Masters Program

Program Director
Rahul Mangharam's Profile Photo
Rahul
 
Mangharam
Ph.D.
Associate Director
Wai Ping (Liz) Ng's Profile Photo
(Liz) Wai-Ping Ng

The Embedded Systems (EMBS) Master’s program will no longer be accepting applications, effective Fall 2020 Academic Term. This program will be phased out as our current students complete their degrees in 2021. Potential applicants interested in EMBS should instead apply to related programs in Computer and Information Science (CIS), Data Science (DATS), Computer and Information Technology (CIT), Electrical Engineering (ESE), or Robotics (ROBO).

The cornerstone of PRECISE’s educational mission is the Masters of Science in Engineering in Embedded Systems (EMBS).  This degree is the first specialized program in the country covering every aspect of Cyber Physical System (CPS) development, from theoretical fundamentals to state-of-the-art hardware and software technologies.  Other institutions may offer coursework or a track in embedded systems, which offers exposure at a high-level, but not to the degree of specialization that EMBS provides.  We started this program because we recognized that an electrical engineering or computer science degree was not enough to work with embedded systems.  Students really need in-depth exposure to all aspects of integration, not just examples.  In our program, students will learn how to design, model, and implement embedded systems using industry-standard formal methodologies, and then verify, evaluate, and deploy these systems in real-world scenarios.  Students could also partake in many large-scale CPS projects with our world-renowned faculty. 

EMBS enrollment is highly competitive.  We receive 230+ applicants each year, of which only 8-10% are accepted.  Our very selective enrollment promotes a cohesive and collaborative learning environment, allowing greater faculty involvement in student advising.  We don’t stop once our students have graduated; we follow-up with our alumni and offer lifetime support.

EMBS graduates are in high demand.  Every year, we achieve and maintain 100% job placement rate. 

Where did our graduates go?

Career Placement Chart

A complete list of our graduates can be found on our Alumni page.  

As an EMBS student, you must enroll in a total of ten courses (4 core courses + 1 theory course + 5 electives).

Core Courses
CIS 501 (CIS 571): Computer Architecture
CIS 505: Software Systems
CIS 540: Principles of Embedded Computation
CIS 541: Embedded Software for Life-critical Applications
ESE 519: Real-Time and Embedded Systems
Recommended Electives
CIS 502: Algorithms
CIS 519: Introduction to Machine Learning
CIS 548: Operating Systems Design and Implementation
CIS 551: Computer & Network Security
CIS 553: Networked Systems
CIS 555: Internet and Web Systems
CIS 580: Machine Perception
CIS 700: Software Analysis and Testing
CIT 594: Data Structures & Software
CIT 596: Algorithms & Computation
EAS 545: Engineering Entrepreneurship
ESE 500: Linear Systems
ESE 505: Control Systems
ESE 516: IoT Edge Computing
ESE 531: Digital Signal Processing
ESE 532: System-on-a-Chip Architecture
ESE 650: Learning in Robotics
ESE 680: Creating New Ventures with Emerging Technologies
ESE 680: Digital Twins Model-Based Embedded Systems
IPD 501: Integrated Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing, and Analysis
IPD 521: Designing Smart Objects
MEAM 510: Design of Mechatronic Systems
MEAM 520: Robotics & Automation
OIDD 614: Innovation
Thesis

Any student wishing to complete a master's thesis may enroll in two course units of CIS 597. The student first chooses a thesis advisor, who must belong to the CIS Graduate Group, proposing a suitable thesis topic. The thesis advisor and student discuss and determine the final topic, scope, etc. of the thesis. The advisor and student also determine one other faculty member to be a reader for the thesis. Once the advisor, reader, and topic has been chosen, the student sends an email containing a one page proposal to both the EMBS Program Director/Co-Director and Associate Director. Upon email approval, the student can register himself/herself in CIS 597 via Penn-in-Touch. The advisor and reader will evaluate the thesis and make the determination of its suitability as a research document. An oral presentation of the thesis is required. This can take the form of a public presentation open to all CIS faculty and students to attend, or in lieu of that, a conference presentation or poster presentation (decided by the thesis adviser). Once the final thesis document is approved, it is signed by the advisor, reader, and EMBS Program Director/Co-Director. Thesis formatting instructions can be accessed here. The final version of the thesis with all signatures, and a photocopy of the thesis (both unbound), are submitted to the SEAS Graduate Office, 109 Towne. An electronic copy is emailed to the EMBS Program Director/Co-Director.