Graduate Handbook 20-21 FINAL
Graduate Handbook 20-21 FINAL
Graduate Handbook 20-21 FINAL
2020-
2021
Stanford University
[ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT GRADUATE
HANDBOOK]
Table of Contents
Welcome
Department Directory
• EE Administrative Personnel
Research Opportunities
• Faculty Research Areas
• Department Research Centers
Getting Started
• Axess (Registration and Enrollment)
• Summary of Grading Policies
• Advising Guidelines (VPGE)
• The Stanford University Honor Code and Fundamental Standard
• EE and Stanford Email Lists
• Academic Calendar
• Health Insurance
Degree Progress
• General Description of Programs
• Graduate Advising
• Program Planning: M.S. Degree
• Program Planning: Ph.D. Degree
• Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
• Program Planning: Ph.D. Minor
• Leave of Absence (all degree programs)
• Extension of Candidacy (all degree programs)
• Conferral of Degrees (all degree programs)
• Curricular Practical Training (EE290) (all degree programs)
Financial Support
• Research Assistantships
• Teaching Assistantships
• Course Grader Appointments
• Fellowships (Policies)
• How to Get Paid
• Taxes and Tax Reporting
Table of Contents
Axess (Registration and Enrollment)
Summary of Grading Policies
Advising Guidelines
Office of Community Standards – Honor Code
EE and Stanford Email Lists
Academic Calendar
Health Insurance
Axess is a student information system available via the web. It is generally available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need your SUNetID and password to login to Axess.
Important Points:
Please make sure to carefully read the university’s policies regarding Registration,
Enrollment and Academic Progress on the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures
(GAP) Handbook website.
• The Stanford Computer Forum: The Computer Forum provides students with a
unique opportunity to meet potential employers in a relaxed and focused
environment through on-campus interviews, information sessions, job lunches,
company tours, and career fairs. For additional information, please visit
forum.stanford.edu/careers/recruiting.php.
Sign up here: mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/recruiting
Master of Science
The master’s degree program provides advanced preparation for professional practice or
for teaching at the junior college level. The Master’s degree is offered as a full-time or part-
time program and consists of 45 units. The average length of time it takes students to
complete the full-time program is 5 quarters, excluding summer. Students in the full-time
program must complete the degree within 3 years (2 years if on a student visa). The
average length of time it takes students to complete the part-time program is 3 to 5 years.
Students in the part-time Honors Cooperative Program must complete the degree within
5 years. The department does not prescribe specific courses to be taken but it does provide
guidelines for acceptable programs. Each student, with the help of a faculty advisor,
prepares an individual program of study. There is no thesis requirement.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. degree is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching at
the university level. The Ph.D. degree is offered exclusively as a full-time program,
consisting of 135 units. The candidacy for the Ph.D. program is 5 years. Exceptions may be
granted for candidacy extensions up to one year.
Students in the Ph.D. program must complete the following requirements: (1) a qualifying
examination given by the faculty of the Department of Electrical Engineering; (2) an
approved program of study in Electrical Engineering and allied subjects; (3) an approved
topic of research and a written dissertation, based on research, which must be a significant
contribution to knowledge; (4) and an oral examination that is a defense of dissertation
research and is taken near the completion of the doctoral program.
Program Planning: M.S. Degree
Graduate Advising
Masters:
At the start of graduate study, each student is assigned a master’s program advisor: a
member of our faculty who will provide guidance in course selection and in exploring
academic opportunities and professional pathways. Students are encouraged to meet
with the program advisor during the first quarter to go over their proposed master’s plan.
Alternatively, students can also meet with the EE Graduate Student Teaching Advisor or
the Degree Progress Officer to review their master’s proposal. Usually, the same
faculty member serves as program advisor for the duration of master’s study. In the
event that the student wishes to change their program advisor, they may do so by
contacting the Degree Progress Officer for the formal process.
In addition to the program advisor, the Electrical Engineering Graduate Student Teaching
Advisor is available to provide students on the aspects of course selection and academic
opportunities on campus and off campus.
Our department’s student services office is also an important part of the master’s
advising team. They inform students and advisors about university and department
requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and they maintain the official records of
advising assignments and approvals. The updated contact information can be found here:
ee.stanford.edu/academics/graduate-degree-progress.
Finally, graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively
seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing
themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
PhD:
Faculty advisors guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and
conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree
requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. The
department’s graduate handbook provides information and suggested timelines for
different stages of the doctoral program. For more information, please visit:
ee.stanford.edu/academics/graduate-degree-progress.
PhD students are initially assigned a program advisor on the basis of the interests
expressed in their application. This faculty member will provide initial guidance in course
selection, in exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways, and in
identifying doctoral research opportunities. The department does not require formal lab
rotations, but students are encouraged to consider exploring research activities in two or
three labs during their first academic year.
Students will identify their doctoral research/thesis advisor, pass the qualifying exam, and
advance to candidacy prior to the end of the second year of study. The research
supervisor assumes primary responsibility for the future direction of the student, taking
on the roles previously filled by the program advisor, and will ultimately direct the
student’s dissertation. Most students find an advisor from among the primary
faculty members of our department. However, the research advisor may be a
faculty member from another Stanford department who is familiar with supervising
doctoral students and able to provide both advising and funding for the duration of the
doctoral program. When the research advisor is from outside our department, the
student will still have the same program advisor from our primary faculty, to provide
guidance on departmental requirements and opportunities.
