Graduate Screening Exam Handbook
ECE Electrophysics Area
Last update- August 6, 2024
This document is only applicable to students enrolled on the Electrophysics Area of the ECE PhD program, and on or after the Fall 2024 academic semester.
Introduction
This Electrophysics Area Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Graduate Screening Exam handbook has been created to assist ECE students, desiring to pursue the PhD in the ECE Electrophysics Area, with their preparation and completion of the Graduate Screening Exam process. Note that this document discusses mainly the Electrophysics Area Screening Exam and its requirements; please refer to the USC Graduate School section of the current USC Course Catalogue (available at http://catalogue.usc.edu/) for additional PhD requirements.
This document has four sections: Sec. I describe the Screening Exam and its format; Sec. II discusses the exam core courses, Sec. III presents some frequently asked questions and their answers, and Sec. IV provides a list of current Electrophysics Area ECE faculty members and their corresponding areas of interest.
The information described herein pertains only to the Electrophysics Area of the ECE Graduate Screening Exam. The same procedures may not be in use in other areas of the ECE Department.
Considerable effort had been made to render this handbook comprehensive, clear, and accurate. In spite of this fact, it can be anticipated that situations will occur where questions and interpretations of the material here presented will arise. In these cases, please contact Professor Aluizio Prata <prata@usc.edu> directly.
Section I - The ECE Electrophysics Area Graduate Screening Exam and its Format
The ECE Electrophysics Area Graduate Screening Exam is an academic process that serves as an entrance exam for the PhD in ECE. Its primary purpose is to assure a minimum broad level of proficiency with Electrical Engineering matters, as perceived by the ECE Electrophysics Area department faculty. It is the basis of your recommendation for formal acceptance into the PhD program on behalf of the department to the Graduate School. The Graduate Screening Exam is mandatory for all aspiring PhD students admitted in the Electrophysics Area of ECE. This Section describes the various components of the Electrophysics Area ECE Screening Exam.
The total duration of the Electrophysics Area ECE Screening Exam is three academic semesters (not including Summer terms), counted immediately after admission into the PhD program. At the end of these three semesters your progress will be evaluated by the Screening Exam Committee. To pass the Screening Exam you need to successfully satisfy three requirements:
- Complete a minimum of four core courses (Section II), and satisfy the necessary GPA requirement;
- Complete a minimum of six 500 or higher-level classes, adding to a minimum of 24 units and not including Directed Research. The non-core classes must have a minimum letter grade of “B”;
- Secure a PhD advisor.
Below more details are provided on these three items and their successful completion criteria.
Core Course Requirement
To pass the Screening Exam you are required to have successfully completed, at the end of the first three semesters of the PhD program, a minimum of four core courses. The list of core courses, and their selection criteria, is provided in Sec. II. These classes are referred to as Group A and B classes.
Your progress in the four core courses is determined using the GPA of only the four core courses; this core course GPA is considered your Screening Exam GPA. In the encouraged event that you have taken more than four core courses, the Screening Exam GPA is computed using the core courses in which you have obtained the highest grades.
To summarily pass the core course requirement you must take four core courses and secure a minimum GPA of 3.700 on these courses. This must be done by the end of your first three semesters in the PhD program.
You will summarily fail the Screening Exam if your GPA in the core courses is below 3.300, or if you do not complete the four core courses before the end of your first three semesters in the PhD program.
If your Screening Exam GPA is found to be between 3.300 and 3.700, at the end of your first three semesters in the PhD program, the entire Electrophysics Area ECE faculty will review your academic progress, and determine whether you have passed or failed the Screening Exam.
500 or Higher-Level Classes Requirement
To pass the Screening Exam you are required to have successfully completed, by the end of the first three semesters of the PhD program, a minimum of two 500 or higher-level courses, in addition to the four core courses. For Screening Exam purposes, Directed Research is not considered a 500 or higher level course. These classes are referred to as Group C classes.
To count towards the Screening Exam, the 500 or higher level Group C classes must be selected from the classes offered by either the Viterbi School of Engineering, or by the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics. Please note that PhD students are allowed and encouraged to take courses outside these departments, and they can in principle count towards the PhD. However, to count towards the Screening Exam Group C course requirement, classes taken outside these departments require prior approval; please contact Professor Aluzio Prata <prata@usc.edu>.
