Admissions

Graduate Admissions

Prospective graduate students for the Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering must first meet the entrance requirements of the Graduate School. The prospective graduate student should make formal application to the Graduate School. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions must be sent directly to the Graduate School. In addition, the student must arrange to have an official copy of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores sent to the Graduate School (ETS code for NMSU is 4531; ETS code for the ECE program is 1203). If the applicant meets the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, the application is sent to the Klipsch School’s Graduate Studies Committee for review. U.S. residents are given every chance of being successful in the pursuit of a graduate degree. If they do not meet the requirements of the Klipsch School, they can enter the non-degree program where they must demonstrate competence in graduate-level course work before they reapply.

Note: Admission to the graduate program does not guarantee an award of support in the form of a Teaching Assistantship or a Research Assistantship.  There will be a limited number of Teaching Assistantship positions awarded with admission to new graduate students who show outstanding qualifications and meet the application deadline.  At the start of each semester, students not on teaching or research assistantships will be considered for available teaching assistantship positions.  Research Assistantships are awarded by the faculty with sponsored research programs.  Please see the Graduate Assistantship page for more information on applying for an assistantship.

Domestic MSEE and Ph.D. Graduate Admissions

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. A formal application, completed in duplicate and accompanied by a $30 non-refundable application fee, is required of all prospective domestic (US) students, including graduates of New Mexico State University. The application process is on-line through the Graduate School admissions portal.  If a prospective student wishes to be considered for a  guaranteed Teaching Assistantship, this application must be completed along with the application for financial aid by January 15 each year.
2. Applicants, other than BSEE NMSU graduates, must arrange with each institution previously attended to have two official transcripts of all their undergraduate and graduate work sent directly to the Dean of the Graduate School.
3. Applicants who are NMSU graduates authorize the Graduate School to obtain one official transcript. If undergraduate work has not been completed at time of application, the student authorizes the Graduate School to obtain a transcript complete with degree statement as soon as the degree has been granted. Applicants having done work at another university following graduation from NMSU must provide one transcript from each of those institutions.
4. Applicants must arrange to have an official copy of their GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores sent to the Graduate School (ETS code for NMSU is 4531; ETS code for the ECE program is 1203).  The Klipsch School will not consider applications without a copy of the GRE General Test scores, unless the applicant holds a BSEE degree from NMSU. 
5. Please indicate the Field or Area of Advanced Study by writing in one of the Klipsch School areas of specialization. The choice of specialization helps determine an appropriate initial graduate advisor. 
6. Upon satisfactory completion, the Klipsch School Graduate Studies Committee considers the application.  The committee meets monthly to review all complete application folders that have been forwarded to the department from the Graduate School.  Typically, students with GRE Quantitative scores below 700 are not considered for first-time admission unless there is a faculty member explicitly requesting the student's admission.  For the fall 2008 admission group, the average GREQ was 758.  Students without a BSEE may be required to take undergraduate deficiencies classes as part of their overall program.
7. The most important admission criteria for the MSEE are:
   1. Undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   The most important admission criteria for the Ph.D. program with MS degree:
   1. Graduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   The most important admission criteria for the Direct Ph.D. (no MS degree) are:
   1. Undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   Please note that an applicant who is denied admission into the direct Ph.D. program will be automatically considered for admission into the MSEE program.
8. Domestic students who are denied admission to the MSEE program may qualify for admission as non-degree students in the College of Engineering. Non-degree students interested in ECE are encouraged to take up to 9 credits of graduate-level courses. After completing at least two master's-level EE courses numbered 501-589 with at least a 'B' in both classes, non-degree students may be considered for re-admission into the ECE Department. Non-degree students must request re-admission through the Graduate College. A maximum of 9 credits of NMSU graduate-level courses taken as a non-degree student may be applied toward the MSEE. NMSU will not transfer graduate credit for non-degree work from other institutions.
9. If a current MS student wants to be admitted into the direct Ph.D. program (no MS degree), that student must:
   1. Pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam
   2. Identify a member of the graduate faculty that wants to serve as an advisor to the student
   3. Complete a Change of Status form with the Graduate School

International MSEE and Ph.D. Graduate Admissions

International Student & Scholar Services is the entry point and point-of-contact for admission of international students at New Mexico State University. After meeting International Students' entrance requirements, your admission application will be forwarded to the Klipsch School for final admission approval. Upon successful admission, you will be assigned an advisor whom you can contact for curriculum details, etc.

There are agencies and offices in many countries that can assist with the applications process.  One such agency run by the US Department of State is EducationUSA..  International students are encouraged to consider assistance from these types of agencies.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. A formal application, completed in duplicate and accompanied by a $50 non-refundable application fee, is required of all prospective international students, including graduates of New Mexico State University. Application forms can be completed online or downloaded from the International Student & Scholar Services Office.  If a prospective student wishes to be considered for a  guaranteed Teaching Assistantship, this application must be completed along with the application for financial aid by January 15 each year.
2. To be considered for admission to NMSU, all students whose native language is not English must submit an official score of 530 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A TOEFL paper score of 580 or higher is normally expected for admission into the Klipsch School.  A paper score of 580 corresponds to a computer score of 237.  Students using the new Internet-based exams should present a score of at least 81.  Students with TOEFL scores below these levels are typically not considered for admission.
3. Applicants must arrange to have an official copy of their GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores sent to the Graduate School (ETS code for NMSU is 4531; ETS code for the ECE program is 1203).  The Klipsch School will not consider applications without an official copy of the GRE General Test scores, unless the applicant already has a degree from NMSU.  Typically, students with GRE Quantitative scores below 700 are not considered for first-time admission unless there is a faculty member explicitly requesting the student's admission.
4. Please indicate Field or Area of Advanced Study on the graduate application form by writing in one of the Klipsch School areas of specialization. The choice of specialization helps determine an appropriate initial graduate advisor.
5. Upon satisfactory completion, the Klipsch School Graduate Studies Committee considers the application.  The committee meets monthly to review all complete application folders that have been forwarded to the department from the Graduate School and International Programs.  Students without a BSEE may be required to take undergraduate deficiencies classes as part of their overall program.
6. The most important admission criteria for the MSEE are:
   1. Undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   The most important admission criteria for the Ph.D. program with MS degree:
   1. Graduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   The most important admission criteria for the Direct Ph.D. (no MS degree) are:
   1. Undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
   2. GRE Quantitative Score (for applicants without a degree from NMSU)
   Please note that an applicant who is denied admission into the direct Ph.D. program will be automatically considered for admission into the MSEE program.
7. If a current MS student wants to be admitted into the direct Ph.D. program (no MS degree), that student must:
   1. Pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam
   2. Identify a member of the graduate faculty that wants to serve as an advisor to the student
   3. Complete a Change of Status form with the Graduate School

Changing Majors at NMSU

Current NMSU students can request to change majors and enter a graduate program within the Klipsch School.  The general process is

1. Request a change in major by making a formal request to the Graduate School using the request form.
2. The Graduate School will send the student's dossier to the Klipsch School for admission evaluation.  Note: if the student's initial department did not require the Quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Exam, the Klipsch School will not process the admission request until the score is submitted.
3.  Upon satisfactory completion of the dossier, the Klipsch School Graduate Studies Committee considers the application.  The committee meets monthly to review all complete application folders that have been forwarded to the department from the Graduate School.  Typically, students with GRE Quantitative scores below 700 are not considered for first-time admission unless there is a faculty member explicitly requesting the student's admission.  Students without a BSEE may be required to take undergraduate deficiencies classes as part of their overall program.