Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Application Deadlines
Spring:
September 1
Fall:
December 15
- Program Overview
- Application Criteria
- Tuition & Fees
- Meet our Students
- Career Outcomes
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
Graduates of the MS in Electrical Engineering will have the professional skills necessary to compete effectively in a world of rapid technological change as well as to assume leadership roles within industrial, entrepreneurial, academic, or governmental environments in the broad context of electrical engineering.
The Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is known for research and academic leadership in innovative areas such as: adaptive and reconfigurable mixed signal integrated circuits; antenna networks; bio-signal processing; computer architecture; very-large-scale integration (VLSI) and computer-aided design (CAD); computer networks; control systems; high speed switching architectures; signal, image and multimedia processing; nanotechnology; optical communications; photonics; and quantum information processing.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
- This program requires completion of 28 units of coursework
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Spring | September 1 |
| Fall | December 15 |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master's of Science programs in Electrical Engineering are required to have a Bachelor’s Degree or be in the process of completing a Bachelor's Degree. Degrees in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines are frequently represented among our program applicants, including but not limited to the following:
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics
- Math
- Physics
Applicants without a Bachelor’s degree in the preferred majors listed above will only be considered with coursework and demonstrated proficiency in the acceptable courses listed below (or equivalent).
| Electrical Engineering |
| Linear Circuits |
| Linear Systems |
| Differential Equations Linear Algebra Probability/Statistics |
| Physics |
Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (Optional)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2025 applications.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
MOHAMMED ARFAN
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
One of the main reasons I chose MS in EE in general as it allows you to choose courses from other tracks and is highly customizable. Lets you specialize in a major while keeping your degree area broad enough to apply for different job opportunities
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
While at USC, There are a couple of achievements that I have made. First, I got an opportunity to work at USC Information Sciences Institute on an IARPA-sponsored project where I got to visit their facility at John Hopkins applied physics lab in Baltimore. Second, I recently accepted an internship with Amazon where I will be interning as Hardware Engineer Intern for the summer with their Optical Engineering team.
YIQIU LI
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
My program is Electrical Engineering(general). There are three main reasons that I chose this program: first, the Viterbi School of Engineering is one of the best engineering schools in the US. Second, Los Angeles is a city full of opportunities and challenges. Third, I have much freedom in choosing courses from different areas, from hardware to software.
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
I joined the Chinese Graduate Student Association, an organization aiming to commit Chinese students. I met many friends there, and we organized lots of exciting activities like Spring Festival Miaohui and career workshops
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
My organization CGSA(Chinese Graduate Student Association), hosted a Welcome meeting for incoming Chinese graduate students. I participated in this event as the primary planner and host. I am glad to use the organization's resources and personal experience to provide some help to new students. That is a meaningful thing for me.
.
2022 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Top Employers*
- Amazon
- Intel
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- NVIDIA
.
Alumni Employment - 2022*
(Companies & Job Titles)
- 777 Partners - Software Developer Engineer
- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - CPU Design Engineer, Silicon Engineer
- Aerospace Corporation - Associate Member of Technical Staff
- Affirm - Software Engineer
- Amazon - Electrical Engineer Project Kuiper, Software Development Engineer, Software Development Engineer I, Software Engineer
- Amazon Web Services - Software Development Engineer
- American Portwell Technology - NPI Engineer
- Ampere Computing - Design Verification Engineer
- Antra Inc. - Full Stack Developer, Java Developer
- Apple - Design for Test Engineer
- Baidu - Frontend Development Engineer
- BeaconFire Solution Inc. - Software Engineer
- Boeing - Software Engineer II
- Byte Beating - Backend Developer
- Bytedance - Software Development Engineer in Test
- China Minsheng Banking Corporation - Data Analyzer
- China Telecom Americas Corporation - Shift Assistant Engineer
- Cisco Systems - Software Engineer
- CIX Technology Inc. - Junior Engineer
- Deep Sentinel - Technical Product Manager
- DoorDash - Software Engineer
- F5 Networks, Inc. - Software Engineer
- Fortinet - Machine Learning Engineer
- Google - Software Development Engineer, Software Engineer
- GrandStream Networks, Inc. - Software Engineer
- Graymont - Controls Instrumentation Engineer
- Guazicom - Back End Developer
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise - WLAN Software Engineer
- Intel - Analog Design Engineer, Graphics Software Engineer, MBIST, SoC Design Engineer, System Software Engineer
- inVia Robotics - Software Engineer (Robotics)
- Juniper Networks, Inc. - Software Engineer II
- KACST - Associate Researcher
- KLA-Tencor Corporation – Application Development Engineer
- Kulia Labs - Product Development Manager
- Ler Tech Force - Electrical Engineer
- Lockheed Martin Corporation - Electrical Engineer
- Marqeta, Inc. - Software Engineer I
- Medtronic - Algorithm and Signals Engineer I
- Meta Platforms, Inc. - Software Development Engineer, Software Engineer
- Micron Technology - Design Engineer
- Microsoft - Customer Engineer
- Mosikx, Inc. - Data Scientist
