Thesis program requirements

Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering (MS MfgE): This degree program is a research oriented degree. The 6 credit hour thesis can provide the opportunity to focus a student into a particular area of interest. This MS MfgE program requires 30 credit hours with a 6-hour thesis: 12 credit hours from the Manufacturing Core Curriculum (3 credit-hour core course from each area); 6 credit hours of 6000 level courses in manufacturing**; 3 credit hours of any suggested manufacturing courses** OR approved Mathematics/Computer Science*; 6 credit hours for thesis research, and 3 credit hours of graduate courses in manufacturing.**

Master of Engineering in Manufacturing (MEngMfgE) This MEngMfgE program requires 30 credit hours. A 3-hour practice oriented project is required. It is designed so that a student can possibly complete the program in one year. The course requirement includes 12 credit hours from the Manufacturing Core Curriculum (3 credit-hour core course from each area); 6 credit hours of 6000 level courses in manufacturing**; 3 credit hours of any suggested manufacturing courses** OR approved Mathematics/Computer Science*; and 6 credit hours of graduate courses in manufacturing.

Each student must take at least one core course from each of the core areas in manufacturing engineering, during his/her first two semesters of graduate work. The core requirement may be deemed to be satisfied if a student has already taken a core course as a technical elective in his/her undergraduate program. Thus allowing more freedom in the selection of other courses.

Thesis option

• The manufacturing engineering program director will advise the student regarding his/her academic program during the first semester, or until the student selects a graduate advisor. When a student selects a graduate advisor, the student must submit a Graduate Advisor Form to the associate chair for graduate affairs. In situations where two faculty members are actively involved in advising a student, the student may have a graduate advisor and a graduate co–advisor. After the student selects a graduate advisor, the responsibility of advising the student in regards to his/her academic and research programs will reside with the graduate advisor until the student graduates.
• A graduate student is strongly discouraged from changing graduate advisors. When an unavoidable circumstance arises and warrants consideration for a change, the student and his/her graduate advisor must meet with the associate chair for graduate affairs to resolve the issue before the student may select another graduate advisor.

Non-thesis option

For the non-thesis option, the student’s graduate advisor is automatically the associate chair for graduate affairs, except for distance students doing their degree from the Engineering Education Center in St. Louis.

• The student’s graduate advisor is automatically the manufacturing engineering program director.