Degree Planning and Recommended Courses
Degree Planning
To become familiar with the specific hours and types of classes you must take, and committee, consult the Graduate School Handbook (link might be outdated)
It also provides information about degree plans, and degree requirements. Unless the rules have changed, the degree plan also requires you to formalize your committee members. The committee should have:
At least two members from within the ECEN Department and within the student’s focus area.
At least one member from within the ECEN Department, but outside the student’s focus area.
At least one member from outside the ECEN Department.
Typically, the commitee is composed of your advisor (Dr. Birchfield), another professor in the power and energy area, a professor in the ECEN department that ISN’T in the power area, and another professor NOT in the ECEN department at all. Make sure to double check the handbook, as rules and policies may change.
Classes
The following table shows information about classes you may consider taking. Always double check with other group members, as class information might become outdated. Consult the grad school handbook on total number of credit hours you need to take. Also, if you are working as a research assistant (RA) for the semester, make sure to register for the ECEN 691 research class with Dr. Birchfield!
Course Number |
Course Name |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
ECEN 615 |
Methods of Electric Power Systems Analysis |
Covers steady-state power system analysis. A foundational power systems course with historically relatively-high grade distributions. |
ECEN 616 |
Power System Electromagnetic Transients |
Covers high-frequency and transient power system phenomena. Historically relatively-high grade distributions. |
ECEN 643 |
Electric Power System Reliability |
The author(s) haven’t taken it, but it has historically high GPA distributions. |
ECEN 666 |
Power System Faults and Protective Relaying |
The author(s) have not taken this course. Historical grade distributions have generally been low. |
ECEN 667 |
Power System Stability |
Covers transient and dynamic stability. A core power systems course with historically relatively high grade distributions. |
ECEN 668 |
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission |
In recent semesters, students were assigned textbook chapters to present throughout the semester, with NO exams. Historically, ALL students got As. |
ECEN 715 |
Physical and Economical Operations of Sustainable Energy Systems |
Renewable energy and power system economics receive limited coverage. Consult other students before taking. Historically low grade distributions. |
ECEN 716 |
Smart Power Distribution Systems Analysis and Operation |
The author(s) haven’t taken it. Consult group members or other grad students. |
ECEN 738 |
Power Electronics |
The author(s) haven’t taken it. Consult group members. |
ECEN 741 |
Electronic Motor Drives |
Includes both lecture and a lab . Students should expect a higher workload to get an A (mainly from going to office hours). |
You can use the official Texas A&M Grade Distribution Reports to see previous semester class grades, as shown in the example video below, which demonstrates how to find the previous grades for ECEN 668 in Spring 2026:
Alternatively, you can also go to the (unofficial) TAMU Annex, which can give you a more visual representation of previous grades. However, it is not necessarily the most up-to-date.