Graduate Student Survival Manual 2024-25 - University of California, Santa Barbara - Last updated 9/2024

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by asba

Graduate Student Survival Manual 2024-25 for the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara provides structured guidance for incoming and continuing ECE graduate students. It outlines ECE graduate programs, degree requirements and procedures for the M.S. and Ph.D., course credit policies, and general academic processes such as registration, attendance at colloquia, leave of absence, and department probation/dismissal. It also covers financial matters including fellowships, teaching assistantships, GSR positions, tuition/fee fellowships, research travel funds, and key departmental contacts. The manual further lists important 2024-25 dates and registration deadlines for fall and winter quarters.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages35

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

ECE Graduate Programs

Degree Requirements and Procedures

Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy Program

Course Credits

General Academic Procedures

Registration Procedure

Internship in Industry for International Students

Department Policy on Probation/Dismissal

Financial Matters

Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships

Important Dates for 2024-25

|
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING
GRADUATE STUDENT SURVIVAL MANUAL 2024-25
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
(last updated 9/2024) | | | --- | --- | TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 7 II. ECE GRADUATE PROGRAMS 7 III. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES 8 A. MASTER OF SCIENCE 9 A.1 Program Areas 11 A.2 M.S. Thesis/M.S. Thesis Committee (Plan I) 17 A.3 Comprehensive Examination Requirements (Plan II) 17 A.4 Transfer from an M.S.-only to the M.S./Ph.D. Program 19 B. THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM Graduate Division Requirements 19 B.1 Ph.D. Dissertation Committee 21 B.2 Study Plan 22 B.3 Ph.D. Screening Exam 22 B.4 Qualifying Exam 23 B.5 Dissertation 24 B.6 Time Limit to Earn Doctor of Philosophy Degree/Normative Time 25 B.7 Leaving from the University Before Completion of the Dissertation 25 IV. COURSE CREDITS 26 C. APPROVAL OF UNDERGRADUATE COURSES FOR GRADUATE CREDIT 26 D. APPROVAL FOR COURSES OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENTS OF ECE & CS 26 E. TRANSFER OF CREDIT 26 F. INTERCAMPUS EXCHANGE PROGRAM 27 G. "INCOMPLETE" GRADES 27 V. GENERAL ACADEMIC PROCEDURES 28 H. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE 28 I. INTERNSHIP IN INDUSTRY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 28 J. LINGUISTICS REQUIREMENT 29 K. ATTENDANCE AT COLLOQUIA AND SEMINARS 29 L. DEPARTMENT POLICY ON PROBATION/DISMISSAL 29 M. IN-ABSENTIA REGISTRATION 30 N. LEAVE OF ABSENCE 31 O. STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN DEPARTMENTAL AND UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS 31 P. COMMENCEMENT/DIPLOMA 32 VI. FINANCIAL MATTERS 32 Q. FELLOWSHIPS 32 R. TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 32 S. P3 STATUS 33 T. GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER (GSR) POSITIONS 33 U. TUITION AND FEE FELLOWSHIPS 34 V. FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION FOR NONIMMIGRANT FOREIGN STUDENTS 34 V.1 President's Work-Study 34 V.2 Part-Time Employment 34 W. RESEARCH TRAVEL FUNDS FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS 35 X. FILING FEE PAYMENT FOR GRADUATION IN LIEU OF ENROLLMENT 35 Y. ESTABLISHING CALIFORNIA RESIDENCY 35 ECE CONTACT INFORMATION PERSONNEL Department Chair: • Professor Luke Theogarajan Harold Frank Hall, Room 4165 , x4312 Vice Chair of Graduate Studies: • Professor Clint Schow Engineering Science Bldg. (ESB), Room 3205C, x2875 Graduate Advisor: • Professor Clint Schow Engineering Science Bldg. (ESB), Room 3205C, x2875 ECE Student Office: • Erika Klukovich, Graduate Student Manager Bldg. 697, Room 101, x2269 • Saixious Dominguez-Kilday, Graduate Admissions Bldg. 380, Room 101, x3114 • Beth English, Undergraduate Program Officer Bldg. 380, Room 105 , x8292 • Joanna Villalobos, Undergraduate Program Advisor Bldg. 380, Room 101, x5368 Graduate Student Office Graduate Admissions Office Student Mailboxes Faculty/Staff Mailboxes ECE Dept. Office (Chair) ECE Employment (GSR only) ECE Budget Office ECE Central Admin. Office ECE TA Offices Ryan Sims, Graduate Academic Counselor IMPORTANT LOCATIONS Room Bldg. 697, Room 101 Bldg. 380, Room 101 Harold Frank Hall, Room 5154 Harold Frank Hall, Room 4164 Harold Frank Hall, Room 4157 Harold Frank Hall, Room 4102 Harold Frank Hall, Room 4115 Harold Frank Hall, Room 4155 Trailer 699, Room 103 Cheadle Hall, Room 3117 (email: [ryan.sims@graddiv.ucsb.edu](ryan.sims@graddiv.ucsb.edu)) Phone x2269 x3114 N/A N/A x3821 x8748 various x3716 N/A x2068 IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2024-25 See the 2024-25 Registration Pass Times & Academic Calendar for additional dates! FALL 2024 QUARTER | 9/22/24 , Sunday | Quarter officially begins | | --- | --- | | 9/23/24 , Monday | ECE Orientation for Graduate Students, 10:00am-11:30am, HFH 1104 | | 9/23/24 , Monday | ECE Department TA Orientation, 1:00pm-2:30pm, HFH 1104 | | 9/23/24-9/24/24 , Monday & Tuesday | Campus-wide TA Orientation
[https://id.ucsb.edu/teaching/ta-training/ta-workshops](https://id.ucsb.edu/teaching/ta-training/ta-workshops) | | 9/25/24 , Wednesday | Campus-wide New Graduate Student Convocation, 10:00am-11:00am,

FAQs

What documents or procedures are required for M.S. and Ph.D. degree completion?

The manual describes degree requirements and procedures separately for the M.S. and the Ph.D. program, including thesis/committee expectations, examination requirements, and Ph.D. milestone requirements such as screening and qualifying exams, plus dissertation requirements and normative time guidance.

How are course credits and transfers handled for graduate study?

It provides sections for approval of undergraduate courses for graduate credit, approval of courses outside ECE & CS, transfer of credit, and an intercampus exchange program. It also covers transfer expectations and related policies for earning graduate credit.

What key financial and funding options are listed for graduate students?

The manual includes sections on fellowships, teaching assistantships, GSR positions, tuition and fee fellowships, and financial aid information for nonimmigrant foreign students. It also lists research travel funds for doctoral students and related fee-payment and residency establishment guidance.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by asba