Graduate

Congratulations on being admitted to San José State University’s Electrical Engineering program! We’re here to guide you through a few essential steps you should take when starting your journey with us. Below is a list of things to do, things to avoid, and some resources to help get you started.

What You Need to Know and Do After Being Accepted

Follow the Instructions in your Acceptance Letter

• Carefully follow the instructions in your acceptance letter. Remember, the requirements in your letter may be different from the requirements of other students. Your acceptance letter will be the most reliable resource of information on how to continue into the program.

General Steps to Enrollment

• Please check SJSU’s Steps to Enrollment for information on what you should do as a new student in the university.
  
  
• The link above contains general information about steps that all students need to complete after being admitted to San José State. 

Contacts:

• Make sure that your email address and telephone number are up-to-date on your MySJSU account.
  
  
• Check your email regularly to obtain information and to address requests on time.

Important Websites:

• Explore the rest of the EE Department website to understand the Graduate Program better.
  
  
• Find more information about what’s required to earn your degree by visiting the Electrical Engineering catalog page.  

• Graduate Advising at the College of Engineering
  and link it to https://www.sjsu.edu/essc/gess/index.php

• Explore the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) website.
  
  
• Explore the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (GS&R) website to obtain important university information.

Courses

• After attending orientation, you can change your schedule by dropping and adding classes.
  
  
• If you want to enroll in a class that is already full, attend the first lecture and ask the professor for a permission code. If there is still space available, you may add the class.
  
  
• Note that the waiting list is only for the instructor to know the status of their class, and it does not guarantee that you will be automatically enrolled when space is available.
  
  
• Make sure to enroll in your classes on time and pay all fees by their deadline. Timely payments will help you avoid possible admission problems.
  
  
• If you cannot enroll in the classes you want, enroll in other courses that are still open and pay your tuition on time to avoid possible admission problems.
  
  
• The EE Department guarantees that new students will be able to enroll in two core courses during their first semester at SJSU. Note that these courses may not be your preferred sessions.
  
  
• You can obtain catalog descriptions of all EE courses by searching in the SJSU Catalog.

For International Students:

• You can find information about immigration, visas, conditions of on-campus and off-campus employment, internships, and more by visiting the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Don’t contact the EE Department for add-codes/permission-codes. Professors will give these codes at the beginning of the semester after their class starts.
  
  
• Don’t contact the EE Department requesting an advisor. You will select your area advisor after attending the orientation session.
  
  
• Don’t contact the EE Department regarding payments or financial questions. You can find financial information at the Bursar’s Office.
  
  

• Do attend all orientation sessions mentioned in your acceptance letter. Students that skip the orientation session tend to face difficulties during their time in the program.

   

Graduate FAQ

Upon Admission

• What should I do after receiving my acceptance letter from SJSU or the EE Department?

  • First and foremost, carefully follow any steps and procedures that your acceptance letter may outline. These are critical for making your admission process as seamless as possible.

    There are also some things you should see and do to make sure you’re caught up with everything for your first semester at SJSU:

    1. Make sure that your email address and telephone number are up-to-date on your MySJSU account.
       
       
    2. Check your email regularly so that you can obtain information and respond to university or department requests on time.
       
       
    3. Explore the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations website.
       
       
    4. Explore the College of Graduate Studies website.
       
       
    5. Make sure to enroll in your classes and pay any fees by the deadline to avoid possible admission problems.
       
       
    6. Make sure you can attend the orientation sessions mentioned in letters or emails sent to you.
• What should I do during my first semester at SJSU?

  • During your first semester at SJSU, you should:

    1. Complete all admission conditions stated in your acceptance letter.
       
       
    2. Decide on your area of specialization.
       
       
    3. Decide which option you’ll take to complete the program. View the Degree Requirements page for more info.

     

    Suppose we admit you as a “Conditionally Classified” student. In that case, you may apply to change your status to “Classified” at the end of your first semester if you complete the conditions specified in the acceptance letter. 

    Classified status is required for university jobs and internships, and you must complete the requirements of being a “Classified” student before applying for Candidacy.

• I was recently admitted to SJSU with another major. How can I transfer to the MSEE program?

  • Submit a Change of Major Request Form to the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) office. The EE Department Chair will evaluate your form after receiving the request form from GAPE. Transferable courses will be reviewed after the student successfully transfers to the MSEE program.

    Find the Change of Major Request Form

• I was admitted to the program this semester. Is it possible for me to start my studies next semester?

  • As a new graduate student, you must take at least one course during your first semester at SJSU. Otherwise, you will forfeit admission to the current semester, and you’ll have to re-apply to SJSU.

    Note: If you notify the Graduate Studies and Research office about your leave of absence, you might not have to re-submit all required documents.

    Find more information on Leaves of Absence from the Office of the Registrar

• Am I required to make an appointment with the Program Coordinator/Advisor immediately upon admission to the program?

  • Scheduling an appointment upon admission is not required. However, attending the new student orientation session is necessary. The EE Department will email you information regarding the orientation.

Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

• What is the GWAR?

