Certificate Degrees
Good news! Graduate certificate programs now qualify for federal financial aid effective for the Fall 2023 semester! If you are interested in receiving a federal loan to fund your graduate certificate expenses, please visit studentaid.gov and complete a 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Here or There
With NC State’s Engineering Online, we have a long record of success in engineering distance education — more than 40 years long.
We are fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and we are authorized in every U.S. state for delivery of online degree programs.
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
Certificate in Electrical Engineering
This certificate program is primarily intended for individuals who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in Electrical Engineering either for future career opportunities or in preparation for graduate studies. This certificate provides the opportunity for students to take Master’s degree courses without the commitment of undertaking a full Master’s degree.
Many of the courses are available for completion remotely with Engineering Online.
The certificate is also available to on-campus graduate students in the sciences and engineering who want to expand their knowledge of the field.
Program of Study
The EE GCP requires a total of 12 credit hours of graduate-level Electrical Engineering courses taken for a letter grade. There is no prescribed list of courses for the certificate; students may take a combination of courses tailored to their interests and needs, subject to course prerequisites.
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
Electrical Engineering Certificate Courses
Certificate in Computer Engineering
In the certificate program in computer engineering, students gain foundational knowledge in connected systems, networking applications, and computer architecture. Hone your skills in the analysis, design, and operation of computing devices and software, offered over twelve credit hours.
Students will work with a variety of hardware and software tools and analyze research to understand state of the art approaches to computer system design and future challenges the industry will face.
With over half of the courses are available for completion remotely with Engineering Online, you can make the certificate program fit your schedule.
There is no prescribed list of courses for the certificate; students may take a combination of courses tailored to their interests and needs, subject to course prerequisites.
Program of Study
The CPE GCP requires a total of 12 credit hours of graduate-level Computer Engineering courses taken for a letter grade. There is no prescribed list of courses for the certificate; students may take a combination of courses tailored to their interests and needs, subject to course prerequisites.
The following courses are permitted to be counted towards the degree.
- Any course listed in the ECE Graduate handbook in Appendices A, B or C as falling into the “CPE” major or the “EE/CPE” major, EXCEPT for the following courses:
- Special topics courses, i.e. courses with numbers starting with ECE 592, ECE 791 or ECE 792
- 600 and 800 level courses including ECE 600, 633, 634, 650, 695, 699, 833, 834, 895, 896 or 899
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
Computer Engineering Certificate Courses
Certificate in ASIC Design & Verification
Advanced silicon chips, including Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) power the remarkable systems we rely on every day. They serve as the foundation for everything from smartphones to wearables and from smart medical devices to autonomous cars.
NC State is a leader in ASIC education. Our faculty provide hands-on instruction in the cutting edge skills demanded by the industry. Our researchers pioneer the processes required to advance this technology.
Engineers trained in state-of-the-art technologies and processes to effectively design—or verify a design—of intricate purpose-built silicon is vital across the industry.
A graduate certificate in ASIC Design and Verification will prepare you to meet the requirements of a growing industry in search of talent equipped to meet the needs of tomorrow.
Program of Study
The ADV GCP requires a total of 12 credit hours consisting of four graduate-level Electrical and Computer Engineering courses taken for a letter grade. (EOL = course offered via EOL as well to residential students).
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
ASIC Design and Verification Certificate Courses
Certificate in 5G Technologies
5G is the wireless data communications system that will replace the 4G LTE systems currently in use around the world. However, 5G is not an update on 4G. It is a radically new system, using many different architectures, algorithms, circuits, chips and antennas than the previous system. 5G will enable faster streaming to mobile devices with theoretical speeds of up to 10 Gb/s as well as enabling the next generation of the Internet of Things.
As industry is working at a breakneck pace to build out these systems, there is a high demand for engineers who are fluent in the technological challenges and opportunities of this generational leap to 5G.
With a certificate in 5G Technologies, you will be well-equipped to work at the forefront of pivotal technology powered by advanced and advancing communications technologies.
Program of Study
The 5GT GCP requires a total of 12 credit hours consisting of four graduate-level Electrical and Computer Engineering courses taken for a letter grade. Courses labeled “EOL” will be offered both as live classes and also through EOL. Those without “EOL” are only offered to on-campus students..
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
All students must complete the following course:
Students must then choose three 5G-related courses, taking at least two courses from a single track:
Circuits Track Courses
Microwave Systems and Applied EM Track Courses
Communications Track Courses
Certificate in Nano-Systems Engineering
The NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center (NERC) for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) offers a Graduate Certificate program in Nano-Systems Engineering.
This multidisciplinary certificate is for students who want to develop additional expertise in the field of nano-science and technology. The graduate certificate consists of a sequence of courses that will equip students with the technical skills essential for graduate research in the field. In addition, the certificate teaches entrepreneurship and other relevant skills that will help students to be competitive in the modern engineering environment.
The scope of the program is broad enough to include applications of nano-technology in a variety of fields including digital logic, energy harvesting, biomedical applications and others. As such, the certificate includes technical electives from many departments to provide breadth in different topics.
Program of Study
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
All students must complete the following course:
Please choose 1 of the following required courses:
Students then choose two Core Electives and a Technical Elective
Core Electives (Pick 2)
Technical Electives (Pick 1)
Certificate in Renewable Electric Energy Systems
Working in conjunction with the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center, the Graduate Certificate in REES helps students to develop expertise in renewable electric energy systems and advanced power grid technology.
