Electrical Engineering, B.S. + M.S.

The Electrical Engineering BS + MS Blended Program (Beach EDGE) provides a streamline and accelerated pathway for academically qualified CSULB undergraduate students to transition seamlessly from undergraduate to graduate study.

Students seeking admission to the Electrical Engineering B.S. + M.S. Blended Program must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

• Be a matriculated undergraduate student at CSULB pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE).
• Have completed a minimum of 60 semester units of college-level coursework.
• Have attained junior standing or higher at the time of application.
• Have satisfied all major-specific lower-division requirements for the Electrical Engineering major.
• Have completed the following upper-division core courses (9 units total) at CSULB:
  • E E 310
  • E E 330
  • E E 380
• Have completed or be enrolled in at least one (3 units) of the following upper-division Electrical Engineering courses at CSULB:
  • E E 301
  • E E 346
  • E E 350
  • E E 370
  • E E 382
  • E E 386
• Have earned a minimum overall CSULB GPA of 3.2 at the time of application.
• Have earned an average grade of “B” or better in the core courses E E 310, E E 330, and E E 380.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission to the blended program. Admission is competitive and subject to departmental review and approval.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements may apply to the Electrical Engineering B.S. + M.S. Blended Program by completing the following steps: 

• Email Department Staff Contact, Dyani Park, at dyani.park@csulb.edu to receive the Beach EDGE Application Form.
• Fill out and submit the Beach EDGE Application Form. Attach the unofficial CSULB transcript to the Application form.

Once an applicant is admitted into MS+BS EDGE program, the admitted EDGE student must sign the Beach EDGE agreement form Beach EDGE Admission Agreement form.

Applications to the Electrical Engineering B.S. + M.S. Blended Program must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• October 15 — for enrollment beginning in the subsequent Spring semester
• March 15 — for enrollment beginning in the subsequent Fall semester

Applications received after the stated deadlines may be deferred to the next admission cycle. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure timely review and academic advising prior to registration.

The Electrical Engineering B.S. + M.S. Blended Program offers several academic and professional advantages:

• Accelerated Completion: Students can complete both the BSEE and MSEE degrees in a reduced timeframe by beginning graduate coursework during their senior year.
• Unit Double-Counting: Up to 6 units of approved 500-level (or higher) Electrical Engineering courses may be applied toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• Seamless Transition to Graduate Study: The program provides a structured pathway from undergraduate to graduate status, reducing administrative barriers and maintaining academic continuity.
• Cost Efficiency: Double-counted units reduce the total number of units required to earn both degrees.
• Enhanced Career Opportunities: Early engagement in graduate-level coursework strengthens technical expertise and prepares students for advanced professional roles or doctoral study.

Students admitted to the Electrical Engineering B.S. + M.S. Blended Program must satisfy all requirements for both the BSEE and MSEE degrees, as outlined below.

1. Minimum Grade Requirement: 

   A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all courses applied to the blended program.

2. Graduate GPA Requirement

   Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all coursework applied toward the MSEE degree. Once students attain graduate status, those whose graduate GPA fall below 3.0 will be subject to academic warning and probation policies in accordance with university regulations.

3. Total Units Required

   A minimum of 144 semester units is required to complete both degrees:

   1. 120 units for the BSEE
   2. 30 units for the MSEE
   3. Up to 6 units may be double-counted 
      The total reflects the 6 approved double-counted units applied to both degrees.
4. MSEE Coursework Requirements (30 Units Total)

   1. Required Core Courses (15 Units)

      Students must complete the following five graduate-level courses:

      1. Required Course (3 units — double-counted toward BSEE):
         1. E E 508 – Probability Theory and Random Processes
      2. Additional Required Courses (12 units — one 3-unit course will be double-counted toward BSEE):
         1. E E 511 – Linear Systems Analysis
         2. E E 531 – CMOS Electronics (Electronics and Digital Systems Area of Emphasis)
         3. E E 554 – Power Systems Applications (Power, Control Systems, and Robotics Area of Emphasis)
         4. E E 588 – DSP for MIMO Communication Systems (Communications, DSP, and Machine Learning Area of Emphasis)

   2. Elective Courses (15 Units)

      Students must complete an additional 15 units of approved elective coursework, selected as follows:

      1. Graduate Electives:
         1. Three to five courses selected from approved 500-level MSEE courses.
      2. Undergraduate Electives (Optional):
         1. Up to two approved 400-level BSEE courses may be applied toward the MSEE elective requirement, subject to the following conditions:
         2. 400-level courses may not be double-counted toward the BSEE degree.
         3. The following courses are excluded from counting toward the MSEE degree:
         4. E E 400D, E E 405, and E E 490

   3. Culminating Activity

      Students' understanding of Electrical Engineering (EE) course materials and their readiness for graduation from the MSEE blended program will be evaluated through one of the following two pathways:

      1. Comprehensive Exam Path:

         The comprehensive exam will assess students' knowledge and readiness to graduate in three required MSEE subjects, as follows:

         1. Students must take E E 508.
         2. Students must choose two out of the following four courses:
            1. Linear Systems Analysis, E E 511
            2. Electronics and Digital Systems: E E 531
            3. Power, Control, and Robotics: E E 554
            4. Communications, DSP, and Machine Learning: E E 588

      2. Thesis Path:

         The thesis path involves designing and conducting theoretical, experimental, or industrial research on a specific problem under the guidance of an MSEE faculty member. The thesis may account for up to six credits of E E 698. Students must obtain special permission from both the thesis advisor and the department to enroll in E E 698. It is recommended that students begin their thesis work as early as the start of their 8th semester in the blended program. This timeline allows sufficient time to complete the thesis by the end of the 10th semester.

Students are strongly encouraged to follow the recommended B.S. + M.S. Blended Program Roadmap to ensure timely completion of all degree requirements and proper sequencing of undergraduate and graduate coursework. The roadmap provides a semester-by-semester guide outlining suggested course progression and identifies courses eligible for double-counting.

Please refer to the recommended roadmap here: 

Students should consult with the Electrical Engineering undergraduate and graduate advisors regularly to confirm course selection and maintain eligibility for the blended program. Learn more by visiting the Beach Edge website.