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Graduate Student Awards

Annually, the College of Graduate Studies sponsors graduate student awards for excellence in research and teaching. Acknowledging graduate students for their accomplishments is an important part of providing a rewarding academic experience. The College of Graduate Studies offers these awards annually to recognize our outstanding graduate students in a variety of categories:

  • Outstanding Dissertation (completed dissertation in Spring 2023, Summer 2023, or Fall 2023)
  • Outstanding Master’s Thesis (completed thesis in Spring 2023, Summer 2023, or Fall 2023)
  • Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant (for GTAs who are not instructors of record, but provide teaching support under the direction of a lead teacher)
  • Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching (for instructors of record)
  • Outstanding Graduate Creative Work (Currently enrolled, degree-seeking, graduate students in good standing, or students who completed a UCF graduate program in 2023)

Information, such as eligibility and application requirements, for each award is located at the following site: https://graduate.ucf.edu/awards-and-recognition/. Winners of previous Graduate Awards of Excellence at the college level are listed here: https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/awards-and-support/graduate-student-awards/.

Faculty should submit their nominations to their department’s Graduate Program Director by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 4th , 2024 or an earlier deadline set by the Graduate Program Director. Afterwards, each CECS department will advance up to one nomination per category to the CECS Academic Affairs Office no later than 12:00 PM on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024. Only nominations from Graduate Program Directors will be considered.

It is up to each CECS department to best determine how to select its nominee for each category. The CECS Awards Committee will review the nominations from the departments and select the CECS nominee in each category. The applications for the CECS nominees will be forwarded to the College of Graduate Studies on Friday, January 19th, 2024. At the university level, the Graduate Council will review the applications from the colleges and make recommendations to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who will make the final selections and notify award winners. Each university-wide award winner will receive a certificate and a cash award of $1,500.

It is a pleasure to celebrate the success and excellence of our graduate students.

For each of the categories listed above (Outstanding Dissertation, Outstanding Master’s Thesis, GTA Award, Graduate Student Teaching), the list below archives the CECS nominees. For nominees that were selected as the university-wide winners, their names are highlighted by **.

Outstanding Dissertation

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2022

Dr. Sijie Zhu, Computer Science PhD, Toward Real-World Cross-View Image Geo-Localization

2021
2020
2019

No Nominee

2018
2017

Dr. Khurram Soomro, Computer Science PhD, ONLINE, SUPERVISED AND UNSUPERVISED ACTION LOCALIZATION IN VIDEOS

2016

**Dr. Afshin Dehghan, Computer Science PhD, GLOBAL DATA ASSOCIATION FOR MULTIPLE PEDESTRIAN TRACKING

2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

Dr. Ehsan Yakhshi-Tafti, Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, PhD, THERMALLY-INDUCED MOTION OF DROPLETS ON A THIN LIQUID LAYER AND ITS APPLICATION TO DROPLET MANIPULATION PLATFORMS

Outstanding Master’s Thesis

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2021
2020
2019

No Nominee

2018
2017
2016
2015

**Jared Church, Environmental Engineering MS, DISHWASHING WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM AND RELATED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MILITARY USE

2014
2013
2012
2011

**Zhao Wang, Electrical Engineering MS, NONLINEAR ESTIMATION AND CONTROL FOR ASSISTIVE ROBOTS

2010

Carson Slabaugh, Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering MS, HEAT TRANSFER AUGMENTATION IN A NARROW RECTANGULAR DUCT WITH DIMPLES APPLIED TO A SINGLE WALL

Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2022

Chien Hsuan Chen, Materials Science and Engineering PhD

2021

Timothy Copeland, Civil Engineering PhD

2020

**Brandy King, Computer Science MS

2019

No Nominee

2018

Burak Sen, Civil Engineering PhD

2017

Arup Kumar Ghosh, Computer Science PhD

2016

**Honorable Mention**Arup Kumar Ghosh, Computer Science PhD

2015

**Soheil Salehi Mobarakeh, Computer Engineering PhD

2014

Muamer Ali Abuzwidah, Civil Engineering PhD

2013

Wilawan Onkham, Industrial Engineering PhD

2012

Catherine Kammerer, Materials Science & Engineering PhD

2011

**Andrea Cumming, Environmental Engineering PhD

2010

Chowdhury K. A. Siddiqui, PhD, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering

Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2022

Alexis Benamira, Computer Science PhD

2021

Sreeram Sundaresh, Electrical Engineering PhD

2020

Sahar Hooshmand, Computer Science PhD

2019

N/A

2018

Pankaj Pramod Kulkarni, Mechanical Engineering PhD

2017

No nominee

2016

No nominee

2015

Mohamed Awwad, Industrial Engineering PhD

2014

Stephanie C. Bolyard, Environmental Engineering PhD

2013

Catherine Kammerer, Materials Science and Engineering PhD

2012

Saeed Hadian Niasar, Civil Engineering PhD

2011

Jonathan Cazalas, Computer Science PhD

2010

Mohamed Ahmed, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering PhD

CS PhD Admission Requirements
• A strong undergraduate background in Computer Science or closely related areas (e.g. Software Engineering, IT, Computer and Electrical Engineering) • 3.0 GPA • GRE: No minimum but preferably Q:160, V:150 or above • TOEFL80/IELTS 7 (only for international students)
ECE PhD Admission Requirements
• Hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or Computer Engineering (BSCpE) with 3.0 or Greater GPA • GRE at Least 308 on the Quantitative & Verbal Sections: (Q+V)>=308 • Three Letters of Recommendation for PhD – from your professors • Résumé • A Statement of Educational, Research, & Professional Career Objectives
Industrial PhD Admission Requirements
• Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field with GPA of 3.0 or greater • Official transcript • An official, competitive GRE score taken within the last 5 years • Three letters of recommendations • Resume • Goal Statement
Materials Science PhD Admission Requirements
• Earned a bachelor’s or master's degree • Earned a 3.0 GPA or better • GRE is required • Application form • Official Transcript • Resume • Personal statement • Three recommendation letters
MAE PhD Admission Requirements
• Resume • Personal Essay • 3 Letters of Recommendation • Transcripts • WES/Josep Silny Evaluations • TOEFL (>=80) and IELTS (>=6.5) for International Applicants
CECE PhD Admission Requirements
3.0 GPA – can submit 2 applicants with < 3.0 per program (domestic only) • 3.0 GPA – absolute for international applicants • No GRE required for admission; is required for some fellowships • Spring 2024 Admission: GRE will be required and the WES evaluation will not be required. • International transcripts evaluation by WES or Josef Silny required • TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, or via UCFs ELI for international students from non-English speaking countries • Essay: 1.5 pages at most including why do you want to obtain the degree and what will it make you capable of that you can’t do with your current knowledge/credentials • 3 Letters of reference
CECE PhD Admission Requirements
3.0 GPA – can submit 2 applicants with < 3.0 per program (domestic only) • 3.0 GPA – absolute for international applicants • No GRE required for admission; is required for some fellowships • Spring 2024 Admission: GRE will be required and the WES evaluation will not be required. • International transcripts evaluation by WES or Josef Silny required • TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, or via UCFs ELI for international students from non-English speaking countries • Screening Process for International Students delays admission process weeks or, sometimes, a month or two • Essay: 1.5 pages at most including why do you want to obtain the degree and what will it make you capable of that you can’t do with your current knowledge/credentials • 3 Letters of reference
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CS MS Admission Requirements
• A strong undergraduate background in Computer Science or closely related areas (e.g. Software Engineering, IT, Computer and Electrical Engineering) • 3.0 GPA • GRE: No minimum, but preferably Q:160, V:150 or above • TOEFL 80/IELTS 7 (only for international students) • Lacking the background, • a prospective applicant can take the following prerequisite courses as non-degree seeking and scoring “B” or better in all of these course: • EEL 4768C Computer Architecture • COP 4020 Programming Languages I • COP 4600 Operating Systems • COT 4210 Discrete Computational Structures • and/or related industry experience.
CECE MS Admission Requirements
• 3.0 GPA – can submit 2 applicants with < 3.0 per program (domestic only) • 3.0 GPA – absolute for international applicants • No GRE required for admission; for some fellowships but mostly those are for PhD students • Spring 2024 Admission: GRE will be required and the WES evaluation will not be required. • International transcripts evaluation by WES or Josef Silny required • TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, or via UCFs ELI for international students from non-English speaking countries College of Engineering and Computer Science MS Admission • Essay: 1.5 pages at most including why do you want to obtain the degree and what will it make you capable of that you can’t do with your current knowledge/credentials • 3 Letters of reference
ECE MS Admission Requirements
• Hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or Computer Engineering (BS-CpE) with 3.0 or Greater GPA • Two Letters of Recommendation • No GRE is required • Résumé • A Statement of Educational, Research, & Professional Career Objectives
Industrial MS Admission Requirements
• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field with GPA of 3.0 or greater • Mathematics through Calculus II (MAC 2312 or equivalent) • An undergraduate course in engineering probability and statistics • Familiarity with at least one programming language (such as Python, C, C++, Visual BASIC, Java, etc.) • Official transcripts • Two letters of recommendations • Resume • Goal Statement
Materials Science MS Admission Requirements
• Earned a bachelor’s degree • Earned a 3.0 GPA or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student • Application form • Official Transcript • Resume • Personal statement • Recommendation letters
Computer Vision MS Admission Requirements
• General UCF graduate application requirements • For admission, a 3.0 GPA and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Mathematics is desirable but not required. Applicants without a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science must demonstrate an understanding of the material covered in the following undergraduate courses, by either taking these courses or by being tested on the material. 1. EEL 4768C Computer Architecture 2. COP 4020 Programming Languages I 3. COP 4600 Operating Systems 4. COT 4210 Discrete Computational Structures • Applicants who lack background in the above courses may show knowledge in the following: 1. CAP 4453 Intro to Robot Vision 2. COP 3503C Computer Science II 3. MAS 3105 Matrix Algebra (also need Calculus 1 and 2) 4. STA 4163 Statistical Methods I
Cyber Security MS Admission Requirements
• An earned Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in a field related to cyber security, or have taken several basic computer or cyber security courses in Bachelor study, or have obtained one or two cyber security related professional certificates. • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) in all work attempted as an undergraduate student or in the last 60 attempted hours for the Bachelor's degree. • A personal statement (essay) not exceeding 500 words describing the applicant's academic and professional experiences and goals. • One letter of recommendation assessing the applicant's potential to do master's-level work. • Résumé. • GRE is NOT required.
Digital Forensics MS Admission Requirements
• An earned Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) in all work attempted as an undergraduate student or in the last 60 attempted hours for the Bachelor's degree, or, a graduate degree or professional degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited US institution in a field related to digital forensics • A personal statement (essay) not exceeding 500 words describing the applicant's academic and professional experiences and goals. • One letter of recommendation assessing the applicant's potential to do master's-level work. • Résumé.
Modeling and Sim MS Admission Requirements
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program. • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae • Goal statement: The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous academic, research, and/or teaching experience. • Two letters of recommendation: The letters of recommendation should: 1. Address the educational and career goals of the applicant. 2. Clearly address the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level study and research. 3. The letter writers should also know the applicant well enough to discuss the applicant’s capacity to perform, excel and succeed in a graduate program. • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation.
Modeling and Sim PhD Admission Requirements
• A competitive score on the GRE, taken within the past five years. • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae • Goal statement: The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous academic, research, and/or teaching experience. • Three letters of recommendation: The letters of recommendation should: 1. Address the educational and career goals of the applicant. 2. Clearly address the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level study and research. 3. The letter writers should also know the applicant well enough to discuss the applicant’s capacity to perform, excel and succeed in a graduate program. • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation.
Trasportation Engineering Admission Requirements
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
  • One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
  • A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or another closely related engineering degree.
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
The GRE is not required, however, taking the GRE is highly recommended for students wishing to pursue a thesis. In order to be considered for any fellowships, a GRE score is required. 

