Electrical Engineering
Programs of Study
The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department offers programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering, as well as graduate and advanced certificates. The following general areas of specialization are available to help students structure their graduate courses: communications and signal processing, computer engineering, electromagnetics and ultrasonics engineering, electronics and solid state, power engineering, and systems and controls.
Degree Requirements
For the M.S.
There are two routes to the master of science degree: the non-thesis option and the thesis option. The minimum requirement for the M.S. degree in electrical and computer engineering is 30 credits. Of the minimum 30 semester hours, at least 21 must be graduate level courses (500 level) or research in the field of electrical and computer engineering taken at WPI. The remaining courses may be either at the 4000 (maximum of two) or the 500 level in computer science, physics, engineering or mathematics. The complete program must be approved by the student's advisor and the Graduate Program Committee.
Although the M.S. thesis is optional, students are encouraged to include a research component in their graduate program.
A directed research project involves a minimum of 3 credit hours of work under the supervision of a faculty member. The task is limited to a well-defined goal. Thesis research involves 9 credit hours of work, normally spread over a complete academic year. It demands more creativity on the part of the student than does a directed research project. In addition, all WPI thesis regulations must be followed.
For students completing the M.S. thesis as part of their degree requirements, a thesis committee will be set up during the first semester of thesis work. This committee will be selected by the student in consultation with the major advisor and will consist of the thesis advisor (who must be a full-time WPI ECE faculty member) and at least two other faculty members whose expertise will aid the student's research program. An oral presentation before the Thesis Committee and a general audience is required.
The program of study must be approved by the student's advisor, the Graduate Program Committee of the ECE Department and the WPI Committee on Graduate Studies and Research. To ensure that the Program of Study is acceptable, students should, in consultation with their advisor, submit it prior to the end of the semester following admission into the graduate program. Students must obtain prior approval from the Graduate Committee for the substitution of courses in other disciplines as part of their academic program.
Students may petition to transfer a maximum of 15 graduate semester credits, with a grade of B or better, after they have enrolled in the degree program. This may be made up of a combination of up to 9 credits from the WPI ECE graduate courses taken prior to formal admission and up to 9 credits from other academic institutions. No transfer credit will be given for any of WPI's undergraduate courses nor for undergraduate level courses taken at other institutions.
All full-time students are required to attend/ pass the two graduate seminar courses, ECE 596A (fall semester) and ECE 596B (spring semester). See course listings for details.
For the Ph.D.
The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred on candidates in recognition of high scientific attainments and the ability to carry on original research.
Students must complete 60 or more credits of graduate work beyond the master of science degree in electrical and computer engineering, including at least 30 credits of research. The same academic standards as described in the M.S. guidelines apply to the doctor of philosophy program. A program of study form must be completed and approved.
The doctoral student must establish two minors in fields outside of electrical engineering. Physics, mathematics and computer science are usually recommended. Each student selects the minors in consultation with the major advisor. At least 6 credits of graduate work is required in each minor area. Courses with an ECE designation which are cross-listed in the course offerings of another department cannot be used toward fulfilling the requirements of a minor area.
Full-time residency at WPI for at least one academic year is required while working toward a Ph.D. degree. This usually corresponds to the period of active dissertation research.
Satisfactory completion of the diagnostic examination and the area examination are required.
Diagnostic Examination
The doctoral student is required to take the diagnostic examination during the first year beyond the M.S. degree (or equivalent number of credits, for students admitted directly to the Ph.D. program). Prior to taking this examination, a student must identify a faculty member who has indicated that he/she is willing to supervise the student's research. The purpose of the diagnostic exam is to determine if the student has the necessary foundation in mathematics and electrical and computer engineering to undertake doctoral studies. The diagnostic examination is composed of two parts: evaluation of basic knowledge and evaluation of research skills.
Evaluation of Basic Knowledge
The examination covers fundamental concepts and selected advanced topics in electrical engineering. It is administered by the Graduate Program Committee. Students are examined in three areas: Engineering Mathematics and two areas to be selected from the following list by the student and faculty member supervising the student's research.
