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How It Works
Bridge students take a specific sequence of undergraduate “bridge courses” to ensure they are prepared to begin our master’s program. Students who have already learned some of the foundational material as part of their bachelor’s degree or through independent learning may have some of the required courses waived. The number of bridge courses required depends on the background of the student and the chosen area of specialization. We require a letter grade of B or better in all of the bridge courses for admission to our MS program, but may allow lower grades if they happen infrequently.
There have been some recent changes to the Bridge Program and the required courses. If you have any questions please contact us at eceinfo@pdx.edu.
Program Prerequisites
- Experience with scripting languages, particularly Python and C. Students may self-study these topics (See the self-study guide here) or take ECE 102 Engineering Computation and ECE 103 Engineering Programming
- Current math ability should be at least at Calculus level. Self-study is only an option for review if a student has completed Calculus 1 and 2 in the past. You must take a math placement assessment so we can determine your math level and get registration approval from the Math Department.
- Bridge students must also complete the focus area-specific courses below before being ready to apply to the ECE MS program.
Bridge Focus Areas
You are required to complete one of the minimum undergraduate-level, focus area-specific bridge paths to be eligible for admission to the Electrical & Computer Engineering Master of Science program.
Analog, RF, and Microwave Circuits
Potential careers for students focusing on this track: Analog/RF/Microwave Design Engineer, Analog/RF/Microwave Test Engineer, Analog/RF/Microwave Applications Engineer, EDA RF Simulation Applications Engineer
Analog Track bridge courses:
- Math 251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 261
- Physics 211, 212, 213
- ECE 221, 222, 223, 315, 321, 322, 323, 331, 332 (note that ECE 323 is not regularly offered and may not be required)
Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems Engineering
Students who follow this Bridge focus area will be prepared for the Computer Architecture & Design, Design Verification & Validation, or Embedded Systems ECE MS tracks.
Potential careers for students focusing on this track: Computer Design Engineer, Microarchitecture Design Engineer, System Validation Engineer, CPU Verification Engineer, SOC Design Engineer, Embedded System Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Firmware Engineer, Real-time Operating System Developer, IoT Engineer, Design Component Engineer, Pre-silicon Verification Engineer, Post-silicon Validation Engineer, Formal Verification Engineer
Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems bridge courses:
- MTH 251, 252, 261
- Recommended: Physics 211, 212, 213
- ECE 171, 221, 351, 361, 362, 371, 372, 373
- ECE 172 recommended but not required
Digital IC Design
Students who follow this Bridge focus area will be prepared for the Digital IC Design ECE MS track.
Potential careers for students focusing on this track: Circuit Validation Engineers, Circuit Debug Engineers, ASIC Designers, FPGA Designers, Microprocessor Designers
Digital IC Design bridge courses:
- Math 251, 252, 253, 256, 261
- ECE 171, 221, 222, 223, 321, 351, 361, 371
- ECE 172 recommended but not required
Power Engineering
Students who follow this Bridge focus area will be prepared for the Power Engineering ECE MS track.
Potential careers for students focusing on this track: Power Systems Engineer, Protection Engineer, Substation Design Engineer, Distribution Engineer, Transmission Planning Engineer, Smart Grid Engineer, Grid Edge Engineer
Power Engineering bridge courses:
- Math 251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 261
- Physics 211, 212, 213
- ECE 221, 222, 331, EE 347
- EE 348 recommended but not required
- ECE 241 may be taken instead of ECE 221 and ECE 222
Signal Processing and Machine Learning
Students who follow this Bridge focus area will be prepared for the Digital IC Design ECE MS track.
Potential careers for students focusing on this track: Signal Processing Engineer, DSP Engineer, Algorithm Engineer, Image Processing Engineer, Computer Vision Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer
Signal Processing and Machine Learning bridge courses:
Begin MS Program
Once students are nearing the end of their focus area-specific bridge courses they can apply to the ECE MS program. Letters of Recommendation are waived for bridge students and the application deadline is flexible. Please contact us if you have any questions about the MS program application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply and be accepted to the bridge program?
No, there is no formal admission to the program itself, you just begin taking courses once you have created a course plan with the help of the ECE Department. You will need to apply to PSU as a Postbaccalaureate (preferred) or Non-Degree student in order to be able to register for classes, however. You will also need to apply to the M.S. program once you have completed the bridge courses.
Are International students eligible for the bridge program?
We unfortunately cannot accept International students due to the limitations of visas for "graduate prep" programs and our sequence of courses.
Do I earn a BS degree with the bridge program?
You do not earn a bachelors degree in the program. You take undergraduate-level courses that are focused on what you need to succeed in the graduate program and skip many of the BS-required courses along the way. You will eventually earn a Masters in ECE once you complete your bridge courses and the MS program requirements.
But do employers find it strange that someone would have an MS degree in ECE without the bachelors?
No, the MS is the career degree in the field and what is important is that you earned it, not necessarily how you got there. Many former bridge students now have successful careers as engineers or have gone on to Ph.D. programs at Portland State and elsewhere. The ECE MS program at Portland State also has many opportunities for internships to help you gain experience while you are working towards your degree.
Can I get started at a community college?
You are welcome to begin the program by taking equivalent courses at a community college once you have confirmed a course plan with the ECE Department and notified us of your intent to participate in the Bridge Program. Please keep us updated regularly with your progress to ensure you are on the right track, and keep in mind that you will have to transfer to PSU in order to take courses that are 300-level and above. IMPORTANT: If you take some of the courses at a community college, be aware that some use a different sequence than PSU (the physics courses at PCC, for instance). You can see the equivalent courses here.
How long will it take me to finish all of my bridge courses and start the ECE M.S. program?
This is different for every student due to the individualized nature of the program and if you attend part-time or full-time. Some students come from a STEM background and may only need a handful of bridge courses. Others may have to start from scratch with math, engineering, and programming courses and the bridge courses may take up to 4 or 5 years to complete before being ready to begin the ECE MS program.
When I earned my bachelors degree my GPA was very low. Is there still hope for me?
Yes! You will have to complete your bridge courses with B's or better and then take 3 graduate-level ECE courses, also with B or better, to override your undergrad GPA and be admitted to the ECE MS program. We will discuss this further with the individual students it applies to. Many students use this program as a "second chance" after their first college experience during their bachelors.
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