Welcome to the ECE Department
Austin Alexander
Senior Programs Coordinator
Julie Guthrie
Academic Programs
Manager
Adam Ostrowski
Assistant Academic Programs
Manager
Ari Trachtenberg
Associate Chair for
Graduate Studies
Most of the information you will need about the
ECE Department is on the Internet: http://www.bu.edu/ece/
Some pictures copyrighted 2010 by Microsoft
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Information About Ari and Julie
Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here
 Coordinates:
 PHO 427
 trachten@bu.edu
 617-358-1581
 Office Hours:
 Tuesday, 2-3pm
 Wednesday, 10:3011:30am
 or by appointment
 Coordinates:
 PHO 324F
 jguthrie@bu.edu
 617-353-1048
 Office Hours:
 Generally available
2
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Why Are You Here?
Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here
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Outline key policies and steps in program
Help you avoid surprises
Help you to help us simplify the inevitable ECE paperwork
Share some tips from faculty on how to be successful
TIP
Help you succeed in reaching the MS or PhD
Start with a success story…
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Outline
•Introduction
• Rabbis versus Wolves
• Legend of Photon - a successful student
Boston University
Slideshow
Title Goes Here
•Research advisor
•The MS program
• Planning sheet
• Projects and theses
• EC915
• Poster presentations
•PhD
• Qualifying requirements
• Qualifier
• Time limits
• Credit hours
• Requirements
• Prospectus
• Add/drop deadlines
• Financial Aid
• Ras
• Credit hours and tuition
•Misc
• Petitions
• Rules and Regulations
• Academic integrity
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The Legend of
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Photon…a promising young
engineer
Who wanted to get an MS and/or
PhD and become an allaround superhero
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The Legend of Photon
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 Photon applied for admissions at BU and was accepted
 Photon matriculated (actually arrived on campus and
enrolled in some courses)
 Photon had to deal with the BU tuition and cost of living
in Boston
 Photon may have been awarded financial aid
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Graduate Teaching Fellowship (GTF)
Research Assistantship (RA)
Dean’s Fellowship (DF)
Scholarship via tuition waiver
Or something else
 She came to learn by coursework and research
 She found a research advisor and research area
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The Legend of Photon
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She satisfied the college math requirement for the PhD
She passed his subject exams (ECE) for the PhD
She completed her MS project or thesis
She was funded by her research advisor as an RA (Research
Assistant)
 She proposed a dissertation topic (prospectus) for the PhD
 She did the work…
… and the RA continued
And she defended her work and completed her degree
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The Legend of Photon
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 And now she is a
famous researcher/
professor/engineer!
 Joining the club with
other superheroes!
 How can you be like the
legendary Photon?
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Research Advisor
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 You are assigned an academic advisor
 You find a research advisor,
possibly someone different
 Your research advisor is the most
important person influencing your
experience in the program

find this person ASAP
TIP
9
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
So What’s the Academic Advisor For?
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Help navigate course offerings
Advice on finding projects
General problem solving
Sign planning sheet etc.
• You must make an appointment with your academic
advisor within the first week of classes
NOTE
• It is possible to change advisors
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The MS Program
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 On the path to the PhD
 All PhDs must complete the
MS requirements
 After the MS, less structure architect for your research
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
MS Program Planning Sheet
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MS and PhD students must
complete the requirements
shown on the MS Program
Planning Sheet
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A draft must be submitted by
September 17, 2010

Julie or Adam will send reminder
via email
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Form is online (ECE site)
TIP
Always bring an updated MS
Planning Sheet when you
visit your advisor or submit
any petition
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
MS Program Planning Sheet
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 The plan is a proposal
 Plan should identify:
 Your ECE concentration area
 Courses intended to satisfy the
curricular requirements with
timing
 Three potential research
advisors you are considering for
your MS project or thesis
 Alternative to thesis or project
requirement: e.g., EC915,
EC757, EC772.
 MS Plan is your future and
your responsibility!
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
MS Projects and MS Theses
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Boston
Thesis:
 Original research work leading to
 written document and
 oral presentation.
 Reviewed by thesis committee
 Often 2 or more semesters to complete
 Project:
 Performance of an engineering effort leading to:
 a deliverable,
 a document, and
 a poster presentation.
 Reviewed by advisor and one additional reviewer
 Typically 1 semester, sometimes 2 semesters to complete
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Thesis or Project?
