The MS program in electrical and computer engineering requires 36 to 40 semester hours of study. How you earn those credits-and what your academic experience is like-depends on whether you select the thesis option or the coursework-only option. The thesis option is ideal for MS students who are interested in conducting research. This option is strongly advised if you may be interested in pursuing a PhD in the future.Researching and writing a master's thesis is an academically intensive process that takes the place of 8 credits of traditional coursework. Students work with a faculty advisor to choose a topic of interest, engage in high-level study of that topic, and develop a paper that may be suitable for submission to a conference or journal.The thesis experience provides definition to your master's degree experience and can bolster your application for jobs or doctoral-level study by demonstrating your capabilities. The computer and networked systems area focuses on the design and optimization of computer systems, including processors, memory systems, and communication networks. This track will help you understand how the processor, main memory, and computer network work, how to optimize their performance and energy efficiency, and how to utilize the computer systems more efficiently.