The faculty Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) is available during the academic year by
email and during office hours. Our department’s student services office is also an
important part of the doctoral advising team: they inform students and advisors about
university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and they
maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals. Students are
encouraged to talk with their doctoral program advisor, the Graduate Student Teaching
Advisor, and the Degree Progress Office from the student services office as they consider
advisor selection, or for guidance in working with their advisor(s).
Our doctoral students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively
seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing
themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
M.S. Academic Requirements
Each student, with the help of their faculty advisor, prepares a program of study that meets
his or her particular area(s) of interest. Word of Advice: New students are strongly advised
not to undertake a heavy academic program in their first quarter at Stanford, as they are
adjusting to their new environment and the demanding nature of graduate work. Three
regular courses (8-10 units) constitute a full-time workload. The student's advisor should
be consulted for further guidance on this and other course selection questions.
Because the M.S. degree is an advanced degree in electrical engineering awarded entirely
on the basis of course work, the program should contain a substantial amount of advanced
electrical engineering course work. Mezzanine (200 level) courses, suitable for advanced
undergraduates or beginning graduates, may be used in partial satisfaction of this
requirement, but at least part of the program should be in the more advanced 300 or 400
series courses.
Every student in the MS degree program must submit a Program Proposal form prior to
the end of the first quarter of enrollment (second quarter for part-time Honors
Cooperative Program students). The Program Proposal must be approved by the student's
faculty advisor and be submitted to the EE Degree Progress Officer by the stated deadline.
Students who do not submit a Program Proposal on time will have an enrollment hold
placed on their record until they submit an acceptable proposal.
Important Points:
The University’s minimum requirement for each master's degree is 45 unduplicated
units of coursework done at Stanford. Stanford does not accept transfer credit toward a
master’s degree. However, students may apply up to 18 units of applicable Stanford
coursework taken via the Non-Degree Option (NDO) Program toward their EE degree.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to maintain good
academic standing and graduate with the EE MS degree.
Every student should be familiar with the University’s requirements for minimal
progress as outlined in the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures (GAP) handbook.
In your final quarter, you must be enrolled and apply to graduate in Axess by the
deadline published in the Academic Calendar.
In order to meet the requirements of the EE MS degree, you must meet the following
department guidelines:
1) Depth:
Completion of 12 units from one of the five area lists. At least six units must be at the 300
level or above. All depth units must be letter graded.
*Courses in the depth area taken for S/CR from Spring 2019-2020 through Summer 2020-
2021 are eligible to fulfill the requirement.
2) Breadth:
Completion of nine additional units from other area lists (in 1-3 other areas). All breadth
units must be letter graded and at the 200 level or above.
*If a course is listed in the depth area, it cannot be used to count in the breadth area.
*Courses in the breadth area taken for S/CR from Spring 2019-2020 through Summer
2020-2021 are eligible to fulfill the requirement.
3) Technical Courses:
Completion of 15 units of courses in engineering, natural sciences, mathematics or
statistics.
• At least nine of the 15 units must be lecture courses at the 200 level or above.
• EE courses must be 200 level or above.
• All units must be letter graded except for units taken from Spring 2019-2020
through Summer 2020-2021.
• You may count a maximum of six units of EE 391 or the equivalent graduate level
independent study course in other engineering departments, natural sciences,
mathematics, or statistics toward the remaining units needed.
• Independent study units may not be taken in place of the nine units of 200 level or
above lecture courses.
Courses in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering are acceptable, provided they use
quantitative or scientific methods to analyze, design or optimize man-made or natural
systems. Courses that primarily address entrepreneurship, management, economics,
collaboration, design philosophy, language, or public speaking are typically not acceptable.
Consult with your advisor or the Degree Progress Officer before selecting courses in
Economics, GSB, d.school, MS&E, Psychology, or other departments that offer some semi-
technical or non-technical courses.
4) Other Courses:
Completion of at least nine additional units. These units must be at the 100 level or above
and letter graded or CR/NC in EE or other departments relevant to the EE MS degree and
in graduate level.
Courses not relevant to the EE MS degree or practice of the EE profession are not
acceptable. Consult with your advisor or the Degree Progress Officer before selecting
courses in categories not listed just above this paragraph.
Please note: Athletics courses do not count toward the 45 units. EFSLANG (English for
Foreign Students) courses do not count toward the 45 units. If the university requires you
to take any of these classes, they are additional units above the required 45 units.
All units must be at the 100 level or higher. No courses numbered below 100 count toward
a graduate degree.
5) Special Studies:
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities for individual work under
the supervision of individual faculty members, under the heading of Special Studies
courses: EE 390 (satisfactory/no credit) or EE 391 (letter grade). Possibilities under this
heading range from directed reading in an area of mutual interest to the equivalent of an
M.S. thesis.
Students can pursue a masters thesis if they find a faculty thesis advisor who is willing to
work with them; if so they enroll in EE 300. However, please note that because a thesis is
not required there would be no notation of this on the diploma. Students still need to
complete all requirements for the MS degree in addition to their thesis work. These
courses cannot be applied toward the fulfillment of the depth and breadth requirements.
