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General Information Master of Science in Electric Power Systems

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How To Apply

Frequently Asked Questions EPSE Fellowships are available for Fall 2017 applicants. Funding is merit-
based, and no separate application is necessary. You will be notified of an award a
Graduate Plans of Work few weeks after receiving notification of acceptance into the MS-EPSE program.
Current Graduate Student NEW:
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◾ MS-EPSE is now offered online
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◾ MS-EPSE has a new concentration in Wide Bandgap Power Electronics
Graduate Degrees
ECE Doctoral Program This master's degree provides graduate students a thorough understanding of the tools, methods, and practice of
ECE Master's Programs electric power engineering. The program goal is to provide an education that is directly applicable to a career in
industry and is suitable for a new or recent graduate, as well as experienced professionals who want to receive the
ECE Certificates necessary retraining to change careers. The program is designed to educate a new type of engineering workforce
which is currently in high demand.

The main features of MS-EPSE include:

◾ core electric power engineering courses;

◾ interdisciplinary courses focusing on power electronics, data communications, cyber security, and environmental issues associated
with electric power systems.
◾ sub-specialization in power engineering
◾ professional skills training through two integrated courses that introduce project management, communication skills, and the business
aspects of electric power utilities;
◾ solid hands-on experience through laboratories and a capstone project;
◾ industry experience and exposure by involving experts from industry to teach some of the topics, and one-to-one interaction with
students through the capstone project.

A Master of Science in Electric Power Systems Engineering, MS-EPSE, degree requires 30 credit hours which consists of twenty-seven
credits of coursework and three credits for the capstone project.

Plans of Work Requirements

1. Of the 30 credits, 15 credit hours (5 courses with ECE prefix) are required as listed in Table 1.
2. Six credit hours (2 courses) are required as part of the program for professional skills development which are the capstone project
component of the program: ECE-583 and ECE 584.
3. Nine credit hours (3 courses) from the following for sub-specialization in power engineering: ECE 581, ECE 585, ECE 554, ECE 753,
ECE 736, and ECE 734.
4. A minimum of 30 graded graduate-level credit hours is required to fulfill the degree requirements.

EPSE Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester

Core 1 Core 4
ECE 550: Power System Operation and Control ECE 552: Electric Power Generation Renewables and Conventional

Core 2 Core 5
ECE 534: Power Electronics and Utility Applications ECE 551: Smart Distribution Systems

Core 3 Core 6
ECE 586: Communications and SCADA Systems for Smart Grid ECE 583: Power Engineering Practicuum I

Core 7: Capstone
ECE 584: Power Engineering Practicum II
(Summer or Fall)

Electives: Select three courses from the following

for the sub-specialization in power engineering:

ECE 554: Electric Motor Drives ECE 581: Power System Switchgear and Protection

ECE 585: The Business of the Electric Utility ECE 736: Power System Stability

ECE 753: Computational Methods ECE 734: Advance Power Electronics

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EPSE Curriculum: Wide Band Gap (WBG) Concentration

Core Curriculum from MS EPSE (12 hours)

Credit
Course Title Semester Required/Elective
Hours

Electrical Power Generation: Conventional and

ECE 552 3 SP Required
Renewable

ECE 734 Advanced Power Electronics 3 SP Required

ECE 554 Electric Motor Drives 3 SP Required

ECE 551 Smart Distribution Systems 3 SP Elective

ECE 732 Dynamics and Controls of Electric Machines 3 F Elective

WBG Concentration (18 hours)

Credit
Course Title Semester Required/Elective
Hours

ISE 589-04 Manufacturing Systems 3 FA Required

First Fall
ECE 534 Power Electronics 3 Required
Semester

ECE 553 Semiconductor Power Devices 3 SP15 Required

ECE 539 IC Fabrication 3 Fall Required

ECE 792-30 WBG Power Devices SiC and GaN 3 FA15 Required

ECE 792-
Power Electronics Packaging 3 SP15 Required
023

Required in place of the Capstone

ECE 592-34 Product Innovation Lab 3 Fall
project

ECE 538 IC Fabrication 3 Elective

Integrated Circuits Technology and Fabrication

ECE 739 4 Spring Elective
Laboratory

Admission Requirements

◾ The application must be submitted online through the North Carolina State University Graduate School Online Application.
◾ Students must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in electrical engineering with an overall GPA of at
least 3.0.
◾ Students who do not have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in electrical engineering must satisfy:

◾ Completion of the following ECE courses (or electrical engineering courses equivalent to) ECE 200, ECE 211, ECE 220, ECE
301, and ECE 303
◾ Applicants must have also completed the following courses or equivalent courses:

◾ three semesters of calculus,

◾ one semester of probability/statistics,
◾ two semesters of physics, and
◾ one semester of chemistry.

◾ Three strong recommendations from persons able to comment on the applicant's qualifications for graduate study.
◾ GRE scores within the last four years of the date of anticipated admission.
Guidelines for minimal GRE percentile scores are 70 percentile verbal, 90
percentile quantitative, and 50 percentile analytical or writing. GRE scores for
students who are graduates from NCSU may be waived.
◾ All non-US citizen applicants (i.e., non-resident aliens and permanent residents)
must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a
graduate program at NC State University. The TOEFL or IELTS test must have
been taken within two years of the date of anticipated admission. On the TOEFL
iBT, students must have a minimum score of 18 on the Listening, Reading and
Writing sections, 19 on the Speaking section, and a minimum Total score of 90. On
the IELTS, students must have a minimum score of 6.5 on the Listening, Reading
and Writing sections, 7.0 on the Speaking section, and a minimum Overall Band
Score of 6.5. Scores on previous versions of the TOEFL and IELTS are considered
with the same qualitative standard. The TOEFL and IELTS tests will be waived if
the applicant is a citizen of a country where English is an official language and the language of instruction in higher education or if the
applicant has successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year US college or University.

◾ GRE and TOEFL Test scores must be sent electronically from ETS. The North Carolina State University Institution Code for Test
Score Distribution is: 5496.

◾ Refer to the Application Requirements and Submission section of the How to Apply page for a complete list of required Supplemental
Documents.

Program of Study

This program can be completed in 10 months. The program will consist of 30 credit hours:

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◾ twenty‐seven credits of coursework, coupled with

◾ three credits for a capstone project.

Academic Performance

Award of a MS-EPSE requires:

◾ a minimum overall GPA of 3.0;

◾ None of the required 30 hours may be taken for S/U or "credit only".
◾ No transfer credits from other institutions are allowed for the degree.
◾ All students must be registered through NC State University.
◾ All degree requirements must be completed within the first three (3) calendar years beginning with the date the student begins the
course work for the degree.
◾ All EPSE students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment every semester until all course work is completed.
◾ Under unusual circumstances, a two-semester leave of absence will be granted if the student is unable to attend the classes.

Applying For MS-EPSE

◾ Students who are interested in this program need to apply to the MS-EPSE program.
◾ Students interested in applying to the MS-EPSE program should indicate admission for Fall or Spring. When applying, please indicate
in your statement of purpose and desired degree that you would like to be considered for MS-EPSE. Refer to the ECE Department
How to Apply webpage and the Frequently Asked Questions document for admissions deadlines and requirements.

"The opportunity for these students to cover rate making in an engineering program with such confidence truly speaks to the structure
of the curriculum and the quality of resources. As a power systems engineer for 18 years with experience working for utilities, business,
consulting and government, I am delighted to know that NC State is well ahead of the curve in preparing its students for the future in the
power industry."

Kevin Hodge | North Carolina Utilities Commission

MS-EPSE FAQ

Contact inquiries:
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Graduate Office
eceadmissions@ncsu.edu
Program Director
Dr. Mesut Baran
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Keystone Science Center
Campus Box 7571, NCSU Campus
Raleigh, NC 27695-7571
(919) 515-5081
baran@ncsu.edu

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