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 Different philosophies
 MS Thesis
 A great foundation and practice for PhD work
 Shows ability to do research -- makes you attractive to faculty / jobs
 but
 Usually takes more than one semester
 Requires deeper original work
 Must be defended with an oral presentation and committee
 Depends on research advisor
 MS project has a lower risk of lingering
 Discuss with Prof. in advance:
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
expectations
grading
TIP
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Projects and Theses Need an Advisor
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Many possible topics
Need mutual agreement
Talk to professors in class
Look for extensions of class work
 Be proactive
 Demonstrate your value
 Take challenging classes
TIP
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
EC 915
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 Group MS Project
 Work in a team on significant project
 Learn team management, interaction,
leadership skills
 Planned to be offered at least
every other year
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Project Poster Presentations
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Boston
University require
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MS Projects
a poster
presentation
 Organized and promoted event
 Last week of the semester
 Faculty will evaluate presentations and provide feedback to the research advisor
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Summer is not an exception
Clearly define the problem, describe the method(s) used to solve the problem,
report results and establish significance of the results.
Poster presentation is necessary to meet MS project requirement
Poster tips tutorial offered prior to event
Good practice for Science and Technology Day
Don’t wait until the last day to print your poster
TIP
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
PhD “Qualifying” Requirements
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 Boston
TwoUniversity
requirements:
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ENG Math
ECE qualifying exam
 Math -- an ENG (college) requirement
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NOTE
All PhD students must display math competency by receiving a B+ or higher in one of the
following courses:
For Post-BS PhDs:
Any degree:
EK501
EE:
EC501, EC505, EC515, EC516, EC574
CSE:
EC504, EC533, EC534, EC541, EC561
For Post-MS PhDs:
 The requirement above, or
 Petition for approval of successful completion of B+ of better in an equivalent course
You must complete these requirement within the first four
semesters of your PhD program.
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
ECE Qualifier Requirements
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ECE Qualifier
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Tips for Qualifying Exam
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April 2, 2011
Must pass in two attempts (offered annually)
Both post-BS and post-MS students are required to take at the first two opportunities
You must achieve “candidacy” (pass both ECE and Math Quals) before the end of your
4th semester at BU
Best to pass the first time -- less time used to clear
Best to understand the scope of the exams
 Look at requirements, sample questions
Plan your course selections around any deficiencies
Don’t underestimate! Start preparing early
Form a study group with your peers
Bonus:
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Passing the exams makes you more attractive for hiring as an RA!
Stipends are higher when you pass the qualifiers.
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Time Limits
 Limits on how long you can be in the program
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 MS: 5 years from matriculation
 PhD: 5 years after candidacy achieved (pass qual and coursework)
 Possible to extend via petition with justification
 Limits are to ensure progress: progress toward the goal in a
timely fashion
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Credit Hour Requirements
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 Post-BS PhD:
 Total of 64 credits
 Complete MS requirements (32 credits) plus 32 more
 16 credits of EC900 (research) or EC991 (dissertation)
 Post-MS PhD:
 Total of 32 credits
 8 credits of EC900 (research) or EC991 (dissertation)
 PhD Handbook is your main information resource:
 http://www.bu.edu/eng/grad/handbook/
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
PhD Requirements
UniversityPhD
Slideshow
Titlecredits
Goes Here at 500 level or above,
 Boston
Post-MS
– 32
must include 8 EC900/901 credits
 GPA higher than 3.000
 C– implies F for MS
 C+ implies F for PhD
 Students in PhD program who receive grades of C+ or lower in more
than two semester courses (or more than a total of eight credit
hours) will be withdrawn from the program
 RA and GTF awards will pay for courses that count for your degree.
 W or F are not applicable for your degree, drop before W deadline…
Funded students will pay for any dropped courses, regardless of W
deadline.
 EC9xx and seminar courses can be taken as pass/fail
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NOTE
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
The PhD Prospectus
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 Your plan for original work leading to a PhD dissertation
 Presented and defended before your PhD committee
 Your committee is your asset
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Use them for their knowledge
Educate them on your ideas
Not just in final review
Recommenders
 Once your prospectus is approved, your stipend increases
 Note: meet time constraints on document submission as a
courtesy to the committee
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Add/Drop Deadlines for Fall 2010
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 Last Day to Add Classes:
 September 16, 2010
 Last Day to Drop Classes
Without a ‘W’ Grade on
Transcript:
 October 7, 2010
 Last Day to Change Credit to
Audit Status:
 October 7, 2010
 Last Day to Drop Classes
With a ‘W’ Grade on
Transcript:
 November 5, 2010
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Financial Aid Sources
 Boston
Graduate
Fellowships
(GTFs)
University Teaching
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Here
 Every semester, an e-mail will be sent out to all ECE graduate students
advertising that the department is accepting applications for new GTFs.
 Respond to the e-mail and provide the requested information.
