M.S. Engineering

B.S. + M.S., Accelerated "4+1" Program

Joint Programs:

The Master of Science degree program in Engineering has the following objectives:

• Provide preparation for further study in engineering, leading to the Doctor of Engineering or Ph.D. degree.
• Provide an empowering terminal professional degree for students who intend to become practicing engineers. A degree which not only retains the strong laboratory emphasis and industrial interaction found in the B.S. curriculum, but which also provides an attractive, efficient educational option to undergraduate students.
• Provide job-entry education for the more complex and evolving interdisciplinary areas of engineering, such as research and development, innovative design, systems analysis and design, bio-engineering, manufacturing, mechatronics and engineering manage ment.
• Update and upgrade opportunities for practicing engineers.
• Allows graduates to maintain currency in their fields.

For admission as a classified graduate student, an applicant should hold a bachelor's degree in engineering or a closely related physical science with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) attempted. Applicants for graduate engineering programs are required to submit scores for the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. An applicant who meets these standards but lacks prerequisite coursework may be admitted as a conditionally classified stud ent and must make up any deficiencies before advancement to classified graduate standing.

Graduate students must file formal study plans with their adviser, department, college and university graduate studies office by no later than the end of the quarter in which the 12th unit of approved courses is completed.

Participants in the "4 + 1" Program should submit a tentative study plan, developed in conjunction with their adviser, to the Dean of the College of Engineering at the end of the second quarter of their junior year.

The formal program of study must include a minimum of 45 units (at least 23 of which must be at the 500 level) with a specialization in one of the following areas: Biochemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engin eering, Water Engineering.

The broad curriculum requirements for the Master of Science degree in Engineering are:

In some specializations, two program options are available for M.S. in Engineering students: a thesis program which requires coursework, a thesis and oral defense of thesis; or a nonthesis option which involves additional coursework and a compre hensive examination. The nonthesis option is normally allowed only for those students who have completed an undergraduate senior project or have had significant engineering project experience.

The College of Engineering offers two joint programs: in conjunction with the College of Business, the M.B.A./M.S. Engineering with a specialization in Engineering Management; and with the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (City and Regional Planning Department), the M.C.R.P./M.S. Engineering with a specialization in Transportation Planning.

In addition to the M.S. degree in Engineering, the college also offers several other graduate programs: M.S. Aeronautical Engineering, M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, M.S. Computer Science, and M.S. Electrical Engineering. Information reg arding these programs is listed with the respective department.

Go to College of Engineering Home Page

Go to 1997-98 Cal Poly Catalog

Go to Campus-Wide Programs List

08/21/97