Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Application
Deadlines
Spring 2023:
September 15, 2022
Fall 2023:
December 15, 2022
- Program Overview
- Application Information
- 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.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 28 units is required for the general MS in Electrical Engineering degree
- Minimum number of units in electrical engineering: 20 units
- All non-EE course work must be approved in advance of taking it in order for the course to be counted toward the MS degree - please see this link for more information on non-EE course work
- No more than 3 courses (12 units maximum) at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree. Minimum of 19 units must be taken at the 500 or 600 level
- To achieve a degree of breadth in their program, students are encouraged to take two technical courses outside their area of specialization but within EE
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | September 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2024 | December 15, 2023* |
| * DEN@Viterbi (Online Delivery) Deadline Extension: An application extension for Fall 2024 is available for online DEN@Viterbi applicants who intend to pursue their entire degree program online and do not require a visa sponsorship. Please email den@viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension. On-campus students who apply by published deadlines will be considered for scholarships if admitted. Online DEN@Viterbi applicants can view the Master's Scholarships (DEN@Viterbi) page for scholarship opportunities. |
|
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement : The personal statement should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
- GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2024
- Letters of Recommendation (Optional): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
.
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 - Summer 2024* | $2,424 | $7,272 | $9,696 |
| Fall 2022 - Summer 2023* | $2,309 | $6,927 | $9,236 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students | |||
MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2023/24
.
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Health Center Fee | $600/semester | ||
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $11/semester | ||
| ENGR Student Programming Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | ||
| ENGR Student Programming Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | ||
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | ||
| Transportation Fee | $93/semester | ||
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2023: $948 Spring 2024: $1,765 |
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE - 28 UNIT PROGRAM
.
This downloadable Cost of Attendance document breaks down the tuition and fees by semester. Although the actual number of courses taken each semester may vary by student as can the amount of time taken to complete the program, it can be submitted to banks and scholarship institutions.
PAYMENT
.
USC students may pay their tuition and fees online, via wire transfer or using a payment plan. Details can be found on the USC Student Financial Services Payment Options page. You can check your account balance through the On-line Academic Student Information System (OASIS). Log into OASIS through MyUSC.
.
USC also provides a Tuition Refund Insurance option that enables students to receive a 100% refund of term tuition and fees if they are are forced to withdraw for medical reasons.
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.
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Alumni Employment
- 2Go Products - Software Engineer
- 3R Network Inc.
- A36 Services group.LLC.
- ABB - Machine Learning Engineer
- Adobe
- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
- AECOM - Electrical Engineer
- Aeva - DSP Engineer
- Aggreko - Associate Data Analyst, Healthcare Analytics
- Agile Computer Technologies Corp.
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- AmazonAnalog Devices, Inc. - Firmware Engineer
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- Arup - Graduate Electrical Engineer
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- baidu
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- Butlr - Machine Learning Scientist
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- China Electronics Technology Group - FPGA Engineer
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- Dongxu Zhang
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- Edtera
- Endorsify
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- Falkonry, Inc. - Machine Learning Software Engineer
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- GE Healthcare - Advanced Application Specialist
- Global Foundries - Technology and Development Engineer
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- Hexin Technology - CPU Design Engineer
- Hisilicon - Verification Engineer
- Huawei
- Ideal Concepts
- Informatica - AI/ML Engineer
- Information Technology Services - Customer Support Center - Student Consultant
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- Lirong Yan - Field Research Assistant
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- Luxima Technology LLC
- Mangan Inc. - Electrical Engineer
- Marlabs, Inc.
- Marvell Semiconductor
- MaxLinear, Inc
- MediaTek - AI Software Engineer
- Meditic Ltd. Liability Co.
- Medtronic, Inc. - Algorithm and Signals Engineer
- Meetfood - Staff Engineer
- Meituan - Software Engineer
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Micron Technology, Inc.
- Microsoft
- Mingang Xu
- MOEV Inc.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology - Research Assistant
- NCSIST - Research Assistant
- NEC Laboratories America, Inc. - Research Intern
- NEON VENUS ARTS INC
- Nordstrom, Inc. - Software Development Engineer
- North Carolina State University - Research Assistant
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- Nuro
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- NXP Semiconductors
- Oath
- Oracle Corporation
- Pac-Dent, Inc. - Mechanical Engineer
- Palantir Technologies - Forward Deployed Engineer
- Palo Alto Networks - Data Scientist
- Patten Holding LLC
- PayPal, Inc. - Software Engineer
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- Phoenix Contact - Automation Engineer
- Pikicode Corp.
- Pluribus Networks
- Primo Broodstock USA LLC
- Qualcomm Incorporated
- Raytheon Technologies
- Renren US Holdco, Inc
- Roche - Algorithm Engineer
- Rugged Logic, Inc. - Junior Embedded Engineer
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- Samkoon Automation Technology(Shenzhen)Co.,Ltd - Embedded Systems Engineer
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- ServiceNow
- Shanghai Electric
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- Spatial Computing & Informatics Laboratory
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- Taibah University - Lecturer
- Taiwan semiconductor Manufacturing Co - Physical Design Engineer
- Tata Consultancy Services - Systems Engineer
- Tencent
- Texas Instruments Incorporated
- The Walt Disney Company - Data Engineer (Business Intelligence)
- Tianyi Digital Life Technology Co., Ltd. - Software Engineer
- Torc Robotics
- TSMC Technology Inc.
- U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.
- UNISOC - ASIC Design Engineer
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- VISCODA GmbH - Development Engineer
- Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.
- Walmart - SDE
- WarnerMedia - Project Manager Intern
- Weilai Automobile - Automation Software Engineer
- WePay
- WeRide.ai - Software Engineer
- Western Digital Corporation
- Wiko USA. - Test Engineer
- Xilinx, Inc. - IC Design Engineer
- Xinqiao Group
- YinYang Acupuncture Inc
- Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation
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) |
| EE 555 | Broadband Network Architectures (3 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) |
| EE 567 | Communication Systems (3 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 555 | Broadband Network Architectures (3 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) |
| EE 567 | Communication Systems (3 units) |
| Controls Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| EE 482 | Linear Control Systems (3 units) |
| EE 503 | Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers (4 units) |
| EE 527 | Net-Centric Power-System Control (3 units) |
| EE 543aL | Digital Control Systems (3 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 479 | Analog Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 577a | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| EE 577b | VLSI System Design (3 units) |
| EE 658 | Diagnosis and Design of Reliable Digital Systems (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 482 | Linear Control Systems (3 units) |
| EE 521 | Power Systems Analysis and Design (4 units) |
| EE 524 | Transients in Power Systems (3 units) |
| EE 525 | Power System Protection (4 units) |
| EE 526 | Renewable Energy in Power Systems (4 units) |
| EE 527 | Net-Centric Power-System Control (3 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 479 | Analog Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 536a | Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 536b | Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design (4 units) |
| EE 537 | Modern Solid-State Devices (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 519 | Speech Recognition and Processing for Multimedia (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) |
| EE 669 | Multimedia Data Compression (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 | Mathematical Pattern Recognition (3 units) |
| EE 569 | Introduction to Digital Image Processing (4 units) |
| EE 660 | Machine Learning from Signals: Foundations and Methods (3 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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Academic Disciplines
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Published on July 7th, 2017
Last updated on May 22nd, 2023