The Group C class requirement is considered satisfied if you have completed all its classes with at least a “B” letter grade; a simple Pass grade is not acceptable. Note that this minimum “B” grade requirement pertains only to the Screening Exam, and the Graduate School may have additional GPA requirements for granting the PhD.
PhD Advisor Requirement
As part of your Screening Exam effort you must review the research areas of each faculty of the Electrophysics Area of the ECE department (see list below), with the objective of establishing mutual areas of interest. You should thenmeet individually with professors you are interested in working with to discuss the possibility of having one of them support you as a PhD student. Section IV of this handbook lists the Electrophysics Area ECE faculty and their corresponding areas of interest.
The PhD advisor requirement is considered satisfied if, at the end of your first three semesters in the PhD program, a faculty has agreed to support you towards the PhD.
Graduate Screening Exam Pass-Fail Decision Criteria
After completing the Screening Exam three semesters you will find yourself in one of the following three pass-fail categories:
- Summarily Pass: A minimum GPA of 3.700 in the four core courses (Group A and B classes), completion of two additional 500 or higher-level classes (not including Directed Research) with a minimum letter grade of “B” in each course (Group C classes), plus a PhD advisor;
- Summarily Fail: A GPA below 3.300 in the four core courses (Group A and B classes), or completion of fewer than six 500 or higher-level classes, or no PhD advisor;
- Faculty Decision: A GPA between 3.300 and 3.699 in the four core courses (Group A and B classes), completion of two additional 500 or higher-level classes (not including Directed Research) with a minimum letter grade of “B” in each course (Group C classes), plus a PhD advisor
Section II - Core Courses
Successful completion of four core courses is required to pass the Screening Exam. Two courses must be from the current three major areas of interest of the Electrophysics Area ECE (Group A); these two courses are intended to provide useful basic general knowledge. The third and fourth courses are intended to provide either a strong engineering background or additional depth in a chosen area of specialization (Group B).
Group A - Pick two out of these three major areas courses:
EE 536a Analog Integrated Circuits
EE 539 Engineering Quantum Mechanics
EE 570a Advanced Electromagnetic Theory
Group B - Pick a third and a fourth course from either the above list or from:
EE/MASC 501 Solid State Physics
EE 503 Probability for Electrical and Computer Engineers
EE 506 Semiconductor Physics
EE 509 Nanophotonics and Metamaterials
EE 531 Nonlinear Optics
EE 540 Introduction to Quantum Electronics
EE 570b Advanced Electromagnetic Theory
EE 577a VLSI System Design
EE 607 Microelectromechanical Systems
EE 631 Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits
PHY 510 Methods of Theoretical Physics
It is very important that you maintain a sufficiently high GPA in the above courses. It is therefore important to be sure that you have adequate preparation before signing up for a core course. You will have only one chance to take any particular course from the above list. In order to help you make the decision of whether or not to start with a Graduate Screening Exam course or one of its prerequisites, please consult the USC catalogue. You are also strongly encouraged to directly contact the faculty teaching the course. Furthermore, it is important to attend the advisement meeting upon your entry into the Graduate Screening Exam procedure.
Section III – Commonly asked questions and their answers
How and when can I sign up for the Graduate Screening Exam?
Upon admission to the PhD program in ECE you are automatically considered enrolled in the process of taking the ECE Screening Exam. However, in order to assure proper communication with the ECE Department (e.g., relevant emails are periodically sent out to the students), it is required that you contact the ECE Student Services Office (located in EEB 102) and sign up for the specific area of the ECE Department in which you are interested in taking the Graduate Screening Exam at https://myviterbi.usc.edu/ (note that access to this site only becomes available after you have registered for the first semester of classes). By doing this you will also assure that all your contact information is current. This registration should be done as early as possible, and before the end of your first semester into the PhD program. After the first semester any registration changes require approval by the specific area committee. Please keep in mind that, independently of registration, your Graduate Screening Exam automatically starts upon your admission into the ECE PhD program.
Who needs to take the Graduate Screening Exam?
All ECE students are required to take a Graduate Screening Exam in one of the available ECE concentration areas, and the exam is available only to students admitted into ECE. Students from other departments are required to take the Graduate Screening Exam of their corresponding departments.
How long do I have to complete the Graduate Screening Exam process?