6) Deviations:
Every attempt should be made to meet the guidelines listed above. Courses that deviate
from one or more of these guidelines must be approved by your faculty advisor and the
Associate Chair of Graduate Education. Students contemplating a special program should
submit a current Master's Program Proposal along with an MS Deviation Petition form,
describing their particular objectives and how the proposed program meets these
objectives. Submit the forms to the Degree Progress Officer for a final decision.
Please note that not all courses are offered every year.
1) Circuits
Course Number Course Title Units
EE 202 Electrical Engineering in Biology and Medicine 3
EE 207 Neuromorphics: Brains in Silicon (same as BIOE 313) 3
EE 214A Fundamentals of Analog Integrated Circuit Design 3-4
EE 214B Advanced Analog Integrated Circuit Design 3
EE 216 Principles and Models of Semiconductor Devices 3
EE 233 Analog Communications Design Laboratory 3
EE 251 High-Frequency Circuit Design Laboratory 3
EE 253 Power Electronics 3-4
EE 254 Advanced Topics in Power Electronics 3
EE 255 Green Electronics 4
EE 271 Introduction to VLSI Systems 3
EE 272* Design Projects in VLSI Systems 3-4
EE 272A Design Projects in VLSI Systems I 3-4
EE 272B Design Projects in VLSI Systems II 3-4
EE 273 Digital Systems Engineering 3
EE 292X Battery Systems for Transportation and Grid Services 1-3
EE 303 Autonomous Implantable Systems 3
EE 308 Advanced Circuit Techniques 3
EE 309 Semiconductor Memory Devices and Technology 3
EE 311 Advanced Integrated Circuits Technology 3
EE 314A RF Integrated Circuit Design 3
EE 314B Advanced RF Integrated Circuit Design 3
EE 315 Analog-Digital Interface Circuits 3
EE 356A Resonant Converters 3
EE 356B Magnetics Design in Power Electronics 3
EE 371 Advanced VLSI Circuit Design 3
EE 414 RF Transceiver Design Laboratory 3
*EE 272 is renumbered as EE 272A effective AY 20-21.
EE 101B,
EE 101B EE 102A EE 101B EE 102A, EE 108
or or
EE 247 EE 279
Intro. Fiber Comm. Intro. Dig. Comm. EE 276
or
CS 351
Offered Offered Required Recommended Open Problems in
Annually Biennially Prerequisite Prerequisite Coding Theory
Depth Areas 3 and 5, Information Theory
MATH 53/104
EE 178 EE 178 EE 178
CS 351
Open Problems in Offered Offered Required Recommended
Coding Theory Annually Biennially Prerequisite Prerequisite
CS 144
or or
EE 384E EE 384A EE 384C
NW Wireless Syst. Internet Routing Wireless LAN
Protocols & Algos. and WAN
EE 116
or
EE 292L EE 312 EE 311 EE 316 EE 323 EE 317
Nanomanufact. IC Fab. Lab. Adv. IC Tech. Adv. VLSI Dev. Energy in Electron. Wide Bandgap Mat. Dev.
or
EE 309 EE 320 EE 327
Mem. Dev. Tech. Adv. Nanoel. Dev. Prop. Semicon. Matls.
or
EE 216 EE 216
EE 263
various EE 178 Intro. Lin. Dyn. Syst. EE 178
EE 303 EE 369C
Auto. Implant. Syst. Med. Imag. Reconstr.
Cross-Cutting, Energy
EE 101B,
EE 101B EE 102A, EE 108 EE 116 various various
Students interested in this joint degree program must apply to and gain admission
separately from the Department of Electrical Engineering and the School of Law, and as an
additional step, secure consent from both academic units to pursue both degrees
simultaneously. Interest in the program should be noted on a student's application to each
academic unit. A student currently enrolled in either the Department of Electrical
Engineering or the School of Law may apply for admission to the other academic unit and
for joint degree status after commencing study in that unit.
Joint degree students may elect to begin their study in either the Department of Electrical
Engineering or the School of Law. Faculty advisors from each academic unit participate in
the planning and supervising of the student's joint program. In the first year of the joint
degree program, students must be enrolled full-time in the School of Law. Students must
satisfy the requirements for both the J.D. and the M.S. degrees as specified in the Stanford
Bulletin.
The Electrical Engineering Department approves courses from the Law School that may
count toward the M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, and the Law School approves
courses from the Department of Electrical Engineering that may count toward the J.D.
degree. In either case, approval may consist of a list applicable to all joint degree students
or may be tailored to each individual student's program.
No more than 45 quarter hours of approved courses may be counted toward both degrees.
No more than 36 quarter hours of courses that originate outside the School of Law may
count toward the Law degree. To the extent that courses under this joint degree program
originate outside of the School of Law but count toward the Law degree, the School of Law
credits permitted under Section 17(1) of the Law School Regulations shall be reduced on a
unit-per-unit basis but not below zero.
The maximum number of School of Law units that may be counted toward the M.S. degree
in Electrical Engineering is the greater of:
1. 12 units, or
2. the maximum number of units from courses outside of the department that M.S.
candidates in Electrical Engineering are permitted to count toward the M.S. degree
under general departmental guidelines, or as set forth in the case of a particular
student's individual program.
Tuition and financial aid arrangements are typically administered through the school in
which the student is enrolled.