  • The Graduate GWAR is a CSU-wide requirement that graduate students should complete before advancing to Candidacy. The purpose of the GWAR is for students to demonstrate their proficiency at writing in an academic setting at a graduate level.

    Find more information on the GWAR

• When should I complete the GWAR requirement?

  • You should complete the GWAR requirement during your first or second semester at SJSU. EE Graduate students can satisfy this requirement by completing EE 295 or ENGR 200W.

    Remember that you need to submit the Candidacy form a year before graduation. This form requires you to be a classified student who has satisfied the GWAR requirement.

    Find more information on Candidacy and graduation deadlines

Curriculum and Specializations

• I am admitted as a classified student. Do I still need to complete two core courses?

  • Yes, two core courses are required to complete the program and earn your degree.

• What is the degree course curriculum and structure?

  • All information regarding the course curriculum and structure is available on the Electrical Engineering catalog page.

    Find more information about courses and the curriculum

• What are the specializations offered by the EE Department?

  • Find more information about specializations in SJSU’s Electrical Engineering catalog page.

• When should I declare a specialization?

  • There is no formal process to declare or change your specialization. Specializations are not official, but declaring one helps you know what technical area to focus on. Your degree will be Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) regardless of your chosen area.

Courses and Enrollment

• When should I remove my admission conditions?

  • You should complete all admission conditions stated in your acceptance letter as soon as possible to avoid delaying your graduation.

• Do I have to take two core courses during my first semester at SJSU?

  • You do not have to, but we strongly recommend taking two core courses during your first semester.

    Most elective courses require background knowledge from the core courses. Completing two core courses during your first semester will let you enroll in elective courses for your second semester. 

     

    Note: If you don’t complete two core courses at the end of your first semester, you may have difficulties completing the program on time.

• When should I apply to become a Classified Student?

  • Please apply to become a classified student as soon as you complete the admission conditions stated in your acceptance letter. We strongly recommend doing so as quickly as possible.

     

    Note: As a classified student, you can apply for internships, scholarships, and departmental jobs. 

• As a new student, can I enroll for courses after the orientation?

  • Yes, after attending the orientation, you can begin adding or dropping courses. Remember to enroll and pay for your classes on time to avoid possible admission problems.

    If a class is full, you may enroll in it during the first few weeks of the semester by receiving a permission code from the course instructor.

     

    Note: The EE Department guarantees that newly admitted students will be able to enroll in two core courses during their first semester in the program, but they may not be their preferred sessions.

• I’m on a course’s waiting list. Will I be guaranteed admission into the class once I visit campus?

  • The waiting list is only for the instructor to know the status of their class. Your name on the waiting list does not mean you will be automatically enrolled when a class has space available.

    Instead, you can attend a class’ first lecture of the semester and ask the instructor for a permission code.

     

    Note: The EE Department guarantees that newly admitted students will be able to enroll in two core courses during their first semester in the program, but they may not be their preferred sessions.

• I am the first one on the waiting list of a full class. Will this give me priority to enroll in this class when a seat is available?

  • No, the waiting list only serves as an indicator for scheduling purposes. It is optional for an instructor to use the waiting list to decide the priority of issuing permission numbers.

    You need to communicate with the instructor and ask for a permission code to enroll yourself in the class.

• What elective courses can I take?

  • Visit our Graduate Syllabi page for a full list of elective courses.

• Can I take classes from other departments as elective courses?

  • With preapproval from the Graduate Advisor, you can have one graduate-level course from another department as an elective. Contact the Graduate Advisor for permission before taking a class from another department. Otherwise, the course will not count toward your degree progress.

• Can I take EE undergraduate courses as elective courses?

  • With preapproval from the Graduate Advisor, you can have one EE undergraduate course as an elective. Contact the Graduate Advisor for permission before taking a class from another department. Otherwise, the course will not count toward your degree progress.

• Can I transfer courses that I completed at other universities to the MSEE program at SJSU?

  • Yes, you can transfer, at most, two graduate-level courses from other U.S. accredited universities to the MSEE program at SJSU. The transferred courses must be equivalent in level and contents to our EE elective courses and must be within the Seven Year Limit.

    You must meet with the Graduate Advisor to discuss if the courses are equivalent. If so, you need to submit the Request for Validation of Transfer Credit form from the GAPE forms web page.

• Can I transfer courses from SJSU Open University to the MSEE program?

  • SJSU treats Open University courses as courses from other U.S. accredited universities. You can transfer, at most, two graduate-level courses from U.S. accredited universities to our MSEE program. Transferred courses must be within the Seven Year Limit, and they must be equivalent in level and content to EE elective courses.

    Submit the Request for Validation of Transfer Credit form from the GAPE Forms web page to request a credit transfer.

• Can I transfer courses from extension or Open University courses of other universities?
  • No, you may not transfer courses from extension or Open University courses of other universities.
• Can I take off-campus courses as part of my degree requirements?
  • Unfortunately, you cannot take off-campus courses to meet your degree requirements.
• When can I take elective courses?

