Degree Requirements for Masters Degree (MSCE)

Each student will have a graduate advisory committee and a faculty advisor. The student's program of study must be approved by the advisory committee and all courses taken must have the approval of the student's faculty advisor.

Three plans of study are offered. The thesis option includes 6 hours of credit for the thesis. The project option includes 3 hours of credit for the project. The thesis differs from the project in that the thesis is usually oriented toward original engineering research whereas the project is usually oriented toward engineering applications. The following minimum distribution requirements must be met for each of the three options:

Thesis Option: 31 semester hours credit required for degree (25 hours course work required).

• 16 to 19 semester hours course work in engineering
• 6 to 9 semester hours course work in supporting areas
• 6 semester hours of thesis credit

Project Option: 34 semester hours credit required for degree (31 hours course work required). Electrical Engineering requires 36 semester hours credit for this option.

• 19 to 22 semester hours course work in engineering
• 9 to 12 semester hours course work in supporting areas
• 3 semester hours of project credit

Course Work Option: 33 semester hours credit required for degree (33 hours course work required). Electrical Engineering requires 36 semester hours credit for this option.

• 21 to 24 semester hours course work in engineering
• 9 to 12 semester hours course work in supporting areas

Supporting areas include mathematics, natural sciences, basic medical sciences, computer sciences, statistics, business, marine science, as well as engineering.

All students pursuing a thesis or project option are required to take a one semester hour course in research integrity as part of their engineering course work requirements.

A maximum of six hours of directed study may be counted toward the degree. A maximum of six hours of thesis may be counted toward the degree.

Students must complete satisfactorily a comprehensive examination. Students failing this examination may try a second time not sooner than 12 weeks after the first attempt. Students failing the second time will be academically dismissed from the program.

The thesis or project candidate must present a satisfactory oral defense of the written report. Should the student present an unsatisfactory defense, a second attempt will be allowed not sooner than 12 weeks after the first attempt. A second unsatisfactory defense will result in dismissal from the program.

An engineering senior at the University of South Alabama who has completed 96 semester hours with a GPA of 3.00 or better may with approval of the Director of Graduate Studies enroll in graduate engineering courses in accordance with Graduate School policies. See Graduate Study For Advanced Undergraduates.

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