Difficulty: Intermediate | Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, or related field
Source: CEN MS Graduate Handbook 2024-2025, Arizona State University
Tags: ASU CEN MS, computer engineering master's, degree requirements, iPOS, thesis, non-thesis, portfolio, CSE 551, EEE 554, CEN area courses, elective courses
The MS in Computer Engineering at ASU sits within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and draws on Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. It is built for students who want to go beyond undergraduate-level knowledge and work in R&D, or who are considering a PhD. The programme has two concentrations, Computer Systems (CEN-CS) and Electrical Engineering (CEN-EE), each with its own course distribution rules. If you are starting the programme, this is the document you will return to most often: it lays out exactly what 30 credits you need, in what order, and what happens at the end.
You need 30 credit hours: 6 in core courses (CSE 551 and EEE 554), 12 in CEN Area courses that satisfy your concentration, and 12 in electives (non-thesis) or 6 electives plus 6 thesis credits (thesis). You must file an iPOS in your first semester. Non-thesis students finish with a portfolio; thesis students finish with a written thesis and oral defence.
iPOS (Interactive Plan of Study)
The formal, university-managed document listing every course you intend to take for your MS. Filed through MyASU during your first semester. Think of it as your contract with the programme: changes to it later require approval.
CEN-CS (Computer Systems Concentration)
The concentration administered by the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence (SCAI). Requires 9 credits from CSE or CEN courses and 3 credits from EEE or CEN courses within the 12 CEN Area credits.
CEN-EE (Electrical Engineering Concentration)
The concentration administered by the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE). Requires 9 credits from EEE or CEN courses and 3 credits from CSE or CEN courses within the 12 CEN Area credits.
CEN Area courses
Graduate-level courses partitioned into five areas of study: Autonomous Systems and Robotics (ASR), Communication and Networks (CN), Distributed, Dependable and Secure Systems (DDSS), Multimedia and Signal Processing (MSP), and VLSI, Architecture, and Embedded Systems (VAES). In simple terms, these are the specialist course buckets that define your degree's technical focus.
Core courses
CSE 551 (Foundations of Algorithms) and EEE 554 (Probability and Random Processes). Every CEN MS student takes both, regardless of concentration. In simple terms, these two are non-negotiable.
Culminating experience
The final requirement that closes out your degree. For non-thesis students, this is the portfolio. For thesis students, it is the written thesis plus an oral defence before a committee.
Portfolio (non-thesis culminating experience)
A submission demonstrating engagement with the Computer Engineering field. Includes attendance records and reflection forms from at least three SCAI/ECEE seminars or student defences attended in the student's final year. Think of it as proof that you engaged beyond your own coursework.
CEN 599 (Thesis)
6 credits of thesis work for students on the thesis track. Replaces 6 of the 12 elective credits.
CEN 590 (Reading and Conference)
An independent study course. A maximum of 3 credit hours may appear on the iPOS. Requires a supervising faculty member, written approval, a written report, and Programme Chair sign-off.
CEN 584 (Internship / CPT)
Curricular Practical Training credits. Up to three 1-credit enrolments. These do not count toward the 30-credit degree requirement.
Deficiency courses
Prerequisite-level courses (e.g., CSE 310, EEE 350) that you may need to take if your undergraduate preparation is incomplete. These do not count toward the 30 credit hours either.
Total required: 30 credit hours (beyond bachelor's and deficiency courses)
Core courses: 6 credits
CEN Area courses: 12 credits
Electives (non-thesis): 12 credits
Electives (thesis): 6 credits + 6-credit CEN 599 Thesis
CSE 551, Foundations of Algorithms (3 credits): Prerequisite is CSE 310 (Algorithms and Data Structures). CEN-CS students must take this in their first semester.
EEE 554, Probability and Random Processes (3 credits): Prerequisite is EEE 350 (Random Signal Analysis). CEN-EE students must take this in their first semester.
Both core courses must be completed within the first two semesters. If you are missing a prerequisite (CSE 310 or EEE 350), you may take it concurrently with the core course or petition to take it first. Transfer credit cannot substitute for a core course unless the credit was earned at ASU.
The five areas of study are:
Autonomous Systems and Robotics (ASR)
Communication and Networks (CN)
Distributed, Dependable and Secure Systems (DDSS)
Multimedia and Signal Processing (MSP)
VLSI, Architecture, and Embedded Systems (VAES)
6 of the 12 credit hours must span at least two of these five areas. The remaining 6 may come from any CEN Area.
Concentration distribution:
CEN-CS: 9 credits from CSE or CEN courses, 3 credits from EEE or CEN courses
CEN-EE: 9 credits from EEE or CEN courses, 3 credits from CSE or CEN courses
Electives may come from the approved CEN Elective List, additional CEN Area courses, or any 500-level CSE/CEN/EEE course.
Up to 12 credits of approved combined courses (5xx/4xx) and 400-level courses count as electives. Of those 12, a maximum of 6 may be CSE 4XX courses.
