Engineering, M.S.

Offered by: College of Engineering

Mission Statement Educational Objectives Admission to the Program

Requirements Curriculum

The practice-oriented Master of Science in Engineering program builds upon an undergraduate education and facilitates more advanced study. Currently, two emphasis areas are available: (a) Aerospace Engineering¹ and (b) Materials Engineering.

Mission Statement

This is a program that provides the student with a comprehensive preparation for advanced work in the engineering profession. It is designed to accept students with various undergraduate engineering backgrounds. The student completes a course of study individually tailored to the student’s unique talents and professional goals.

Another purpose of the program is to facilitate applied research on relevant engineering topics. Such research should 1.) serve societal needs by addressing contemporary issues, 2.) contribute to the professional development of both students and faculty and 3.) provide preparation for further academic study and research for those students who wish to pursue a Ph.D.

Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Master of Science in Engineering shall have:

• Knowledge of engineering principles
• The ability to conduct engineering analyses and to develop and implement designs and problem solutions.
• An understanding of the various technical and non-technical factors that impact the feasibility and implementation of engineering projects.
• The foundation needed to develop engineering judgment via professional practice, and to effectively identify, consider and account for multiple and competing objectives.
• The technical knowledge and skills needed to pursue life-long learning, with the ability to independently extend personal knowledge and understanding of engineering topics and practices by conducting literature searches, consulting with others, and using other similar techniques.

Admission to the Program

An applicant for admission to a graduate program must meet university criteria as specified in the Graduate Admissions section of this catalog as well as the criteria outlined below.

Successful applicants will be admitted to the program either unconditionally or with conditions imposed on them. To receive unconditional admission, an applicant must satisfy these criteria:

1. The applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree in the appropriate engineering disciplines from a program that has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and for which the accreditation was in effect at the time of award of the degree. The degree must have been granted within five years prior to the proposed beginning of the graduate program. A baccalaureate degree in engineering technology does not satisfy this criterion.
2. The applicant must have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all undergraduate upper division coursework in mathematics, science and engineering and, additionally, in all coursework attempted with graduate standing.
3. Additional requirements may be imposed by department.

Conditional admission may be granted in cases in which the applicant’s academic preparation for graduate study is such that criteria 1.) and/or 2.) above are not satisfied. In such cases, the applicant may be required to submit recent test scores of the Graduate Record Examination, letters of recommendation, or other documents attesting to the applicant’s aptitude for graduate studies. Applicants who do not satisfy criterion 1.) may be required to take a limited number of preparatory courses with no degree credit. When an applicant is admitted conditionally, and if these conditions are not satisfied in the stipulated time period, the student may be dis-enrolled.

Requirements

Admission to a program does not admit a student to candidacy for a degree.  Advancement to Candidacy is granted to a student upon the recommendation of the graduate faculty and implies a readiness to attempt the thesis or project. Students who are not candidates are not eligible to register for EGR 692 (Master’s Degree Project)  or EGR 696 (Master’s Degree Thesis) . The student must:

1. satisfy all admissions conditions, if any;
2. complete at least 30 units of graduate coursework with a grade point average of 3.0 or better;
3. satisfy the Graduation Writing Test, and
4. with the assigned advisor, develop and file a formal Program of Study with proper approval.

The program of study must be submitted for approval before the end of the second quarter of attendance.

At the time of filing of the program of study, the student must opt for publishing a thesis or performing independent study with a comprehensive  examination  as a culminating  experience  of  his/her graduate  education after completing the required coursework. The thesis effort is intended to involve independent research by the student with the goal of advancing knowledge in a specialized area. The thesis effort includes a defense of the effort by the student before a committee of faculty members. The independent  study with comprehensive examination is a case study or research, which concludes with a written report and a comprehensive written and/or oral exam conducted by a committee of faculty members.   Information regarding the thesis and independent study with comprehensive examination is available in the appropriate departments.

In addition, each student is responsible for satisfying all university requirements specified elsewhere in the catalog.

¹ Please note that all MSE-AE courses, with the possible exception of three (EGR 511 , EGR 512 , and EGR 599/599A/599L  - lecture component: Composite Materials) are, at present, offered only at the modern Lancaster University Center in the city of Lancaster, CA. The three exceptions cited may be taken either on campus or at the Lancaster University Center.