PhD and MS in Computing: Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering website

Track Faculty

Al Davis
Erik Brunvand (Track Director)
John Regehr
Priyank Kalla (ECE)
Chris Myers (ECE)
Thomas Schmid (ECE)
Ken Stevens (ECE)

MS in Computing: Computer Engineering

A student may pursue an M.S. with a (1) thesis option, or (2) a project option, or (3) a course-only option. The M.S. program requires 30 total semester hours of graduate coursework (including thesis hours for the thesis option).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: required courses.
CS/ECE 6810    Computer Architecture
CS/ECE 6710    Digital VLSI Design
Thesis option: 2 required, 2 electives from restricted list
Project option: 2 required, 3 electives from restricted list
Course-only option: 2 required, 4 electives from restricted list

* Additional courses on the program of study must be approved by the student's committee.

At least 24 hours of the 30 M.S. course and thesis hours must be in resident study at the University of Utah. A full time student working on an M.S. program is expected to complete the degree requirements within two calendar years. The Graduate School limits M.S. programs to four years.


ELECTIVES: Four courses must be taken by students doing the coursework option, three courses must be taken by students doing the project option, and two courses must be taken by students doing the thesis option. Courses selected should be in an area of specialization selected by the student.
CS 6110    Formal Methods in System Design
CS 6150    Advanced Algorithms
CS 6235    Parallel Programming for Many Cores
CS 6460    Operating Systems
CS 6470    Compiler Principles and Techniques
CS 6475    Advanced Compilers
CS 6480    Advanced Computer Networks
CS 7460    Distributed Operating Systems
ECE 5325    Wireless Communication Systems
ECE 5520    Digital Communication Systems
ECE 6530    Digital Signal Processing
ECE 6531    Advanced Digital Signal Processing
ECE 6580    Implementation of Digital Signal Processing
CS/ECE 6720    Analog Integrated Circuit Design
CS/ECE 6740    Computer-Aided Design of Digital Circuits
CS/ECE 6745    Testing and Verification of Digital Circuits
CS/ECE 6750    Synthesis and Verification of Async VLSI Systems
CS/ECE 6770    Advanced Digital VLSI Systems Design
CS/ECE 6780    Embedded Systems Design
CS/ECE 6785    Advanced Embedded Software
CS/ECE 6830    VLSI Architecture
CS/ECE 7810    Advanced Architecture
CS/ECE 7820    Parallel Architecture

Thesis Option: This option involves research on a thesis area and a written thesis submitted to the graduate school. A minimum of six thesis hours are required, and there must be at least 20 classroom hours in the program of study. A maximum of three hours of Independent/Special Studies (CS/ECE 6950) is permitted only when it is self-contained and not related to the thesis.

Project Option: Similar to the coursework option with an independent/special study on a project topic required with a project report submitted to the independent/special study advisor. A minimum of three hours and maximum of six hours of Independent/Special Studies (CS/ECE 6950) are allowed.

Course-only Option: In this option all the course requirements are fulfilled through graduate courses (no thesis hours). No more than three hours can be Independent/ Special Studies (CS/ECE 6950). A maximum of two seminar hours will be permitted.


PhD in Computing: Computer Engineering

A Ph.D. student must either already have an M.S. degree or complete all of the requirements for a course, project, or thesis-based M.S. degree in CE. The supervisory committees may require additional coursework hours above that required for the M.S. degree.

All students must complete at least seven hours of coursework at the University of Utah. All students must complete at least 14 hours of dissertation research (CS or ECE 7970). At least one year (i.e. two consecutive semesters) of the doctoral program must be spent in full-time academic work at the University of Utah. A student must be registered for at least three hours of credit in the semester that they defend their dissertation.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS: required courses.
CS/ECE 6710    Digital VLSI Design
CS/ECE 6780    Embedded System Design
CS/ECE 6810    Computer Architecture
Two additional courses are required from the following list:
CS 6110    Formal Methods in System Design
CS 6470    Compiler Principles and Techniques
CS 6490    Network Security
CS/ECE 6770    Advanced Digital VLSI Systems Design
CS/ECE 6785    Advanced Embedded System Design
CS 7460    Distributed Operating Systems
CS/ECE 7810    Advanced Architecture

Each CE graduate student must form a supervisory committee whose members approve the student's program of study and guides the student's research program. A Ph.D. committee consists of five members. The majority of the committee must consist of CE faculty from either ECE or SoC. Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to have a member of the committee who is outside the University of Utah whenever it is feasible. The committee should be formed by the end of the second semester of enrollment in the graduate program, although a committee may be revised later by petition to the CE committee.

Any ECE or SoC regular faculty member may serve as a supervisory committee chair. Auxiliary faculty may chair supervisory committees if accorded that privilege by the regular faculty and the Dean of the Graduate School. Individuals who are not faculty members may serve on supervisory committees if nominated by the regular faculty on the committee, and endorsed by the CE Committee. The Dean of the Graduate School must grant final approval of all supervisory committees. A maximum of two seminars hours will be permitted.