The Five Year Bachelor/Master's Program in Electrical
Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS)
Educating Leaders for the Emerging Global Economy
The Spring 2008 application deadline has passed. The next application deadline will be in October 2008 (exact date to be announced). Students graduating in the 2009 calendar year (Spring or Fall) should plan to apply online for the 2009-2010 academic year.
NOTE: This will be the ONLY application deadline during the 2008-2009 academic year. There will no longer be a Spring semester application deadline.
Submit materials to:
EECS 5th Yr. Bachelor/Masters Program
205 Cory Hall #1770
Berkeley,CA 94720
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Before Applying, see our INFORMATIONAL
SHEET!!!
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Background
In April 2005, the faculty of the EECS Department agreed to a pilot implementation of a five year combined Bachelor's/Master's program. This program is geared towards outstanding and highly motivated students, who are attracted to a more "professionally-oriented" program than the traditionally research-based and discipline-specialized M.S. and Ph.D. courses of study. To distinguish it from the existing Berkeley EECS M.S. program, a cornerstone of the five year program is interdisciplinary study and/or more experience in aligned technical fields such as physics, biology, and statistics or professional disciplines such as business, law, or public policy.
This exciting program which began in Fall 2006 is only available to Berkeley EECS and CS L&S Undergraduates . If you have a sincere desire to be better prepared for a leadership role in today's emerging new world economy, this program is for you.
Multi-step admission process: (1) Departmental Application (including Statement of Purpose, Draft Course of Study Plan (see M.S. course requirements below), Currant Transcript (Bear Facts printout O.K.), Letters of Recommendation); (2) a sub-set of applicants will be selected for a faculty interview and only a sub-set of those interviewed will be admitted by the Department; (3) if admitted by the Department, "pro forma" application to Graduate Division for M.S. degree by the advertised deadline in December of Senior Year. Please note: Graduate Division admission contingent on maintaining good progress in courses.
Admission to this program will be highly competitive. The following are some important components of a successful case for admission to the program:
- Sustained outstanding performance in EECS and related courses (cumulative 3.5 GPA preferred).
- A well-written and compelling personal essay illustrating the student's rationale for entering such a program, and his or her ability to communicate it well in written form.
- If selected, a faculty interview affording an opportunity to assess the student's technical background, life experiences, and ability to communicate orally.
- Three letters of recommendation, from faculty as well as industrial supervisors, who know the applicant well and have seen evidence that he or she can benefit significantly from a program of this kind.
- A non-binding "draft" course of study plan, indicating that the applicant has carefully considered areas of technical depth and skills breadth he or she wishes to pursue if admitted to the program. (Refer to the 5th Year M.S. (Plan II) course requirements.)
M.S. (Plan II) coursework requirements for students admitted to the 5th Yr. Program are:
- Minimum of 24 units required:
- 10 units of 200 series (excluding 298 & 299) in the EECS Department;
- 3-6 units of 299;
- at least 8 units must be 100/200 series outside the EECS Department.
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade, EXCEPT for 299s which must be taken for the S/U option.
- Minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0.
Berkeley undergraduates who take relevant M.S. coursework in the final undergraduate semester may petition to backdate graduate standing in order to receive graduate credit for that coursework.
Academic residence is defined as payment of registration fees and enrollment in at least 4 units in 100 or 200 series courses per required semester of academic residence. Master’s students must register at Berkeley and complete a minimum of two semesters of academic residence.
Current undergrad students (including Junior College transfers) apply to the Department in the Fall semester of their Senior year and are provisionally admitted to the 5-year program based on the criteria above. Students admitted as freshman in a Spring semester should apply in the Fall semester of their Junior year. The Department will render its decision in sufficient time so students can plan their final semester courses to take advantage of the flexibility gained by the program and apply for Graduate Division admission by the annual Dec. 15 deadline. Students in their final semester of undergrad are NOT eligible to apply. The application deadline to apply is:
Fall Semester
- October 1: EECS Department application and supporting documents
- October: Applicant interviews
- November: Admission decisions
Application Documents:
Required forms and supporting documents for the EECS Department application are:
- Departmental Application. (Note: areas must be chosen from the list provided at: http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Research/Areas/)
- Draft Course of Study Plan (Refer to the 5th Year M.S. (Plan II) course requirements.)