Joint Degree MS/MBA Program
The Joint MS in Electrical Engineering /MBA Degree Program (EE/MBA) enables students
to pursue simultaneously a Master of Business Administration at the GSB and a Master of
Science in Electrical Engineering at the Stanford School of Engineering. Joint MS/MBA
degree students will have interests in technology and leadership with a desire to become
managers or entrepreneurs in technologically-inclined businesses. The Joint MS/MBA
Degree Program requires application to, and acceptance for admission by, both the
Electrical Engineering Department (EE) and the Graduate School of Business (GSB).
Typically, MS/MBA students apply to and gain acceptance for admission to both programs
within the same year. However, it is possible for current EE (or MBA) students, who
previously did not apply for the joint degree option, to apply for and pursue the Joint
MS/MBA Degree Program. EE students in the second year and MBA students in the second
year may not apply for the Joint MS/MBA Degree Program.
Program Requirements
The Joint MS/MBA Program requires a combined total of 129 units, enabling completion
of the joint degree in nine quarters.
a. Students must successfully complete 84 units of instruction at the GSB. This includes
successful completion of the Core and Distribution Requirements, and an approved Global
Experience. Rules concerning Pass-Fail units, independent study, grade point average, the
GER, and so forth will match those set for students in the regular MBA Program, as
specified annually on the MBA Policies and Standards tab on the MyGSB website.
Additionally, at least 84 units of the total joint degree units must be completed for a letter
grade (not on a Pass/Fail basis).
iv. Other Courses: Completion of at least nine additional units. These units must be
at the 100 level or above and may be CR/NC or letter graded in departments
relevant to the EE MS degree. Suggested courses include:
• independent study (e.g. EE 390, EE 391)
• Curricular Practical Training (e.g. EE 290A)
• seminars
• depth/breadth courses
• additional technical courses
Courses not relevant to the EE MS degree or practice of the EE profession are not
acceptable. Consult with your advisor or the Degree Progress Officer before
selecting courses in categories not listed just above this paragraph.
Note: Athletics courses do not count toward the 45 units. EFSLANG (English for
Foreign Students) courses do not count toward the 45 units. If the university
requires you to take any of these classes, they are additional units above the
required 45 units.
v. The 45 EE-MS units must include at least 36 units passed with a letter grade
except for units taken from Spring 2019-2020 through Summer 2020-2021.
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale across
all courses counting toward the MS.
c. Students are expected to complete the Joint MS/MBA Program in nine quarters.
Coursework Planning
Joint MS/MBA degree students may begin the joint program at either the GSB or the
Electrical Engineering department. Joint MS/MBA degree students spend most of the first
year at the GSB fulfilling the requirements of the MBA curriculum. Students may take EE
courses once they begin taking electives, typically during winter or Spring Quarter of their
first year. During their second and third years, students have the opportunity to take a
variety of electives at the GSB and the EE department.
For assistance with program and course planning, please contact the EE Program Advisor.
Course Registration
Students will have two open programs (called "careers" in Axess) under which they may
register for courses: the GSB career and the Graduate (EE) career. It is imperative that
students pay close attention to and register for courses under the career in which they
register for a course, i.e., degree, toward which they plan for them to count. All GSB
courses (whether applied to the MBA or the MS) should be enrolled under the GSB career.
For more information, contact the Associate Director for Joint & Dual Degree Programs or
the Electrical Engineering Department to view detailed information about the EE degree
requirements.
Specific Policies for Students Who Begin the Joint MS/MBA Degree Program at the
Electrical Engineering Department
A student in the Joint MS/MBA Degree Program who has matriculated and begun studies
in the Electrical Engineering Department but has not yet begun studies at the GSB will be
considered an MBA student with a plus (i.e., "MBA+"). Once MS/MBA students begin
Autumn Quarter Core Requirements, they will be considered regular MBA students and
subject to the applicable policies.
• Fulfillment of the Core and Distribution Requirements will begin upon matriculation at the
GSB in the second year. MBA+ students may not take Core and Distribution Requirements
courses (including Advanced Core and Distribution Requirement courses that may be
offered as electives) prior to matriculation at the GSB.
• MBA+ students may register for GSB elective courses in Autumn, Winter or Spring Quarters
via the Non-GSB Registration Site on a first come, first serve basis. These courses will count
toward no more than 12 of the 84 required GSB units, and not toward fulfillment of the
Core or Distribution Requirements.
Career Resources:
• MBA+ students will have access to CMC resources including advising, workshops, on-
campus interviewing (OCI), alumni directory, and the GSB job board. The timing of access
to these resources will be consistent with the first-year MBA students, which means that
most GSB CMC resources will not be available to MBA+ students until after the Autumn
Quarter MBA1 Academic Adjustment Period (AAP).
• In communicating with potential employers, MBA+ students will be required to identify
themselves as joint degree students who have not yet started the first-year MBA
curriculum.
• Once MS/MBA students matriculate to the GSB, CMC access will be governed by the same
policy that applies to regular MBA students, regardless of previous access, i.e., in the first
year at the GSB, timing of access to CMC resources will continue to be restricted from the
beginning of the Autumn Quarter Core Requirements until the end of the Autumn Quarter
AAP.
