The MS program in electrical and computer engineering requires 36 to 40 semester hours of study. How you earn those creditsand what your academic experience is likedepends on whether you select the thesis option or the coursework-only option. Both are explained on this page.<br><br>Academic tracks: The ECE department has identified groups of courses that can help guide your academic planning based on the areas of electrical and computer engineering in which you seek to specialize<br><br>The area of digital systems and VLSI focuses on the design, analysis, layout, and fabrication/implementation of a wide gamut of components and systems. These include, but are not limited to, the most basic component of a transistor, logic/digital gates, circuits of various complexities (including arithmetic and digital signal processing circuits), and complex systems (including processors, systems-on-chips, and embedded systems with billions of transistors). In this area, various metrics need to be either optimized (e.g., minimum power consumption) or have their specifications met (e.g., a clock frequency of 2 GHz) in the circuits or systems being designed. These metrics include speed, power consumption, chip area or cost, chip yield (the percentage of fabricated chips found to be good meeting all specs and performing correctly), and temperature profile. Algorithms that automate the implementation and analysis aspects of the design process to meet the aforementioned requirements are a major part of this area. Almost all aspects of modern technology are either direct products of this area or have critical underpinnings in this area.