If a 400-level course is combined with a 500-level course, you must enrol in the 500-level section.
Up to 3 credits of CEN 590 (Reading and Conference) may count.
Courses outside CSE/EEE (maths, science, engineering) may be approved; check with your advisor.
Internship courses (CEN 584) do not count toward the 30-credit total.
Non-thesis (portfolio):
30 credits total: 6 core + 12 CEN Area + 12 electives
Culminating experience: submit a portfolio in your last semester
Portfolio requires attendance at three SCAI/ECEE seminars or student defences in your final year, with completed attendance forms reflecting on each event
You must be in good academic standing (all GPAs above 3.0) to submit
Unsatisfactory submissions are returned with feedback; you have one week to revise and resubmit
Faculty advisor is listed as the Programme Chair
Thesis:
30 credits total: 6 core + 12 CEN Area + 6 electives + 6 CEN 599 (Thesis)
Culminating experience: written thesis and oral defence
You must form a committee of at least three faculty (chair must be CEN faculty approved to chair; at least one additional member from CEN faculty)
The committee decides: Pass, Pass with minor revisions, Pass with major revisions, or Fail
A majority pass vote is required to graduate
Revisions must be completed within one year of the defence date
The research should reflect a minimum of 750 hours of work and follow the scientific method
Upload the final thesis through ProQuest
Must be filed through MyASU during your first semester
Developed with the help of your faculty advisor
Non-thesis students list the Programme Chair as their faculty advisor
Thesis students should identify a faculty member in their research area to serve as advisor and committee chair
The CEN Graduate Academic Advisor handles initial advising on behalf of the Graduate Programme Chair
"Transfer credits can replace core courses." They cannot, unless the credit was earned at ASU. Even if you took an equivalent algorithms course elsewhere, you still take CSE 551 at ASU.
"CEN 584 internship credits count toward my 30 hours." They do not. Internship credits sit outside the degree credit total.
"I can take both core courses in any order." Not quite. CEN-CS students must take CSE 551 first (semester one); CEN-EE students must take EEE 554 first (semester one). The other core course follows in semester two.
"The portfolio is just a formality." If it is returned as unsatisfactory, you have one week to revise. Failure to do so can delay graduation.
⚠️ Core courses must be completed in the first two semesters. Missing this triggers progress probation.
⚠️ Your iPOS must be filed in semester one. Delaying it creates problems with course registration, internship eligibility, and graduation timelines.
⚠️ For thesis students: at least 50% of the committee must be physically present at the defence (the chair must always be physically present). If this cannot be arranged, the defence must be rescheduled.
⚠️ Non-thesis students: your portfolio must be submitted in your last semester. You cannot submit it early, and you cannot submit it if any of your GPAs are below 3.0.
⚠️ CEN 590 (Reading and Conference) is capped at 3 credits on the iPOS. Attempting to add more will be rejected.
True or False: The MS in Computer Engineering requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond deficiency courses. (True)
Fill in the blank: CEN-CS students must take _______ in their first semester. (CSE 551)
True or False: You can use transfer credit to satisfy the CSE 551 core requirement if you took an equivalent course at another university. (False, must be earned at ASU)
Fill in the blank: The five CEN Area categories are ASR, CN, DDSS, MSP, and _______. (VAES)
True or False: CEN 584 internship credits count toward the 30-credit degree requirement. (False)
Q: How many total credit hours are required for the CEN MS degree?
A: 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree and any deficiency courses.
Q: What are the two core courses, and when must they be completed?
A: CSE 551 (Foundations of Algorithms) and EEE 554 (Probability and Random Processes). Both must be completed within the first two semesters.
Q: A CEN-CS student wants to count 12 credits of CEN Area courses. What is the minimum distribution between CSE/CEN and EEE/CEN?
A: 9 credits must be CSE or CEN, and 3 credits must be EEE or CEN.
Q: What is the culminating experience for a non-thesis MS student?
A: A portfolio submission in the student's last semester, including attendance records and reflection forms from at least three SCAI/ECEE seminars or student defences attended in the final year.
Q: How many credits of CEN 590 (Reading and Conference) can appear on the iPOS?
A: A maximum of 3 credit hours.
Q: What are the possible outcomes of a thesis defence?
A: Pass, Pass with minor revisions, Pass with major revisions, or Fail. A majority pass vote by the committee is required to graduate.
Q: Can a student use internship credits (CEN 584) toward the 30-credit degree requirement?
A: No. Internship credits do not count toward the 30-credit total.
This material connects directly to the Admissions and Academic Standing notes: the GPA thresholds and probation rules determine whether you can submit your portfolio, do an internship, or stay in the programme at all. It also connects to the Internship (CPT) and OPT notes, since CEN 584 interacts with your iPOS and cannot be your final course. The Prerequisite Subject Guides cover the foundational knowledge (CSE 310, EEE 350, etc.) that feeds into the core courses here.
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