CERTIFICATE PROGRAM in VLSI DESIGN/MANUFACTURING

The ECE Department offers the Certificate in VLSI Design/Manufacturing which provides a well targeted graduate level continuing education possibility for people working in Northern Virginia's semiconductor and intellectual property business as well as every other interested person. This certificate is intended for the students who want to advance their knowledge of very large scale integration (VLSI) design or VLSI manufacturing but do not necessarily wish to complete all requirements for the M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. The course work is designed so that graduate students can reach a demonstrated level of competence either in VLSI design or VLSI manufacturing. Course work towards the graduate certificate may be used for credit towards the M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. More than half of the credits required for the graduate certificate must be taken in Degree status. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate degree programs in The Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering.

Admission Requirements: The certificate program in VLSI design/manufacturing is open to all students who hold a B.S. degree in any scientific or engineering discipline from an accredited university. Students must be admitted to an MS program or to the Certificate Program in Degree status in The Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering. Interested persons not already in a GMU graduate degree program should apply for admission to the certificate program in Degree status. Students with non-scientific and non-engineering degrees are required to take remedial courses before being admitted into the certificate program.

Program Requirements: The certificate is awarded upon completion of five graduate level courses (15 credits). These five courses include a required foundation course, a concentration core course, and three elective courses out of which at least two are in the selected concentration area. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required and, at most, one course with a grade of "C" may be applied toward the certificate. At most, three credit hours may be transferred from graduate level course work at other accredited universities.

After completing the foundation course (ECE 684), students can choose one of the two areas of concentration
(VLSI Design or VLSI Manufacturing) described below by taking four courses in that area, one of which is to be the core course in that area.