Once you have been admitted to the PhD program, if you elect to take the Electrophysics Area exam you must completethe process within three semesters. For example, if you start the PhD program in the Fall 2024 term you need to completethe Screening Exam process by the end of the Fall 2025 term. Note that the start of your first semester as a student in the ECE PhD program is considered the official starting date of your Graduate Screening Exam process.
In some rare cases, a need to take core classes’ prerequisites can render the three semesters Screening Exam completion deadline impractical, or there may be other extenuation circumstances. These cases are handled on an individual basis. Any student wishing to extend the three-semester window should contact the Director of Student Services, Diane Demetras <demetras@usc.edu> no later than the end of their third semester.
How many times can I take the Graduate Screening Exam?
You can only take the Electrophysics Area ECE Graduate Screening Exam once. As noted above, if you would like to petition to delay the decision date on your screening exam beyond your third semester, contact the Director of Student Services, Diane Demetras <demetras@usc.edu> no later than the end of your third semester.
How should I prepare for the Graduate Screening Exam?
To prepare for the Graduate Screening Exam it is very important to make sure that you receive proper advisement. Please make then sure that you attend any relevant information meetings at the beginning of your first academic year in the PhD program. One of the purposes of these meetings is to explain the assumed background for each of the core courses. This will enable you to determine whether or not you need to take an appropriate prerequisite course before a particular core course. Passing the Graduate Screening Exam requires a high GPA in the core courses and you are only allowed to take each course once. It is important, therefore, that you have adequate academic preparation before signing up for a core course.
Overall you need to take a minimum of six 500 or higher-level courses, and you should also be in the process of choosing a research direction. For this last reason the Graduate Screening Exam requires that you secure a PhD advisor.
How is the Screening Exam GPA calculated?
The Screening Exam GPA (i.e., the GPA of the four Core Courses of Groups A and B) is calculated using the same formula that is used to determine any other USC GPA. As examples, and considering that all classes have four units, here are some representative GPA results:
Grades on the four core courses GPA
A, A, A, A 4.000
A-, A-, A-, A- 3.700
A, A, B+, B+ 3.650
A, B+, B+, B 3.400
B+, B+, B+, B+ 3.300
How do I summarily pass the Graduate Screening Exam?
To summarily pass the Screening Exam (and this is the most desirable option) you need to satisfy the following three requirements by the end of your third semester into the PhD program:
(1) Complete the Graduate Screening Exam core courses (i.e., the classes selected from Groups A and B) with a Screening Exam GPA that is at least 3.700. In the event that your successful completion of these courses requires that you take appropriate prerequisite classes, sometimes adjustments can be made in the length of time nominally required for you to complete the entire Graduate Screening Exam process.
(2) Complete at least six 500 or higher-level courses for a total of at least 24 units (not including Directed Research). These are classes taken from Groups A, B, and C. Each Group C class must have a minimum letter grade of B.
(3) Secure a PhD advisor.
How do I select a faculty advisor?
One of the most important parts of a faculty member's responsibilities is the guidance, mentoring, and involvement of graduate students in state-of-the-art research activities. They are available to work with students. You are strongly encouraged to contact ECE-EP faculty who are working in the areas in which you wish to pursue your thesis research. It is a good idea to make an appointment and be prepared to discuss your ideas. This direct interaction with faculty is one of the best ways to learn about opportunities for selecting a faculty advisor. Also useful is to take classes offered by the faculty associated with your research areas of interest, as well as attend technical seminars.
Technical seminars covering various aspects of ECE research are held frequently throughout campus. All ECE students pursuing their PhD receive email seminar notices from the department. Additionally, advertisements are posted in the PHE and EEB buildings, and around several other buildings of the Viterbi School of Engineering. Attending these seminars will keep you posted on state-of–the-art matters relevant to ECE areas of interest. This is an important part of your PhD education, and will increase your capability for properly selecting an appropriate PhD advisor.
What if I wish to transfer a course that I have taken outside USC?
