Accelerated M.S. Degree Program

The telecommunications industry has truly become an interdisciplinary field of knowledge, combining computer science and electrical engineering disciplines. Networking professionals and communications specialists in today's information society require knowledge in numerous areas to include computer engineering, telecommunications protocols, security issues, information management, and     telecommunications networking.  To remain competitive, organizations rely on individuals who can readily apply technology from several disciplines in order to seek innovative solutions to the full range of telecommunications needs. 

The George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), recognizes these needs. SEAS seeks to provide the most current information in a truly cutting edge and innovative format.  The Accelerated Program for the Master's of Science Degree is truly unique among graduate programs. It allows working professionals to earn a Master's of Science degree without career interruption while ensuring that information gained at the beginning of the program is not obsolete by the time the student graduates. GWU welcomes you to an extraordinary and incomparable learning experience.

The diverging and ever-increasing number of disciplines within the area of telecommunications mandates that students be afforded the opportunity to focus their graduate work.  New and revised courses are now available from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department that permit students to tailor their Master's Degree to their particular interests and objectives. Students may now select one of four tracks as their area of focus within the Accelerated Master's Degree Program:

All tracks are on the same schedule, with several core courses being common to all four tracks.  After taking these core courses, students then branch out to take courses in their selected field.  In lieu of a Master's Degree, students may take even a more selective group of courses to obtain a graduate certificate in a particular focus area.

 

 

Admission Requirements - Pre-Apply Now!

Admission to the Accelerated M.S. Program requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 over the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work is expected. Applicants should be well grounded in college-level mathematics and have basic knowledge of undergraduate-level communications theory.  Under certain circumstances, an applicant whose undergraduate academic background does not meet the above requirements may be admitted on the basis of exceptionally strong relevant work experience, or a demonstrated ability to meet the rigorous course work requirements of the program.

Applicants from countries where English is not an official language must have achieved a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English Language (TOEFL).

Required materials for the electronic application:

• The completed application
• Statement of Purpose
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably two from the applicant's present employer
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• A non-refundable $60 application fee

Applications that are not completed by the deadline will be reviewed if space remains available.  All prospective students are encouraged to schedule an interview with the Program Director to discuss their career and academic objectives, and how they relate to the Program objectives. 

Advisor Contact: Dr. David R Smith | (703) 726-8258 | smithd@gwu.edu

Senior Education Specialist: Carmen Session | (703) 726-8253 | csession@gwu.edu

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Program Schedule

Each new cohort begins classes in the Spring or Fall Semester, and completes the program in five semesters over a total of 19 months.  Two courses are taken in each of the five semesters, for a total of 10 courses and 30 credit hours. 

A weekend format is designed to fit busy work schedules. Students meet on Saturdays, with one course taught in the morning and a second course taught in the afternoon. Lunch is served on-site and provides additional opportunity for discussion with faculty, peers, and guest speakers. The Program begins with tutorials, taught in the evening over a three-week period, followed by the regular Saturday schedule.

Cohort 20 begins classes in January, 2010

Course Schedule:

• Telecommunications and Computers
• Telecommunications and Networks
• Wireless and Mobile Networks
• Telecommunications Security and Electronic Warfare

 

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Program Structure

The Master's Program consists of 10 courses and 30 credit hours, for all four of the elective tracks.  Each 3-credit course entails 32 hours of lecture, one mid-term examination, and a final examination. For every hour spent in class, approximately two to three hours of homework, reading, computer simulation, or group work should be anticipated.  Because of the highly interactive nature of the Program, students benefit from the support and interaction with classmates of diverse background and interests.  Students admitted to the Program join a group of peers and proceed together as a cohort through an academically rigorous curriculum.  Through participation in team projects, study groups, and laboratory work, students form a professional network.  Program highlights include:

• Cohort Format - limited class size
• Accelerated 19 month program
• Tutorial sessions before start of regular classes
• Saturday meeting days
• Two courses taught per day
• Meeting day times 9:30 am to 3:30 pm during the 15 week fall and spring semesters
• Meeting day times 8:00 am to 5:00 pm during the 10-week summer semester
• 10 courses, totaling 30 credit hours
• Graduate Teaching Assistants dedicated to each cohort
• Costs covers tuition - (Books, lecture materials, required software, meals and other expenses including tutorial are provided gratis)

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Refresher Course Offered Prior to Program Start

There will be refresher tutorial courses with lectures, homework and recitations to review homework (4 nights a week, Monday through Thursday), from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm for 3 weeks beginning December 1, 2009. Topics covered will be math and physics for telecommunications and information science, including Calculus, MATLAB, Statistics and Probability Inference, Stochastic Processes, and Engineering Math. The review process will use math derived from practical applications in telecommunications and information systems. Lectures plus recitations and homework review will be by faculty and teaching assistants.

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Curriculum

Note: The George Washington University reserves the right to change or withdraw any announced course(s) as well as to change any fee shown.

