Skip to content Skip to main navigation Report an accessibility issue

New Graduate Student Orientation

The Department of
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
New Graduate Student Orientation
Monday August 16, 2021
Dr. Jens Gregor
Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Department Head
jgregor@utk.edu
MK311
974-4399

 

Click here to download a PDF version of the information below

 

Welcome to UTK & EECS

  • Departmental overview
  • Abbreviated Who’s Who
  • MS and PhD requirements
  • Assistantship expectations
  • Important deadlines
  • Helpful on-line resources
  • Student organizations

 

EECS Degrees Offered

  • Electrical Engineering: BS, MS, PhD
  • Computer Engineering: BS, MS, PhD
  • Computer Science: BS, MS, PhD
  • CS Minor (not available to CpE students)
  • AI & ML Graduate Certificate
  • Fire Protection Engineering Certificate
  • Power and Energy Systems Certificate
  • Intercollegiate Graduate Minor in
    Computational Science: MS, PhD

 

Faculty and Student Numbers

Professors Assoc. Prof. Asst. Prof. Lecturers Total
23 9 12 12 56

 

Fall 2020 overall student enrollment

Students Elec. Engr. Comp. Engr. Comp. Sci. Total
BS 187 167 493 847
MS 32 14 39 85
PhD 99 20 55 174

 

Fall 2021 new graduate students

Students Elec. Engr. Comp. Engr. Comp. Sci. Total
MS 5 5 11 21
PhD 6 3 6 15

 

Business Office Staff: MK401

  • Ms. Janie Fielden – Graduate students
  • Ms. Angela Joshi – Purchasing
  • TBA – Undergraduate students
  • Ms. Erika Adams – Business manager
  • Ms. Angie Chance – Front desk
  • Ms. Lori Houser – HR & visas
  • Ms. Melanie Kelley – Travel M-Z, payroll
  • Ms. Linda Robinson – Financial specialist
  • Ms. Tracy Smith – Travel A-L, reimbursement

 

IT Staff: MK423

  • TBA – Manager
  • Mr. Justin Forbes – Staff
  • Mr. Joe Jones – Staff
  • Mr. Drew Schneider – Staff
  • Mr. Markus Iturriaga Woelfel – Staff
  • Graduate assistants
  • Undergraduate assistants

 

Your Major Professor

  • Academic Advisor/Mentor
    • Guides your thesis/dissertation research
    • Keeps track of your academic performance
    • Answers questions about degree program
    • Serves as your graduate committee chair
  • Everybody must have one …
    • If you don’t have one, find one (ASAP!)
    • Dr. Gregor only meant as place holder
    • Keep Janie Fielden informed of changes

 

MS Requirements

  • Min 30 credit hours
  • Option 1: MS Thesis
    • 24 course credits + 6 x 500
  • Option 2: MS Project
    • 27 course credits + 3 x 501
  • Option 3: Courses-Only
    • 30 course credits, no exam
  • Course requirements vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
  • All MS students need advisor + committee
  • Max 10 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
  • Min 20 hours of 5XX/6XX incl 500/501
  • Thesis: Plagiarism check by iThenticate
  • Committee: EECS advisor + 2 TT faculty (one member from minor if applicable)

PhD Requirements

  • BS-to-PhD: Min 72 credit hours
    • 39 course credits + 24 x 600 + 9 either type
  • MS-to-PhD: Min 48 credit hours
    • 24 course credits + 24 x 600 (non-UT students)
    • 15 course credits + 24 x 600 + 9 either type (UT)
  • Course specifics vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
  • Continuous enrollment in 600 enforced!
  • All PhD students need advisor + committee
  • BS: Max 12 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
  • MS: Max 6 hours of 4XX (grad catalog only)
  • Min 6 hours of 6XX excl 600 (dissertation)
  • Residence: 6+6+6 or 9+9 back-to-back load
  • Comprehensive exam: Research proposal
  • Continuous enrollment: 600 (dissertation)
  • Dissertation: Plagiarism check by iThenticate
  • Committee: EECS advisor + min 2 TT faculty + 1 external member (other academic unit)