The examination of basic knowledge is a written examination and is given yearly in January. The results from the exam will be graded Pass, Conditional Pass or Fail by the Graduate Program Committee. Students who receive the grade of Conditional Pass must fulfill conditions specified by the Graduate Program Committee in order to pass the examination. These conditions typically may include (but are not limited to) passing a course or courses with a specified grade, and/or retaking a portion of the examination the following year. No students will be permitted to take the exam or any portion of the exam more than twice.
A description of the material covered in each examination area and sample exam questions from previous years are available from the ECE Graduate Secretary.
Evaluation of Research Skills
Upon passing the examination on basic knowledge of electrical engineering, satisfactory completion of one semester of directed research under a prospective Thesis Advisor is required. Specific guidelines for both the research skills proposal and the final research skills summary report are available from the department Graduate Coordinator.
Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to continue working toward the Ph.D. degree if he/she has failed either the written portion or the research portion of the diagnostic exam.
Area Examination
The doctoral student is required to take the area examination before writing a dissertation. The examination, which deals with the student's research area, is administered by a committee consisting of the student's major advisor and other experts in the area of the student's research. Students who fail the examination may retake it at a later date with the approval of the ECE Graduate Program Committee. Upon passing both the Area and Diagnostic examinations, a student should make formal application for admission to candidacy. This application must be approved by the ECE Department and the Committee on Graduate Studies and Research at least eight months before the doctorate is to be granted.
Dissertation
All Ph.D. students must complete and orally defend a dissertation prepared under the general supervision of the major advisor, who must be a full-time faculty member of the ECE department. The research described in the dissertation must be original and constitute a contribution to knowledge in the major field of the candidate. The Dissertation Committee normally serves as the Defense Committee as well and certifies the quality and originality of the dissertation research, the satisfactory execution of the dissertation and the preparedness of the defense. The Dissertation Committee consists of the major advisor (as committee chairperson) and at least two additional faculty members whose expertise will aid the student's research program. At least two members of the committee must be full-time WPI ECE faculty, and at least one member must be from outside the student's department. This committee will be selected by the student in consultation with the major advisor.
For the Combined B.S./Master's Program
A WPI student accepted into the B.S./ Master's program may use 6 credit hours of work for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Additional graduate credit hours of work (beyond the 15 units required for the B.S. degree) up to a total of 12 credit hours may be transferred from the student's undergraduate transcript. All of these course credits must be defined prior to enrollment in the courses .
A student must define the 12 credit hours at the time of applying to the B.S./Master's program. The 12 credit hours may be all advanced undergraduate courses, graduate courses, or combinations of both at the discretion of the student's advisor, subject to the approval of the ECE department Graduate Program Committee.
At the start of Term A in the senior year, but no later than at the time of application, students are required to submit to the graduate coordinator of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department a list of proposed courses to be taken as part of the master's degree program. A copy of the student's transcript (grade report) must be included with the application.
A student who intends to complete the B.S./Master's program is required to be a full-time graduate student until the M.S. degree requirements are met. Any student who is accepted into the B.S./Master's program and who elects to finish the M.S. degree part time will be required to meet the normal, non-B.S./Master's program degree requirements.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Laboratories Centers
Analog Microelectronics Laboratory
Prof. McNeill
The Analog Microelectronics Laboratory was opened in 1998, funded by NSF grants for the purchase of test and measurement equipment, which is dedicated to support work in the areas of high-speed data communication, high-speed imaging, and mixed signal circuit design. In addition to the direct impact on research, this equipment has also enabled the Analog Microelectronics Laboratory to become a valuable resource for educating both undergraduates and graduate students in the complete integrated circuit (IC) design process.
Current research in the lab is focused on self-calibrating analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and mixed-signal IC design for biomedical applications.
Antenna Laboratory
Prof. Makarov
This laboratory contains facilities for the simulation and development of basic communication antennas. The laboratory is equipped with a high-frequency network analyzer, spectrum analyzers, broadband RF amplifiers, and signal generators. Software systems supported include Ansoft HFSS antenna/EM simulator (multiple licenses). The laboratory is also equipped with other hardware tools to support antenna- related projects. The laboratory has been particularly active in the area of patch antenna design.
