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Online and Distance Education

5G Technology

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Application Deadlines

  • January 09 for Fall
  • July 01 for Spring
  • No admissions for Summer

Program Contacts

Dr. Paul FranzonDirector of Graduate Programs, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering919.515.7351paulf@ncsu.edu
Fenile JonesGraduate Student Services Specialist919.515.5092fdjones3@ncsu.edu
ECE Graduate AdmissionsAdmissions Contacteceadmissions@ncsu.edu
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Graduate Certificates | 5G Technology

5G Technology

Entrance Exam: Not Required
College of Engineering

The Graduate Certificate in 5G Technologies provides students with advanced academic credentials in the algorithmic, chip, circuit, system and antenna technologies that will underpin 5G wireless systems. The 4G LTE systems currently in use around the world will soon be replaced by 5G. However, 5G is not an update of 4G. It is a radically new system, using many different architectures, algorithms, circuits, chips and antennas than the previous system. The 5G wireless systems 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. The Graduate Certificate in 5G Technologies is designed for technical professionals who wish to contribute to designing the chips, software and hardware needed for the 5G rollout.

Non-Degree Studies (NDS) Students

NDS students seeking spring enrollment in an Engineering online program and/or course, please submit your NDS application (opens in new tab) no later than Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 to ensure your application materials are received on time. Submitting your application after January 10th, may result in not being admitted or enrolled in classes for the spring 2024 semester.

Eligibility

Students must meet ONE of the following requirements for admission into the 5G 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 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.
  • Be a degree-seeking student in good standing in an NC State University graduate program in the sciences or engineering.

Plan 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 through EOL. Those without “EOL” are only offered to on-campus students. To view a full list of Electrical and Computer Engineering certificate degrees and courses, please visit their department website.

Career Prospects

Technology is rapidly advancing, and engineers with 5G expertise will be in demand when the 5G rollout comes to fruition. The 5G Technologies Graduate Certificate provides the knowledge and understanding of the architectures, algorithms, circuits, chips and antennas related to the latest 5G technological advancements.

Additional Resources

For detailed information regarding engineering online programs and how to apply and enroll, please visit the Engineering Online website.