1 Should I Consider Going to Grad School? Dr. Itamar Elhanany College of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science The University of Tennessee at Knoxville Fall 2008 September 17, 2008

2 The EECS Graduate Programs The priorities of the University have changed … The University, the College of Engineering and the EECS Department want to move up in the “rankings”The University, the College of Engineering and the EECS Department want to move up in the “rankings” Increased emphasis on graduate education and researchIncreased emphasis on graduate education and research New opportunities emerge from the ECE/CS mergerNew opportunities emerge from the ECE/CS merger The ECE faculty has changed About 14 faculty have retired in recent yearsAbout 14 faculty have retired in recent years New faculty are energetic/motivated to meet new standardsNew faculty are energetic/motivated to meet new standards Senior faculty have several well-established research programsSenior faculty have several well-established research programs Now is a good time to be a graduate student UTKNow is a good time to be a graduate student UTK

3 EECS now covers more areas than ever … Robotics and computer vision Electromagnetic Power Systems Engineering Analog circuit design Computer architecture Embedded systems VLSINetworking Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence Communications Data mining Bioinformatics

4 Graduate Student Recruitment & Retention is Crucial Faculty productivity is reflected in the number and quality of graduate studentsFaculty productivity is reflected in the number and quality of graduate students Presently we have 170+ graduate students 60% are MS students Two-thirds are international studentsPresently we have 170+ graduate students 60% are MS students Two-thirds are international students An increase of at least 50% in graduate student enrollment would benefit the departmentAn increase of at least 50% in graduate student enrollment would benefit the department Reversal of MS/PhD student ratio would benefit the departmentReversal of MS/PhD student ratio would benefit the department Increasing the domestic component in our graduate student population is highly desirableIncreasing the domestic component in our graduate student population is highly desirable The department offers all three degrees, but let’s talk about the ECE side …

5 Financial support through grad school Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GRAs) are offered in units of ¼-time and faculty offer additional ¼-time RA position Great opportunity to do teaching and research Great opportunity to do teaching and research The number of GTA positions is limited (33 at the moment), the number of RA positions is limited only by research contracts provisions The number of GTA positions is limited (33 at the moment), the number of RA positions is limited only by research contracts provisions There are now 6 Bodenheimer Fellowships Min Kao fellowships Several fellowships are available through the COE

6 Programs offered MS and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering have been approved by THEC, effective Fall 2005 Masters programs “Courses only” MS option has been approved “Courses only” MS option has been approved A non-thesis, project option MS has been added A non-thesis, project option MS has been added MS/MBA program offered MS/MBA program offered Ph.D. programs A “Direct PhD” program has been approved A “Direct PhD” program has been approved Exceptional student Exceptional student Avoid the need for “double-thesis” writing Avoid the need for “double-thesis” writing

7 Admission Requirements 3.0 Cumulative GPA plus 3.0 in senior year Exceptions can be made (see the chair of the Graduate Committee – Dr. Blalock) GRE

8 MS Graduation Requirements Thesis Option 24 course hours 6 thesis hours Project Option 27 course hours 3 hours for project-in-lieu of theses (ECE 501) Courses Only Option 30 course hours

9 Differences between M.S. and Ph.D. degrees Ph.D. degree necessitates novelty Your work needs to be new (not done before) Your work needs to be new (not done before) You need to prove it via publications You need to prove it via publications You spend greater % of time on research You spend greater % of time on research Expected to be an “expert” in your field of work Expected to be an “expert” in your field of work Math component is stronger (required 6 credit) Math component is stronger (required 6 credit) M.S. degree Require to contribute to a focused area Require to contribute to a focused area However, in smaller capacity than Ph.D. However, in smaller capacity than Ph.D. No formal publication record required (although encouraged) No formal publication record required (although encouraged)

10 What do I do as a grad students? You study Graduate courses, seminars etc. Graduate courses, seminars etc. You work on your research topic Read papers to help identify research goals Read papers to help identify research goals Develop a thesis with advisor Develop a thesis with advisor Write papers (conferences, journals, etc.) Write papers (conferences, journals, etc.) Present work at conferences Present work at conferences You teach and mentor As a TA As a TA Often as an RA (to more “junior” students) Often as an RA (to more “junior” students) Summer internships Great work/research experience Great work/research experience e.g. Cisco, Broadcom, Google, NEC … e.g. Cisco, Broadcom, Google, NEC …

11 Reasons for Going to Graduate School Advance career Better-paying jobs Better-paying jobs More interesting jobs More interesting jobs Jobs that require graduate degrees (e.g. research-oriented positions) Jobs that require graduate degrees (e.g. research-oriented positions) Increase depth in area of concentration and add breadth Change area of concentration Personal satisfaction Delay entry into job market

12 Is Graduate School Right for You? It is a personal decision—get the information you need to make an informed decision Ask faculty about research opportunities in your area/s of interest Talk with graduate students about their experience Consult with your personal advisors (parents and others)

13 Questions ?