Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree program provides students with the comprehensive skills and knowledge they need to pursue a career in one of the most dynamic areas of modern technology. The graduate program prepares students with a broad scientific knowledge, an aptitude in a variety of modem mathematical techniques and the ability to synthesize.

Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program will demonstrate the following attributes and achievements upon or before graduation:

  • An ability to apply advanced knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
  • An ability to formulate, analyze and solve complex engineering problems in a specialized area, such as digital signal processing and communications, computers, or devices and systems.
  • An ability to use numerical analysis techniques, computer  aided analysis and design methods, and modern engineering tools.

Admission Requirements

Admission to M.S.E.E. program requires

  • A Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university. Students with a Bachelor of Science degree in science, engineering (other than electrical) or technology may be admitted if they complete undergraduate prerequisites determined by the school.
  • Submission of an official score report for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, taken within the last five years. The GRE requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in United States.
  • Three letters of recommendation

Applicants who have not completed all requirements for admission to the degree program may be permitted to enroll in classes for credit on a non-matriculated or non-degree basis.

Degree Plan

A minimum of 30 graduate credits are required to attain the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering – all courses are three credits.

These are distributed as follows:

  • 15 credits of core courses.
  • 9 credits of electrical engineering courses from an area of specialization.
  • 6 credits of electrical engineering electives. Other science and engineering courses, numbered 6000 or higher, may be taken with director permission.
  • A thesis is optional: If a student elects EENG7803, EENG7804 Research and Thesis, no other elective credits need be taken.

Core Requirements (15 Credits)

Specialization Elective Courses (9 Credits)

Select three courses from the areas of specialization shown.  Any courses may be selected, although it is recommended that they are in the same area.

Digital Signal Processing and Communications Specialization

  • EENG6629    Random Processes in Communications
  • EENG7738    Wireless Communication
  • EENG7748    Advanced Digital Communication
  • EENG7753    Applications of Digital Signal Processing
  • EENG7852    Digital Signal Processing with C and DSP Processors

Computers Specialization

  • EENG6610    Computer-Aided Analysis and Design
  • EENG7702    Microprocessor Design
  • EENG7707    Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic Systems
  • EENG7737    Computer Communication Networks
  • EENG7773    Digital Image Processing

Devices and Systems Specialization

Additional Elective Courses (6 credits)

Electives may include any graduate Electrical Engineering courses. Students have the option of registering for a 3-credit internship after completing 18 credits. A 6-credit thesis option is also available in consultation with Electrical Engineering faculty. Courses in other technical programs such as computer science may be taken with advisor permission.

Students must earn a total of 30 credits with a grade point average of at least 2.75. All courses are three credits.

Career Opportunities

Electrical engineering is one of the hottest engineering fields, according to National Associations of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Employment opportunities are enormous since practically all industries employ electrical engineers. Electrical engineering graduates receive many job offers from computer-related firms, consulting firms, electrical and electronic firms, utilities, telecommunications industries, engineering firms, aerospace companies, as well as automotive and manufacturing companies. Graduates of MSEE programs enjoy an annual starting salary of about $65,000 to $75,000.

Electrical engineering jobs include positions in research and development, design and analysis, testing, sales and management, consulting and teaching.

Both undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering students won top honors and awards at the annual Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) Student Presentation Contest held by the North Jersey Section.

Special Information

The engineering and engineering technology programs at Fairleigh Dickinson University have received wide recognition and support from the industry. The Jos. L Muscarelle Co., one of the biggest and most successful construction firms in New Jersey, donated funds and built the Muscarelle Center for Construction Studies – home of the Division of Engineering and Engineering Technology. AlliedSignal, (currently merged with Honeywell and soon to merge with General Electric) a conglomerate of high-tech companies in New Jersey, donated $1 million to support engineering and engineering technology programs. The School also received grants from the State of New Jersey, Motorola, and Bell Atlantic (now Verizon).

Research

An FDU education means more than just classroom studies. Students are encouraged to work with faculty on research through independent studies or thesis.

Example of research projects of electrical engineering students are:

  • Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring
  • Alternative Power Supply for Surgically Implanted Pacemakers
  • Measurement of Heating in Electrical and Electronic Circuits using Holographic Interferometry
  • Two-Dimensional Adaptive Filters
  • Adaptive Wave Digital and Orthogonal Filters
  • Fuzzy Rule Generation based on a Neural Network Approach
  • Fixed WiMAX Downlink Spectral Efficiency and Throughput Measurements under Channel Impairments

Other possible research areas for the electrical engineering students are:

  • Digital System and Microprocessor Design
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Intelligence
  • Image Compression and Processing
  • Adaptive Noise Cancellation and Channel and Echo Equalization
  • Wireless Communications and Smart Antennas
  • Control Systems

Course Descriptions

  • EENG6601 State equations, time domain solutions, matrix functions, Laplace solutions, discrete time sig- nals and systems, discrete time state equations and solutions, z-transforms, z domain solutions, controllability and observability of linear systems.

