The Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at New Mexico Institute of
Mining and Technology provides a rigorous academic education, broadly focused around
the theme of instrumentation in a topic areas of interest to the department.
MS in Electrical Engineering
General Description
Faculty members are engaged in research areas that complement the academic program
such as: space sciences; sensor networks; robotics; remote sensing; software-defined
radios; advanced electronics; advanced analytical tool development for biomedical
and seismic signals; which lead to the development of engineering and scientific instrumentation.
This degree program is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing public and
private sector positions in electrical engineering or advancing to a PhD degree.
Program Objectives
The faculty of the Department of Electrical Engineering strives to continuously improve
the graduate program in electrical engineering. The educational objectives reflect
the needs of, and have been reviewed by, among others, the Advisory Board and faculty.
Several years after graduation it is expected that our graduates will be:
technology leaders who fearlessly discover, apply and teach new knowledge and engineering
practices;
entrepreneurially minded innovators driving positive economic and social impact in
their communities and the nation;
adaptive learners who continue to grow educationally and professionally through advancing
their education.
Program Outcomes
To achieve the general goals of the Department of Electrical Engineering, student
outcomes reflect the needs of, and have been reviewed by, among others, the Advisory
Board and faculty. Upon graduation with the degree of Master of Science in Electrical
Engineering, students will have obtained:
an ability to apply methods of advanced analysis appropriate for professionals to
use when solving problems;
an ability to apply an in‐depth knowledge in a particular field of study that supports
the use of innovative techniques to solve problems;
an ability to demonstrate skills pertinent to the research process, including the
ability to formulate problems, synthesize and integrate information, work collaboratively,
communicate effectively, and publish results (MS thesis students).
Program Requirements
The student’s course of study must be approved by the student’s advisory committee,
must fulfill the general requirements for the master’s degree, and must include any
two of the following courses:
EE 521, Measurement and Instrumentation
EE 531, Advanced Digital Design
EE 544, Modern Control Systems
EE 554, Embedded Control Systems
EE 570, Advanced Topics in Electrical Engineering
At least 12 semester hours must be approved Electrical Engineering courses. No more
than six (6) semester hours of advanced undergraduate course work may be used to satisfy
the degree requirements.
Students are required to take at least six (6) credit hours from outside the Electrical
Engineering department. Students may choose between an MS with thesis (24 credit hours
of courses plus six (6) thesis hours) or an MS with independent study (27 credit hours
of courses plus three (3) independent study hours). Students may be required to take
an appropriate software course if they don’t have an appropriate programming background.
PhD in Electrical Engineering with Dissertation in Cyber Electronic Systems
General Description
Cyber elecronic systems provide reliable position, navigation and timing information
to distributed, tightly-integrated, smart infrastructure supporting its operation,
protection defense and flexibility.
The primary purpose of this program is to prepare students with necessary education
to advance the state-of-the-art in cyber electronic systems which is the building
block of many of our critical infrastructure.
This is accomplished by rigorous Ph.D. level education in this unique and highly needed
area of cyber electronic systems.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the PhD program, students shall exhibit:
a) an ability to apply methods of advanced analysis appropriate for professionals
to use when solving problems;
b) an ability to apply in‐depth knowledge in the area of cyber electronic systems
that supports the use of innovative techniques to solve problems;
c) an ability to demonstrate skills pertinent to the research process, including the
ability to formulate problems, synthesize and integrate information, work collaboratively,
communicate effectively, and publish results.
Program Requirements
The program requirements include the following:
The PhD Candidate will select a graduate committee that shall consist of a minimum
of four members:
(a) an academic advisor from the Electrical Engineering department, and
(b) at least three other members, one of which must be from outside the department
assigned or approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The research advisor may be
the academic advisor or another member of the committee.
Students with only a Bachelor of Science degree in related area must complete a minimum
of 72 credit hours:
a minimum of 24 credit hours of electrical engineering courses 500‐level or above
including required core courses (8 credits)
EE 560, Electronic Warfare
EE 565, Position, Navigation and Timing
a minimum of 6 credit hours outside electrical engineering;
24 credit hours of dissertation; and
no more than 6 credit hours of 300‐ or 400‐ level courses.
Students with a Master of Science degree in related area must complete a minimum of
48 credit hours:
a minimum of 12 credit hours of electrical engineering courses of 500‐level or above
including required core courses (8 credits)
EE 560, Electronic Warfare
EE 565, Position, Navigation and Timing
a minimum of 6 credit hours outside of the Electrical Engineering department unless
satisfied by the Master of Science degree;
24 credit hours of dissertation; and
no more than 3 credit hours of 300‐ or 400‐ level courses
All course work must be approved by the student’s graduate committee, the Electrical
Engineering Department Chair, and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
The graduate committee, in consultation with the student, will select a technical
paper. The student must perform and in‐depth study of the paper through analysis and
modeling, and/or simulation. The student will present the analysis and critique of
the paper in a written report and an oral presentation. The written report and the
oral presentation constitute the qualifying examination. The exam is designed to test
the student’s ability to be successful in the Ph.D. program by demonstrating his/her
ability to analyze, critique, solve technical problems, grasp fundamental concepts,
solve open problems, and communicate effectively. The graduate student may only take
the qualifying exam once. In case the student did not pass, he/she may appeal the
decision to the Electrical Engineering Department Chair.
Successfully pass the candidacy examination. The student must present a detailed review
of his/her research area and hypothesis under investigation to the members of his/her
graduate committee. The presentation will be open to the public. This examination
may only be taken after a student has passed the qualifying examination.
The admission to candidacy to the Ph.D. degree requires that the qualifying and candidacy
examinations be passed and approved by the graduate committee; after which the student
may enroll in EE 595: Dissertation.
The student must write a final dissertation and defend it in an oral public defense
before the student’s graduate committee.
Additional requirements include the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Graduate Program requirements.
Graduate Certificate in Electrical Engineering
The Electrical Engineering graduate certificate program is aimed at practicing engineers
wanting to increase their exposure to electrical engineering at the graduate level
while not being tied to a degree program. The program is designed to provide a rigorous
upgrade to the student’s skills in electrical engineering while focusing on topics
of interest to the student.
Graduate Certificate in Electrical Engineering
The certificate program requires a minimum of 16 credit hours of graduate coursework.
The course requirements are:
EE 521 Measurement and Instrumentation (4 credits)
One 4 credit electrical engineering graduate course
One 3 credit or higher electrical engineering course at either graduate or upper undergraduate
level.
One 3 credit or higher graduate course in either mathematics, physics, engineering
or computer science.
EE 590 Independent Study (2 credits) supervised by a member of the electrical engineering
department.