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Graduate Catalog 2020-2021



Electrical and Computer Engineering (MECE)

Description

The Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering (MECE) program at Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà focuses on you, the student. You'll get personal attention in small classes and research seminars from faculty who place teaching first. Our relevant and practical research and close connections with industry help create an exciting learning environment that will guarantee your success. In addition, many of our full-time graduate students obtain paid internships in local industry during their graduate program.

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science (ECECS) offers several graduate degrees:

The MECE graduate degree allows for specializations in one of three areas:

  • Signal and Systems
  • Robotics and Mechatronic Systems
  • Computer Engineering
Program Strengths
  • Graduate Co-op Program: Qualified individuals can choose to seek paid co-op positions in industry.  These positions are typically during the summer semesters.  However, if some cases if approved, students can work part-time or on alternating semesters.  A rich variety of advanced engineering opportunities are available in the Southeastern Michigan region. 
  • Design and Project Oriented: Participate in exciting hands-on projects that integrate theory and application. For example, students regularly work on the design and development of an internationally competitive autonomous vehicle to participate in the International Ground Vehicle Competition ().
  • Student publications: In many of our graduate courses and in some undergraduate classes, students develop poster and paper presentations for their project work which are regularly submitted and accepted for publication in regional and national venues (SPIE, IEEE EIT, etc.).
  • Student Centered: Take advantage of small class sizes and opportunities for one-on-one contact with professors. Most courses include opportunities to work in teams and advance the professional and personal skills so vital to long term career success in industry.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. apply knowledge of advanced mathematics, science, and engineering principles to electrical engineering
  2. identify, formulate, and solve complex electrical engineering problems
  3. use and integrate advanced techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for electrical engineering practice

Admission Requirements

Students may enter the Master of Electrical & Computer Engineering program in one of two ways:

Traditional Students

Traditional students must apply for the graduate program online through the admissions webpage. Typical minimum requirements include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a bachelor's degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited university. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are not required but encouraged.

Five-Year Bachelor/Master Students

The Five-year Bachelor/Master Degree program is designed to enable completion of both the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE) or the Bachelor of Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering with a Concentration in Electrical Engineering (BRMSE w/EE) and the Master of Electrical & Computer Engineering degrees in five calendar years. Students may be accepted as incoming freshmen or current Detroit Mercy students may apply in their junior year. The program allows qualified Bachelor of Electrical Engineering or Bachelor of Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering with a Concentration in Electrical Engineering students to take up to two graduate level courses during their final three academic semesters that will meet undergraduate degree requirements while also accruing course credits toward their graduate degree. Find more information on the Five-year BEE-MECE program and Five-year BRMSE w/EE-MECE program.

The graduate courses in the program are typically offered in the late afternoon and evening in order to accommodate those already in the work force.

Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree Requirements (30 credit hours)

The Master of Electrical & Computer Engineering may be completed by either a thesis or a non-thesis plan. Students must complete required courses and electives as specified below.  At least half (15 credits) of the program must be selected from graduate-level only options.

Thesis Option

The thesis plan includes 24 credit hours of coursework, six credit hours of ELEE 5990 Electrical & Computer Engineering Master's Thesis, and an oral presentation/defense of the thesis to the departmental thesis committee and the public. Acceptance in the thesis degree option requires demonstration of strong academic performance and the ability to secure a thesis supervision agreement with one of the ECECS Department faculty members.  At least nine credits (~three courses) of the 24 course credits must be non-cross-listed graduate-only classes.

Non-Thesis Option

The non-thesis plan consists of 30 credit hours of coursework. A student's plan of study must consist of no fewer than six courses from the Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department.  At least 15 credits (~five courses) must be non-cross-listed graduate-only classes.

Specialization Areas - for flexibility and focus

Students can complete the MECE degree with specializations in Signal and Systems, Computer Engineering, or Robotics and Mechatronics Systems.  

Signals and Systems Specialization

The signals and systems specialization provides a background in digital signal processing, computer vision, and control systems. The advent of high-speed specialized digital signal processors, highly parallel Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) and FPGA/ASIC integrated circuits has spurred rapid development in this area (machine and deep learning, cellular phones, software radios, CD and DVD players, and HDTV systems). The subsequent demand for specialists in this field has created excellent career opportunities. Students completing this program will have both the theoretical background and practical experience to design and develop quality products in this market.

Required courses for Signals and Systems Specialization (offered only at the graduate level):

  • ELEE 5074 Communications II (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5620 Random Variables and Random Processes (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5760 Digital Control Theory (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5900 Digital Signal Processing II (3 credits) 
  • ELEE 5810 Applications of Estimation Theory in Robotics & Signal Processing (3 credits)

Other courses may be substituted with permission of the advisor depending on prior preparation, program consistency, and offerings available.

