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See how our online master's programs can help you keep up with the pace of innovation in the fields of computer engineering, systems engineering, and more.
CSU's computer engineering master's degree offers a customizable curriculum that you can tailor to meet your interests and career goals, with the flexibility to study online.
From autonomous vehicles to smart cities, we live in a hyper-connected world. A degree in computer engineering will allow you to have an impact well beyond your computer screen. As devices and systems become “smarter” and more connected through the Internet of Things (IoT), computer engineers hold the key to understanding, advancing, and protecting the security of next-generation technologies.
The M.E. and M.S. programs are coursework-only degrees focused on fundamentals of innovation, from artificial intelligence to big data to robotics. Heavy emphasis is placed on computer system design and exploration, architecture of mobile and warehouse scale computers, network programming, and internet protocols.
Students in CSU's online master's in computer engineering program will learn:
As an online student, you will be part of ECE’s close-knit department – a community that thrives on innovation and diversity in thought. Whether online or on campus, computer engineering graduate students learn from faculty who are pushing the frontiers of engineering and science.
ECE professors are responsible for 35% of the university’s issued patents since 2015, and they are a leading contributor to CSU’s research environment, an enterprise that has grown by nearly $100 million in the last decade. The department’s research runs the gamut, from developing satellites designed to improve our understanding of the conditions inside hurricanes to microscale nuclear fusion to the development of virtual non-invasive medical biopsies. This variety in research means that no matter what field you work in — or wish to pursue in your future career — you will learn from faculty at the forefront of technology and innovation.
In addition to being the headquarters of the Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, ECE is home to the CSU Information Science and Technology Center (ISTeC), the CSU-CHILL National Radar Facility, and the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere. The ECE department is also part of national and international collaborations through LaserNetUS, a Department of Energy Consortium of ultra-high-power lasers, and LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Detector Scientific Collaboration.
Online students take the same engineering courses from the same faculty and receive the same computer engineering degree as students in our on-campus program.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering maintains strong ties with leaders in the field by working closely with industry partners to meet the needs of employers through curricular input, classroom lectures, and on-campus events.
Program curriculum is highly customizable. These master's degrees are non-research oriented and focus on enhancing the expertise of computer engineering professionals. Review the requirements and curriculum to learn more.
You can earn a guaranteed admission recommendation from the department, if you meet the conditions below.
If you do not meet all the requirements, online students may still be eligible to take coursework before being admitted to the graduate program. Contact an ECE advisor to discuss individual exceptions to these guidelines. The Department can review and admit students with unofficial transcripts. Students will however be required to submit their official transcripts during the first semester of attendance, if they had not included them in their application.
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Sudeep Pasricha, a professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Systems Engineering at CSU. Dr. Pasricha is also Director of the Embedded, High Performance, and Intelligent Computing Lab. We discuss the rapid ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence, especially as it pertains to computer engineering, data centers, energy, sustainability, and AI ethics.
Computer engineers are in demand across virtually every industry, including areas such as medical machines, communication equipment, and hardware manufacturing. These fields are emerging as part of the new global economy, and having the right skills to not only compete, but to engage, is vital for professional engineers. This master's degree will help you advance your career by equipping you with skills and exposure to applied research.
The online master's programs prepare students for a wide variety of computer engineering careers in diverse industries, including, but not limited to:
Computer engineering master's graduates are consistently in the top five most coveted degrees for employment according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook report.
Engineering and computer occupations are expected to grow from 7.3 million to 8.2 million jobs between 2016 and 2026, an increase of 853,600 (11.7%) jobs over the 10-year period. This growth rate is higher than the growth rate projected for all occupations. (Source: U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Recent, Current, and Projected Employment, Wages, and Unemployment, November 2017)
Learn to apply in-depth knowledge, creativity, and research experience to analyze, design, develop, and improve computer systems. Students will gain experience in state of the art design tools, methods, and theories applicable to computer engineering.
Students complete 30 semester credits, 21 of which must be completed after formal admission to Colorado State University. This degree is coursework only; neither a thesis nor oral exam is required.
Select 30 credits from the following courses.
Select 27 credits from the following courses and complete an MS Plan B-Portfolio.
All courses are delivered online via our learning management system, Canvas. Courses allow you to watch recorded, campus-based lectures and engage in course content and communicate with peers online. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to study at the time that best fits your schedule.
Although the online format of this degree offers flexibility, it still requires the same amount of work and time as an on-campus graduate program. Depending on your learning and studying style, expect to spend nine to twelve hours per week on a three credit course.
This online program allows you to earn your degree while maintaining your busy work and family schedules.
As a student in this program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect:
Learn more about CSU's rankings and accolades.
"It was fun interacting in online study groups with students across the country. We learned a lot from each other, and many of us still keep in touch. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and always felt comfortable reaching out to my professors for clarification or support."
Read more about Kali’s experience on Source.
| Fall semester | July 1 |
| Spring semester | December 1 |
Note: Application dates published on the electrical and computer engineering prescreening site are for campus-based applicants only.
Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.
Apply NowThis Master of Engineering (M.E.) and Master of Science (M.S.) requires applicants to have the following, at a minimum:
Note that meeting the minimum department standards does not ensure admission to the program. Admission to Colorado State University graduate programs is based on a number of factors, including prior academic and professional experience and your statement of purpose.
Do you qualify for recommended admission?The standard application process into the program requires a pre-application reviewed by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students who meet the conditions below and submit a pre-application, will be automatically recommended by the department to the Graduate School at CSU.
Contact Katya Stewart-Sweeney at katya.stewart-sweeney@colostate.edu or by calling (970) 491-7850 if you are interested in the guaranteed recommendation option.
Prepare the materials below and upload when you apply online.
Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.
CSU's Graduate School offers several application fee waiver opportunities. Visit their website to determine if you are eligible for a waiver.
If you've been recommended to apply by the department, complete the steps below to finalize your application.
Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.
Please Note: Students may be unconditionally admitted and registered in their first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School.
Electronic (preferred): Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial. Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.
Mail (if necessary) Graduate Admissions Colorado State University – Office of Admissions 1062 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.
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