Administrative Details of the Graduate Degree Program
a. Residency Requirements and Transfer Credits
MSEEE Program Duration
It is expected that no more than three years (and typically two years or less) shall be required for completion of all requirements for a thesis or non-thesis MSEEE degree, even if the student conducts research in absentia or participates in a graduate student coop experience. In the event that more than three years are required, the student and advisor should contact the EEE Graduate Office to discuss plans for completion, as no student will be permitted to register as a master’s degree student beyond three years without the prior review and approval of the Graduate Committee. At least one-half (15) of the total credit hours (30) used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned at the Purdue University, West Lafayette campus. The Combined Degree Option allows students in several undergraduate programs on Purdue’s main campus to complete the additional MSEEE graduate coursework within one year (i.e., the additional MSEEE graduate coursework beyond that earned while still an undergraduate student).
Ph.D. Program Duration
It is expected that no more than six years (beyond the master’s degree) shall be required for completion of all requirements for the Ph.D. degree (and typically four years or less), even if the student conducts research in absentia or participates in a graduate student coop experience.
In the event that more than six years are required, the student and advisor should contact the EEE Graduate Office to discuss plans for completion, as no student will be permitted to register as a Ph.D. degree student (or Ph.D. candidate) beyond six years without the prior review and approval of the Graduate Committee. At least one-third (30) of the total credit hours (90) used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned at the Purdue University, West Lafayette campus (including research credit hours). At least two full semesters (of registration) must elapse between the Preliminary Exam and the Final Defense.
For students wishing to transfer course credits from another college or university of recognized standing, the transfer process happens when the student submits their POS, as there is no mechanism to approve transfer courses prior to the generation of the POS. It is strongly advised that the student discuss with their major professor the appropriateness of each transfer course before the POS is electronically generated. For courses taken elsewhere, only courses with a grade of B- or better can be used on the POS. An official transcript(s) with the courses to be transferred must be on file with Purdue University’s Graduate School, if courses are to be applied to an MSEEE or Ph.D. POS, or if any associated research credits are to be applied.
b. Ethical Conduct of Research
All EEE graduate students should be familiar with and adhere to the Purdue University Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct available at:
https://www.purdue.edu/purdue/about/integrity_statement.php
First semester EEE graduate students are required to perform the “Responsible Conduct of Research” for Physical Sciences from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), available online at:
To do this, click on the "Register" link under create an account. Enter "Purdue University" for Organization Affiliation. Enter your name as written on your Purdue ID. Enter a username and password of your choice, and set a security question. Enter your gender, ethnicity, and race. Select No for CME/CEU credits, and continue to answer the remaining questions.
First semester EEE graduate students are required to perform the Discipline Specific Responsible Conduct of Research.
More information about this two-part requirement may be found here: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/research/rcr/index.php
Students should notify eeegrad@purdue.edu once both requirements are complete.
c. Financial Support
Unless a student receives an official letter from the EEE Graduate Program Office stating that the student will be supported financially, the EEE program has made no financial commitment to the student. Many Master’s students invest their own resources to support their education and obtain the knowledge and credentials needed for success in professional practice.
However, in order to compete for the very best graduate students, financial support is often provided as an incentive to attend Purdue University. The primary source of these funds is from external research grants that support Graduate Student Research Assistantships (RAs). A limited number of Teaching Assistantships (TAs) in EEE and in other departments on campus, and competitive College and University fellowships are available.
Graduate students who are U.S. citizens also may compete for external fellowships, such as those awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy. International students may compete for external fellowships awarded in their country of citizenship, including Fulbright fellowships. Funding is competitive, however for Ph.D. students that are in good standing, good faith efforts are made to financially support the student.
d. Course Registration
For each upcoming semester, course registration begins with a meeting between the student and the academic advisor (major professor) to discuss courses the student should enroll in. Once courses are agreed upon, students will register for courses on the Scheduling Assistant, found in myPurdue: https://mypurdue.purdue.edu/
At this time, the student is provided will use a PIN with which they can register for classes online. All graduate students will use the PIN 999999.
Students enrolled in 69800 or 69900 need to have a documented agreement of the research expectations and outcomes that justify the enrolled credits. More information about registering for research credits may be found here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE/Academics/CurrentStudents/Graduate/ResearchRegistration
Thesis students who have completed all necessary coursework, must register for research hours (EEE 69800 or EEE 69900) if they are working on their thesis/dissertation in any way. Students should register for research hours in proportion to their effort. Students are required to register for research during any semester an exam is held (preliminary exam, MS or Ph.D. defense exam), unless they are CAND 992 or CAND 993. Rules regarding the necessary credit hours that each student must be registered for at any time are stipulated by the Graduate School (https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool) must be followed. Rules regarding “research in absentia” also are documented by the Graduate School.
e. International Students
It is especially important for international students to understand how course and research credit registration may affect their visa status.
Questions involving services related to immigration statuses may be forwarded to the ISS Office:
“The Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) is committed to the internationalization of Purdue University by providing appropriate services and support to international clientele and various University departments and offices. ISS seeks to enhance the academic, cultural, and social pursuits of students and scholars from abroad through knowledge and expertise in immigration, intercultural engagement, and advising. ISS is a constituent unit of Purdue’s Global Partnership and Programs.”
More information about the ISS Office for current students may be found here: https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/student/current/index.html