Advising

See Graduate Advising for a statement of university policy on graduate advising.

The Department of Electrical Engineering is committed to providing academic advising in support of MS students’ education and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails both advisor and advisee collaborative engagement. As a best practice, advising expectations should be discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both advisor and advisee are expected to maintain professionalism, respect, and integrity. They should also be responsive to one another promptly.

At the start of graduate study, each student is assigned a master’s program advisor: a faculty member who guides course selection and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. Students are expected to meet with the program advisor during the first quarter to discuss their proposed master’s plan. Typically, the same faculty member serves as program advisor for the duration of the master’s study. If students wish to change their program advisor, they may contact the Degree Progress Officer to initiate the change advisor process. 

In addition to the program advisor, the Electrical Engineering Graduate Student Teaching Advisor is a peer advisor available to advise students on course selection and academic opportunities on and off campus.

The department’s student services office is also essential for the master’s advising team. They inform students and advisors about university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities and maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals. Their contact information can be found on the department’s Graduate Degree Progress opens in a new tab website.

Finally, graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program. See the Electrical Engineering Department Graduate Handbook opens in a new tab (pdf) for more information.