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.

Healthcare Systems Engineering Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field with GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Mathematics through Calculus II (MAC 2312 or equivalent)
  • An undergraduate course in engineering probability and statistics
  • Familiarity with at least one programming language (such as Python, C, C++, Visual BASIC, Java, etc.)
  • Official transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendations
  • Resume
  • Goal Statement

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.


Computer Forensics Admission Requirements

Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Admission to the program is competitive on a space-available basis. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance and the applicant's potential for completing the certificate.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.

Project Engineering Admission Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring terms only.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.
Quality Assurance Admission Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring terms only.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.
Systems Engineering Admission Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree in engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

  • In addition, applicants to this certificate must provide: Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc only.
Applications are accepted for the fall and spring terms only.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.
Mixed Reality Engineering Admission Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution recognized by UCF with a minimum GPA of 3.0. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

In addition, applicants to this certificate must provide:

  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation.
  • Applications are accepted for the fall and spring terms only.
For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.
Guidance Control and Dynamics Admission Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
  • One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related discipline with a minimum GPA 3.0
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.
Travel Technology and Analytics Admission Requirements
  • The GRE/GMAT is not required
  • A goal statement. This is your opportunity to outline in 500 words why you wish to join the program, what you think you will contribute to the program, and how you feel the program will enhance you both personally and professionally in the future.
  • Updated résumé.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
  • A computer-based TOEFL score of 220 or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL is required if an applicant is from a country where English is not the official language, or if an applicant’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, or if an applicant did not earn a degree in a country where English is the official language or a university where English is the official language of instruction. Although we prefer the TOEFL, we will accept IELTS scores of 6.5.
Systems Engineering Admission Requirements
  • The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vita
  • Goal statement
    • The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous research and/or teaching experience. The statement should explain the motivation behind the pursuit of an MSSE. Future educational and career goals after the completion of the applicant’s master study should be discussed.
    • If the applicant is interested in completing a Master thesis, then the applicant must clearly describe the particular area of research interest. The applicant should identify at least one UCF faculty member who shares a similar research focus and is believed to be best suited to serve as a potential thesis advisor. 
    • The goal statement should between 500 and 1,000 words.
  • Two letters of recommendation
    • The letters of recommendation should be from faculty members, university administrators, and employers with a supervisory role of the applicant. The letters, which must be current to the application and must not be for another degree program, should address the educational and career goals of the applicant. The letter writers should also know the applicant well enough to discuss the applicant’s capacity to perform, excel and succeed in a graduate program. Letters for Master’s thesis students must discuss the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level research.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Data Analytics Admission Requirements
    • The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
    • Résumé.
    • 2 Letters of recommendation
    • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

An undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Information Technology, or Computer Engineering is desirable but not required. Applicants without a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science and Statistics must demonstrate an understanding of the material covered in upper-division undergraduate courses listed under the Articulation Section of the Curriculum Information. Applicants may choose to demonstrate their knowledge of these courses by taking these courses as non-degree seeking and scoring “B” or better in all of them.

Biomedical Engineering Admission Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree in Biomedical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline. 
  • The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Aerospace Engineering Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or closely related discipline.
  • The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Mechanical Engineering Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
  • The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
  • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only
Biomedical Engineering PhD Admission Requirements
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
  • Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
  • Résumé.
  • A written statement of experience and research, areas of current and future potential research interests, and future career goals.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
Master in FinTech Admission Requirements
• General UCF graduate application requirements • For admission, a minimum 3.0 GPA and a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or Natural Sciences is required. • A minimum of 3 years of professional work experience is also required for MS in Fintech Online. • Official Trancript(s) • Goal statement of 500 words or less • Current Resume
Masters in Engineering Management Admission Requirements
• General UCF graduate application requirements • One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended • Résumé or Curriculum Vita • Goal statement • Two letters of recommendation • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.