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Did You Know?
Established in 1971, the program is now considered one of the most comprehensive telecommunication masters programs in the world.
Interdisciplinary Telecommunications

The Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program provides the opportunity for study in technology, planning, and management of telecommunications systems. Graduate students are offered courses on the technology of both existing and future telecommunications systems, their cost effectiveness, capacity for expansion, and trends in telecommunications traffic. This includes detailed study of the technical aspects and the impact of telecommunications, and the financial and socioeconomic impact. Courses and laboratories are available in electronic, optical, and wireless transmission; switching, cable television; signaling; digital processing; computer protocols; and network design and management. Study also incorporates management, government and industry use, competitive trends, standards, regulatory practice, and all levels of communications and information law (local through international).

Please refer to http://telecom.colorado.edu for admission requirements and application instructions.

Areas of Study and Research

ITP offers emphasis in the following areas: Wireless Technology, Network Security, Networking, Telephony, Telecom Business Strategy, Regulation, Policy and more!

All students will have exposure to the topics below.

INTERNET: Develop expertise in next-generation Internet architectures, technologies, applications, and protocols. Learn the technical details of baseline Internet technologies such as TCP.IP, routing, switching, address and domain name management, email, and the World Wide Web (HTTP). Explore cutting edge topics including enhanced quality of service for streaming media, peer-to-peer protocols and architectures, caching, application-aware traffic management, and Internet security (anti-virus and anti-spam). Investigate the development and deployment of next generation access network technology such as WiMAX, 3G/4G, EVDO, DSL, and high speed cable networks (DOCSIS).

COMMUNICATIONS: Explore the evolution of legacy application-specific networks to seamless, IP-centric, media-aware networks -- optimizing the user experience. Investigate the issues and technology necessary to support the transformation from separate networks built to support cellular voice, broadcast cable, and point-to-point telephony into the next generation broadband networks designed to support delivery of real-time linear content (IPTV, broadcast video), non-real time stored content (Video on Demand and MP3 Audio), regional multicast content, and personalized individual content (VolP, video conferencing) all delivered seamlessly to any end-point the customer desires (home, office, mobile).

MEDIA: Discover the impact of the Internet on content creation, distribution, and management. In our classrooms and labs, explore voice migration to VoIP; understand video and audio compression (MPEG4, wavelet); study technology supporting media delivery and consumption (Podcasting, PVR, TiVO MP3, ACC); and investigate trends in digital rights management (Windows Media, Real Networks, iTunes).

BUSINESS STRATEGY: Study the strategic, financial, and entrepreneurial aspects of the migration from traditional networks and business models to the suite of new products and services enabled by ubiquitous broadband internet connectivity. Learn the basic economic theories that empower next-generation networks including network economics, first-mover advantage, versioning, information goods pricing, and launch strategies.

LAW & REGULATION: Survey the legal, regulatory, and policy implications of an interconnected world. Learn about advances in intellectual property rights (patent, copyright, trademarks), spectrum management, content management, and government and emergency services (E911, wire tapping, universal service).

Degrees Offered

  • MS in Telecommunications
  • ME in Telecommunications
  • ME Engineering Management/MS Telecommunications
  • MBA/MS in Telecommunications with the Leeds School of Business
  • BS Information Systems/MS Telecommunications
  • JD/MS in Telecommunications with the School of Law

Currently, the ITP does not offer an undergraduate or doctoral program in Telecommunications.

For further information, please visit the following web sites:

Minimum Requirements for the MS and ME Degree
Please refer to the ITP web site for detailed information on the degrees offered by the program.

Dual Degree Students
Students earning dual degrees with the Leeds School of Business complete their first year in the business school before beginning their telecommunications classes. Students going for the dual degrees must work closely with their faculty advisors in preparing their degree plans. The Graduate School will only allow a limited number of classes to be counted toward both degrees.

Admission [Refer to http://telecom.colorado.edu]

Graduate School Minimum Admissions Standards
Individual graduate departments may have additional or more restrictive standards by which they evaluate graduate applicants. However, the Graduate School at CU-Boulder has established minimum standards for graduate admission. Applicants must:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
  2. Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record.
  3. Have adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
  4. Have at least a 3.00 (3.00=B) undergraduate grade point average. Note: Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 12 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average.

Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Admission Requirements
Applicants must:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
  2. Grade point average of 3.0 or above. Note: there is consideration for provisional admission with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 with appropriate GRE or GMAT scores.
  3. Letters of recommendation from 2-3 people who have first hand knowledge of the applicant's educational and/or professional background.
  4. TOEFL test scores are required for all international students hailing from countries where English is not the primary language. Students should show evidence of a strong academic record and a TOEFL score of 600 or above (250 computer-based). Institution code: 4841, Department code: 69
  5. GRE or GMAT scores are required of applicants with GPAs that fall below the minimum requirements. Institution code: 4841, Department code: 5101.

Minimum Standards for Applicants
Students entering the program are expected to be adept in mathematics through trigonometry. Students without a year of calculus are expected to attain proficiency as part of their curriculum.

Financial Support Available
Please understand that financial aid is sharply limited. Most financial aid is offered in the form of part-time positions in grading, or other administrative roles. International students must demonstrate the ability to support themselves, and their families if necessary, for their entire course of study at the University of Colorado.

Note: If you have transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States, they must be evaluated by the University Foreign Admissions Office before they can be processed by the ITP. The evaluation process can take as long as three months, so please plan ahead.

Application Information and Deadlines
Application major code GR-TLEN
 
Fall admission Yes
Priority* application deadline December 1
Application deadline June 15
International application deadline March 15
 
Spring admission Yes
Priority* application deadline August 1
Application deadline November 1
International application deadline October 1
 
Summer admission Yes
Priority* application deadline November 1
Application deadline March 15
International application deadline February 1
* Priority application deadlines are for all students who wish to have priority consideration for admission and scholarships.

Contact Information

University of Colorado at Boulder
Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program
ECOT 311
530 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0530
Phone: 303-492-8475
Fax: 303-492-1112
E-mail: itp@colorado.edu
Web site: http://telecom.colorado.edu
 
 
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