Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Plans of Study
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) both offer plans of study leading to Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degrees with specialization in electric drivetrains, such as found in hybrid and electric vehicles, including plug-in and extended range electric vehicles. UCCS offers a formal MSEE option in Battery Controls (MSEE-BC). CU-Boulder offers an informal emphasis area within their MSEE program, listing courses associated with Vehicle Power Electronics (MSEE-VPE). Students wishing to pursue the MSEE-BC should apply to UCCS; students wishing to pursue MSEE-VPE should apply to CU-Boulder.
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering option in Battery Controls (MSEE-BC)
The MSEE-BC comprises core courses, elective courses, and an MSEE thesis or project as shown in the graphic and described below.
Admission
Primary admission requirements for the MSEE-BC are the same as for the UCCS MSEE degree. See MSEE degree admission requirements for more information. Students who desire admission to the Battery Controls option to the MSEE degree must additionally request, in writing, entrance to the Battery Controls option. Entrance to the Battery Controls option may be requested either at the time of application to the MSEE, or subsequent to admission to the MSEE, but at least one semester prior to conferral of the degree.
Standard admission to the Battery Controls option requires, in addition to standard MSEE requirements, evidence of academic maturity equivalent to completion with a grade of "B" or better of the following university-level coursework:
- Mathematics: Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations
- Science: Physics III (calculus based), General Chemistry I
- Engineering: Circuits II, Electronics I, Linear Systems
Provisional admission may be granted to students who do not meet all these requirements, subject to UCCS Graduate School rules and MSEE degree rules.
Thesis versus non-thesis tracks
Student should choose either a thesis or non-thesis track for the MSEE-BC program. For the thesis track, student completes twenty-four (24) semester hours of course work, as specified below, plus six (6) semester hours of thesis research. For the non-thesis track, student completes thirty (30) semester hours of course work, as specified below, plus a capstone project with associated Masters Report. Thesis and project requirements comply with existing UCCS MSEE degree requirements.
Required core courses
Students must complete the following six (6) core three-semester-hour courses:
- ECE 5710: Modeling, simulation and identification and of battery dynamics
- ECE 5720: Battery management and control
- ECE 5550: Applied Kalman filtering
- ECE 5560: System identification
- ECE 5570: Optimization methods for systems and control
- ECE 5590: Model predictive control
Elective courses
Student chooses two three-semester-hour elective courses from the following list if receiving an MSEE-BC with thesis track; otherwise student chooses four three-semester-hour elective courses from the following list:
- ECEN 5607: Power electronics for electrified transportation (transfer from CU-Boulder)
- ECEN 5737: Adjustable speed AC drives (transfer from CU-Boulder)
- ECE 5510: Feedback control systems
- ECE 5520: Multivariable control systems I
- ECE 5530: Multivariable control systems II
- ECE 5540: Digital control systems
- ECE 5580: Multivariable control systems: Analysis and design in frequency domain
Substitutions/Exceptions
Student may substitute up to two different relevant graduate courses from the Electrical and Computer Engineering or affiliated departments for elective courses with approval of the MSEE-BC program director. Student may not substitute any core course unless already taken by the student and applied to another degree. In that case, student may substitute from the elective course list.
Acceptable Grades
The student must have an overall graduate GPA of 3.0/4.0 in order to graduate. The student must have a grade of "C" or better in all courses applied toward the MSEE-BC degree option.
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering emphasis area in Vehicle Power Electronics (MSEE-VPE)
The MSEE-VPE comprises core courses, elective courses, and an optional MSEE thesis as shown in the graphic and described below. The emphasis area is a coursework and project area guideline for students with a strong interest in vehicle power electronics who wish to receive an MSEE degree at CU-Boulder.
Admission
Admission requirements for the MSEE-VPE are the same as for the CU-Boulder MSEE degree. See MSEE degree admission requirements for more information.
Thesis versus non-thesis plan
Students may choose either a thesis or non-thesis plan for the MSEE-VPE the same as for the CU-Boulder MSEE degree. See the Graduate Study Guide for more information. Students should consult with their academic faculty advisor to complete their coursework plan and to consider project areas and opportunities for graduate student research assistantships.
Recommended core courses
The following core courses are recommended for the MSEE-VPE:
- ECEN 5607: Power electronics for electrified transportation
- ECEN 5737: Adjustable speed AC drives
- ECEN 5797: Introduction to power electronics
- ECEN 5517: Power electronics and photovoltaic power systems laboratory
- ECEN 5807: Modeling and control of power electronic systems
- ECEN 5817: Resonant and soft-switching techniques in power electronics
Recommended elective courses
The following elective courses are recommended for the MSEE-VPE:
- ECE 5710: Modeling, simulation and identification and of battery dynamics (transfer from UCCS)
- ECE 5720: Battery management and control (transfer from UCCS)
- ECEN 5138: Control systems analysis
- ECEN 5458: Sampled data and digital control systems
- ECEN 5613: Embedded system design
- ECEN 5827: Analog IC design
- ECEN 5837: Mixed-signal IC design lab
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