Admission deadlines: Fall - January 15
Spring - September 1
Summer - March 1 (non-F1 visa seeking applicants)
Standardized test scores: The GRE General Test is optional for all applicants. For applicants who want to submit scores, they must be submitted officially from ETS using the institutional code 5246.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction. Minimum scores:
- Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0; applicants requesting funding consideration must have an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
- TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based; applicants requesting funding consideration must have 600 on paper-based; or 100 on Internet-based; or
- PTE Academic: 53; applicants requesting funding consideration must have 68.
Recommendations required: Two (2) recommendations required. If possible, one recommendation should be from your advisor at the institution from which you earned your highest degree.
Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.
If academic records are in a language other than English, a copy in the original language and an English language translation must be uploaded. Transcript evaluations should not be uploaded. Applicants who have earned a degree from an Indian university are required to submit individual semester marksheets.
Statement of purpose: In an essay of 250 to 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study at The George Washington University; describe your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans; and discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned.
Additional requirements: Applicant must possess a B.S. in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work. Students with a B.S. in another field may be admitted with a set of deficiency courses to be determined by the department.
All applicants must choose an area of focus that most closely matches their interests and note this on the online application. All applicants must submit a resumé or CV.
International applicants only: Please follow this link - https://graduate.admissions.gwu.edu/international-student-application-requirements - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

For additional information about the admissions process visit the SEAS Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact for questions:

engineering@gwu.edu
202-994-1802 (phone)
202-994-1651 (fax)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

Thesis option—30 credits, including all requirements in one focus area and 6 credits in thesis. Non-thesis option—30 credits taken in one focus area.

Colloquium requirement: In addition to required coursework, students must attend five in-person, non-credit bearing colloquia as part of their program of study.  At least two of these colloquia must be attended in the first two semesters. Each colloquium attended is verified by a faculty member also in attendance. After attending five colloquia and prior to applying for graduation, a student must submit to the department a colloquium attendance form signed by the faculty advisor.

Focus areas

Computer architecture and high-performance computing focus area
Required
ECE 6005Computer Architecture and Design
At least five courses selected from the following:
ECE 6105Introduction to High-Performance Computing
ECE 6120Advanced Microarchitecture
ECE 6125Parallel Computer Architecture
ECE 6130Big Data and Cloud Computing
ECE 6140Embedded Systems
ECE 6150Design of Interconnection Networks for Parallel Computer Architectures
ECE 6160Secure Computing Systems
ECE 8150Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture
For thesis option
ECE 6998Thesis Research I
ECE 6999Thesis Research II
Electives*
Non-thesis option—12 credits in elective courses; thesis option—6 credits in elective courses. For either option, at least 3 credits must come from outside of the area of focus list.
Hardware and Systems Security focus area
Required
ECE 6005Computer Architecture and Design
ECE 6045Special Topics
ECE 6125Parallel Computer Architecture
ECE 6150Design of Interconnection Networks for Parallel Computer Architectures
ECE 6160Secure Computing Systems
At least three courses selected from the following:
ECE 6105Introduction to High-Performance Computing
ECE 6120Advanced Microarchitecture
ECE 6130Big Data and Cloud Computing
ECE 6134Cloud Computing and Security
ECE 6565Network Security
ECE 6570Telecommunications Security Protocols
ECE 8150Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture
For thesis option
ECE 6998Thesis Research I
ECE 6999Thesis Research II
Electives*
Non-thesis option—6 credits in elective courses; at least 3 credits must come from outside of the area of focus list.
High-Performance Data Analytics focus area
Required
ECE 6005Computer Architecture and Design
ECE 6105Introduction to High-Performance Computing
ECE 6120Advanced Microarchitecture
ECE 6125Parallel Computer Architecture
ECE 6130Big Data and Cloud Computing
ECE 6150Design of Interconnection Networks for Parallel Computer Architectures
At least two courses selected from the following:
ECE 6045Special Topics
ECE 6160Secure Computing Systems
ECE 6210Machine Intelligence
ECE 8150Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture
For thesis option
ECE 6998Thesis Research I
ECE 6999Thesis Research II
Electives*
Non-thesis option – 6 credits in elective courses. At least 3 credits must come from outside of the area of focus list.
Machine learning and intelligent systems focus area
Required
ECE 6005Computer Architecture and Design
ECE 6105Introduction to High-Performance Computing
ECE 6130Big Data and Cloud Computing
ECE 6160Secure Computing Systems
ECE 6210Machine Intelligence
ECE 6882Reinforcement Learning
At least two courses selected from the following:
ECE 6015Stochastic Processes in Engineering **
ECE 6120Advanced Microarchitecture
ECE 6125Parallel Computer Architecture
ECE 6150Design of Interconnection Networks for Parallel Computer Architectures
For thesis option
ECE 6998Thesis Research I
ECE 6999Thesis Research II
Electives*
Non-thesis option—6 credits in elective courses, 3 of which must come from outside of the area of focus list; thesis option—0 credits in elective courses.
MEMS, electronics, and photonics focus area
Required
ECE 6030Device Electronics
Four courses selected from the following:
ECE 6020Applied Electromagnetics
ECE 6210Machine Intelligence
ECE 6213Design of VLSI Circuits
ECE 6214High-Level VLSI Design Methodology
ECE 6215Microsystems Design, Simulation, and Fabrication for Sensor Applications
ECE 6216RF/VLSI Circuit Design
ECE 6217Neural Networks and Hardware Implementations
ECE 6218Advanced Analog VLSI Circuit Design
ECE 6221Introduction to Physical Electronics
ECE 6240VLSI Design and Simulation
ECE 6245Microfabrication and Nanofabrication Technology
ECE 6250ASIC Design and Testing of VLSI Circuits
ECE 6255Sensors, Networks, and Applications
ECE 6260Introduction to Nanoelectronics
ECE 6710Microwave Engineering
ECE 6715Antennas
ECE 6745Analysis of Nonlinear and Multivalued Devices
ECE 6761Light and Information
ECE 6765Photonics and Fiber Optics
ECE 6770Applied Magnetism
For thesis option
ECE 6998Thesis Research I
ECE 6999Thesis Research II
Electives*
Non-thesis option—15 credits in elective courses; thesis option—9 credits in elective courses. For either option, at least 3 credits must come from outside of the area of focus list.

*Normally, no more than two courses taken outside the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering can be counted toward the requirements for the degree. Courses taken outside the department must have prior approval from the faculty advisor. In addition, no more than three 3000- or 4000-level ECE courses eligible for graduate credit may be counted toward requirements for the degree.

**Required for students who have not taken a course in probability and random processes at the undergraduate level or above.

Educational Planner

In consultation with an academic advisor, each student must develop an Educational Planner through DegreeMAP that governs the student’s plan of study. The Educational Planner should be established soon after matriculation and must be completed before the end of the student’s first semester. The Educational Planner must be approved by the advisor.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Educational Planner

In consultation with an academic advisor, each student must develop an Educational Planner through DegreeMAP that governs the student’s plan of study. The Educational Planner should be established soon after matriculation and must be completed before the end of the student’s first semester. The Educational Planner must be approved by the advisor.

Visit the program website for additional information.