ECE 201 - Microcomputer Systems Architecture (3 credit hours)

Advanced microprocessor based systems,CISC, RISC. Buses, timing, and system interface protocols. Advanced memory designs. Multilevel cache designs. Architectural support for memory management, protection, task switching, and exception handling. Multiprocessor systems

ECE 203 - Stochastic Processes in Engineering (3 credit hours)

Basic concepts of modeling of random phenomena in electrical and computer systems: probability framework, stationarity, linear filtering. Optimization of discrete and continuous stochastic processes. Elements of performance analysis.

ECE 207 Parallel Computer Architecture (3 credit hours)

Architectural classifications and taxonomies of parallel computers; enabling technologies, including advanced processor concepts, interconnection networks, high-speed memory architectures and protocols; parallel performance and scalability; and introduction to parallel algorithms and parallel programming.

ECE 219 - Computational Techniques in Electrical Engineering (3 credit hours).

Introduction to linear algebra and vector spaces as applied to networks and electrical systems.   Orthogonal bases, projections, and least squares.  Fast Fourier transforms.  Eigenvalues and eigenvectors with applications.  Computations with matrices.  Constrained optimization in electrical systems.  Network models and applications.

ECE 243 - Communication Theory   (3 credit hours)

Principles of digital communications; channels, digital modulation ; optimum receivers and algorithms in the AWGN, coherent, non-coherent, and fading channels. Correlation detectors, matched filters, diversity techniques. Bounds on performance of communications, comparison of communications systems and implementation issues.

ECE-248 Introduction to Computer Networks (3 credit hours)

Fundamental communications network concepts. Architectures for access and internetworking. Data and multimedia transmission techniques, protocols; switched and shared media networks. Routing, error, and flow control; TCP/IP and other Internet protocols. New developments in next-generation Internet.

ECE-250 Information Security (3 credit hours)

Speech and data scrambling. Linear and nonlinear transformations. Cryptographic techniques. Block and stream ciphers. The Data Encryption Standard (DES). Key management, digital signatures, message authentication, hash functions. Public key algorithms.

ECE-253 Mobile Communications Systems (3 credit hours)

Mobile channel characterization. Modulation and coding techniques for mobile channels. Fading countermeasures: power control, multi-user scheduling, FEC coding, hybrid ARQ, equalization, OFDM and MIMO. TDMA, CDMA and OFDMA. Capacity of cellular networks. Structure and evolution of mobile communication networks. Evolving technologies and standards (HSDPA, 1xEVDO, IEEE 802.16e, IEEE 802.20).

ECE-255 Optical Communications Networks (3 credit hours)

Wave propagation through fiber, dispersion, polarization. Multiplexing techniques, WDM. Optical networking components. Optical transmission systems design. All-optical networking, broadcast star and wavelength routing networks. Performance analysis, survivability, control and management. Optical access networks. Photonic packet switching. Current topics.

ECE 257 - Code Division Multiple Access (3 credit hours)

Spread spectrum transmission; direct sequence and frequency hopping. Conventional code division multiple access. Multi-user detection and capacity limits for multi-user communications. High capacity multi-user communications. Applications to mobile communications and cellular networks. cdma2000 and 1xEVDO.

ECE 258 - Propagation Modeling in Wireless Communications (3 credit hours)

Wireless communication channel modeling, propagation mechanisms, terrestrial fixed links, satellite fixed links, macrocells, fading models, microcells, picocells, diversity, equalizers.

ECE 259 - Wireless Networks (3 credit hours)

Wireless channels and transmission fundamentals. Wide area networks: CDMA (UMTS/cdma2000) and OFDMA based networks. Physical, MAC and link layer protocols for wireless networks. Satellite systems. Broadcast systems. Wireless LANs, sensor and ad-hoc networks. Mobility support: handoffs and Mobile IP.

ECE-277 Satellite Communications Systems (3 credit hours)

Theory and application of satellite communication. Low earth orbit and geostationary satellite systems. Satellite transponders, antennas, and earth stations. Transmission systems. RF link budgets. Modulation and multiplexing. Multiple access techniques: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA. Error control. Propagation effects. VSAT networks. Satellite packet communications.

ECE 289 Telecommunications Security Protocols (3 credit hours)

The OSI security architecture: security services and mechanisms, risk analysis. Internet protocol security mechanisms. Ipv4 and Ipv6 security, security associations, authentication, MD5. Encapsulating security payload. E-mail security: PGP, S/MIME, PEM, MSP. Secure voice communications algorithms. Security in Internet commerce: SSL, SET.

ECE-290 Telecommunications Networks (3 credit hours)

Traffic characterization: CBR and VBR sources. DSL systems. N-ISDN: physical layer interfaces, data link and network layer protocols. Common channel signaling. Frame Relay: protocol architecture, call control, LAPF, congestion control. SONET/SDH multiplexing. ATM networks: cell structure, virtual channels and paths, physical and adaptation layer protocols, traffic management. Multi-protocol label switching.

ECE 295 Electronic Warfare (3 credit hours)

Electronic attack and protection of information resources. Countermeasures and counter-countermeasures. Electronic attacks on ranging and tracking radar systems, jamming and jamming defense. Electronic attack on communications systems. Defensive techniques, signal design, spread spectrum. Attack and defense of optical and high-energy systems.

