Graduate Programs

The University of Tennessee Graduate Catalog is the official source of the department’s academic programs, courses, policies, and procedures.

• Computer Engineering Major, MS
• Computer Engineering Major, PhD
• Computer Science Major, MS
• Computer Science Major, PhD
• Computer Science Minor
• Dual MS-MBA Program – Computer Engineering
• Dual MS-MBA Program – Computer Science
• Dual MS-MBA Program – Electrical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering Major, MS
• Electrical Engineering Major, PhD

The EECS department offers the following Majors, Degrees, and Concentrations:

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The qualifying examination is prepared by EECS faculty and consists of a written examination covering courses required in the undergraduate electrical and computer engineering curriculum. The qualifying examination is offered twice each year (January and August) and a student is to take it the first time it is offered after the student enrolls in the program.

You pass the exam if you pass all three areas (CS530, CS560, and CS580 or CS581). As a bonus, you have now also passed the MS Non-thesis Exam and may apply 30 credit hours towards an MS degree. This requires that you file the MS Admission to Candidacy Form and temporarily switch to the MS program. If you do this over the summer, your MS will be conferred in the fall, otherwise it will be conferred in the spring. Now, for the PhD you also need to file an Admission to Candidacy form. You do that after having presented your research proposal. And then all you have left is the dissertation.

If you failed the exam (be that a single area or all of it) then you need to retake it before you can do any of the above. That is, you will not be allowed to have it count towards an MS degree since you cannot both fail and pass the exam at the same time. If you fail a single area the second time around, we will grant you an MS degree. If you fail two or more areas the second time around, then the faculty may decide to allow you to try for an MS degree through a PILOT (Project In Lieu Of Thesis) or a thesis although it by no means is guaranteed.

You pass the exam if you pass two of the three areas (CS530, CS560, and CS580 or CS581). You will need to file the MS Admission to Candidacy Form in order to graduate. This form is due in the Graduate School the semester prior to the one you intend to graduate. Thus, for fall graduation it should have been filed in the summer. If you forgot, you can plead with the Graduate School but in all likelihood your degree won't be conferred until the spring assuming you file the form in the fall.