Programs and Activities:
• MBA+ students will be permitted to apply for GMIX before beginning the Autumn Quarter
Core Requirements at the GSB, but it may not be counted toward fulfillment of the Global
Experience Requirement (GER). Priority for projects and funding will be given to students
who have completed the first-year MBA curriculum. MBA+ students will need to self-
identify their status to the Associate Director, GMIX program before applying to the
program. In communicating with potential employers, MBA+ students will be required to
identify themselves as joint degree students who have not yet started the first-year MBA
curriculum.
• MBA+ students will be permitted to apply for Study Trips only after beginning the Autumn
Quarter Core Requirements at the GSB.
• MBA+ students will be permitted to join GSB clubs after the Autumn Quarter AAP of their
first year as a matriculated student at the EE department.
• Once MS/MBA students matriculate to the GSB, participation in GSB clubs will be governed
by the policy that applies to regular MBA students, regardless of previous access.
• MS/MBA students will not be eligible for any leadership positions at the GSB until after
having begun the Autumn Quarter Core Requirements at the GSB.
Students with any questions should contact the Associate Director for Joint & Dual Degree
Programs or the EE Admissions and Student Services team.
In order to meet the requirements of the Ph.D. program, every student must meet
department and university requirements:
Word of Advice: New students are strongly advised not to undertake a heavy academic
program in their first quarter at Stanford, as they are adjusting to their new environment
and the demanding nature of graduate work. Three regular courses (8-10 units) provide a
full-time workload, particularly during the first quarter at Stanford. The student's advisor
should be consulted for further guidance on this and other course-enrollment questions.
Milestones Timeline: Ph.D. Degree
Important Points:
The university’s minimum requirement for the doctoral degree is 135 unduplicated units
of coursework done at Stanford. Please see below for information on course unit
requirements and transferring credits from another institution.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to maintain good
academic standing in the program.
All units must be at the 100 level or higher. No courses numbered below 100 count
toward a graduate degree.
Every student should be familiar with the University’s requirements for minimal
progress as outlined in the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures GAP handbook.
Students are required to be admitted to candidacy by the end of their second year in
the program. More information on candidacy can be found below.
Candidacy is valid for five years from the date of approval by the department unless
terminated by the department (e.g., for unsatisfactory progress). The candidacy end date
is listed on the student’s record in Axess.
Students who are unable to graduate before their five years of candidacy expire may
request a maximum of one additional year of candidacy per extension. Extensions require
review of a dissertation progress report, a timetable for completion of the dissertation,
and any other factors regarded as relevant by the department. Students must file a
request for candidacy extension before the end of their program's time limit. The
department is not obligated to grant an extension. Please submit your request for
extension to the EE Degree Progress Officer. Extensions are subject to final approval by
the Associate Chair of Graduate Education.
During your final quarter in the program, you must “Apply to Graduate” in Axess.
Qualifying Examination
Procedures
The qualifying exam is an oral examination intended to provide the examination committee
with evidence of your research preparedness and capabilities and allow the committee to
give you useful feedback on your research direction.
Examination Committee:
Your committee consists of three members, your advisor and two others. All committee
members must be on the Academic Council, and at least two members must be EE faculty
(joint or full appointment only, not by courtesy).
You will be responsible for forming your exam committee and scheduling the exam date
and room. Once the details of your event are finalized, bring the Application for Qualifying
Examination form to the Degree Progress Officer.
Room Scheduling:
You are responsible for reserving a room for your exam. After you have located a room,
check with the person who schedules that room in order to reserve it. (Room list)
Please reserve the room for one hour.
Examination Format:
• 15 minutes for student to present background and proposed research.
• 15 minutes for committee to ask questions. Question topics can include the
presented research or related general topics.
• (Optional) 15 minutes for committee members to make suggestions.
• The Faculty committee will then deliberate.
• Students will be notified of the examination results by email.
When to apply for candidacy: The Department recommends that the Application for
Candidacy be completed by the end of the spring quarter of the academic year in which
the student has passed the qualifying exam. The application is due to the department on
May 1st in the second year. The University requires that all Ph.D. students file the
Application for Candidacy by the end of the second year of their doctoral study at Stanford.
On the form the student will list courses that total 135 units including the optional 45 unit
M.S. program of study (earned at Stanford or transfer credit received for a masters earned
at another institution) to be used for the Ph.D. degree. It includes courses already
completed (if any) and courses to be completed.
The Application for Candidacy must be signed by the student’s Principal Dissertation
Advisor and the Second Reader. The form is then submitted to the EE Degree Progress
Officer, who will obtain the Associate Chair’s signature.
Finding a Dissertation Advisor and Second Reader: The dissertation advisor is the primary
faculty member who will supervise the student's research and fund the length of his/her
study until graduation (unless the student receives an outside fellowship). The second
reader is an additional faculty member who agrees to review and sign off on the student's
dissertation. The dissertation advisor and second reader must be regular Stanford faculty
on the Academic Council (not an Adjunct Professor, Med-Center Line Faculty or a Senior
Research Associate). The dissertation advisor and/or second reader must have either a full
or joint appointment in the Electrical Engineering department. The appointing of emeritus
faculty to a student's committee is subject to department approval. Please see the EE
Degree Progress Officer for more information.
Students in the Ph.D. program are required to complete 135 units of unduplicated
coursework. Note that up to 45 units of a master's degree earned at Stanford or another
institution in Electrical Engineering or other science/engineering/math fields may be
counted toward the 135 units required for the doctoral degree.