  • EENG6610 Study of simulation packages for engineering problem solving. Transient and steady-state analysis of passive circuits. Signal processing, circuit and system modeling. Digital circuit and system simulation.

  • EENG6629 Probability and random variables. Random processes and spectral analysis. Modulation, introduction to noise and linear systems with random input.

  • EENG6633 Discrete-time signal and systems, z-transform, discrete-time Fourier transform, discrete Fourier transform, fast Fourier transform, circular convolution, block convolution, basic and advanced filter structures, design of finite impulse response and infinite impulse response filters, applications, introduction to DSP processors.

  • EENG6747 Source coding, channel capacity and coding, error detection and error correction codes, communication signals and systems, optimum receiver, digital signal detection and performance, digital modulation.

  • EENG7701 Review of combinational and sequential logic. Memory and programmable logic. Register transfer and computer operations. Control logic design. Computer instructions. CPU design. Input/Output and communication. Memory management hardware. Prerequisite: undergraduate course in logic design

  • EENG7702 Architecture of 16- and 32-bit microprocessor. Assembly language programming. CPU signals and timing. Memory management. Interrupts. DMA. Co- processors. Introduction to RISC machines. Prerequisite:EENG7701 Logic System Design.

  • EENG7706 Introduction, robot kinematics, system modeling, control and motion, vision, manufacturing system applications.

  • EENG7707 This is a graduate-level course that investigates the structure of neural network and fuzzy logic systems and applies the concepts to problems in signal processing, pattern recognition, process control, and optimization. Topics include learning algorithms, perceptron learning rule, adaptive linear neurons, back propagation training, pattern association, competitive neural nets, fuzzy sets and algebra, fuzzy digital devices and control systems, design of fuzzy systems, and neurofuzzy systems. MATLAB simulation.

  • EENG7709 Introduces system hardware and firmware design for embedded applications. HDL based combinational and sequential logic design. Software modeling and embedded C program development. Real time operating systems (RTOSI) and task management. Top down design methodology using a processor based development platform. Prereq: EENG 7701 or equiv. background.

  • EENG7715 Solid-state physics (review); pn junctions in integrated circuits. Bipolar junction transistors. Ebers-Moll model. Field-effect transistors. Integrated-circuit fabrication.

  • EENG7725 Analysis and design of both continuous and digital control systems. Stability criteria, frequency response, state variable method. Digital filtering. Prerequisite: EENG6601 Linear Systems I.

  • EENG7737 Data transmission and encoding, multiplexing, circuit and packet switching, wide and local area network technology and systems, routing and queuing analysis, internet protocols, encryption and decryption.

  • EENG7738 Cellular concept. System architectures. Mobile radio propagation characteristics. Modulation techniques. Diversity. Multiple access methods. Wireless systems and standards. Channel equalization.

  • EENG7748 Signal space concept and signal design. Fading channels. Diversity and multiple antenna systems. Multicarrier modulation. Spread spectrum. Multiuser communication.

  • EENG7753 Applications of multirate signal processing, applications of adaptive signal processing, speech processing and coding, random signals, linear prediction and optimum filters, power spectrum estimation, DSP processor architecture, implementation of FIR,IIR and adaptive filters on a DSP Processor.

  • EENG7755 Introduction to microelectronics, MOS Logic families. Memories. Logic design with ROMs. Computer-aided design, simulation and analysis.

  • EENG7773 A treatment of the techniques used in image en- hancement and restoration.Topics will include image modeling and geometry, image transforms, FFT, histogram moodification, spatial and fre- quency domain filtering, image encoding. Some discussion of pattern recognition will be included. Prerequisite: EENG6633 Digital Signal Processing or permission of the instructor.

  • EENG7775 Maxwell's Equations and propagation of light. Diffraction, interference, polarization and bire- fringence. Coherent and incoherent light. Inter- action of light with matter, spontaneous and stimulated emission. Optical properties of metals, semiconductors, insulators and crystals. Thin films and multilayer dielectric and metal- dielectric filters. Light sources including lasers,optical systems, electro-optical effects and fiber optics. Prerequisite: undergraduate course in optics and electromagentic theory.

  • EENG7803 A program of selected research, tailored to the interest and capabilities of the individual stu- dent, under the guidance of a school graduate adviser.

  • EENG7804 A program of selected research, tailored to the interest and capabilities of the individual stu- dent, under the guidance of a school graduate adviser.

  • EENG7852 DSP programmable processors, analog-to- digital signal conversion, C language, TMS320C6X architecture, instruction set and assembly language, DSP development tools, interrupt data processing, fixed- point and floating-point processors, code optimization, circular buffering, frame processing, applications.