Graduate Programs

The ECpE department also offers coursework-only Master of Engineering degrees, traditional Master of Science degrees, and graduate certificates online. These programs are convenient for working professionals.

Coursework-only

• Master’s in Computer Engineering
• Master’s in Cyber Security
• Master’s in Electrical Engineering
• Master’s in Systems Engineering

Traditional Online Master’s Degree Programs

(Thesis or Creative Component Required)

• Master’s in Human Computer Interaction
• Master’s in Cyber Security

Certificate Programs

• Cybersecurity graduate certificate
• Enterprise Cybersecurity Management certificate
• Human Computer Interaction certificate
• Nondestructive Evaluation graduate certificate
• Systems Engineering graduate certificate

• Master’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering require 30 credits.
• Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering requires 72 credits.

See Program of Study Requirements for complete details on graduate degree requirements.

Iowa State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECpE) has supplementary rules for graduate students in electrical and computer engineering known as the department’s Graduate Rules and Procedures. These rules, together with the ISU Graduate College Handbook, summarize rules and regulations governing graduate study in the ECpE department. The rules cover admission’s policies, graduate advising, degree requirements, PhD qualifying process, research area courses, and more.

Students pursuing a graduate program in the ECpE department are strongly urged to be conversant with these rules.

Current ECpE Guidelines and Procedures

The ECpE Graduate program should produce graduates who fulfill the following:

1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge and scholarly literature in their fields of study.
2. Understand ethical principles and conduct responsible research.
3. Effectively communicate and disseminate their technical contributions.
4. Students pursuing theses/dissertations shall also demonstrate ability to conduct state-of-the-art research and expand the knowledge base in their fields of study.

Iowa State is a Carnegie R1 “very high research activity” university, which means you can participate in pioneering research. You can research topics in electrical and computer engineering ranging from developing a novel ultrasound therapy system to inventing new approaches and techniques for enhancing cybersecurity.

As a graduate student in ECpE, you’ll have access to national, state-of-the-art research facilities, such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory, powerful supercomputers and the world’s first virtual cyber defense laboratory—the Internet-Scale Event and Attack Generation Environment.

• ECpE-affiliated research institutes, centers and laboratories
• ECpE Research Focus Areas
• ECpE Faculty Expertise

Admission to our graduate degree programs strongly depends on students meeting application requirements, as well as on the ability to match a student’s area of interest and research specialties with the needs of faculty.

Learn how to apply.

All applications to the MS and Ph.D. degree programs will receive full consideration for available funding opportunities, primarily research or teaching assistantships. All master’s and Ph.D. students with assistantships receive a monthly stipend and tuition support. Opportunities for scholarships and fellowships also are available.

Learn more about graduate program financial aid.