Center for Wireless Information Networking Studies (CWINS)
Prof. Pahlavan
This center is recognized as a pioneering facility in the important and rapidly growing area of wireless personal and data communications. The lab is supported by a broad range of networking and telecommunications corporations.
The work of CWINS is quite diverse. In recent years, basic research has been conducted in channel modeling and simulation, spread-spectrum techniques, adaptive equalization, multiple-access methods, network architectures, wireless optical communications, microstrip antennas and RF circuit design. The lab has been particularly active in the measurement of indoor RF propagation.
Computational Fields Laboratory
Prof. Ludwig
The purpose of this laboratory is to serve as a computational resource to undergraduate and graduate students interested in numerical analysis as applied to problems in computational electrodynamics and acoustics. The lab contains a wide variety of platforms, including Pentium-class PCs and several workstations for X-window applications. Software utilities supporting numerical analysis (mesh-making algorithms, matrix solvers, graphics interface drivers) are of particular interest to the lab community, as is the development of integrated packages targeted for research or educational purposes.
Embedded Computer Systems Laboratory
Prof. Duckworth
This laboratory contains facilities for the research and development of embedded computer systems. The laboratory is also equipped with logic analyzers, in-circuit emulators and other equipment to support computer system projects. Software systems supported by this laboratory include several VHDL/FPGA development systems, as well as a variety of software development tools (C, CTT, ASW, PIC developments, and so forth).
The laboratory is also equipped with logic analyzers, in-circuit emulators and other equipment to support computer system projects. Software systems supported by this laboratory include various VLSI design and verification packages, several VHDL/FPGA development systems, and a variety of software development tools (C, CTT, ASW, PIC developments, and so forth).
Convergent Technologies Center (CTC)
Prof. Cyganski
The laboratories in this center combine diverse expertise for the exploration of the emerging and converging technologies of computing, communications and cognition. The Polaroid Machine Vision Laboratory (PMVL), and Network Computing Applications and Multimedia (NETCAM) laboratory focus on the development of new algorithms and on moving emergent technologies into commercial, medical and defense-related applications for its sponsors.
Research in the CTC's NETCAM lab derives from the technologies generated by the success of the Internet, digital multi-media, and distributed objects and middleware. Current projects explore the optimization of network protocols for multimedia, distributed-object services (CORBA) and virtual-reality-based user interfaces.
Research in the CTC's PMVL has resulted in the development of highly efficient algorithms and new theoretical performance bounds for machine vision, automatic target recognition, and image fusion for optical, IR SAR and SONAR data.
Center for Sensory and Physiologic Signal Processing - C(SP)2
Prof. Clancy
Researchers within the C(SP)2 apply signal processing, mathematical modeling, and other electrical and computer engineering skills to study applications involving electromyography (EMG -- the electrical activity of skeletal muscle).
We are improving the detection and interpretation of EMG for such uses as the control of powered prosthetic limbs, restoration of gait after stroke or traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal modeling, and clinical/scientific assessment of neurologic function.
Lightwave Nanophotonics Device Engineering Laboratory (LOVElab)
Prof. King
Researchers in the LOVElab are primarily concerned about developing the cutting- edge theory and experimental work to enable the creation of a new generation of nanoscale optical devices that will dramatically advance the state-of-the-art in optical computing and high-speed optical networks. Current research topics pursue a variety of novel photonic crystal structures to support the lab's mission. For example, we are investigating resonant structures that preserve the quantum state of an optical pulse with a nearly arbitrary temporal delay. The delay is tuned electro-optically. We are also investigating the effects of incorporating nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) inside photonic crystals to dynamically control the light-matter interaction. Applications include non-linear frequency conversion, tunable lasers, optical routing, and dynamic optical add/drop filters. The LOVElab staff is also continually improving upon finite-difference- time-domain algorithms to accurately simulate and characterize the response of the nanoscale devices.
Our laboratory is currently equipped with two optical tables as well as the standard assortment of fiber and free-space optical components. High-performance computational simulation computers are also available to aid in the analysis of the proposed devices and theories.
