Graduate Student Forms and Procedures

Quick Links

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is a vibrant academic and research community of scholars.

We encourage you to become familiar with the research areas in the Department, to reach out to our faculty for support, and to become actively engaged in the Department community. One way we encourage our students to become involved is by attending the colloquium series we hold throughout the academic year. This is an opportunity to learn about advances in the academic community and to network with faculty and students from across campus.

We are committed to helping you achieve your career goals. Students can take full advantage of what the University has to offer by learning about the graduate resources available in the College and the campus resources available at the University.

For the most current information about your particular degree of study, you can refer to the Graduate Course Catalog.

The Graduate School maintains a checklist of Graduate Requirements that all graduate students should be familiar with to ensure they are on track for degree completion. This site also has many necessary forms, dates and deadlines, and access to resources.

For international students looking to gain work experience, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is designed to provide work experience directly related and integral to a student’s degree of study. While it is not intended for general, ongoing work authorization it can help students build their professional network during their time as a student. For more important information about the department’s Curricular Practical Training, please refer to the CPT Departmental Policy.

Final Semester Requirements

All form must be turned in at one time – forms will not be processed separately. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

  1. File “diploma request” on Myslice when you register for classes
    1. Fall graduates register in April:
      1. If any of the specific requirements below apply to you, then you need to do them at the same time that you are early registering.
      2. Forms for students graduating in the fall semester will be processed over the summer break and will be ready for pick up when you return to campus in August.
    2. Spring graduates register in November
      1. If any of the specific requirements below apply to you, then you need to do them at the same time that you are early registering.
      2. Forms for students graduating in the spring semester will be processed over the winter break and will be ready for pick up when you return to campus in January.
  2. Masters Students Only: Turn in program of study form when you early register
  3. If you are registered for less than 9 credits – unless you have an assistantship and are registered for GRD 998
    1. Full-time status form
      1. Do not use this form if you hold an assistantship or fellowship – you are considered full time by virtue of having the assistantship – as long as you are registered for at least GRD 998)
    2. Last Semester Memo (only for non-domestic students)

Master of Science Candidate Information

Program of Study Forms

Master of Science Thesis Information

Master’s thesis online via the Syracuse University ETD website (this will eliminate the need to submit two printed copies):

Ph.D. Candidate Information

PhD_POS Program of Study for Doctoral Students

Qualifying Examinations

QE Scope

QE Guidelines

QE2 Information

  • The committee consists of advisor + one other EECS tenured/tenure-track faculty member (no formal approval needed); exceptions need to be approved by the department chair.
  • The focus is on presenting a written report and an oral critique of one or more publications, showing that the student can understand and analyze publications, as well as write and speak satisfactorily.
  • The reading list should be approved by the committee at least a month before the oral presentation; that’s when the request for examination should be submitted to Cynthia.
  • The student should circulate the written report to the committee, at least a week before the oral presentation.
  • Request for oral QE2 examination
  • Examination report for Ph.D (take this form with you to the QE2 examination)

Proposal Defense Information

  • Preparing for Graduation – Graduate School
  • The examining committee is called the Research Committee, and consists of the advisor + two other EECS tenured/tenure-track faculty members.
  • The committee members (as well as any exceptions to the “tenured/track” rule), need to be approved by the department chair a month before the defense. That’s when the request for examination should be submitted to Brenda Flowers (CSE – EE concentration) or Cynthia Salanger (CSE – CE concentration or CISE).
  • The focus is on presenting work done so far, describing what further work is planned, and getting agreement from the committee about the same.
  • The student should circulate the written proposal (to the committee) at least a week before the oral presentation.
  • Request for Examination Proposal Defense attachment
  • Oral exam report for Ph.D. (take this form with you to the Proposal Defense examination)

Dissertation Defense

  • The examining committee consists of the advisor + four other EECS tenured/tenure-track faculty members + a representative of the graduate school from another department; the committee membership needs to be approved by the department chair a month before the defense. That’s when the request for examination should be submitted to Brenda or Cynthia.
  • Exceptions to committee membership requirements need to be approved by the graduate school, so you’ll have to send the department chair the CV of anyone on the committee who’s not a tenured/tenure-track faculty member. The exception is that if a prospective committee member is a part-time or research faculty member who have research experience (with publications) in the student’s area of study. Post-doctoral research associates are not faculty members, and cannot serve on the committee, even if they have helped advise the student and know more about the work than the student or the advisor.
  • The focus is on evaluating work that has been accomplished.
  • The student should circulate the written dissertation (to the committee) at least two weeks before the oral presentation.
  • Doctoral candidates with dissertation (Guidelines)
  • Request for Examination (please make sure to leave a copy for our records at 4-206 CST before you turn the form in at 212 Bowne Hall)
  • Oral exam report for Ph.D. (take this form with you to the dissertation defense examination)

Colloquium Presentation Information

The objective of the student’s presentation(s) at the Department Colloquium Series is to communicate the student’s research results to the faculty and students of the department. The student must give at least one talk at this colloquium based on his/her dissertation prior to the final dissertation defense.

Additional Department Information and Forms

  • Department remedial courses reimbursement policy – Remedial must be taken within first 2 semesters of admitted term
  • Verification letters – if you need a letter indicating that you are full time see Registrar’s Office, 106 Steele Hall