Graduate Program FAQ

Is there a deadline for fall or spring applications?
When will my application be reviewed?
My undergraduate degree is not in electrical engineering. Can I still apply for an MSEE?
What are the minimum GRE and GPA requirements for admission?
What is the minimum TEOFL score for admission and who needs to submit a TOEFL score?
Are unofficial GRE scores acceptable?
How do I apply for a TA position?
How are undergraduate GPAs converted to a 4.0 scale?
Do I need to submit a letters of recommendation or a statement of purpose with my application?
Do I need an MS degree in order to apply for a Ph.D.?
If I'm an MS student, can I change to become a Ph.D. student?

Is there a deadline for fall or spring applications?

The Graduate Studies Committee normally meets on the second Tuesday of each month to make admission decisions on all of the applications received. Thus, there is no specific application deadline for graduate applicants for either the fall or spring semesters. However, many students want to know the "best" time to submit their application in order to be given full consideration for available assistantships. For fall admission, the "best" time is February. For spring admission, the "best" time is September.

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When will my application be reviewed?

Applications are sent directly to the Graduate School (for domestic applicants) and to International Programs (for international applicants). After all application material and fees are received, the completed application packets are forwarded to the ECE Department for review. The delay in forwarding completed domestic application packets is normally not more than one week. The delay in forwarding completed international packets is normally not more than three weeks. The ECE Graduate Studies Committee normally meets on the second Tuesday of each month to make final admission decisions for the applications received.

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My undergraduate degree is not in electrical engineering. Can I still apply for an MSEE ?

Domestic applicants who have undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than electrical engineering may apply for a masters degree in electrical engineering. These students must complete a number of undergraduate deficiency courses. For most students, some of the courses may be bypassed because of similar content in courses already taken. Your advisor determines what courses may be bypassed based upon your undergraduate education and work experience.

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What are the minimum GRE and GPA requirements for admission?

Our department does not have specific minimum requirements for GRE scores and GPAs. However, students with a GRE Quantitative score below 700 are generally not considered competitive for admissions. Students need a GPA above 3.0 to be considered for a regular admission. For PhD applicants, the two most important criteria are graduate GPA (for the MS degree) and the GRE-Quantitative score. For PhD admissions, generally the student should have a GPA > 3.5.

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What is the minimum TOEFL score for admission and who needs to submit a TOEFL score?

A TOEFL computer score above 217 or an Internet-Based score above 81 is typically expected for graduate applicants to the Klipsch School. To be considered for admission to NMSU, all students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, except if that student has obtained an academic degree (e.g., high school diploma, BS, or MS) from a country whose native language is English. If there is a question about TOEFL submission, contact the International Students Office and not the Klipsch School.

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Are unofficial GRE scores acceptable?

The answer is no. GRE scores must be reported directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). If unofficial scores are sent to us in your application packet, you will not be considered for admission until official scores are also sent from ETS. Please note that GRE scores are required for all international and domestic applicants.

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How do I apply for a TA position?

Nominations for TAs are made strictly by the advisor after a student has received admission. Thus, any requests directly from students for a TA position will be ignored. An advisor may recommend a student for a TA position, by emailing the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee. The recommendation should include: (a) the name of the student, email address, degree sought, and expected graduation date, (b) a description of how this student is supporting the advisor's research program, (c) a list of undergraduate classes the student would be suitable to TA, and (d) an assessment of the student's oral communication skills. Note that if English is not the student's native language, the student must be able to pass the ITA screening or the ITA Development course, COMM485.

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How are undergraduate GPAs converted to a 4.0 scale?

Many international students have undergraduate GPAs that are not on a 4.0 scale. The conversion is done at NMSU by International Programs (ias@nmsu.edu). Our department is not at all qualified to make this conversion.

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Do I need to submit letters of recommendation or a statement of purpose with my application?

Letters of recommendations and a statement of purpose ARE NOT REQUIRED for the application. If a prospective students wishes to submit letters of reference and/or a statement of purpose, those items will be sent to our department for review, as part of the application packet. In rare instances, letters of reference and/or a statement of purpose are used to assist the Graduate Studies Committee in making a decision about an applicant.

However, if a student is offered a teaching assistant or research assistant position, they must complete an application for financial support and obtain three confidential letters of reference prior to being hired. This material should be sent directly to the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, not the Graduate School.

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Do I need an MS Degree is order to apply for a Ph.D.?

It is now possible for students holding a BSEE degree or equivalent to apply directly for the Ph.D. program. If the direct Ph.D. applicant is denied admission to the Ph.D. program, he/she will be automatically considered for the for the MS program instead.

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If I'm an MS student, can I change to become a Ph.D. student?

Yes, it is possible for a current MS student to switch to become a Ph.D. student. The student needs to:

Pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam.
Identify a faculty member in the department who is willing to serve as his/her Ph.D. advisor.
Complete a Change of Status form with the Graduate School.