- Statement of Purpose (please put your name on every page and number pages, 1-2 pages)
- Unofficial Transcripts (Note: If admitted to this program, official transcripts will be required when applying to Graduate Division.)
- Current Resume
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (including an industrial recommender if possible).
Please print out the EECS 5th Year Program Ltr.
of Recommendation form, complete the top portion and then give one to
each of your recommenders. Don't forget to inform your recommenders of the
application deadline.
If getting a hardcopy of the recommendation proves too difficult:
- Fill out the top of the form and turn it in to 205 Cory Hall with your other materials
- Tell your recommender to email/fax us his/her letter of recommendation, being sure to provide the rating and contact information asked for on the recommendation sheet.
NOTE: For Berkeley students admitted to the 5-year program, the normal departmental requirement of the GRE is waived when applying for the Masters program.
Please have letters of recommendation sent to EECS 5th Year BS/MS Program, 205 Cory Hall, MC #1770 or submit them with your application in sealed, signed envelopes.
Students selected for the program are required to meet all of the normal requirements for applying for an M.S. degree during their senior year, with the understanding that as long as they maintain good performance in their courses, their admission recommendation to the Graduate Division is pro forma.
Senior Year: For students admitted to the Five-Year Program, it is highly recommended that they plan on taking at least one course during their senior year in the new Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology being formed in the of College of Engineering (see http://cet.berkeley.edu). The current course offerings include the following, and we expect the list to increase over the next year:
- IEOR 190B/E 198: Entrepreneurial Marketing and Finance
- IEOR 171: Organizational Leadership
- IEOR 190A: Engineering Entrepreneurship
In addition, the students should plan on taking at least one design intensive
upper division course in their area of specialty within EECS. Seniors accepted
to the fifth year program will be given priority access to these courses, which
include:
- Computer Engineering: EECS 150, CS 152
- Computer Software: CS 160, CS 169
- Computer Systems: CS 162, CS 194
- Computer Applications: CS 184, CS 186
- Integrated Circuits: EE 140, EE 141
- Communications: EE 122, EE 142
- Semiconductors: EE 143
- Signals and Systems: EE 192
Fifth Year/M.S. Programs: We expect 5th year students to follow the regular M.S. program, meeting all of the requirements for the EECS M.S. degree, while also broadening their experiences. Note: We believe that students should use the final semester of their senior year to formulate and begin work on their M.S. project to insure they will be able to finish it by the end of their fifth year.
Fall
EE/CS 299 (1 unit)
2 x Grad EECS courses in area of technical depth (8 units)
1-2 x courses outside EECS in area of breadth (4-6 units)
Spring
EE/CS 299 (2 units)
1 x Grad EECS course in area of technical depth (4 units)
1-2 x courses outside EECS in area of breadth (4-6 units)
Note: The ability for program students to transfer units from the second semester
of their senior year, including areas outside of EECS (e.g., one of the CET
courses discussed above), should make such an intensive program significantly
more manageable.
Semiconductor Depth/MOT Breadth
Depth: EE241, EE240, EE242
Breadth:
High-Tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing
Introduction to Management of Technology
Entrepreneurship
Technology Strategies For Market Dominance
Networks and Distributed Systems Depth/MOT Breadth
Depth: CS262A, CS262B, CS268
Breadth:
High-Tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing
Introduction to Management of Technology
Entrepreneurship
Technology Strategies For Market Dominance
Nanoscience (see also the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology website http://nano.berkeley.edu/educational/educational.html)
Computational and Systems Biology (see also Graduate Group in Computational
Biology Web Site http://computationalbiology.berkeley.edu)
Depth: CS 281A, 289, 280, EE291E
Breadth:
MCB C246 / PLANTBI C246 / BioE C246: Topics in Computational Biology and Genomics
STAT 246: Statistical Genetics
PH 243A: Multivariate Statistical Methods in Genomics
PH 252B: Modeling the Dynamics of Infectious Disease Processes
MATH 275: Algebraic Statistics for Computational Biology
How is this program different from the existing M.S. program?
