As a result of its interdisciplinary nature, the EPS graduate curriculum allows considerable flexibility in accommodating diverse undergraduate backgrounds, and graduate programs with various specializations can be pursued at the center. These specializations include reliability, mechanics, vibrations, computer aided design, electrical contacts and connectors, thermal engineering, high temperature electronics, optoelectronics, electronics manufacturing with an emphasis on environmentally friendly processes, electromagnetic compatibility and cost analysis for electronic systems. For a typical Master of Science degree plan - click here.
 
The Frequently Asked Questions page covers other common issues.
 
EPS Research Areas : Research areas addressed by the EPS curriculum are listed below. Each of these areas has a breadth of faculty involvement as well as collaborative activities with our partners.
 
  • Parts Reliability
  • Permanent Interconnects
  • Contacts and Connectors
  • Substrates and Circuit Card Assemblies
  • Thermal Management and Assessment
  • Stress Characterization and Management
  • Virtual Qualification
  • Accelerated Screens and Test
  • Parts Selection and Management
  • Risk Assessment of Electronic Systems
  • Life Cycle Economics
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility and Interference
  • Electromagnetic Wave-Material Interaction
  • Electromagnetic Propagation Measurements
 
These research areas cover all levels of electronic products:
 
  1. Components and Interconnects: multi chip modules (MCM)-L: laminated substrates, MCM-C: ceramic substrates, MCM-D: thin-film substrates, attachments, die attach, 3-D packaging, wire bonds, chip-on-board, flip chip, optical interconnects, leads and lead frames, metal and ceramic cases, lid seals, and lead seals, plastic encapsulated packaging, resistors/capacitors/other passives, power devices, flat panel displays, and high temperature devices
  2. Circuit Cards and Interconnects: area array interconnects; ball grid arrays/pin grid arrays, solder joints, flux-less, lead-free and composite solder, plated-through holes and vias, printed wire board assemblies; modeling, design for environment, placement and routing, flex and rigid flex circuits, connectors, heat sinks/spreaders, liquid flow through cooling, phase change material (PCM) cooling, high temperature electronics and conformal coating
  3. Boxes and Systems: enclosures, fasteners and hold-sown hardware, cables, connectors, card guides and mounts, racks, vibration isolators, power supplies, high temperature electronics, forced air cooling, passive cooling and liquid cooling.
  4. Supply Chain of Electronic Products: electronic parts selection and manufacturing, life cycle cost analysis, electronic manufacturing services, and supply chain creation and management.
Course Selection: Under the guidance of their advisor, students select course work that sets forth the entire program of study that will be undertaken to satisfy the objectives for the degree. The course selection is tailored on individual basis to meet students' needs and in such a way that a student may specialize in one of the many focus areas in electronic products. For the list of graduate courses offered within the electronic products and systems area of specialization in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, click here.
 
 
Thesis Research: Students pursuing a graduate degree within the EPS program must complete a thesis or dissertation and defend it in a public forum. Thesis research calls upon all the knowledge that the student acquired during their academic career as an engineer and requires independent and creative thought and a strong sense of direction.
 
Semester-in-Industry : Graduate students have the opportunity to spend a semester, or more, in an industry internship--working on a project related to the topics of the student's thesis research. This experience provides students an opportunity to focus their research on the industry's needs, while providing first-hand exposure to the engineering challenges confronting today's electronics industries.
 
Just-in-Time Instruction: In the EPS graduate program, the latest research results and topics of significant industry interest are directly and systematically incorporated into the curriculum. Many of the EPS courses are based on the results of the research conducted at CALCE EPS Center. Some of the recent topics of significant industry interest investigated by CALCE include plastic encapsulated microcircuits, flip chip technologies, accelerated testing for reliability assessment, virtual qualifications methods, life cycle cost analysis and thermal management.
 
EPS graduate courses are also supplemented by the Experts in the Classroom Lecture Series. Guest lecturers selected for the series are experts on specific technology or application areas from industry, national laboratories, or academia. Industry experts bring the latest applications perspectives into the classroom. In addition, all CALCE master's and doctoral defenses are also widely attended by outside speakers and faculty providing another forum for exchange of ideas and transfer of technology.
 
Team Learning: All EPS students participate in group projects defined by the latest research conducted at CALCE as well as by course curricula. The projects emphasize effective oral, written and graphic communication. They also foster professionalism and teach students to work effectively in a team environment.

Applications for admission are accepted each semester. Programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are open to qualified students holding a B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Systems and Reliability Engineering. Admissions may also be granted to students with degrees in mathematics and physics. 

The competition for admission is strong and is granted to students who exhibit an excellent academic record and strong research potential. In addition to the requirements set forth by the University of Maryland Graduate School, applicants are also required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree from an accredited US institution are required to submit scores of  the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

To apply, applicants should follow the University of Maryland and Mechanical Engineering Department admission procedures. To indicate their interest in the Electronic Products and Systems Program, applicants should list EPS on the application form as their area of specialization.

To submit online application, click here 

To request a Graduate Catalog, click here

For more information on our program, contact:
University of Maryland 
Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) 
1103 Engineering Lab Building 
College Park, MD 20742
 
Tel: 301-405-5323 
Fax: 301-314-9269

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