  • You can take elective courses anytime as long as you satisfy the pre-requisite for the course.

    However, the department strongly recommends that you enroll in elective courses after completing the two core courses since most electives require background knowledge from the core classes.

• Can I take a class without completing all its prerequisites?

  • If you believe you have sufficient background knowledge to take the class, you can enroll and request the instructor’s approval.

    If the instructor denies your request, you must drop the class during the first two weeks of the semester.

• I got a “C” in a degree course. Do I have to repeat the class?

  • It depends on your status and the type in class we’re talking about:

    “C” is a passing grade for graduate-level courses. However, your admission conditions may require other grades (like a “B” grade) for specific classes, such as core courses. If so, you must meet the grade requirement conditions for those specific classes.

     

    Note: To avoid probation, you must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The cumulative GPA and the GPA of all the course grades on the student’s Candidacy form must be 3.0 or higher to graduate.

• How late can I add or drop a class without penalty?

  • You may add or drop courses without penalty during the first 14 days of the semester.

    See the Academic Calendar for exact dates and deadlines

• What is the maximum course load?

  • The maximum load limit for graduate students is 16 units. However, we don’t recommend students take more than nine units of Graduate courses.

     

    Note: To take more than 16 units, you must submit a Graduate Student Petition for Excess Units form.

    Find the Graduate Student Petition for Excess Units

• What is the minimum course load?

  • Domestic students must take at least one class each semester to keep their student status. 

    International students need to have a full load of nine units every semester. Students must submit a Reduced Course Load request to reduce their minimum course load.

    If an international student takes less than nine units of a semester, they must file a Reduced Load Request during the first week of the semester. The approval of a request depends on the student’s specific situation. (For example, “this is my last semester.”)

    Find the Reduced Course Load Request

• What if I don’t take classes for a semester?

  • You will lose your active status if you don’t take any classes for two consecutive semesters.

    Students must file a Leave of Absence form before the first semester of leave to avoid losing active status while they’re gone. Otherwise, the student must re-apply to the university to regain active status.

    Find information about Leave of Absence policies
    

Master’s Project and Thesis

• What are the differences between a master’s project and a master’s thesis?

  • A thesis has more rigid requirements of contents, a specific reporting style and must follow the university’s required report format. In contrast, a project’s requirements, contents, and layout are defined by the department and the student’s project advisor, not the university.

    A project-track student must enroll in EE 297A and EE 297B in two consecutive semesters.

    A thesis-track student must enroll in EE 299A and EE 299B in two consecutive semesters.

     

    See the requirements for enrolling in these project/thesis courses

    Find the guidelines for project/thesis proposals and reports

    Learn the steps for Completing a Master’s Thesis

• How can I find a project/thesis advisor and decide my project/thesis topic?

  • Your advisor must be a full-time EE faculty member with expertise in your area of specialization. Contact a faculty member that you want to be your project/thesis advisor for a discussion.

    A list of project advisors and their specializations can be found here

• What are the pre-requisites for EE 297A, EE 299A, EE 297B, or EE 299B?

  • You can find the requirements and prerequisites for enrolling into project/thesis courses on the EE catalog. Visit the SJSU catalog for more information on MSEE courses and Degree Requirements.

     

    To enroll in the class, visit our Graduate forms page and find the applications.

• Due to an unforeseen situation, I can’t complete a thesis course this semester. What should I do?

  • Talk to your thesis committee chair. If the scope of your thesis changes or if you encounter documented unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from completing your thesis, your thesis committee chair may assign your grade as RP (Report in Progress). They will change your RP grade to CR (Credit) once you complete the thesis.

    You must complete the course requirements within one year. For each semester until your thesis is complete, you must enroll in a one-unit special section EE 1290R course to maintain your student status if you do not enroll in any other class.

    EE 1290R has no degree credit; therefore, it cannot be used on the candidacy form or to fulfill graduation requirements

Internships and Curricular Practical Training

The ISSS Office manages all information about CPT. Visit the ISSS website for answers to your questions.

Note that international students must enroll in a one-unit EE 298i course each semester and summer while working as Interns. EE 298i units do not count toward the units required for the degree.

Applying for Assistant Positions

• How can I apply for a Teaching Associate, Research Associate, or Instructional Student Assistant positions?

  • Visit our Jobs and Internships page on our department website to find more information on the positions and the application process.

Graduation

• What paperwork should I complete before my graduation?

  • You should submit the Petition for Advancement to Candidacy form, complete all academic requirements, and submit the Graduation Application.

     

    Find these forms and applications on the GAPE website

    Find information on Candidacy and Graduation deadlines

    Find additional information about what to do before completing your degree

• I already filed my Candidacy form. Can I replace a course on the form with another class?

  • You can fill out and submit the Course Substitution in Master’s Degree Program form on the GAPE website.

    Find the Course Substitution form

• I applied for graduation, but I cannot complete the graduation requirements by the semester I initially identified on my graduation application. What should I do?

  • You need to reactivate your graduation for a future date by submitting the Graduation Date Change Request form.

    Find the Graduation Date Change Request form