Manufacturing Engineering (MSE)
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 non-thesis 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 semester credit hours, 12 of which are required of all students. The 12 hours are selected such that there is a course from each of four area lists in quality, design, systems, and engineering management. There are two options for completing an MSE in manufacturing engineering: 1) thesis and 2) non-thesis only. Students on the thesis option must complete an additional 12 hours of prescribed electives and 6 hours of thesis. Students on the non-thesis option must complete an additional 18 hours of prescribed electives and must submit a course project report from any M.S. Manufacturing Engineering course to meet the capstone requirement.
Students with a thesis option must complete a thesis research project, prepare the thesis report and defend their thesis in an oral presentation to the student's thesis committee. Students enrolled in the non-thesis option must prepare a course project report one semester before their graduation and submit it to the graduate committee, to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering.
The thesis option gives students an opportunity to pursue research, which prepares the student for a research and development related career or for further graduate studies. The non-thesis option is designed to provide technical breadth, knowledge and skill, to meet the needs of manufacturing engineers.
Students may be required to take some leveling courses to satisfy prerequisites, depending on their undergraduate major and experiences. The departmental graduate advisor or the student thesis committee specifies required leveling courses for each student.
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 Requirements
Students whose undergraduate major is not manufacturing engineering may be required to take some leveling courses from the list given below. Leveling courses are determined for each student by the graduate coordinator or the student's thesis committee based on the student's course background and experience in manufacturing.
Leveling Courses
Program Requirements
Students are required to take at least one course from each of the four areas given below. The remaining 12-18 hours depending on the option (thesis or non-thesis) may be taken from any of the four areas in manufacturing engineering which are Quality, Design, Systems, and Engineering Management. Courses should be approved by the thesis committee or graduate coordinator.
Required Elective Courses - 12 Hours
Students must complete one course from each of following four areas for a total of 12 hours.
Design Area Electives
Choose one from the following:
Engineering Management Area Electives
Choose one from the following:
Quality Area Electives
Choose one from the following:
Systems Area Electives
Choose one from the following:
Manufacturing Engineering Electives - 6 Hours
Six hours of unduplicated courses from the four areas listed above.
Other Electives - 6 Hours
Six hours of unduplicated courses from business, engineering, and sciences with the consent of the student's thesis committee or graduate coordinator.
Capstone Requirement
Choose either Thesis Option or Non-Thesis Option.
Thesis Option - 6 Hours
6 Credits
Non-Thesis Option - 6 Hours
Six hours of unduplicated courses from the four areas listed above.
Course project report showing graduate level work from one of the MANE courses approved by the graduate coordinator.
Total Credit Hours: 30