Recommended Elective Courses for Signals and Systems Specialization:

Elective courses for the MECE degree may be selected from any ELEE 5000-level courses but the following courses are recommended for this specialization. Note that nine credits must be 5000-level-only for the thesis-option program and 15 credits must be 5000-level-only for the non-thesis-option program.  Other courses may be selected from ENGR, ENT, MTH, CSSE, or MENG with advisor approval.  The program may be supplemented with co-operative assignments in industry, but co-op preparation classes and credits earned by co-op assignments (CTA) may not be used toward the 30 credit-hour requirement.

Computer Engineering Specialization

The Computer Engineering specialization focuses on the design and development of embedded computer/control and wireless smart sensor systems. This focus uniquely addresses the needs of the Bioelectric, Wireless Communications, Multimedia, Aerospace and Automotive communities. The program seeks to provide students with the ability to design real-time distributed microcontroller-based systems. Career opportunities in this area are excellent.

Required courses for Computer Engineering Specialization (offered only at the graduate level):

  • ELEE 5350 Machine Learning (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5360 Internet of Things (IoT) (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5620 Random Variables and Random Processes (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5640/5650 Hardware Descriptive Languages + Lab (4 credits)
  • ELEE 5810 Applications of Estimation Theory in Robotics & Signal Processing (3 credits)

Other courses may be substituted with permission of the advisor depending on the student's prior preparation, program consistency, and offerings available.

Recommended Elective Courses for Computer Engineering Specialization:

Elective Courses for the MECE degree may be selected from any ELEE 5000-level courses but the following courses are recommended for this specialization. Note that nine credits total must be 5000-level-only for the thesis-option program and 15 credits must be 5000-level-only for the non-thesis-option program.  Other courses may be selected from ENGR, ENT, MTH, CSSE, or MENG with advisor approval.  The program may be supplemented with co-operative assignments in industry, but co-op preparation classes and credits earned by co-op assignments (CTA) may not be used toward the 30 credit hour requirement.

Robotics and Mechatronics Specialization

Robotics, the combination of sensing, computation and actuation in the real world, is experiencing rapid growth. This growth is driven by the decreased cost and increased availability of advanced sensors, high-performance computing devices and actuators, and by national needs for self-driving vehicles, defense and security, elder care, automation of household tasks, customized manufacturing, and interactive entertainment. The robotics specialization at Detroit Mercy is structured to integrate three elements of robotics: Computation, Sensing, and Action. These three elements thus define the courses and projects as students explore Perception, Cognition, Control and Dynamics as well as experiential areas related to environment interaction such as Learning, Power Systems and Mechatronics (embedded systems, sensors and actuators).

Mechatronics Engineering is a modern discipline that transcends the boundaries between Embedded Systems, Electronics, Controls, Sensors, and Actuator design. The faculty of the Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science department, in cooperation with the Mechanical Engineering department, has designed an innovative world-class Robotics and Mechatronics Systems program that offers a balance of Electrical, Computer, Software, and Mechanical engineering content with a focus on Embedded Systems design and Computational Intelligence. Career opportunities can be found in the Aerospace, Biomedical, and Automotive fields among many others.

Required courses for Robotics and Mechatronics Specialization (offered only at the graduate level):

  • ELEE 5350 Machine Learning (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5620 Random Variables and Random Processes (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5760 Digital Control Theory (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5750 Deep Learning (3 credits)
  • ELEE 5810 Applications of Estimation Theory in Robotics & Signal Processing (3 credits)

Other courses may be substituted with permission of the advisor or department chairperson depending on prior preparation, program consistency, and offerings available.

Recommended Elective Courses for Robotics and Mechatronics Specialization:

Elective Courses for the MECE degree may be selected from any ELEE 5000-level courses but the following courses are recommended for this specialization. Note that nine credits total must be 5000-level-only for the thesis-option program and 15 credits must be 5000-level-only for the non-thesis-option program.  Other courses may be selected from ENGR, ENT, MTH, CSSE, or MENG with advisor approval.  The program may be supplemented with co-operative assignments in industry, but co-op preparation classes and credits earned by co-op assignments (CTA) may not be used toward the 30 credit-hour requirement.

See the Course Catalog for a complete list of all courses.

Program Contact Information

Department Chairperson: Mark Paulik, Ph.D.
Office: Engineering 330/331
Telephone: 313-993-3365
Fax: 313-993-1187
E-mail: ece_chair@udmercy.edu or paulikmj@udmercy.edu

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