If you have taken courses outside USC and you would like to transfer them for credit, then the normal Graduate School procedure for obtaining credit for transfer courses applies. However, academic credit for these courses does not necessarily mean that you will be given subject credit for these courses in the Graduate Screening Exam procedure. If you wish to obtain Graduate Screening Exam credit for a transfer course you must pass the final exam of the corresponding course in the ECE department with a grade of B or better (please contact the faculty currently teaching the course and make the necessary arrangements). Your grade, for purposes of calculating your Graduate Screening Exam GPA, is the grade you received on the corresponding USC course final exam. Note that you will not be penalized if you take a USC course final exam and do not pass. However, you still must successfully complete all the Graduate Screening Exam course requirements.
How many students will pass the Graduate Screening Exam?
Currently there is no maximum quota system in place at the Electrophysics Area of the ECE Department. Any students who meet the criteria for passing will pass.
What happens once I summarily pass the Graduate Screening Exam?
You will receive an official letter within three months of the completion of your Graduate Screening Exam. Your advisor will also be notified of your completion, through a copy of the letter. You may also be directed as to the time to contact the department for discussion of the next steps of your program. This discussion includes your timeline for taking your PhD qualifying exam and your proposed program of study.
What happens if my Core Courses’ GPA is between 3.300 and 3.700, and I meet all the other Screening Exam requirements?
If, at the end of your Screening Exam three months period, your core courses’ GPA is between 3.300 and 3.700 you will not summarily pass the screening exam. In this case your progress will be reviewed by the entire Electrophysics Area ECE faculty, at a faculty meeting, with your PhD advisor present. In this meeting your academic progress will be reviewed, discussed, and a vote conducted to decide if you have passed or failed the Screening Exam.
What happens if I summarily fail the Graduate Screening Exam?
You can no longer progress towards the PhD and you will receive an official letter to this effect within three months of the completion of your Graduate Screening Exam. Your PhD advisor, if you have one, will also be notified of your status. You will also be directed to meet with a student services advisor regarding a possible alternative terminal degree.
If I take the ECE Graduate Screening Exam in Electrophysics and fail, can I apply to and take the exam in a different area?
Students in the ECE PhD program may take the screening exam in any area of specialization. While you may decide to change the area in which you take the exam anytime during your first two years, you MUST pass the screening exam within two years.
If I am a MSEE student, can I get into the PhD program by successfully completing the Screening Exam requirements?
If admitted into the MSEE program, a student may apply for admission into the PhD program based on performance on the Screening Exam requirements. However, successful completion of the Screening Exam requirements alone does not guarantee admission to the PhD program. Please see a student services advisor or your academic advisor to discuss the available alternatives for your particular situation.
What are my resources if I have any questions or need any clarifications about the Graduate Screening Exam?
You have several resources along the way. To exercise them you can directly contact the Chair or Vice Chair, a student services advisor, your faculty advisor, or another faculty member for further advice or information.
Section IV - Current Electrophysics Area ECE-EP Faculty and their Corresponding Areas of Interest
Below is a list of current Electrophysics Area ECE faculty and their areas of interest. For further information regarding their research, please visit our website at http://ee.usc.edu.
Primary ECE Electrophysics Area Faculty Research Area
Mike Chen Integrated circuits
Stephen Cronin Nano optics and Nanoelectronics
Hossein Hashemi Electronic and Photonic Integrated Circuits
Rehan Kapadia Nanoelectronics, Photonics, and AI/ML Hardware
Mercedeh Khajavikhan Photonics
Yasser Khan Bioelectronics, Sensors, and Flexible Electronics
Eun Sok Kim Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
Gianluca Lazzi Bioelectronics and Applied Electromagnetics
Anthony Levi Quantum Electronics
Mahta Moghaddam Applied Electromagnetics
Michelle Povinelli Photonics and Applied Electromagnetics
Aluizio Prata Applied Electromagnetics
Wei Wu Nanoelectronics, Photonics, and AI/ML Hardware
Joshua Yang Nanoelectronics and AI/ML Hardware
Quntao Zhuang Quantum Sensing and Communication
Chongwu Zhou Nanotechnology
Affililated ECE Electrophysics Area Faculty Research Area
Andrea Armani Photonics and Biophotonics
Jonathan Habif Quantum Sensing and Communication
Essam Heggy Applied Electromagnetics
Grace Lu Nanotechnology
Ellis Meng Biomedical Microelectromechanical Systems
Anupam Madhukar Quantum Photonics
Jayakanth Ravichandran Photonics and Nanoelectronics
Constantine Sideris Integrated Circ., Computational Electromagnetics,
and Photonics