Electrical Engineering MS
The degree of Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering comprises an academic core and a cohesive set of advanced courses, concluding in a thesis, or other culminating experience .
Degree Specializations
Students have the opportunity to specialize in various areas, including:
In addition to holding a bachelor's degree in engineering or any of the mathematical, physical, behavioral, or health sciences, each entering student is expected to be skilled in a number of specific areas.
Required Proficiencies:
- Mathematics through multivariate calculus
- Probability and design and analysis of experiments considered from a calculus point of view
- Computer programming
Generally, these requirements must be satisfied prior to the commencement of graduate studies.
A master's student admitted on a provisional basis must demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactorily at the graduate level before being admitted to degree candidacy. The department will specify the conditions of the provisional admission in a letter sent to the student.
Application Materials:
Students can apply online. New applicants must create an account. If you have applied in the past, you will be asked to log in to your existing account to start a new application.
The application includes sections that will ask you to provide us with personal/biographical information, contact information, citizenship details, your past or current college/university, and degree details. You will be able to enter the names and contact information of your recommenders and upload supporting materials to your application. You may upload supporting documents while completing the application form or after you have submitted your application in your Application Status Portal.
You do not need official transcripts or test scores to apply. Unofficial copies are sufficient for application review, but students are encouraged to provide official copies if they have them.
A non-refundable fee of $100 is required to apply for Spring 2025 or later terms. The application fee for Fall 2024 is $85. After you submit your application form, you can pay the application fee online in your Application Status Portal with a credit card or e-check.
Please upload a brief personal statement describing your educational objectives, your academic experience, and why you're interested in the program. There is no required length or word limit for the statement.
Upload a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to your application. Your resume or CV should include details about your education, employment, and internship history. Pertinent research experience should be included as well.
Copies of transcript(s) for all post-secondary schoolwork must be uploaded with your application for initial review. Upon an offer of admission, accepted applicants will be required to submit official transcripts and proof of degree(s).
GRE scores are optional for this program. If you would like to take the GRE, you can arrange to take it through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Official scores should come directly from ETS.
Note: the University at Buffalo Institutional Code is 2925.
International applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. The chart below outlines acceptable test types and the university's minimum score required for admission. All applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide proof of English proficiency.
Copies may be submitted for initial review. Official scores must be sent directly to UB from the testing agency.
| Test Type | University Minimum Score | To Order... |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL (IBT) (including MyBest scores) TOEFL Home Edition | 79 | Use Institution Code 2925 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8.5 | Use Institution Code 2925 |
| TOEFL ITP Plus | 550 | Use Institution Code 2925 |
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator | 6.5 | Select "University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY)" |
| 55 | Select "University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY)" | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE) | 185 | Select "University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY)" |
| Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) | 185 | Select "University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY)" |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | 120 | ADA Department of Testing will report your official scores to central application services |
Exam results must be dated within two years from your proposed date of admission and remain valid upon entering the term for which you applied.
It is strongly recommended to make test arrangements early in the year so sufficient time can be allowed for the results to be reported before application deadlines.
Exemptions to English Language Proficiency requirements can be found on The Graduate School website.
The MS program may be completed in one of two ways:
- A formal research thesis representing 3 or 6 credits, satisfactory performance in an oral defense of thesis examination, and completion of 24 or 27 credits of non-thesis course work.
- An ePortfolio using the content of their course work.
Master's Thesis
If you wish to fulfill the MS degree requirements by means of a thesis, you must first find a faculty member who shares your interest in a topic and is willing to supervise your efforts. This person will constitute the committee that must ultimately read and approve your work. Each thesis must be successfully defended in an oral examination.
A limit is imposed by the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) on the number of thesis credits which are applicable toward graduate degree requirements. For the MS degree with a thesis, a maximum of six credit hours for thesis (plus at least 24 credit hours of course work) may be applied. A minimum of 3 credit hours of thesis work is required. You should register for EE 599 while you are working on an MS thesis.
Instructions governing the preparation of theses appear in several university publications, including one entitled Instructions for Preparing Theses and Dissertations. Consult these guidelines before preparing your final manuscript.
The typing of a thesis is the responsibility of the student. There are editors and typesetting programs available on the university computer system which can be used for manuscript preparation.
E-Portfolio
In their final semester of study, MS students register for EE 616: Technical Synthesis and Communication (0 credits). During this course, students will create an ePortfolio using the content of their specific course work. Reflections should be considered from the first semester. Faculty evaluations (Pass/Fail) of the ePortfolio occur at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students may take an incomplete for one semester only.
The ePortfolio minimally consists of an About Me page, at least two written reflections in a student’s focus area and at least two in an outside area, an integrated learning page, and a professionally written electronic CV.
An information session will be conducted by the Graduate Academic Coordinator each semester. Students will be contacted in their semester to register.
Time Limit for Degree
The time limit for finishing all MS degree requirements is two years from the first registration date in the graduate program, excluding approved leaves of absence. A petition for an extension of time limit requires departmental approval. The student must be currently making active progress toward the degree. The SEAS Divisional Committee will consider each petition and, in certain cases, it may set a deadline for completion of the program. The extension of time limit is normally granted for a period of one year or less.
Non-Applicable Credits
Credits in the following courses are not applicable toward the minimum requirements for the Master's degree programs:
- Supervised Teaching
- Supervised Research
- Departmental Seminar
Questions?
For questions about the Electrical Engineering MS program, contact us at eegradapply@buffalo.edu. For questions about admission or your application, contact gradeng@buffalo.edu.