For those wishing to pursue an advanced degree, the REES certificate program can also provide a strong foundation for a master’s degree which addresses broader aspects of renewable energy such as systems theory, semiconductor power devices, distributed grid intelligence, secured communications, power electronics for high frequency and high voltage power conversion, and distributed energy storage devices.
Program of Study
The Graduate Certificate in Renewable Electric Energy Systems requires a minimum of 12 hours, including one 3-hour core course and nine credit hours of electives from the official elective list. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of B (3.0).
Courses labeled will be offered on Engineering Online, while courses labeled are available on campus.
All students must complete the following course:
Students then choose three electives.
Electives (Pick 3)
Admission Requirements
Students must meet ONE of the following requirements for admission into a Graduate Certificate Program:
- Have a BS degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering from a regionally accredited four-year college or university, and have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
- Have a BS or a BA degree in the sciences or engineering from a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale. The student needs to have taken and passed the background courses appropriate for their proposed plan of study. The requirements will be the same as for an MS student as per our application website.
- Be a degree-seeking student in good standing in an NC State University graduate program in the sciences or engineering.
Multiple Certificates
A student may obtain more than one graduate certificate. Each certificate must have at least 9 credit hours that are unique to it.
Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit from other institutions is not allowed for Graduate Certificate Programs (GCP). Students must register for all coursework through NC State University. Up to 12 credits from a GCP may be transferred to a Master’s degree program.
Program Information
All courses must be taken for a grade, and may not be taken for Credit Only. All Graduate Certificate Program (GCP) requirements must be completed within four calendar years, starting with the date the student begins coursework applicable to the GCP. Students must maintain continuous enrollment every academic semester until all coursework has been completed. A one-semester Leave of Absence may be granted if the student is unable to enroll in a course due to extenuating circumstances. The Leave of Absence must be approved in writing by the Certificate Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Programs before the start of the semester.
Application and Completion Process
- An application for acceptance into the GCP is required for all new students. Students must complete the Graduate School application.
- Those applicants who are currently enrolled in an NC State graduate degree program need only provide the graduate student Certificate Plan Data Entry form.
- New applications will be reviewed at the department/program level.
- Registration procedures, registration dates and course availability for each semester can be found on the Registration and Records webpage.
Every semester that a student is enrolled in a GCP, all credit hours for which the student is registered will be subject to the Electrical and Computer Engineering MS tuition premium. It is the responsibility of the student to apply for, and receive, the certificate once they have completed the requirements in order for this premium to be removed in subsequent semesters, if the student will be continuing in a degree program that is not subject to tuition premium.
Premium tuition is charged based on a student’s program of study, not individual courses the student takes, and this policy is outside the department’s control. For instance, ECE Masters students pay the ECE premium even if in a given semester they take one, two, or three courses outside the ECE department. Similarly, once a student is admitted to a GCP and the certificate is added to their program of study, they will be charged the premium.
Financial Aid/Funding
Students enrolled in non-teaching certificate programs are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet ONE of the following requirements for admission into a Graduate Certificate Program:
- Have a BS degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering from a regionally accredited four-year college or university, and have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
- Have a BS or a BA degree in the sciences or engineering from a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale. The student needs to have taken and passed the background courses appropriate for their proposed plan of study. The requirements will be the same as for an MS student as per our application website.
- Be a degree-seeking student in good standing in an NC State University graduate program in the sciences or engineering.
Multiple Certificates
A student may obtain more than one graduate certificate. Each certificate must have at least 9 credit hours that are unique to it.
Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit from other institutions is not allowed for Graduate Certificate Programs (GCP). Students must register for all coursework through NC State University. Up to 12 credits from a GCP may be transferred to a Master’s degree program.
Program Information
All courses must be taken for a grade, and may not be taken for Credit Only. All Graduate Certificate Program (GCP) requirements must be completed within four calendar years, starting with the date the student begins coursework applicable to the GCP. Students must maintain continuous enrollment every academic semester until all coursework has been completed. A one-semester Leave of Absence may be granted if the student is unable to enroll in a course due to extenuating circumstances. The Leave of Absence must be approved in writing by the Certificate Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Programs before the start of the semester.
Application and Completion Process
- An application for acceptance into the GCP is required for all new students. Students must complete the Graduate School application.
- Those applicants who are currently enrolled in an NC State graduate degree program need only provide the graduate student Certificate Plan Data Entry form.
- New applications will be reviewed at the department/program level.
- Registration procedures, registration dates and course availability for each semester can be found on the Registration and Records webpage.
Every semester that a student is enrolled in a GCP, all credit hours for which the student is registered will be subject to the Electrical and Computer Engineering MS tuition premium. It is the responsibility of the student to apply for, and receive, the certificate once they have completed the requirements in order for this premium to be removed in subsequent semesters, if the student will be continuing in a degree program that is not subject to tuition premium.
Premium tuition is charged based on a student’s program of study, not individual courses the student takes, and this policy is outside the department’s control. For instance, ECE Masters students pay the ECE premium even if in a given semester they take one, two, or three courses outside the ECE department. Similarly, once a student is admitted to a GCP and the certificate is added to their program of study, they will be charged the premium.
Financial Aid/Funding
Students enrolled in non-teaching certificate programs are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Graduate Catalog
The Graduate Catalog contains Graduate School requirements and pertinent information for individual graduate programs, a current list of graduate faculty, and a selection of other resources for new students.
Course Details & Specialty Areas
Find out more about the various specialty areas of research and instruction and the relevant courses offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Still have questions?
The staff of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Office is available to answer any questions you may have.