 There are very few positions available each semester, so competition is tough
 Not always available for continuing students
 Get an endorsement from your advisor
 Transition to RA
 Research Assistantships (RAs)
 Chosen by individual professors with funds to support them through a grant
 Faculty active in research are continuously seeking out funding to support new
students
 Fellowships (ENG and external)
 Fellowship opportunities, as they arise, are advertised to all ECE students
 Quite a few are available if you are willing to work for them
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Graduate Teaching Fellowships
University
Slideshow Title by
Goesthe
Heredepartment to meritorious students as a
 Boston
GTFs
are awarded
vehicle to:
 Provide a teaching experience possibly leading to teaching careers
 Leverage knowledge and effort of graduate students to augment and
enhance ECE courses
 Fund students while they can seek out research opportunities
 ENG fellowships, DFs and GTFs are considered as a short term (1-2
year) entry position to RAs.
 There is no career or retirement plan as a GTF
NOTE
 GTFs work for 20 hours per week in support of ECE teaching
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Research Assistantships
University
Slideshow Titlefaculty
Goes Here members
 Boston
Hired
by individual
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paid based on 20 hours per week (40 hours in the summer)
most commit substantially more to their research effort as it leads to personal advancement
 Salaries are typically funded by external research grants, start-up
funds, gifts, and internal research grants.
 You need to convince a professor that you can advance
his/her research program.
NOTE
 Be proactive, take courses from the professors you are interested in
working with, and do well!
 Become a candidate!
 Get involved with group seminars, go to local professional meetings,
attend ECE colloquia.
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
External Fellowships
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 Be proactive
 Talk to other students who
won fellowships in the past.
 NSF, NASA, DoD, Gates
Foundation and others…
 Many profs would like a “free”
student.
29
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Credit Hours and Tuition
University
Title Goes
Here is part-time
 Boston
Fewer
thanSlideshow
12 credit
hours
 12-18 credit hours is full-time, more is overload
 Students can be certified by the COE as full-time without taking 12
or more credit hours under the following conditions:
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If in their final semester and completing their degree requirements
If a GTF or RA taking 8 credits
If a GTF or RA taking 4 credits and studying for Qual (PhD only)
If a Non-GTF/RA taking 4 credits and studying for Qual (PhD only)
If a Non-GTF/RA taking 4 credits and actively seeking a Research
Advisor (this can be used only once)
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Credit Hours and Tuition
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 RAs
 Normally take 2 courses;
 Up to 10 credits can be covered (over 10 can be petitioned).
 Think of your credit requirements (32 or 64). Do not go overboard
 GTFs
 Normally take 2 courses, if you reach 12 credits, i.e. full tuition, the COE will not
pay
 Summer GTFs are paid less than during regular semesters (fewer hours, fewer
duties) and do not get tuition benefits
 There are opportunities for internships within practical training limits
 Keep your eye on the prize: complete your degree
31
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Petitions
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 Anything can be petitioned
 If it makes sense and it is
well-justified, good chance for
approval
 Develop with your advisor
 Submit to Julie or Adam
 Include planning sheet, if preMS
 Will be reviewed by Graduate
Chair and/or Committee
32
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Chain of Command
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If you have a problem…
 Go to your academic advisor (first)
 ECE Grad Chair (Ari)
 ECE Chair (Castanon)
 College Grad Dean (Unlu)
 College Dean (Lutchen)
 University Provost (Campbell)
Note: they are all Engineers!
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ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Rules and Regulations
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 PhD Handbook www.bu.edu/eng/grad/handbook
 Code of Academic Conduct
http://www.bu.edu/eng/grad/conduct/
 Sexual Harassment
http://www.bu.edu/handbook/policies/hr/harassment.html
34
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Academic integrity
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 Esp. serious for graduate students
 If in doubt, ask
 Common issues
 Downloading software
 Citing references
 Collaboration
35
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Getting Involved
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 Many opportunities to be involved. Requires initiative and desire
 Attend department and center seminars
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ECE
CISE
CNS
Photonics
 Attend IEEE and ACM events
 Some here at BU
 Others at companies, other universities
 Visit individual research labs
36
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Extra-Curricular
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 Stay healthy and fit
 FitRec, intramurals, SAGE,
outing club etc.
 Sleep well
 Be connected and social
 BU is truly international
 Participate in SAGE activities
 Ski trip, Socials …
 BOSTON, arts, music, food,
etc.
37
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Final words
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Persons responsible for making sure that you are complying with
the regulations and progressing towards your degree:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You
Your Advisor
Me
Julie
ENG staff
38
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
One more thing…Recruiting
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ECE has a goal to increase the
quality and size or our graduate
population
We have an excellent batch of
new students
Question: How can we get more
like you?
Answer: give us three names of
classmates from your home
institution that I can contact
directly
We’ll pitch them to consider BU
next year.
39
ECE Graduate Student Orientation
3/24/2016
Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here
Q&A
40