The proposed program of study must be listed on the "Application for Candidacy for PhD
Degree" form. Any deviations from these guidelines must be accompanied with an
explanation and the approval of the dissertation advisor. All deviations must be approved
by the Associate Chair of Graduate Education (submit all requests for program deviations
to the Degree Progress Officer).
The PhD program must satisfy the following minimum unit guidelines:
• 1 units of seminar course EE 301 (Introductory Research Seminar in Electrical
Engineering). Students must take this course in autumn quarter of their first year.
• 21 units of letter graded lecture/lab courses at the 200 level or above in STEM fields
- engineering, natural sciences, math or statistics. Courses taken for S/CR from
Spring 2019-2020 through Summer 2020-2021 are eligible to fulfill this
requirement.
• Students who want to earn a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering should
choose courses that fulfill the EE MS Depth and Breadth requirements described in
the EE Graduate Handbook (see the MS section of the EE Graduate Handbook for
the complete list of degree requirements).
The remaining units required to complete the 135 total units may be comprised of:
• Special Studies (e.g. EE 390 or EE 391)
• research units (e.g. EE 400)
• seminar units
• additional lecture/lab courses taken CR/NC or for letter grades.
• non-departmental units in nontechnical areas
Students who wish to receive a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford
may count the 21 units of lecture/lab courses mentioned above toward the requirements
for that degree (45 total units are required to earn a Master’s degree). They must submit
the Graduate Authorization Petition in Axess to open the degree and then submit the MS
Proposal form that lists the courses taken in fulfillment of that degree. PhD students that
wish to open the Master’s degree must confer the degree within 3 years of the first
Master’s degree quarter.
Transfer of Credit
After completing at least one full-time quarter of work at Stanford, students who have
completed graduate work at another institution may submit an Application for Graduate
Residency Credit eForm on the Student tab in Axess. The Registrar’s Office will determine
the admissibility of residency credit to be transferred. A maximum of 45 units may be
transferred in to count toward the 135 unit requirement needed to complete the Ph.D.
program.
The department does not allow Adjunct and Visiting Faculty to be members of a
student’s reading committee.
A Senior Research Associate, or, in some cases, an outside scientist or engineer may
serve as the third reader. However, if a member of the proposed reading committee is not
on the Academic Council, you must obtain approval from the department by filling out a
Petition for Non-Academic Doctoral Committee Members form, including the individual’s
curriculum vitae. This person must have a Ph.D. or equivalent.
If the reading committee has four or five members, at least three members (comprising
the majority) must be current members of the Academic Council.
• Satisfactorily completed all courses listed on their Application for Candidacy form.
If your plans for meeting the course requirements change (i.e., you enroll in classes
that are not listed in your original candidacy form), a new Application for
Candidacy form must be approved by the department.
• Completed 135 units of study at Stanford to fulfill the residency requirement.
Credit for work completed elsewhere (as described below) may be used to help
meet this requirement.
• Have an approved Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee form on file with the
department.
Oral Examination
Near the completion of the doctoral program, students must present a 30-45 minute public
seminar on their dissertation research. Following the public presentation, the student is
examined in private by a faculty committee of at least five examiners approved by the
Electrical Engineering department. Details about the oral examination are given here.
The oral examination is intended to verify that the student’s research represents his or her
own contribution to knowledge and understanding of the research. The oral examination
is a dissertation defense in which the candidate is expected to:
• Demonstrate his or her ability to explain and defend the thesis and its contribution
to knowledge before experts in the field.
• Present an understandable picture of the research and its setting to scholars whose
special areas of interest lie outside the candidate's area of research.
• Answer satisfactorily any questions deemed pertinent by the examining
committee.
• The University Chair is a faculty member who is not in the research area of the
candidate's dissertation advisor. The Chair may be a member of the Electrical
Engineering department, or faculty members from other departments may serve
as Chair.
• The other members of the committee will usually be the members of the
dissertation reading committee, and one additional examiner (five total oral exam
committee members).
• The department requires that at least two members of the Oral Examination
committee be EE faculty members (this includes joint faculty members). In special
circumstances it is possible to include an examiner who is not an Academic Council
member. Please see the EE Degree Progress Officer if a member of your committee
is not an Academic Council member.
The Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee form must be on file with the Degree
Progress Officer prior to the examination.
Students are advised to pass the oral examination within one year of the date of
completion of the other requirements for the degree.
If the oral examination was passed more than one year prior to the date of graduation,
the examination is void and the candidate may be asked to repeat the oral examination.
The 12-month period of validity for the oral examination may be extended by petition to
the Degree Progress Officer.
Dissertation
The single most important part of a Ph.D. program is the research for and writing of a
doctoral dissertation, which must be approved by a reading committee. Students are
encouraged to form their dissertation reading committee by the end of the third or fourth
year of study.
Dissertation Submission
Make sure to carefully read the information on Dissertation and Thesis Submission
provided by the University Registrar for specific instructions on how to submit your
dissertation by the quarterly submission deadline. Students are not required to submit a
copy of their dissertation to the department.
Students on Graduation Quarter are registered at Stanford and, therefore, have the rights
and privileges of registered students.
Only one Graduation Quarter may be requested for each degree program. Students who,
for whatever reason, do not graduate during the Graduation Quarter will be assessed a
higher, standard tuition rate in subsequent terms.
