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Candidates for master's degrees should note that both a thesis option and a course option are available in most programs. The course option may be of particular interest to part-time students who, because of their employment, might find it more convenient than the thesis requirement. All candidates for master's degrees should consult with their advisors to determine the option they will follow.
All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years from the time the student is admitted to graduate standing. A maximum of six units of graduate credit obtained at institutions other than Washington University may be applied toward a master's degree awarded by the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Transfer credit must be recommended by the department chair or program director and approved by the Engineering Registrar. No courses carrying grades lower than B can be accepted for transfer credit.
For the thesis option, a minimum of 24 units of course work and a minimum of six units of research are required. The student must also write a satisfactory thesis prepared under the supervision of a member of the engineering school's graduate faculty. Candidates for master's degrees under the course option must complete a minimum of 30 units of approved graduate course credit. Several master's degrees require more than 30 graduate units.
To earn more than one master's degree from the School of Engineering, the student's final program of course work for each master's degree must include a minimum of 15 units of pre-approved courses not included as part of the final program of course work for any other master's degree awarded by the engineering school.
The candidate's department chair or program director will appoint a thesis committee of three faculty members, with the student's advisor as chair, who will read the thesis and judge its acceptability. If the thesis is tentatively accepted by the committee, the candidate will then deliver a corrected copy of the thesis to the Engineering Registrar's Office for format approval. Two copies of the thesis, accepted by the committee and approved for format, must be delivered to the Engineering Registrar's Office no later than the deadline stated in the current University Course Listings book. The candidate will present a third copy to the advisor and a fourth copy to the department chair or program director.
Candidates for the degree Master of Science under the course option may be required to pass a final examination. The form of the examination is determined by the faculty of the area of specialization, and students should consult their advisors, department chairs, or program directors for details concerning this examination.
Master of Science Degree Requirements
Candidates for master's degrees should note that both a thesis option and a course option are available in most programs. The course option may be of particular interest to part-time students who, because of their employment, might find it more convenient than the thesis requirement. All candidates for master's degrees should consult with their advisors to determine the option they will follow.
All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years from the time the student is admitted to graduate standing. A maximum of six units of graduate credit obtained at institutions other than Washington University may be applied toward a master's degree awarded by the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Transfer credit must be recommended by the department chair or program director and approved by the Engineering Registrar. No courses carrying grades lower than B can be accepted for transfer credit.
For the thesis option, a minimum of 24 units of course work and a minimum of six units of research are required. The student must also write a satisfactory thesis prepared under the supervision of a member of the engineering school's graduate faculty. Candidates for master's degrees under the course option must complete a minimum of 30 units of approved graduate course credit. Several master's degrees require more than 30 graduate units.
To earn more than one master's degree from the School of Engineering, the student's final program of course work for each master's degree must include a minimum of 15 units of pre-approved courses not included as part of the final program of course work for any other master's degree awarded by the engineering school.
Master Thesis
A candidate for the degree Master of Science (thesis option) must prepare his or her thesis according to Directions for Writing Theses and Dissertations, copies of which are available in the Engineering Registrar's Office and in PDF format. The candidate's department chair or program director will appoint a thesis committee of three faculty members, with the student's advisor as chair, who will read the thesis and judge its acceptability. If the thesis is tentatively accepted by the committee, the candidate will then deliver a corrected copy of the thesis to the Engineering Registrar's Office for format approval. Two copies of the thesis, accepted by the committee and approved for format, must be delivered to the Engineering Registrar's Office no later than the deadline stated in the current University Course Listings book. The candidate will present a third copy to the advisor and a fourth copy to the department chair or program director.
Final Examination
For candidates under the thesis option, the final examination for the degree Master of Science consists of an oral examination conducted by the thesis committee and any additional faculty members that the department chair or program director may wish to designate. At this examination the candidate will present and defend the thesis. Candidates for the degree Master of Science under the course option may be required to pass a final examination. The form of the examination is determined by the faculty of the area of specialization, and students should consult their advisors, department chairs, or program directors for details concerning this examination.