the B.S.-M.S. program cannot have an undergraduate term GPA lower than 3.0.
  • Students admitted into the B.S.-M.S. program may use up to six credit hours of undergraduate or graduate level ECE coursework for both degrees.
  • To double count hours towards the B.S. and M.S., the master's degree must be completed within a two-year period from the award date of the bachelor's degree.
  • Students wishing to apply for the B.S.-M.S. program should first review the B.S.-M.S. materials on ECE's website here.

  • B.S./M.S. students are welcome to pursue doctoral studies in ECE.  For more details follow the procedures outlined in Changing Major from MS to PhD.

Classes Completed as a GT Undergraduate

  • Students who graduated with a B.S. from ECE with at least a 3.5 GPA may choose the “Graduate Option” rather than the B.S.-M.S. plan. In this case, they apply to graduate school using the full application and they may double-count 6 credits taken as a Georgia Tech undergraduate towards their M.S. degree provided that the classes meet the requirements for both degrees. In order to double count class toward both the B.S. and the M.S., the M.S. degree requirements must be completed and the M.S. degree awarded within two years of the BS degree.
  • Students who completed their undergraduate degree in ECE, including those who are ineligible for the B.S.-M.S. program may be able to count excess courses taken as an undergraduate towards their M.S. degree. This information will be verified by an ECE undergraduate advisor.
    • Under this option, students take hours in excess of those required for the undergraduate degree, at either the graduate or senior level.  
    • An undergraduate wishing to take graduate level courses using this option must be classified as a senior, have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and receive an on-line permit before registering for the course.  
    • The excess hours so accumulated are considered for use toward the graduate degree by listing them along with the other classes to be used toward the graduate degree on the ECE Coursework Planning Form.  
    • These classes are distinguished from those to be taken as a graduate student by recording a grade notation of " UG” and noting the term and year in which each class was completed.  
    • The use of hours from undergraduate studies is also subject to approval by the Registrar’s Office.  This is done when the M.S.degree petition is submitted.  
    • Up to 12 hours completed as an undergraduate may be used for the master's degree. B.S./M.S. students and Graduate Option Students who double-count 6 credits towards their M.S. degree are allowed two additional graduate level courses (taken as an undergraduate and not used towards the B.S. degree) to count towards their M.S. degree.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Undergraduate students are not to delay completion of the bachelor's degree by taking classes intended to be used toward a future graduate degree.

  • Requests for permits to register for graduate level classes to be taken while classified as an undergraduate student are filed through the “Overload/Permit Request System” tab on the "Coursework Planning" page. When you have to select the level of class for which you are seeking the permit, select "GRADUATE (ECE 6000-9999)”. Your request will be forwarded to our office. You will be notified by email of our decision regarding your request.

INFORMATION FOR NON-ECE GRADUATE STUDENTS

 

Registration Permits for Graduate (6000-9999) Level Classes

  • All ECE graduate level classes are restricted to ECE majors through the first day of classes in each term.
  • Non-ECE majors are considered for registration permits after the first day of classes.
  • Non-ECE majors seeking permission to register for ECE graduate level courses must submit requests for registration permits through the “Overload/Permit Request System” tab on the "Coursework Planning" page. When you have to select the level of class for which you are seeking the permit, select "GRADUATE (ECE 6000-9999)”. Your request will be forwarded to our office. You will be notified by email of our decision regarding your request.

Registration Permits for Undergraduate (1000-4999) Level Classes

  • Non-ECE graduate students needing prerequisite over-rides or other permission to take ECE undergraduate courses should follow the instructions above.
  • Non-ECE graduate students seeking permission to register for ECE undergraduate level courses must submit requests for registration permits through the “Overload/Permit Request System” here. If you are seeking a permit for an undergraduate course, select "UNDERGRADUATE (ECE 1000-4999)”. Your request will be forwarded to the ECE Undergraduate Advisors for review.  You will be notified by email of our decision regarding your request.

Non-Majors Seeking an ECE Degree

  • Students in other Georgia Institute of Technology graduate programs may request permission to pursue an M.S. degree in ECE as part of their studies at Georgia Tech. Students wishing to change their major to ECE are required to visit the ECE Academic Office.
  • Non-ECE students who intend to pursue a secondary ECE M.S. degree while attending the Georgia Institute of Technology must make their intentions known to ECE's Graduate Affairs Office before completing no more than four ECE courses at Georgia Tech. This is done by submitting the following materials with the ECE Graduate Affairs Office:
    • Letter of Intent: With this letter, the student requests permission to pursue an ECE M.S. degree and includes a statement of purpose outlining the reasons for pursuing the ECE M.S. – i.e. describes how the ECE M.S. degree fulfills the student's academic, research, and career goals.  The Letter of Intent must be endorsed by the Graduate Coordinator of the major school.
    • Recommendation Letter 
      • A recommendation letter from the student’s advisor addressing the ways in which the ECE M.S. degree supports the student's studies in the major school.  
      • If the student does not have a research advisor, they need to submit a recommendation letter from a faculty member in their department.
    • Request the home department forward a copy of the initial application to Georgia Tech to the ECE Academic Office.

ECE Graduate Affairs

If you are unable to find the information you seek, are unsure about specific requirements, need advice, or just need to talk to someone, please contact the ECE Graduate Affairs Office:

Email for guidance at:  https://ece.gatech.edu/form/contact-graduate-affairs-office

  • Telephone 404-894-2900
  • Come by during office hours (9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or request an appointment

Registrar’s Office

Seek information on their website at: http://www.registrar.gatech.edu or contact them at  comments@registrar.gatech.edu or http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/contact.php for matters concerning:

  • Registration, Graduation, Commencement, Degree Completion Verification
  • Enrollment Certification
  • Letters of Completion
  • Institute Academic Policy Office of International Education

Seek information on their website here: www.oie.gatech.edu

  • Visa and Immigration Matters
  • Optional Practical and/or Curricular Practical Training Matters Bursar’s Office

Seek information on their website here: www.bursar.gatech.edu

  • Student financial accounts, Fee Payments
  • Refunds

GT Career Center

See information on their website (https://career.gatech.edu/)

  • Internship Opportunities  

GT Graduate Education Office

Seek information on their website (http://www.grad.gatech.edu)

  • Thesis Deadlines, Thesis Submission Procedures and Forms

Student Financial Assistance

Seek information on their website (http://www.finaid.gatech.edu)

  • Loans
  • Tuition Waivers
  • Fellowships
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