The Graduation Quarter Petition eForm can be found in Axess under Student/Student
eForm section. The eform must be submitted and approved by the first day of the
quarter.
A Ph.D. Minor is a program of study outside of the student’s major department (i.e., a
student’s home department). A minor is not a requirement for any degree but is available
when agreed on by the student and their home department and minor department.
Acceptance of the minor as part of the total Ph.D. program is determined by the student’s
home department.
The Application for the Ph.D. Minor must be approved by both the home department and
the minor department.
List the course number, title, units and grade (if completed) of each course on the Ph.D.
Minor application form.
After obtaining the approval signature from the Ph.D. home department, submit the form
to the EE Degree Progress Officer, who signs for the Ph.D. minor department.
Leave of Absence
Students currently registered and wishing to take a leave from their degree program during
the academic year must submit a Leave of Absence form. It is subject to the approval of
the EE Degree Progress Officer.
The Leave of Absence eForm is available in Axess.
Please note:
• Leaves of absence do not stop the time limit for degree completion or clearing
incomplete grades.
• Leaves of absence are not allowed for pre-candidacy PhD students. Such students
who do not wish to continue their studies must formally withdraw from the PhD
program.
Extension of Candidacy
Students who are unable to graduate within the allotted candidacy period for their degree
program may request a maximum of one additional year of candidacy per extension. The
department is not obligated to grant an extension. Extensions require advisor
endorsement, and must include review of a progress report, a timetable for completion of
any remaining degree requirements, and any other factors regarded as relevant by the
department. Students must submit the Application for Extension of Candidacy form to
the EE Degree Progress Officer before the end of their program's time limit, which is listed
in the student’s record in Axess. Extensions are subject to final approval by the Associate
Chair of Graduate Education.
Conferral of Degrees
Students who have met the requirements of their degree program are eligible to confer
their degree. Students who intend to graduate must notify the University Registrar by
applying to graduate via Axess: Select "Apply to Graduate" from the drop down menu
located on the Student Center tab and complete the entire application to graduate
process. Students can apply to graduate during autumn, winter, spring or summer quarter.
Commencement ceremonies are held once a year in June for students who have received
degrees in the previous summer, autumn, and winter quarters, and for students who are
graduating in June or the following quarter (summer quarter).
Students who wish to enroll in CPT courses have to complete at least one academic year
(3 consecutive quarters) before they can be eligible to take CPT courses.
Sign up for the appropriate EE 290 course (A,B,C or D) on your study list in the quarter
during which you work.
MS students can take CPT for a maximum of two quarters (EE290A and EE290B).
PhD students can take CPT for three quarters (EE290A, B, C) and a fourth by permission
only (EE290D).
1. The course is completed and a grade of "S" is assigned following submission and approval
of a final report. The report should describe in competent English the work you performed
and how it relates to your academic program (NOT your research).
2. The report should be three to five pages, single spaced, and should not contain company
proprietary information.
3. The report cover page should include:
• the student's name
• Stanford ID number
• the course number (EE290A, B, C or D)
• the quarter during which the course is taken
• the company you worked for
4. The report must have a section describing how your work improves your skills relating
to SPECIFIC Stanford class(es) that you have taken (NOT how your work improves your
research skills, and NOT how these classes help your work).
5. Papers resulting from the work can be added as an appendix, but do not alone fulfill the
requirement.
*An incomplete ("I") grade will be assigned if the report is not finally approved by the
Associate Chair by the grade due deadline. There is a one-year maximum time limit for
resolving incompletes. If your report is not submitted and approved by both your advisor
and the Associate Chair within the one-year time limit, the Registrar will automatically
change the Incomplete to a final grade of NC (No Credit). There is no petition process to
change the grade after the NC has been assigned. Failure to complete this course will
result in violation of USCIS CPT regulations.
Financial Support
Table of Contents
• Research Assistantships
• Course (Teaching) Assistantships
• Course Grader Appointments
• Fellowships
• How to Be Paid
• Cardinal Care
• International Students
• Taxes and Tax Reporting
Research Assistantships
Research assistantships are awarded by individual faculty members who have the
necessary research funding to support students. In most cases, students who have
successfully arranged for an RA appointment have secured it by contacting a faculty
member directly. Research assistants typically receive 8-10 units of tuition coverage and a
monthly salary in exchange for 20 hours of work per week.
Students who are hired as research assistants work on a research project under the
supervision of a faculty member.
Important Points:
All students holding assistantships must be enrolled in the quarter in which the
assistantship appointment is held. For autumn, winter and spring quarters the
student must be enrolled in 8, 9 or 10 units.
Please make sure to carefully read the section on Assistantships in Stanford’s
Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures handbook online, to better
understand the university’s policies regarding assistantships.
The typical assistantship appointment is for a maximum of 50% time (i.e.,
20hrs/week), to allow students to make progress toward their degree.
Students on a 50%-time assistantship may work only an additional eight (8)
hours a week. NOTE: International students on F or J visas may not work more than
50% time.
Important Points:
In addition to reading the information on our website, please make sure to
carefully read the section on Assistantships in Stanford’s Graduate Academic
Policies and Procedures handbook, to better understand the university’s policies
regarding assistantships.
All students holding assistantships must be enrolled in the quarter in which the
assistantship appointment is held. For autumn, winter and spring quarters the
student must be enrolled in 8, 9 or 10 units.