MS thesis and PhD dissertation topics are available for motivated students interested in joining the pursuit of this exciting new frontier of electrical engineering, optics, and physics.
Power Electronics and Power Systems Laboratory
Profs. Clements, Emanuel
This laboratory has been established for simulation of a large variety of linear, nonlinear and time-varying loads, including transistor- and thyristor- controlled loads. It contains transducers and instrumentation for a wide range of voltages, currents and frequencies. Compatible computer equipment and A/D interfaces are available for real-time data acquisition and processing. The Power Systems Laboratory has the basic facilities for electromechanical energy conversion study, including sets of induction/ synchronous/DC machines coupled together.
Center for Advanced Integrated Radio Navigation (CAIRN)
Prof. Michalson
This laboratory provides facilities for work on civilian uses of satellite systems, especially the Global Positioning System (GPS). Receivers, signal processors and computers are provided for work on utilization of the DOD GPS system for civilian purposes, especially aircraft navigation and landing.
Ultrasound Research Laboratory
Prof. Pedersen
The Ultrasound Research Lab is engaged in several critical endeavors in medical imaging: The team is developing a wearable untethered lightweight ultrasound scanner that is voice command controlled, uses head mounted display, and has wireless upload of images. Such a scanner may be used in military medicine, for rural health and in emergency medicine. The wearable imaging system is being further developed with three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound capabilities, by use of position and angle sensors, so that not only anatomical slices can be observed, but whole organs or lesions or vessels can be observed as a 3D object, with possibility for volume estimation. Another effort is in tissue boundary detection, for expanding the 3D applications. Other efforts involve the design of ultrasound phantoms in which injuries such as abdominal bleeding and collapsed lung can be emulated, and development of non-invasive technique for detection of the vulnerable plaque, that is, arterial plaque which has a high risk of leading to a stroke.
The Ultrasound Research Laboratory has office space for graduate students and research space for ultrasound experiments, numerical modeling work, and development of electronic circuits. The lab has medical ultrasound scanners, modi- fied for research purposes. Ultrasound pulser/receivers and measurement tanks are available, including a scanning tank with stepper motor controlled positioning system for the ultrasound measurements. The lab is well equipped with computers and general instrumentation.
Cryptography and Information Security (CRIS) Laboratory
Prof. Sunar
The CRIS Laboratory conducts research and development in cryptography and its applications. One research focus is fast implementations of the next generation of public-key algorithms such as elliptic and hyperelliptic curve schemes. We work on fast software algorithms and efficient hardware architectures. The lab is equipped with industry-standard development tools for ASIC and FPGA target hardware. We also apply Xilink FPGAs and Altera EPLDs to new types of cryptosystems, which allow for a fast switch of privatekey encryption algorithms ("algorithm agility").
Another research focus is the integration of cryptography and data security into new communication networks. We work on the design and implementation of security protocols for wireless networks, with an emphasis on wireless LANs. Another network type of interest is the high-speed Asynchronous Transfer Mode network. We investigate system design and algorithmic issues.
The CRIS lab is actively involved in a number of joint projects with industry. The lab has also strong ties to research groups in the United States and Europe, with frequent exchange of graduate students. Together with strong graduate course offerings in cryptography, WPI's research lab provides excellent opportunities for cutting-edge research and graduate education.
Signal Processing and Information Networking Laboratory (SPINLab)
Prof. Brown
SPINLab was established in 2002 with the primary mission of analyzing and developing new linear and nonlinear signal processing techniques to improve the performance of high-speed information networks. Currently, our major focus areas include channel identification and equalization, synchronizaation, interference cancellation, and multiuser detection for copper, optical and wireless channels. We have also recently begun to study software radio techniques for efficient implementation of digital communication systems and signal processing algorithms. SPINLab has established relationships with several telecommunications corporations and offers research opportunities at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. For more details, please see the SPINLab Web page.
Admission Requirements
M.S. Program
Students with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering may submit an application for admission to the M.S. program. Admission to the M.S. program will be based on a review of the application and associated references.