ECE-346 Telecommunications Protocols (3 credit hours)

Protocol standards and standards organizations. Layered protocol architectures for telecommunications networks. The OSI reference model. Data link layer protocols: HDLC. Network and transport layer protocols in support of OSI: X.25, ISO 8072. TCP/IP. IPv6. Protocols for session, presentation, and application layers. FTAM file transfer protocol, HTTP. Network management protocols, SNMP.

ECE 348 - The Internet: Design and Implementation (3 credit hours)

Internet physical architecture: transmission systems, bridges, gateways, routers, servers and hosts. Service structures: NBP, NAP, ISP. Protocol architecture. Transmission, routing and application protocols. The World Wide Web: CGI, HTTP, search engines and browsers. Security: access control, firewall, packet filters, integrity mechanisms. Software issues.

CSci 234 - Design of Internet Protocols (3 credit hours)

Protocol specifications and formal description methods. Finite-state descriptions of Internet protocols. Specification and Description language. Implementation of protocol specifications.

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Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

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Payment Information and Plan

Payment Information and Plan

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Biographies of Faculty

Robert Harrington Professor of Engineering and Applied Science; Former chairman of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department GW; Current research is in simulation and control of electrical machinery and power systems, computer modeling and lightening transients in transmission and switching networks; Fellow I.E.E.E. (B.S.1962, Ph.D. 1967, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom)

David R. Smith Director of the Accelerated M.S. Program and Professor at the George Washington University. Formerly with George Mason University and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Current research includes digital transmission, wireless networks, and radio propagation models. Published books and papers in mobile communications and digital transmission. (B.S. 1967, M.S.E.E. 1970, D.Sc. 1977, George  Washington University)

Hermann Helgert Professor of Engineering and Applied Science.  Research interests are in channel coding for satellite telemetry, integrated modulation and coding schemes, data communication protocol design and verification, integrated services digital networks, space communications architectures, and telecommunications network design and optimization. B.S.E.E. 1962, University of Buffalo, NY; M.S.E.E. 1964, SUNY-Buffalo, NY;  Ph. D. 1966, SUNY-Buffalo, NY

Suresh Subramaniam  Assistant Professor of Engineering and Applied Science.  Research interests are in the general area of communication networks, the modeling and analysis of networks, and the design of protocols and algorithms. Current and recent research interests:Optical Networks and Wireless Networks B.E. 1988, Anna University, Madras, India; M.S.E.E 1993, Tulane University;Ph.D. 1997, University of Washington

T. N. Lee  Before joining GW, Dr. Lee was with 3M Company, Camarillo, Calif., as an Electronic Engineer and with Texcan Corporation, Indianapolis,as an senior Engineer. An active IEEE member on Circuit and Systems as well as Robotics and Automation, Dr. Lee's specialties are in large scale delay systems and computer networks. He has published extensively in the areas of optimal inhomogeneous ladder networks -- lumped and distributive, filter designs, linear estimator and large-scale delay systems.  His major research area is in systems theory and network synthesis. His current research involves optimal distributed network theory and neural network theory (digital and analog).

Branimir R. Vojcic  Professor of Engineering and Applied Science.  Research interests are in the areas of communication theory, mobile and satellite communications, spread spectrum, multiuser detection and wireless information networks. Current projects have centered on multiuser detection for code division multiple access  networks, mobile and wireless internet and resource allocation in wireless networks with heterogeneous traffic.  Dipl. Eng. 1980, Nsc 1986, and D.Sc. 1989, University of Belgrade

Milos Doroslovacki  Associate Professor of Engineering and Applied Science research interests are in the fields of signal processing, communication signals and systems, discrete-time signal and system theory, wavelets and their applications. Recent projects have been centered on adaptive wavelet-based echo cancellation for voice transmission over digital networks, attitude rate estimation using GPS, and techniques for automatic identification of modulations.  BSEE, 1979, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia MSEE, 1984, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia PhDEE, 1994, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

 

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Sponsoring Organizations

The Accelerated Master's Degree program was especially designed to meet the needs of industry and governmental agencies involved in telecommunications and computer networking. This program was designed in terms of faculty, curriculum, schedule and format, advanced simulation lab, and state-of-the-art classroom to be responsive to industry. This accelerated M.S. program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is designed to provide the education and training needs for full-time working professionals who wish to complete a fully accredited degree from a leading university in the shortest possible period of time while staying on the job.

This program has been in place since 1991 and has been highly successful in recruiting outstanding participants and attracting a wide level of industrial support.  Sponsoring organizations include:

 

The faculty and the staff of the Accelerated MS program believe that the way to continue to be successful and upgrade the quality of our offering is to be interactive with and receptive to our client organizations. We are open to giving briefings to corporate sponsors and potential students at your offices when requested. Send us an e-mail and we will respond. Or you can call our senior education specialist, Carmen Session, at (703) 726-8253. We look forward to hearing from you.

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