- My Visa Services Inc. - IT Specialist
- Noah Medical - Systems Test Engineer
- Northrop Grumman Corporation - Communication Systems Engineer
- NVIDIA - ASIC Design Efficiency Engineer, ASIC Verification Engineer, System Software Engineer (ICT3), Technical Program Manager
- NXP USA, Inc. - Machine Learning Architect Developer (Digital Design Engineer)
- OmniVision Technologies, Inc. - Analog Design Engineer, SoC design engineer
- Qualcomm - Circuit Design Engineer 2, Modem ASIC Design Engineer, VLSI design Verification Engineer
- Quantum Photonics Club Corp. - Website Developer
- Random Trees - Associate Data Scientist Developer
- Raytheon Technologies - Senior System Engineer, Systems Engineer II
- Ripple - Software Engineer (Machine Learning)
- Ryzlink Corporation - Software Engineer
- Samsung Electronics America - GPU RTL Engineer
- Samsung Research America - Data and Machine Learning Engineer
- Sina Corporation - Junior Product Manager
- SparkCognition - Machine Learning Engineer III
- Synaptics Incorporated - No Title Provided
- Synopsys, Inc. - ASIC Digital Design Engineer 2
- Synopsys, Inc. - R&D Engineer II
- Tencent – Software Engineer
- Teradata Corporation - Senior Cloud Software Engineer
- TerraClear - CV Engineer
- Texas Instruments Inc. - Design Verification Engineer, Digital Design Engineer
- The Aerospace Corporation - Sr. Member Technical Staff
- Trans Astronautica Corporation - Electrical Engineer
- Trimble Inc. - Machine Vision Engineer
- University of Southern California - Electronics Team Leader, Research Assistant, Researcher, Resource Employee
- Western Digital - New College Grad NAND Design Engineering
- XENDD - Microgrid Engineer
.
Internships (Summer 2023)**
Acara Solutions, Inc.; Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Amazon; AMD; Amlogic; Analog Devices; Apple Inc.; Astera Labs, Inc.; Axbio; Black & Veatch; Cirrus Logic; Cisco Systems, Inc.; EdgeQ, Inc.; Fevr LLC; Fu Energy; Global Foundries; Google; Halo Microelectronics International; Juniper Networks, Inc.; Lawrence Livermore National Labs; Mangan, Inc.; Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.; Microchip Technology Inc.; Micron; New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance; NVIDIA Corporation; Qualcomm; Renesas Electronics America Inc.; Rivian; Rivos; Samsung; Skyworks Solutions, Inc.; Sony; STMicroelectronics; Synopsys, Inc.; Tesla, Inc,; Volt Workforce Solutions
.
* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2022 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Degree Requirements |
|
A total of at least 28 units is required. |
| Electrical Engineering Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| 5 Courses should be taken from one of the following areas - 15-20 units total. These lists are NOT degree programs. |
| Computer Networks Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks (4 units) |
| EE 457 | Computer Systems Organization (4 units) |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 550 | Data Networks: Design and Analysis (4 units) |
| CSCI 402 | Operating Systems (4 units) |
| CSCI 551 | Computer Networking (4 units) |
| CSCI 555 | Advanced Operating Systems (4 units) |
| Computer Architecture Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 457 | Computer Systems Organization (4 units) |
| EE 477 | MOS VLSI Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 557 | Computer Systems Architecture (4 units) |
| CSCI 402 | Operating Systems (4 units) |
| Communications Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 450 | Introduction to Computer Networks (4 units) |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 535 | Wireless Communications (4 units) |
| EE 550 | Data Networks: Design and Analysis (4 units) |
| EE 558 | Optical Fiber Communication Systems (3 units) |
| EE 562 | Random Processes in Engineering (4 units) |
| EE 564 | Digital Communication and Coding Systems (4 units) |
| EE 565 | Information Theory and Its Application to (Big) Data Sciences (4 units) |
| Controls Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 562 | Random Processes in Engineering (4 units) |
| EE 585 | Linear System Theory (3 units) |
| VLSI/CAD Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 457 | Computer Systems Organization (4 units) |
| EE 477L | MOS VLSI Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 577a | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| EE 577b | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| CSCI 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4 units) |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units) |
| Electric Power Systems Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 443 | Introduction to Power Systems (4 units) |
| EE 444 | Power Systems Technology (4 units) |
| EE 521 | Power Systems Analysis and Design (4 units) |
| EE 525 | Power System Protection (4 units) |
| EE 526 | Renewable Energy in Power Systems (4 units) |
| EE 585 | Linear System Theory (3 units) |
| SAE 515 | Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3 units) |
| Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 477L | MOS VLSI Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 536a | Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 536b | Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 577a | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| EE 577b | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| Signal and Image Processing Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 483 | Introduction to Digital Signal Processing (4 units) |
| EE 512 | Stochastic Processes (3 units) |
| EE 559 | Mathematical Pattern Recognition (3 units) |
| EE 562 | Random Processes in Engineering (4 units) |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing (4 units) |
| EE 585 | Linear System Theory (3 units) |
| Data Science and Engineering Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 565 | Information Theory and Its Application to (Big) Data Sciences (4 units) |
| EE 559 | Machine Learning I: Supervised Methods (4 units) |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing (4 units) |
| EE 660 | Machine Learning II: Mathematical Foundations and Methods (4 units) |
| CSCI 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4 units) |
| CSCI 551 | Computer Networking (4 units) |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units) |
| CSCI 585 | Database Systems (4 units) |
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