The master's degree in CSE is primarily intended for students desiring to substantially advance their knowledge and skill in a field or fields of CSE. The relatively small investment in time to get a master's degree will lead to greater professional opportunities and significantly higher salaries. Research in chip design and architecture comprises a multidisciplinary group of researchers exploring theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects of silicon chip design, computer architecture and novel device technologies that may replace traditional CMOS transistors as the basic unit of computation. The research in this space includes enabling solutions for advanced design, including computer-aided design algorithms and techniques, testing and digital design verification, including formal techniques, post-silicon validation and accelerator-based solutions. Further research in VLSI design investigates a wide range of topics and mixes applied research, supported by test chips and measurement results, with far reaching conceptual projects. In particular, the major topics currently under investigation include low-power design techniques, design for manufacturability (DFM), wire-centric design, clock-network synthesis, nanoscale CMOS mixed-signal design, and place and route physical design solutions.