The typical assistantship appointment is for a maximum of 50% time (i.e.,
20hrs/week), to allow students to make progress toward their degree.
Students on a 50%-time assistantship may work only an additional eight (8)
hours a week. NOTE: International students on F or J visas may not work more than
50% time.
Fellowships
Fellowships are a form of graduate student support that typically include a stipend to pay
for living expenses and tuition support. No employment is expected in return for a
fellowship (i.e., teaching or research work); it is awarded on a merit basis to assist a student
in the pursuit of a degree.
Important Point:
All students holding a university or department fellowship must be enrolled in the
quarter in which the fellowship is awarded. For autumn, winter and spring quarters, the
student must be enrolled in 8, 9 or 10 units.
How to Be Paid
RAs and CAs receive a Stanford paycheck twice each month, on the same schedule as other
university employees, and are subject to withholding of employment taxes with the
exception of Social Security and Voluntary Disability Insurance.
Students on a fellowship receive a Stanford paycheck at the beginning of the quarter in
one lump sum. Payments will be made in time for students to pay their university bill.
Important Points:
All students holding assistantships or fellowships must be enrolled in the quarter
in which the appointment is held. For autumn, winter and spring quarters, the
student must be enrolled in 8, 9 or 10 units. You must be registered for classes in
order to receive payment.
Students who have an assistantship in summer quarter must also be enrolled in
units in order to receive payment (just as during the academic year). The
percentage of the assistantship determines the number of units you should enroll
in (e.g. a 90% RAship pays for 1-3 units of tuition).
PhD students on TGR status must enroll in 802 in their advisor’s course section
in order to receive payment.
We encourage every student who is receiving a paycheck through Stanford to
enroll in direct deposit. Detailed information on how to set up direct deposit can
be found online.
Every student who works at Stanford should submit an I-9 form prior to the start
of their appointment. Please submit this form as soon as possible to the
department’s Student Accounting Associate prior to the start of the quarter in
which you will begin employment.
Cardinal Care
Students who are enrolled in the Cardinal Care insurance program at Stanford, and who
receive a fellowship or an assistantship stipend of at least 25% time, are eligible for a
Cardinal Care subsidy. Please contact the department’s Student Accounting Associate for
information on your fellowship or assistantship’s appointment subsidy level (e.g., students
who receive an assistantship appointment of 50% will receive a subsidy of half the cost of
health insurance). More information regarding Cardinal Care can be found online.
International Students
Students holding an F-1 or J-1 visa are subject to many immigration restrictions related to
employment. Working without proper authorization, even for one day, can have serious
consequences with regard to your legal status in the U.S.
• Information on how to obtain a Social Security Number can also be found online.
For further guidance related to taxes, students should consult the Stanford Student
Financial Services Tax Information website.
International students should carefully read the information above as well as the
information provided on the Bechtel International website to ensure timely tax reporting.
The Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) enables qualified working professionals to pursue
the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering on a part-time basis, in partnership with the
Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD). HCP students are fully matriculated
graduate students at Stanford University with full student privileges, rights, and
responsibilities. As such, HCP students are tested and graded by the same standards as full-
time students and earn the same degree.
HCP students are required to fulfill the same MS degree requirements as outlined in this
handbook, with the following exceptions:
• The deadline to submit the MS Program Proposal is the end of the second quarter
of enrollment.
• There is a five-year limit from the first quarter of enrollment in the master's
program to conferral of the degree.
HCP students should review the Honors Cooperative Program Handbook, which includes
details specific to SCPD students (e.g., how to access online course materials, submit
homework, make tuition payments, etc.).
Requests to transfer from part-time to full-time are reviewed by the department on a case-
by-case basis. Final decisions are at the department's discretion. These are the following
limitations:
• Students must complete a minimum of two (2) quarters in the part-time program
excluding summer quarter before requesting to transfer to full-time.
• Students must complete a minimum of 15 units of letter graded lecture or lab
courses that meet requirements for the EE MS degree.
• Students are expected to have a GPA of 3.5 or above at the time they submit their
request.
• Students can make a maximum of two (2) transfers during the program (e.g.
transfer from part-time to full-time and back to part-time).
• Students may not transfer to full-time status for the last quarter of their degree
program.
Students must submit the Student Transfer Request Form to SCPD. They will route the form
to the EE department for final review. Students will receive a formal notice from the SCPD
office when a decision has been made.
Computing Resources
For a complete description of the University computing resources, visit the Computing and
Communication website at itservices.stanford.edu/.
• Terman Engineering Library
• Packard basement, Room 051
Most research groups have their own computing facilities, which are reserved for the use
of those groups.
In recent years computer and network security have become extremely important to
protect our systems and data from external attack. For advice and information on current
security software and upgrades, see: uit.stanford.edu/security
Students sustaining most other work-related injuries should seek care at Vaden Health
Center.
Injuries for which care is available at Vaden include, but are not limited to:
• Limited abrasions
• Limited contusions
• Superficial lacerations (skin only)
• Limited thermal and chemical burns
• Possible fracture
For occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious material
(resulting from needle sticks, lacerations, etc.) immediately consult the Vaden Health
Center or the Stanford Health Care Emergency Department.
If you need to report an accident or emergency situation on campus, dial 911. From a
campus phone, dial 9-911.