Frequently Asked Questions on the GT MS Degree

• Q: Is the GT degree that you offer in Shanghai a regular GT degree?
  A: Yes. The MS degree that we offer at GT-Shanghai is the same as what we offer at GT-Atlanta. GT-Shanghai and GT-Atlanta impose the same admission and degree requirements. Courses are taken from the GT course catalog and are taught in English by GT professors or adjunct professors. The main differences are: location, student body demographics, and tuition rate.

• Q: Is the GT ECE non-thesis MS degree inferior to the thesis MS degree?
  A: No. Whether you choose the thesis or the non-thesis option, you earn the same MS degree / diploma. For the non-thesis option, 30 credit hours of coursework are required. For the thesis option, 18 credit hours of coursework are required; an additional 12 hours are credited towards thesis work. The vast majority of GT – Atlanta ECE Masters students choose the non-thesis option. At GT-Shanghai, only the non-thesis option is offered.

• Q: On the ECE graduate application form, we were asked to select two Technical Interest Areas (TIAs). Do we have to take most of our courses under those TIAs?
  A: No. The TIAs you indicate on the application form are meant to help faculty members identify students interested in their areas of research. Those selections are not binding for your degree. In fact, to fulfill the ECE MS degree requirements, you will need to select courses from a minimum of three TIAs.

• Q: For the “Minor” component of the ECE MS degree requirements, can the 6 credit hours of coursework be from two different disciplines (for example, Computer Science and Math)?
  A: No. The 6 hours (usually two 3-hour courses) must be from a single discipline outside of ECE.

• Q: For ECE dual-MS degree program students, can the GT MS degree be of a different focus from the SJTU MS degree?
  A: The GT ECE curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to meet the individual needs of the students while at the same time ensuring that all graduates complete a well-rounded program of study that will support their professional goals. In fact, out of the 30 credit hours that are required for the MS degree, no more than 15 hours can be from a single TIA. Students have to take ECE courses from at least 3 different TIAs as well as take 6 hours of non-ECE courses. As compared to a Chinese MS degree, the GT ECE MS degree may not be as narrowly focused.

Last revised on January 4, 2008.