Program Description
The M.S. in Engineering (M.S.E.) program is an interdisciplinary engineering program designed to meet the specific needs of engineers employed in industry, government, and consulting, as well as those desiring a traditional research-based graduate degree. The program offers a broad core curriculum with opportunities for concentrated study in three majors: Engineering Management, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website: http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission. Each applicant must have an undergraduate
At least one letter of recommendaengineering degree from either an accredited ABET curriculum or an internationally recognized program.
- If applicants have an undergraduate 2.5 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale and have already passed the PE exam in the major for which they are applying (official copy of certificate to be sent to the Marshall University Graduate Admissions Office), their applications will be accepted.
- If applicants have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in an engineering major closely related to that for which they are applying, their applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- If applicants have an undergraduate GPA between a 2.5 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in an engineering major closely related to that for which they are applying, applicants must take the GRE exam or pass the FE exam, and have their official GRE scores or official FE certificate sent to the Marshall University Graduate Admissions office. The applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.tion is required for all applicants.
International applicants must provide proof of English proficiency according to applicable university requirements.. International applicants must meet all other admission criteria prior to being admitted to the program and registering for the first semester of courses.
A current non-degree or degree-seeking Marshall University student who holds an undergraduate engineering degree, may apply to be considered for admission to the M.S.E. degree program if s/he has at least a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3. 30 in his or her first 9 credit hours of M.S.E. courses. For international students, the English requirements stated above must still be satisfied.
Eligibility to take the PE exam is based primarily on completion of an ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering degree in most states. Completion of a M.S.E. graduate degree at an institution with an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree does not fulfill that requirement to take the PE exam.
Degree Requirements
Each degree candidate is required to complete at least 30 graduate credit hours, depending on the option chosen below (project, thesis, or coursework only), with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 for the courses included in the student’s Plan of Study. At least one-half of the minimum required hours for the degree must be earned in classes numbered 600 or above.
Each degree-seeking student must file an approved Plan of Study, developed with a faculty advisor, before the student registers for the 12th credit hour. The Academic Regulations portion of the Graduate Catalog may be consulted for additional information.
A student may only earn the M.S.E. degree once. Therefore, students wishing to complete two of the three M.S.E. majors (i.e., double major) must complete all requirements for both majors before the degree is awarded. A maximum of 12 credit hours may be counted toward both majors, as approved by the student’s academic advisor in each major. An option must be selected for each major and the two options are permitted to be different. However, each major must have its own comprehensive assessment (i.e., comprehensive project, thesis, or comprehensive examination). For example, a single thesis and defense cannot satisfy the requirements for both majors.
Students may choose to complete either the project option, the thesis option, or the coursework only option after consultation with their academic advisors.
Project Option
The comprehensive project involves the application of coursework completed as part of the degree to a practical problem. Students will work with their advisors to identify an appropriate project and scope. Students must prepare a formal written report and deliver an oral presentation to a committee. Students register for ENGR 699, Comprehensive Project (3 hrs.) during the semester in which their project will be completed and presented, but preliminary work on the project may commence before that semester.
Thesis Option
The thesis option involves the completion of 6 hours of research (ENGR 682) under the direction of an advisor on an approved project. Students must summarize their work in the form of a formal, written document and successfully defend the thesis before a committee. Thesis work is typically conducted over two semesters.
Coursework Only Option
Students can complete 30 hours of coursework and then complete a comprehensive examination within the last two semesters of graduation to fulfill the requirements of their degree program. Examinations will be administered once per semester for all students.
Major: Engineering Management
Coursework-Only Option (30 hours)
Required courses (18 hrs )
EM 620 – Management of Technical Human Resources and Organizations (3 hrs.)
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
EM 668 – Operations Management (3 hrs.)
EM 675 – Engineering Economics (3 hrs.)
EM 694 – Engineering Law (3 hrs.)
- or ES 550 – Environmental Law
- or LE 691 – Government & Business Relations
- or HCA 630 – Legal Issues / Health Care Mgt
- or STHM 615 – Legal Concerns in STHM
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
Elective courses
See approved Engineering Management electives that follow. (9 hrs.)
Project Option (30 hours)
Required courses (21 hrs)
EM 620 – Management of Technical Human Resources and Organizations (3 hrs.)
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
EM 668 – Operations Management (3 hrs.)
EM 675 – Engineering Economics (3 hrs.)
EM 694 – Engineering Law (3 hrs.)
- or ES 550 – Environmental Law
- or LE 691 – Government & Business Relations
- or HCA 630 – Legal Issues / Health Care Mgt
- or STHM 615 – Legal Concerns in STHM
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
ENGR 682 – Research (3 hrs.)
Elective courses
See approved Engineering Management electives that follow. (6 hrs.)
Thesis Option (30 hours)
Required courses (24 hrs)
EM 620 – Management of Technical Human Resources and Organizations (3 hrs.)
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
EM 668 – Operations Management (3 hrs.)
EM 675 – Engineering Economics (3 hrs.)
EM 694 – Engineering Law (3 hrs.)
- or ES 550 – Environmental Law
- or LE 691 – Government & Business Relations
- or HCA 630 – Legal Issues / Health Care Mgt
- or STHM 615 – Legal Concerns in STHM
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
ENGR 682 – Research (6 hrs.)
Elective course (6 hrs)
See approved Engineering Management electives that follow.
Approved Elective Courses for the Engineering Management Major
- Any EM (Engineering Management) course.
- Any College of Business course approved in advance by the advisor.
- Any engineering course approved in advance by the advisor.
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Each Civil and Environmental Engineering major must have completed the Foundation Courses listed below (and their associated prerequisites), or their equivalents as approved by their advisor before being fully admitted. Until this requirement is satisfied, the student can only receive Provisional admission to the program. All other admission requirements must still be satisfied.
Foundation Courses:
ENGR 318 – Fluid Mechanics
CE 312 – Structural Analysis
CE 342 – Transportation Engineering
CE 413 – Reinforced Concrete or CE 414 – Steel Design
CE 331 – Hydraulic Engineering
CE 351 – Environmental Engineering
Coursework Only Option (30 hours)
Required courses
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or ENGR 620 – Computer Applications
- or ME 601 – Advanced Engr Analysis
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
Elective courses (24 hrs.)
Project Option (30 hours)
Required courses
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or ENGR 620 – Computer Applications
- or ME 601 – Advanced Engr Analysis
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
ENGR 682 – Research (3 hrs.)
Elective courses (21 hrs.)
Thesis Option (30 hours)
Required courses
ENGR 610 – Applied Statistics (3 hrs.)
- or ENGR 620 – Computer Applications
- or ME 601 – Advanced Engr Analysis
- or STA 634 – Statistical Methods for Researchers
- or STA 545 – Probability & Statistics I
EM 660 – Project Management (3 hrs.)
ENGR 682 – Research (6 hrs.)
Elective courses (21 hrs.)
See approved Civil and Environmental Engineering Major electives that follow.
Elective Courses for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Major
- Any CE (Civil Engineering) graduate course approved in advance by the student’s advisor
- Any ENVE (Environmental Engineering) graduate course approved in advance by the student’s advisor.
- Any EM (Engineering Management) graduate course approved in advance by the student’s advisor.
- Any ES (Environmental Science) graduate course approved in advance by the student’s advisor.
- Any ENGR (Engineering) graduate course approved in advance by the student’s advisor.
- Other graduate courses approved in advance by the student’s advisor, up to 6 credit hours.