The Master of Science in Telecommunications offers a blend of cutting-edge practice-oriented courses in network engineering, cloud computing, wireless communications (e. g. 5G), and cyber security. This industry-oriented program is designed for students who wish to enter the field of network engineering or are working in the field and want to advance their knowledge. The program concentrates on practical applications of network engineering, rather than on a theoretical approach, while providing a thorough education in the necessary engineering principles. Hands-on laboratory courses provide students with practical skills and knowledge needed to hit the ground running after graduation. This program also offers two certificate programs that may be incorporated into, and taken concurrently with, the MS in Telecommunications.

A maximum of 6 credits of courses with grades of C or B- may be applied toward the degree. The student must present a GPA of at least 3.00 for all courses submitted for the degree.

The program consists of 9 credits of mandatory engineering and technology core courses (TCOM 500, TCOM 530 and TCOM 521); 6 credits of electives drawn from an interdisciplinary group of core courses (PUBP 726, TCOM 547, or TCOM 750), and a basic switching lecture and laboratory course (TCOM 514) or an Internet protocol routing lecture and laboratory course (TCOM 515); and four areas of emphasis. Students who enter the program with an undergraduate degree that shows evidence of successfully completing LAN and WAN technologies may substitute TCOM 535 for TCOM 530 in their mandatory core program, respectively. 

Students must complete 30 credits of course work through a combination of core and emphasis courses. The core consists of 15 credits, with the remaining 15 credits earned in areas of emphasis. The emphases are sub-areas of telecommunications that provide necessary depth.

Students are usually expected to take courses from at least two emphasis areas. Up to 6 credits from the core program may be carried forward into the emphases, thus permitting up to 6 credits of electives to be taken inside or outside the prime emphasis area chosen by the student. TCOM 530 may be carried forward into emphasis area 1, 2, or 3; TCOM 521 may be carried forward into emphasis area 4. Double counting is not permitted, but the courses carried forward into a given emphasis may permit that area’s credit requirement to be satisfied, thus allowing elective courses to be taken outside that area. Usually, a minimum of 6 credits is needed to satisfy one emphasis area.

The MS in telecommunications program combines engineering-oriented courses in wireless and fiber communications systems, networks, computers, and Internet protocols, and courses on telecommunications policy, legal, business, and international aspects. This interdisciplinary program is designed for students who wish to enter the field of telecommunications or are working in the field and want to advance their professional knowledge. It concentrates on practical applications, engineering and IT, in combination with business and policy. The blend of in-depth knowledge of specific elements of telecommunications technology, combined with knowledge of broader issues in telecommunications, is increasingly beneficial for those intending to work in a management or decision-making position within the telecommunications industry, telecommunications-related businesses, or government institutions dealing with telecommunications. Four certificate programs may be incorporated into and taken concurrently with, the MS in Telecommunications.

The program is open to students who hold a BS or BA degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, math, science, computer science, business (with a quantitative background), economics, or other analytical disciplines, and students who have equivalent work experience indicating analytical aptitude. Depending on their background, some applicants may be required to complete 3 to 6 credits of preliminary coursework before they are allowed to enroll in any of the core courses or elective courses in the program. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is usually required.

Students may be admitted to the MS program as degree seeking students, or they may be admitted for non-degree study within the program, which allows them to take individual courses. Students in the non-degree program may apply to the degree program, provided their GPA within the MS in Telecommunications Program is 3.00 or above. Up to 12 credits earned in non-degree study may be transferred into the degree program, provided each of the courses to be transferred in was passed with a grade of B or above.

To be considered for admission, you must meet the criteria set by the university and your desired program of interest.

Below are the university criteria for admission:

• To be eligible an applicant must have a baccalaureate, master's degree, or doctorate from an institution of higher education that is accredited by one of the organizations found here. You must have earned or will earn* a minimum of a four-year baccalaureate degree from a US institution of higher education accredited by one of the organizations found here, or an equivalent degree from a nationally recognized non-US institution.

• You must have earned a 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale or better in your baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement can be higher for individual graduate programs.

• If you are an applicant with domestic educational credentials (inside the United States): you may upload unofficial copies of your transcripts on the online application. If admitted, you must provide an official hard copy of a transcript for all of your post-secondary work upon enrollment. (Transcripts uploaded to the application during the admissions process are marked as unofficial.) For full information on submitting your unofficial transcripts as part of your online application, please visit the Application Requirements page for more details.

• If you are an undergraduate applicant with international educational credentials (outside the United States): you must provide official hard copies of your official transcripts in English and the original language via postal mail either prior to or at the point of application submission. We will not accept unofficial transcript uploads on the online application. For full information on submitting your international transcripts, along with information on the required International Transcript Evaluation, please read over our International Transcript Guidelines for more details.

• If you are a graduate applicant with international educational credentials (outside the United States): For the application process, you are able to provide scanned and uploaded copies of your official transcripts in both English and the Original Language to the online application. If you are accepted and choose to enroll, we would require official hard copies of these documents via postal mail. For full information on submitting your international transcripts, along with information on the required International Transcript Evaluation, please read over our International Transcript Guidelines for more details.

• If you have international credentials, you must meet the Graduate English Proficiency Exams to be eligible for direct-entry.

Tuition fee-2 years$58,000

Total fee-2 years$1,04,000