Carnegie Mellon University ———
College of Engineering  ›  Electrical and Computer Engineering  ›  Academics  ›  MS in ECE  ›  Intensive Project Option

Intensive Project Option

Both the Standard and Advanced Study MS in ECE programs at the Pittsburgh Campus have the option to work intensively on a single research project with a CMU faculty member. This is called the Intensive Project Option. If pursuing this option, a student will take a total of 36 units of graduate-level research to count towards their MS degree, in two separate phases. The first phase of the Intensive Project Option is 12 units taken no sooner than the student’s second semester in the program. The second phase is 24 units taken in the following semester. Please see below for a timeline of the Intensive Project Option.

*Note: Both MS in ECE programs allow between 1 and 27 units of project work to count toward the degree, while the Intensive Project Option allows 36 units to count. Please view each individual program page here. 

Frequently asked questions

No, you cannot complete the Intensive Project Option in one semester. Central to the concept of the Intensive Project Option is a two-phase structure with an intermediate go/no-go evaluation point between semesters. You must complete the Intensive Project Option in no fewer than two semesters.

 

Yes, you can work on research with a faculty member from another department; however, you must have an ECE faculty member act as a co-instructor on the project to confirm that the research is relevant to your ECE degree.

You are not advised to begin the Intensive Project Option in your first semester. You should take your first semester to build relationships with faculty and understand your research interests and then apply for projects starting in your second semester.

Yes, you can enter the Intensive Project Option in either your second or third semester if your program length is 4 semesters long. You must have at least 2 semesters remaining in your program.
Yes, as an IMB student you can participate in the Intensive Project Option, however you must have two semesters remaining in your program to do so. This means that if you plan to finish both your BS and MS degrees at the same time, you must begin the Intensive Project Option in the first semester of your senior year. Please speak with your faculty advisor for more information about completing the Intensive Project Option.

If the research instructor does not approve you to continue in the Intensive Project Option after Phase I, your 12 units of 18-980 will still count towards the standard degree program. You can count 12 units of 18-980 towards your core requirement and up to 15 units towards your CIT Elective requirement.

Yes, this is possible but you must meet with your faculty instructor(s) and faculty advisor to make sure you are still meeting all of the goals needed to complete the Intensive Project Option. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis, including situations involving change of faculty instructor(s), and may involve submitting a revised proposal for Phase II work.

Yes, however you must petition to receive approval to deviate from the standard configuration. Please note that the standard unit structure appropriately balances the effort a student dedicates to ideation, preliminary studies, and the core of the project work. Therefore, substantial deviation from this structure will risk an unsuccessful project and may not be approved.

Yes, this is possible. However, you must submit a petition to receive approval to deviate from the standard configuration.

Helpful links

Apply here

To apply, select Master's or Doctoral from the dropdown, then select Electrical and Computer Engineering. The list of available programs will then display. You may select up to three programs for which to be considered.

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