The master’s degree programs are intended to provide advanced study in an area of engineering. The programs provide sufficient flexibility to allow students to develop an area of specialization, broaden their educational experience into additional areas of engineering, or synthesize an integrated program of interdisciplinary studies through a thesis or project.

Plan of Study

Master’s degrees in the College of Engineering are offered with thesis and non-thesis options, depending on the degree program. Consult graduate program requirements to determine program completion options. Each option is described in more detail below.

1. Thesis option: A minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study, including nine credit hours (9 cr hr) of thesis research under the supervision of a faculty member, is required. Students are required to submit a written thesis and successfully complete the oral defense of the thesis work. The thesis committee must have a minimum of three committee members. All M.S. theses are uploaded to OhioLink for electronic access and archival purposes. Additional guidelines and requirements may exist for individual programs. Students with assistantship funding are expected to complete the M.S. thesis.
2. Non-thesis option: The master of science with non-thesis option is available with the approval of the department chair or the department graduate program director and/or faculty advisor:
   1. Master of science degree with project option: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study, including six credit hours (6 cr hr) of master of science project under the supervision of a faculty advisor as specified by individual department guidelines and requirements. Students are required to submit a written project report to the department for approval and archiving. The project committee must have a minimum of two committee members.
   2. Master of science degree with course work-only option: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work. Additional hours of course work to replace thesis or project are selected from departmental electives approved by the department chair or the graduate program director.

A plan of study that specifies registration terms and credit hours for all program requirements (thesis or project requirements and graduate course work), as well as any specified preparatory undergraduate course work, is to be developed by the student working with his/her advisor. The plan of study should be submitted for review and approved by the department before 12 credit hours of graduate course work are completed in the program of study. Students are responsible for verifying that planned courses meet the program requirements and tracking their progress toward degree using the University Degree Audit system. Graduate course work may be selected from engineering, math, science, business and related fields, subject to course category restrictions specified by the individual programs. Students should consult the program catalog requirements, degree audit, and department handbook for additional requirements. University-level guidelines and policies that are applicable to all students pursuing a master's degree are provided under The College of Graduate Studies section of the graduate catalog.