Concurrent MS for Direct PhD

  • 30 credit hours
  • Option 1: MS Thesis
    • 24 course credits + 6 x 500
  • Option 2: MS Project
    • 27 course credits + 3 x 501
  • Option 3: Courses-Only
    • 30 course credits, no exam
  • Course requirements vary by major – talk to your advisor and/or see graduate catalog
  • All options require advisor + committee

Click here to download the Request for Concurrent Master’s Degree form

 

Min. GPA / Repeating a Course

  • Graduate students must maintain 3.0 GPA
  • Low GPA results in academic probation (followed by termination if not corrected)
  • Only failed courses (D/F) may be repeated
  • Max one repeat per course, max two total
  • Graduate School petition required (filed by student and advisor, not department)
  • All grades remain on transcript and count toward GPA – may impact assistantships

 

ECE PhD Qualifier

  • Critical literature review
  • Presented to committee
  • Done during first year

 

CS MS/PhD Core Courses

  • CS530 + CS540|561|562 + CS580|581
  • MS: Grades of C or better required
  • PhD: Grades of B or better required

 

Paid Internships

  • Domestic students: Any time, any where
  • International students: Need CIE approval
  • Curricular Practical Training (CS/ECE 592)
  • Optional Practical Training (no course credit)

  • PhD: 600 Continuous Enrollment Exemption

Click here to download the 600 Continuous Enrollment Exemption form

 

MS Admission to Candidacy

  • Form that lists all credits to be counted toward degree (courses + thesis/project)

http://gradschool.utk.edu/forms-central/

  • Signed by advisor and committee, then by Director of Graduate Studies
  • Must be filed before graduating semester
  • See Graduate School webpage for dates and other information regarding graduation

http://gradschool.utk.edu/graduation/

Click here to download the Admission to Candidacy, Masters or Specialist Degree form

 

PhD Admission to Candidacy

  • Form that lists all credits to be counted toward degree (courses + dissertation)

http://gradschool.utk.edu/forms-central/

  • Signed by advisor and committee, then by Director of Graduate Studies
  • Filed following research proposal defense
  • Must be filed before graduating semester
  • See Graduate School webpage for dates and other information regarding graduation

http://gradschool.utk.edu/graduation/

Click here to download the Admission to Candidacy, Doctoral Degree form

 

The Graduate School Staff

 

How to Ask For Help

 

GTA Requirements

  • OPIc (aka SPEAK Test)
    • Required if native language not English
    • Repeat test until score is Advanced High
    • Lower score limits student interactions
    • Note: Was done online Aug 2-13, 2021
  • Work with instructor to prepare
    • Labs, homework, test, office hours etc.
  • Must register for 6-11 hrs. per semester
  • GTAs are evaluated each semester

 

GRA Requirements

  • Work with project leader to
    • Deliver research results, publish papers
  • Must register for 6-11 hrs. per semester
  • GRAs are evaluated each semester

 

GTA and GRA Expectations

  • This is a job. Take it seriously.
  • Be on time. Work your hours.
  • Deliver what’s asked for when it’s due.
  • Be respectful to fellow students.
  • Graduate School offers “Best Practices in Teaching Programs for Graduate Assistants Certification”

http://gradschool.utk.edu/orientation/teaching.shtml

 

Student Organizations

  • ACM: CS student chapter
  • IEEE: ECE student chapter
  • Systers: Women in EECS @ UTK
  • HackUTK: Computer and network security
  • UTKML: Machine learning
  • UTARC: Amateur radio club

 

Get Social!

  • Look out for departmental events
  • Connect with EECS on social media for news, photos, videos, job postings, etc.
  • Make friends. Network. Participate.