Graduate Admission

Graduate teaching and research assistantship information is at the bottom of this page.

This page is about admission to the ECE MS Program. For the PhD Program see the College of Engineering Graduate Programs page.

Study in the ECE Graduate Program requires application to and admission granted by the Tennessee Tech Office of Graduate Studies. Application for admission should be made at least six months prior to the anticipated date of entrance. Applicants interested in receiving research and/or teaching assistantship financial aid must submit an ECE Assistantship application by March 15th for August (Fall) entrance or by October 15th for January (Spring) entrance. Applicants will be notified of an assistantship offer, and must accept or decline the offer by May 1st for August entrance or December 1st for January entrance. Applications are not reviewed by Tennessee Tech until a complete application package has been submitted.

Admission Procedure

All Students

The following items are required to complete the application process. See the College of Graduate Studies Admissions page for requirements and application instructions.

Application Form
Application Fee
GRE General Test scores
Official Transcripts
Three Letters of Recommendation
Student Health Form

International Students

In addition to those listed above, the following items also are required for international applicants. See the Graduate School International Students General Admission Requirements and International Students How to Apply web pages for complete instructions.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores (or other language tests; see web pages listed above for more information)
Verification of adequate financial support
If already in the U.S.: Additional documentation is required - see the web pages listed above for instructions

Process

All application materials are sent to the Tennessee Tech Office of Graduate Studies.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission to the ECE MS Program with Full Standing are

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution
• GPA: 3.0
• GRE General Test: verbal reasoning 147, quantitative reasoning 157, analytical writing 3.0
• TOEFL: IBT 79 for international applicants (or appropriate score for other tests)

An applicant who does not meet all of these requirements may be admitted with Provisional Standing, as determined by the ECE Graduate Program Committee. The committee examines the overall undergraduate record of the applicant (GPA), performance in Math and Science courses, performance in the major area, GRE General Test scores, TOEFL scores, letters of recommendation, undergraduate research experience, and any other evidence the applicant may have provided. Based on this examination, the committee determines the applicant's capabilities, motivation, and potential for success in the graduate program, and arrives at an admission recommendation. If an applicant shows weakness in any of the above areas, but shows high motivation and reasonable chance for success, Provisional Standing admission is recommended. If Provisional Standing admission is granted the conditions for reclassification to Full Standing are specified in the letter of admission. These conditions are typically one or more of the following: (i) attainment of 3.5 GPA in the first semester of graduate study at Tennessee Tech, (ii) satisfactory GRE General Test scores, and/or (iii) successful completion of specific undergraduate ECE “bridging” courses for a student with a Bachelor's degree in a field other than ECE. If the student meets the specified conditions during the first two semesters, the Vice President of Graduate Studies reclassifies the student to Full Standing. Otherwise, the student is dismissed from the graduate program. Applicants not having a Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, or similarly named engineering programs, but otherwise qualifying for admission, are admitted on a Provisional basis. They are reclassified to Full standing after they complete a set of ECE undergraduate “bridging” courses specified by their committee. All international students must take an English language test, usually just prior to enrollment. If the student scores below a certain criterion, he/she is required to take one or both of ESL 1010 and 1020. Students may be admitted with Special Standing if they are non-degree or transient students; if reclassified as Full or Provisional Standing no more than nine hours of credit may be counted toward a degree.

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships

To apply for an assistantship fill out the Application for Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship form and send to the ECE Department.