Department of

Electrical Engineering

Serving society through excellence in education, research, scholarship, and public outreach


Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions regarding the One-Year M.S. degree program track offered starting Fall 2015 by the Department of Electrical Engineering at Penn State, University Park (based on the questions as received from the applicants to the program).

Q. How is this program different from the other M.S. degree program tracks offered by your department?

A. There is no difference other than the time, the one-year M.S. program being of 12 months duration (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) vs. at least 18-months. This is made possible because we are offering summer courses, specifically for those in the one-year program. Due to this organizational effort, three semesters of the M.S. program can be completed during a single academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer semesters) as opposed to at least 1.5 academic year (Fall, Spring, and Fall semester during the next academic year).

Q. How do I benefit from enrolling in one-year M.S. paper option program as opposed to your regular paper option program?

A. We introduced this program in response to the requests coming from our M.S. students in the past. From the student’s perspective benefits are multi-fold: (i) it is easier and much less expensive to arrange lodging in the State College area for 1 academic year as compared to e.g 1.5 academic years, (ii) while student’s financial obligations toward Penn State do not depend on the duration of the program (tuition paid is based on the number of credits registered which is the same in all our M.S. program tracks) the living expenses, health insurance cost, etc. are significantly reduced when program is completed in one academic year, (iii) domestic graduates are available for employment and compensation at the M.S. level at least six months earlier accomplishing significant financial gains in the process, (iv) international students, F-1 visa holders, interested in pursuing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the U.S. are eligible after one year of the graduate studies in the U.S.

Q. Is there any possibility that I can convert my courses to 2 year program after initially joining the one year program?

A. We don't have a "2 year program". You either sign up for and follow our one-year M.S. program track or continue, working with an individual advisor, for as long as it will take you (up to six years) to complete M.S. requirements (supporting yourself financially in the process, of course).

Q. Can the student enrolled in the one-year M.S. program opt for on campus jobs?

A. You can, but we recommend that you don’t plan on following the one-year M.S. program and hold a job at the same time. We suggest you come to Penn State focused entirely on meeting the graduation requirements of this program. If it is not your sole goal then we suggest you apply to our regular M.S. degree program track.

Q. I request you to tell me about the scholarships available for international students admitted to one year program.

A. We don’t offer scholarships for the students admitted to this program neither international nor domestic.

Q. I am wondering if I can finish this program in 18 months and take the courses in the following Fall Semester instead of the Summer Semester?

A. Obviously, a 12-months program is not meant to be completed in 18- months. If summer internship is in your plans, then apply for standard M.S. program instead.

Q. Why do I have to decide what M.S. program track to follow before coming to Penn State?

A. Introduction of the one-year program track into our M.S. degree offering involved significant organizational restructuring. This includes offering of the graduate courses during the Summer semester which was not an option available before. To create for you an opportunity to get a M.S. degree in one-year all the components of the system including course schedule, advising, etc. must be in place well ahead of time. A good planning in this regard requires that we know in advance the number of students involved in this program during any given academic year. The one-year program track students will need special advising and planning of activities so that they can meet the M.S. degree requirements within one year.

Q. Do I need to finish my graduate degree within one year?

A. If you decided to join the one-year program, then this would be the expectation. We have created this program for the students who are committed and willing to work hard to accomplish the goal. However, you will be able to switch to another track, if necessary.

Q. What if I won’t be able to keep up with the workload and complete one-year program requirements in one year?

A. We understand this may happen, but we cannot lower our standards. All we can offer is a special help in the form of a dedicated guidance and advising. If you still won’t be able to meet the M.S. graduation requirements during a single academic year, then you will have to continue in our M.S. program until you complete those requirements.

Q. Do I have to find an advisor before joining the one-year M.S. program?

A. Generally, finding advisor before joining the one-year M.S. is not required. You will be provided with an opportunity and guidance to select an advisor during first semester of the program.

Q. I have been formally accepted to the graduate program at PSU for fall 2015 session. The M.S. degree course is for 1 year duration and I would like to know if there is a possibility of doing a thesis?

A. If you want to follow our M.S. thesis track then you should not sign up for the one-year M.S. program track which is by definition a paper option program.