Applicants without a B.S. degree in electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering, but who hold a B.S. degree in mathematics, computer engineering, physics or another engineering discipline, may also apply for admission to the M.S. degree program in electrical and computer engineering. Contact the Graduate Coordinator for requirements, which will depend on the applicant's specific background. Students with the bachelor of technology or the bachelor of engineering technology degree must typically complete about 1-1/ 2 years of undergraduate study in electrical engineering before they can be admitted to the graduate program. Contact the Graduate Coordinator for requirements, which will depend on the applicant's specific background.
Ph.D. Program
Students with a master of science degree in electrical and computer engineering may apply for the doctoral program of study. Admission to the Ph.D. program will be based on a review of the application and associated references. Students with a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering may also apply to the Ph.D. program. If admitted (based on review of the application and associated references), the applicant may be approved for direct admission to the Ph.D. program, or to an M.S.-Ph.D. program sequence.
Faculty and Research Interests
- F. J. Looft
- Professor and Department Head; Ph.D., University of Michigan; tactile signal processing; computer architecture.
- S. Aboud
- Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Arizona State University; semiconductor device modeling, computational biophysics
- D. R. Brown
- Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Cornell University; multi-user detection for CDMA cellular communication systems; crosstalk cancellation in digital subscriber loops
- E. A. Clancy
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; biomedical signal processing and modeling; biomedical instrumentation
- K. A. Clements
- Professor; Ph.D., Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn; error detection in electric power networks; optimal powerflow algorithms; electric power network state estimation with partial information
- D. Cyganski
- Professor; Ph.D., WPI; machine vision; solution of systems of multivariate polynomial equations; signal processing
- J. S. Demetry
- Professor Emeritus; Ph.D., Naval Postgraduate School
- R. J. Duckworth
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Nottingham; parallel computer architecture; real-time distributed compute systems; rapid prototyping of computer systems
- W. H. Eggimann
- Professor Emeritus; Ph.D., Case Institute of Technology
- A. E. Emanuel
- Professor; P.E., D.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; power system economics; power electronics
- M. A. Gennert
- Associate Professor; Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; computer vision; programming languages
- H. Hakim
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., Purdue University; digital signal processing
- B. King
- Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Arizona; engineering and applications of nano-scale optical structures; design of low-complexity, near maximum- likelihood iterative error-correction algorithms
- H. P. D. Lanyon
- Professor Emeritus; Ph.D., University of Leicester
- W. Lou
- Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Florida; computer networks; wireless networks; ad hoc networks; network security
- R. Ludwig
- Professor; Ph.D., Colorado State University; design of RF and surface gradient coils for magnetic resonance imaging; computational modeling of micropatch antennas; DC-coupled RF/MW wideband amplifier design; nondestructive material evaluation of critical components
- S. Makarov
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., Saint Petersburg State University, Russia; electromagnetic field devices; electromagnetic sensors; knowledge-based data processing
- J. A. McNeill
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., Boston University; analog and mixed signal IC design; self-calibrating analog-todigital converters (ADCs)
- W. R. Michalson
- Professor; Ph.D., WPI; navigation and tracking; high-performance embedded computer systems
- J. A. Orr
- Professor; Ph.D., University of Illinois; communications and signal processing; power quality; engineering education
- K. Pahlavan
- Professor; Ph.D., WPI; wireless networks
- P. C. Pedersen
- Professor; Ph.D., University of Utah; inverse methods for ultrasound; atherosclerotic plaque classification by means of ultrasound; ultrasound- based osteroporosis detection
- R. A. Peura
- Professor; Ph.D., Iowa State University; spectrophotometry; biosensors; impedance imaging
- L. R. Ram-Mohan
- Professor; Ph.D., Purdue University; solid-state and quantum physics
- J. M. Sullivan, Jr.
- Professor; D.E., Dartmouth College
- B. Sunar
- Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Oregon State University; security; cryptography; computer arithmetic; finite fields; high-speed computing
- R. F. Vaz
- Associate Professor; Ph.D., WPI; outcomes-based assessment of engineering education; internationalization of engineering education; curriculum development and delivery
Last modified: May 22, 2007 09:31:47