|
Programs: Electrical and Computer Engineering Description: Students studying for a master of science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins are looking to expand their careers in a chosen industry. As a result, the program attracts many working professionals and recent graduates looking to dive deep into a topic. Instructors are also working professionals. This makes them, “well suited to instruct the populace. They want to teach because they love it. They are not full time academics, they are doing it on top of their full time work. They love to interact with students in both the online and classroom setting,” said Dr. Brian Jennison, Program Chair Electrical and Computer Engineering. Where is it: Elkridge, MD; Laurel, MD and online Format: Online, On-campus, and Mix Degree you get: Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Prerequisites: Engineering, Science, or Math Degrees Size of the Program: 400-500 Students Number of credit hours: 30 (10 Courses) Thesis: Optional And that will take how long? 2-5 years When to apply: Any Term Fees: $35,000 - $40,000 Minimum Admission Requirements:
Not Required
Who should take it?
Claim to fame:
|
The Masters Students and Faculty
One of the primary goals of the students studying for a master of science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins is to expand their careers. The program offers specific knowledge that may be vital to careers in their chosen industry. As a result, the program attracts many working professionals with quite a few years of experience. However, this program is also popular with recent graduates who want a dive deep into a topic that wasn’t covered in enough detail in their undergrad studies.
Just as the students are working professionals, so too are the instructors. That makes these instructors, “well suited to instruct the populace. They want to teach because they love it. They are not full time academics, they are doing it on top of their full time work. They love to interact with students in both the online and classroom setting,” said Dr. Brian Jennison is the Program Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program.
Dr. Brian Jennison, Program Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program.
Why take a Combined Electrical and Computer Engineering Program from Johns Hopkins?
The Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program at Johns Hopkins has been around since the mid 70’s. Unlike other ECE programs, Johns Hopkins has decided not to separate it into two separate curriculums, one for computers and the other for electrical.
Dr. Jennison explained that when he went to school many computer engineering and electrical engineering programs were indeed combined and they worked well together. There is a natural fit because computer engineering is an application of electrical engineering theories.
“As computers became more advanced, computer science became a more popular separate major degree,” commented Dr. Jennison. “At Hopkins we see value in the combined Electrical and Computer degree. Our graduates have a broad range of flexible skills that turn into strong benefits for employers.”
Electrical and Computer Engineering Curriculum
The Johns Hopkins Masters degree offers technical groupings in 7 areas, including:
- Computer Engineering
- Electronics & Solid State
- Optics & Photonics
- RF & Microwave Engineering
- Signal Processing
- Systems & Control
- Telecommunications & Networking
Students need not feel obligated to specialize in one of these technical groupings. They have the freedom to take whatever courses suit them within the constraints of the degree requirements.
The depth of the course work in each of these areas sometimes means that students aren’t sufficiently equipped for Master’s work based on their undergraduate studies. Dr. Jennison explained that “Typically you would cover electromagnetics in 3 semesters in an undergrad, yet this can be reduced to one semester in some schools. Some students arrive having had no mention of advanced electromagnetics beyond what they learned in physics. As a result, students who want to study lasers, antenna, and electromagnetics in grad school may not have the foundation they need to succeed. Johns Hopkins offers intermediate courses to make up for what was missed at the Undergrad level.”
This approach provides flexibility for students who may not have gained the focus they wanted in undergrad topics like power/alternative power engineering, circuits, and traditional electronics.
Dr. Jennison suggested that, “Students who have been out of school for a while should brush up on the core material. We offer some non-grad level courses so students can review fundamental knowledge in a non-threatening situation.”
Electrical and Computer Engineering Thesis Option
“We encourage our best and brightest students to write a thesis,” added Dr. Jennison. “This is completely optional and would replace the credit hours of two courses.”
Thesis students have considerable freedom with their projects. Though the thesis must contain research in the areas of electrical and/or computer engineering, they are also encouraged to make the project multidisciplinary.
Dr. Jennison provided an example, “There was a student who completed a thesis in which he constructed and tested a low-cost blood culture machine to be used in rural and developing areas. He did a great job melding various ECE concepts to other disciplines. He needed a shaker, optical system, and electronic control system to prepare, interrogate, and control the sample’s conditions. The function of the machine was to determine whether there is any infection in the patient. It is a real success story that I hope will turn into a real product.”Online Learning with an On-Campus Twist
Development kit mailed to online students taking the course Embedded Microprocessor Systems.
Johns Hopkins has come up with a few methods to combat online learning limitations. First there is the ability to conduct lab experiments remotely while online or by “mail ordered” equipment.
“Our RF, microwave, human robotics and computer engineering labs all set us apart from other on-campus programs. Traditionally, this was hard to duplicate online,” claimed Dr. Jennison. He added that, “Using labs and equipment where students can measure high frequency, fab circuits and measure circuit performance is very important to a student’s education. The microwave components and systems lab has piloted remote lab equipment that resides on campus. It measures and characterises microwave systems and it can be controlled remotely online. We are expanding this to more ECE courses where students are sent development boards to program.”
The second online learning innovation under development is called flipped class. In this mode a student performs most of their studies online while occasionally visiting campus to interact with students and professors. This greatly benefits those performing group work and those who want to discuss a problem with the professor in person.
Otherwise, most of the online courses are structured as you would expect. Students access content on Blackboard, where they can also interact with their peers. Advanced courses are graded mostly on project based work where students apply and expand on the knowledge taught.
Why wouldn’t you get a Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Johns Hopkins:
- You want to primarily focus on the theoretical, not applied, aspects of electrical and computer engineering
- You want to learn from full time professors
Johns Hopkins has sponsored promotion of their Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering on ENGINEERING.com. They have no editorial input to this post - all opinions are mine. Shawn Wasserman