Honors Cooperative Program and SCPD

Honors Cooperative Program and SCPD

Introduction
The Honors Cooperative Program (HCP) was set up in 1953 to enable qualified engineers and scientists from nearby companies to pursue graduate degrees at Stanford on a part-time basis while maintaining full-time professional employment. Courses may be taken by Internet streaming video at the students' companies or on campus (HCP students only). A list of some 175 participating companies can be obtained from the Stanford Center for Professional Development:

General Standards and Arrangements
HCP students have the same privileges as any other Stanford student, plus the advantage of being able to attend classes on a part-time basis with company provided financial support. In order to be awarded a graduate degree, the following minimum grade point averages must be maintained during graduate study: 3.00 for M.S. and 3.10 for Engineer. Records are reviewed at least once a year. Students and their advisers are notified if the grade point average standards are not being met.

All HCP students, including those who are participating through the television network, are encouraged to maintain an average course load of three units minimum per quarter, including summers, and in general to make steady progress toward the target degree. Faculty advisers are provided for participating students. These advisers assist with program planning and any special problems which may arise.

Admission
See the Admissions section for information on applying for admission to the Stanford graduate Electrical Engineering Program. HCP applicants are judged on the same basis as all other applicants for the graduate program in Electrical Engineering.

STANFORD CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Each quarter about 70 graduate engineering and science courses are broadcast over the Stanford instructional television network of the Stanford Center for Professional Development. Of these courses, approximately 30 are Electrical Engineering courses, with the remainder from other departments in Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics. While Stanford does not intend to offer a fully televised degree program, it is possible that a majority of the course work leading to an MSEE may be taken via the Network. Participating organizations have installed television classrooms on their premises. A courier service is provided to deliver and pick up written assignments. The instructor may require that the student come to Stanford for tests. It is intended that HCP students can make more efficient use of their time and energy through this instructional network.

Advanced Degree Requirements Every graduate student registered in the Department of Electrical Engineering must be actively working toward a specific advanced degree. Each student working toward the Master's degree must file with the department office, during the first quarter of graduate study, a Program Proposal giving his or her proposed course program in full. (This program may be easily modified by petition if later changes are desired.) Master's programs for Honors Co-op students are authorized for a maximum of 5 years.

Students must file a Graduate Program Authorization Petition to proceed toward the degree of Engineer. In addition, each student must file an Application for Candidacy during the first quarter beyond the MS degree, showing courses to be taken. Before registration of the second quarter beyond the MS degree the formal candidacy, including thesis title and supervisor's signature, must be filed with the Department Office. It is sometimes possible to perform the Engineer's degree thesis research in the laboratories of the participating company if such a plan appears to be mutually desirable and when suitable arrangements are made with a faculty supervisor before the research program is started.

Students must file a Graduate Program Authorization Petition to study beyond the MSEE. Students wishing to continue beyond the MSEE to the Ph.D degree must petition to take quals one year prior to the qualifying exam. The qualifying examination, given in January of each year, may be taken before completing the MS. A minimum grad point average 3.5 in all graduate work at Stanford is required for permission to take this examination. Upon approval of the Petition, students must change their status from Part time to Full Time study.

Students with a desire to work toward the Engineering degree should file their formal application one year prior to the time the MS degree will be received.

The qualifying examination, given in January of each year, may be taken before completing the MS. A minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all graduate work at Stanford is required for permission to take this examination.

Honors Cooperative Program and SCPD