The combined Bachelors/Masters program encourages an interdisciplinary focus, with concentrations in EECS and allied fields like the sciences, other engineering, or business, law, or public policy. The program is structured to develop future leaders in industry, exhibiting interdisciplinary technical skills as well as a broader understanding of the business, legal, and social context of technology development and use.
What is the application process and what are the requirements?
The applications process is in two steps: (1) Apply to the EECS Department in the appropriate Fall semester and, if accepted, (2) apply to Graduate Division by the appropriate December 15th deadline. The student is expected to have a preferred cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better and a sincere desire to acquire the skills necessary to be a leader in their intended profession.
I don't quite meet the GPA requirement of 3.5. Will exceptional applicants be considered with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.5?
Chances of admission are not good with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.5. However, demonstrated leadership and interdisciplinary (technical or otherwise) skills could augment a slightly lower cumulative GPA.
I don't have any research experience. How important is this for my application?
Undergraduate research is definitely a plus, but is not required for the application.
When are participants admitted?
Students should apply and be provisionally admitted by the Department in the Fall semester of the senior year. Students admitted as freshman in a Spring semester should apply in the Fall semester of the Junior year. Students in the final semester of undergrad are not eligible to apply.
I'd like to take some time off between completing my bachelor's degree and starting the master's degree. Is this possible?
No. This program will not accommodate leaves of absence. Admitted students are expected to transition immediately from the undergrad program to the grad program in order to complete the entire program in five consecutive years. You are encouraged to apply to the regular graduate program.
I recently graduated from EECS with my B.A./B.S. Can I apply for this program?
No applications will be accepted from students not currently enrolled in our undergraduate degree program. These students are encouraged to apply to the regular graduate program.
How does financial support for the graduate year work?
Students are expected to provide their own financial support for the year of graduate work. Students should be aware that there are NO undergraduate-style, need-based grants for graduate students.
Can 5th Year Students be appointed as Graduate Student Instructors (GSI)?
No. Completing the requirements for the M.S. degree in two semesters will be very challenging and time consuming and the student will not have time to commit to teaching.
Can 5th Year Students receive Graduate Research Assistantship (GSR) support?
Yes. If a faculty member wishes to support a 5th year student to complete his or her M.S. program within two semesters, then that is the decision of the individual professor.
How Do I Find a Research Advisor?
Because of the requirement to complete the Masters portion of the program in only one year, it is essential that the student have identified a research advisor among the faculty during the Spring semester of their senior year (if not sooner!). Several faculty will actively seek students from this program. In general, students may pursue independent projects, or join a project team, but they are required to submit an independently written masters report that makes clear their own independent contribution to the research.
Is this program well suited for someone who eventually wants a Ph.D.?
This program is not intended for students who want a Ph.D. It is intended as a terminal M.S. degree.
I am considering applying to the Five Year Bachelor/Master Program, but I may also apply for a Ph.D. program at other schools and Berkeley as well. If I am accepted into the Five Year Program, how will that affect my potential Ph.D. application?
Acceptance to the EECS Five Year Bachelor/Master Program, will neither positively nor negatively affect your application to Berkeley's M.S./Ph.D. or Ph.D. program. However, applying for admission to Berkeley's M.S./Ph.D. or Ph.D. program, automatically forfeits your admission to the Five Year Bachelor/Master Program. NOTE: Once admitted to the 5th year program, students may petition to a faculty committee to change his or her degree goal from M.S. to Ph.D. However, if the student is truly interested in a PhD, he or she should apply to the PhD program directly through the existing processes.
Am I allowed to apply into this program and, if not admitted, apply into the regular M.S./Ph.D. program later?
Yes.
If you have any other questions, please contact Ruth Gjerde at ruthg at eecs dot berkeley dot edu or stop by the Center for Student Affairs, located at 205 Cory Hall.
Last updated 1/9/08 2:00 PM