Contents > Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering > Programs in Engineering
Programs in Engineering
Arizona’s three state universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—are partnering in offering the Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
The MEng partnership is intended to meet the educational needs of practicing engineers. With input from industry professionals, the three universities are developing programs that address the enhancement and development of skills, knowledge, and understanding that are critical to today’s practicing engineer. Courses are offered through a variety of distance-delivery methods and in flexible formats. Students enrolled in the program are able to take advantage of course offerings at any of the three universities. These offerings reflect the diversity of strengths across the state. Students enrolled in Web-delivered courses incur a special course fee. For more information, see the MEng Web site at asuengineeringonline.com.
The MEng program offers students the opportunity to identify an engineering emphasis in traditional academic areas of study (electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, for example), nontraditional areas of study (microelectronics packaging, software engineering, quality and reliability, for example) or student-initiated areas of study (interdisciplinary).
See Admission to the Graduate College.
Applicants who have graduated from accredited U.S. institutions and who have a suitable background for the desired field of study must have a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the last 60 units of the undergraduate transcript (or for the last 12 units of the post-baccalaureate transcript). The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be required for a particular area of study or concentration. Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must satisfy admission requirements in addition to those specified above.
Individuals not meeting the requirements for regular admission may be recommended for provisional admission or deferred admission status at the discretion of the MEng Admission Committee. Upon completion of recommended course work, provisional and/or deferred admission status students may be elevated to regular status.
Individuals wanting to take courses offered in the MEng program, while not seeking a degree, are encouraged to obtain nondegree admission status through the Graduate College.
Graduate College requirements of the home institution must be followed. All programs of study require the completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit. Each program of study requires three semester hours of course work in each of the following subject areas: engineering management/business and applied engineering mathematics.
All students are expected to take at least 10 semester hours from their home institution. Before the first month of the semester in which the 10th semester hour is taken, the MEng student should prepare a program of study. Once the program of study has been approved by the student’s advisory committee, it should be forwarded for approval by the academic director of the home institution.
At the discretion of an academic unit or academic working group, a practice-oriented project may constitute part of the program of study not to exceed six semester hours. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in courses taken as part of their program of study and maintain a 3.00 or higher for all graduate courses (500-level or above).
An appropriate capstone event is defined and managed by the student’s advisory committee. A capstone event could include, but is not limited to, the following: a written and/or oral defense of an applied project; a final examination that captures the essence of the master’s degree focus and represents a major portion of the student’s course work; or an overview presentation incorporating knowledge gained from the program with integration and reflection of learning as applied to the job. The student’s advisory committee has the authority to determine the format of the capstone event.
The time limit for completing the MEng degree is six years from the time of admission.
Master of Science in Engineering
The faculty in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering offer professional programs leading to the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree with majors in Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The programs are designed to bridge the gap between knowledge of engineering sciences and creative engineering practice while at the same time increasing the depth and breadth of knowledge in selected areas of emphasis. The pattern of course work applicable to the degree is potentially unique for each student, although it must conform to the general guidelines for subject matter content for the degree as authorized in this catalog.
Two options are available within the MSE degree program. Option one requires a thesis and is designed primarily for full-time students. Option two is designed for full-time students not intending to write a thesis and for students who hold full-time jobs and must attend university classes on a part-time basis. A thesis or equivalent is not required of students who elect this option.
Applicants are expected to satisfy all requirements for admission to the Graduate College. Entry into this program normally requires a bachelor’s degree with a major in engineering or in a closely related bachelor’s degree program.
Deficiencies for admission to the graduate degree programs are specified at the time of admission. The verbal, quantitative, and written components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are not required unless specified by the respective academic unit in which the major is offered. TOEFL scores must be submitted by international applicants before admission is considered. Applicants with TOEFL scores of 550 (213 on the computer-based examination) or higher may be regularly admitted without requiring further language study. Applicants with scores below 550 may be regularly admitted but must complete study in ASU’s American English and Culture Program (AECP) before enrolling in course work in the academic program.
In general, all candidates for the MSE degree program are required to complete 30 semester hours. Additional courses may be assigned by the supervisory committee depending on the background of the candidate.
A minimum of six semester hours of research and thesis credit must be included in the 30 hours.
A minimum of 30 semester hours and a comprehensive examination are required.
Only students who elect option one are required to write a thesis.
A final oral examination in defense of the thesis is required for students who choose option one. A final comprehensive examination is required for students in option two. Examination format and times should be obtained from the academic unit.
Center for Professional Development
As a unit of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, the Center for Professional Development (CPD) provides engineers and technical professionals the skills and knowledge necessary to master new methods, to lead projects and teams, and to advance professionally. Programs are offered in traditional classroom environments and through distance learning. By leveraging the nationally renowned faculty of the school and affiliate experts, CPD administers short courses and conferences, professional certification programs, off-campus graduate degree programs, and in-company customized programs.
The school offers a growing list of MSE programs to engineering professionals globally. It is understood that adult students have professional, family, and community responsibilities in addition to their educational goals. The school strives to provide convenient and high-quality programs while ensuring high academic standards.
Distance Learning Programs for Engineering Professionals
The distance learning programs are offered to professionals seeking flexible “anytime, anyplace” off-campus education programs. A broad portfolio of programs offers engineering and technical professionals new strategies, tools and methods, and technology to remain competitive in the New Economy. In general, professionals pursuing the MSE distance learning programs have two or more years of professional experience and are sponsored by their employer through tuition benefit programs. Traditional program areas include electrical engineering, materials science engineering, and nontraditional specialty areas such as semiconductor processing and manufacturing. Executive-focused programs are offered through the MSE in Engineering Sciences with a concentration in executive embedded systems engineering.
A concurrent MBA/MSE degree in Electrical Engineering is offered in collaboration with the W. P. Carey School of Business. The concurrent degree consists of eight courses from the online MBA program and eight courses from the MSE program. The courses in electrical engineering are part of the communications area of study within the curriculum. The degree is offered to a cohort group and takes three years to complete. The courses are offered primarily online. For more information, see Concurrent MBA/MSE Electrical Engineering Program.
For more information about the Center for Professional Development, access the school’s Web site at asuengineeringonline.com.
Online graduate professional programs
Through the Center for Professional Development (CPD), the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering provides engineers and technical professionals the skills and knowledge necessary to master new methods, lead projects and teams, and to advance professionally. Programs are offered in both traditional classroom environments and through distance learning. By leveraging the nationally renowned faculty of the Fulton School of Engineering and affiliate experts, CPD administers short courses and conferences, professional certification programs, off-campus graduate degree programs, and in-company customized programs.
For information on programs, access the center’s Web site at cpd.asu.edu.
COURSES
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.