The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers programs of study leading to the Master of Engineering (M.E.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering.The M.S. is a research-based master's that requires a final thesis defense, while the M.E. is entirely course based. The M.E. can be earned in person or online through VIRGINIA ENGINEERING ONLINE. We offer a direct pathway from your bachelor's degree to a Ph.D. If you are admitted to the Ph.D. program, you have the option of earning your M.E. or M.S. degree en route. Our electrical engineering program is known throughout industry and academia as a source of outstanding engineers and researchers. Our faculty maintain this reputation by continually updating curricula to reflect current scientific and technological advances and requirements and by maintaining a vigorous, interdisciplinary research program that provides staff and graduate students with high-level learning experiences relevant to societal needs. Recent graduates have joined industry, such as Apple, Amazon, BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, Corning, Facebook (now Meta), General Electric, General Motors, Google, Halliburton, Intel Research, Microsoft Research, NVIDA Research, Northrop-Grunman, Oracle, Qualcom and Samsung Research. Some chart their path to government research labs including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Army Research Laboratory, NASA, NIST and The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.