Program of Study - Manufacturing Engineering (MSE)
Program Overview
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering offers a graduate program in manufacturing engineering leading to a Master of Science in Engineering degree. The department offers thesis and coursework options. Students may further specialize within the major through selection of elective courses.
The manufacturing engineering major is designed to help practicing engineers and managers with extensive engineering experience in manufacturing and graduates in engineering, the physical sciences and business to further their education for better opportunities in manufacturing industries. The major provides technical and engineering management skills, provides education in cutting-edge technology to manufacturing professionals so they can be competitive in the global market, and prepares students for doctoral programs in manufacturing engineering.
The graduate program in manufacturing engineering requires 30-36 semester credit hours, nine of which are required of all students. The nine hours are selected such that there is a course from each of three area lists in quality, design and systems. There are two options for completing an MSE in manufacturing engineering: 1) thesis and 2) coursework only. The thesis option requires 24 hours of coursework plus 6 hours for the thesis. The coursework only option requires 36 hours of courses. There is a requirement of 18 hours of manufacturing engineering coursework for the thesis option, and 30 hours manufacturing engineering coursework for the coursework option from manufacturing engineering. The remaining hours of coursework for the thesis option or coursework only option may be from manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or computer science with the approval of the students Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee (GFAC).
Students who choose the thesis option shall make an oral presentation on the thesis to the faculty advisory committee. Students who opt for the coursework option take a written comprehensive exam to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering Degree. The thesis option gives students an opportunity to pursue research and continue a doctoral program in manufacturing engineering or related fields. The coursework-only option is designed to give technical depth in the manufacturing disciplines while allowing the breadth by six hours of coursework from outside the manufacturing engineering area. The coursework only path is expected to meet the needs of practicing engineers who do not intend to pursue further graduate work in engineering and only desire to follow an industrial career path.
Students may be required to take some leveling courses to meet the prerequisites, depending on their undergraduate major and experience in manufacturing engineering. The student's Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee specifies each student's leveling work.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in manufacturing engineering, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, computer science, or business.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Letter of Intent detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Resume
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Leveling Courses
Students whose undergraduate major is not manufacturing engineering are required to take some leveling courses from the list given below with approval of the students Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee. Leveling courses are determined for each student by the student's advisory committee based on his/her course background and experience in manufacturing.
Required Courses
Program Requirements
Students are required to take at least one course from each of the three areas given below. The remaining 15-27 hours depending on the option (thesis or coursework only) may be taken from any of the three areas in manufacturing engineering which are Quality, Design, and Systems. Courses should be approved by the student's Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee.
One course from each of following three areas (9 Credits)
Quality:
Courses
Design:
Courses
Systems:
Courses
Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option:
Elective Courses in Manufacturing Engineering (9 Credits)
Free Electives (6 Credits)
Six hours from business, manufacturing, mechanical or electrical engineering, computer science, or mathematics chosen with the consent of the student's advisor.
Capstone Requirement:
Thesis (6 Credits)
Non-Thesis Option:
Elective Courses in Manufacturing Engineering (21 Credits)
Free Electives (6 Credits)
Six hours from business, manufacturing, mechanical or electrical engineering, computer science, or mathematics chosen with the consent of the student's advisor.
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Total Credit Hours: 30-36