Degree Requirements
Master of Science in Engineering
To enter the MSE program, a student should have an undergraduate degree in engineering or an equivalent quantitative field such as mathematics, economics, or one of the physical sciences. The graduate adviser may require those with degrees in other fields to take additional courses. In general, an adequate background includes coursework in probability, statistics, computer programming, linear algebra, calculus, engineering economics, and optimization. These courses may be taken after enrollment, but they usually will not be counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements.
The operations research component of the program emphasizes the application of mathematics to a variety of economic and operational problems. Students take advanced coursework in optimization, probability and statistics, and stochastic processes. Those interested primarily in industrial engineering may concentrate on forecasting, project management, production planning and control, scheduling, or reliability. Each student must complete either 24 semester hours of coursework, plus a thesis; 27 semester hours of coursework, plus a report; or 27 semester hours of coursework, plus a research project. More coursework may be required, depending on the student’s background and goals. All options require at least two courses in a minor area, which usually comprises work in mathematics, business, computer science, or other branches of engineering.
Doctor of Philosophy
The chief components of this program are scholastic excellence and original research. Although there is no specific number of semester hours required for the doctoral program, the student must meet the requirements of the Graduate Studies Committee. The student usually completes 24 to 36 semester hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree. Formal admission to candidacy is considered by the Graduate Studies Committee after a thorough review of the student’s overall academic record and performance on the doctoral qualifying examination.