Engineering, M.S.: 30 units

Offered by: College of Engineering

Major Required

Culminating Experience

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

Mission Statement

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

The program offers students the opportunity to conduct applied research on relevant engineering topics. The goals of this research are to 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. See the Aerospace Engineering or Chemical and Materials Engineering website for specific requirements.
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. See the Aerospace Engineering or Chemical and Materials Engineering website for specific requirements.

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.

Graduate Conditionally Classified

A person may be admitted to a graduate degree or credential program in this category if, in the opinion of appropriate campus authority, he/she can remedy deficiencies by additional coursework but otherwise satisfies all other university requirements for admission. All prerequisites must be specified by the admitting department at the time of student admission. Academic departments are responsible for tracking conditionally admitted students and must report their academic progress to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Graduate Studies Office via a memo on a term basis. Students admitted conditionally will not be allowed to concurrently register for graduate courses that are required for the completion of their projected graduate or professional program. A conditionally admitted student’s ability to obtain financial aid is severely limited until all deficiencies have been resolved, and unconditional status is granted by the university. Conditional admission does not guarantee unconditional admission to a program.