Master of Science (MSE)

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at http://www.fgcu.edu/Provost/accreditation.html

Getting Started

Please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website www.fgcu.edu/graduate or contact Graduate Studies at 239-590-7988 or graduate@fgcu.edu for an application for admission and additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

Admission Requirements

To apply for the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) program, students must submit the documents and test scores noted below:

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Official transcripts from an accredited institution showing completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher, with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
• Baccalaureate degree from a US regionally accredited university or college or foreign equivalent.  Students with non-engineering bachelor’s degrees may have additional course requirements. 
• A statement of objectives, clearly stating the intended concentration (2 pages maximum length).
• Provide three letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s potential for graduate studies in the student’s chosen field of study with at least one letter from an academic reference.
• A current resume.
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores with minimum scores of 145 verbal and 150 quantitative that were taken within the past 5 years.  GRE scores are not required for applicants who obtained Baccalaureate in Engineering within the past 5 years with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. 
• Applicants should be aware that admission into any graduate program is granted on a competitive basis. Applicants meeting minimum requirements may be denied admission based on such factors as program capacity or academic discretion. Likewise, applicants may be considered for admission as an exception if stated admissions criteria are not met.

Additional application requirements for international students: 

• International applicants from countries where English is not the official language are required to submit official English proficiency test scores: TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 80 internet-based; or IELTS exam with a minimum score of 6.5.
• All transcripts and proof of degree must be in English; international applicants must submit original language transcripts and a certified English translation. Documents signed by notary or other public officials with no affiliation to the educational institution issuing the documents will not be accepted.
• For all graduate applicants the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) offers transcript evaluations at no cost that provide U.S degree equivalence of foreign education for FGCU evaluation and admission purposes. The University reserves the right to request transcripts evaluated by one of the credential agencies.  See the Graduate Admissions International Applicant Guide for more information. 

Admission Deadlines

Admissions to the MSE program are processed for the Fall and Spring semesters only.  Visit the Admissions Office website for information on admission deadlines of the University.

Program Requirements for the 2018-2019 Catalog Year

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

• Satisfactorily complete the appropriate Plan of Study. A Plan of Study is a set of courses and a thesis or project activity chosen and completed in a sequence that meets the needs and interests of the individual student and the degree requirements and other stipulations of the University and the College of Engineering. Prior to or immediately upon admission to the program, students should discuss their options with the graduate advisor. There is no requirement for master's students to be full time, nor is there an on-campus service requirement. The Plan of Study must be approved by the graduate advisor and the student's supervisory committee no later than the end of the student's first semester in the program, regardless of credits earned. After this time, modifications must be approved by the supervisory committee.
• Comply with University graduate policies and regulations.
• Satisfy the University's graduate degree requirements.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for all coursework in the program.
• Satisfy all degree requirements within seven (7) years from the time of admission to the program.
• Apply for graduation by the deadline indicated in the University Calendar.
• Provide two (2) signed, bound copies of the student's thesis or capstone project paper, one to the FGCU library and the other to the Engineering Graduate Program Director.
• Each student must have a graduate committee composed of a minimum of three (3) individuals with at least one from approved engineering faculty.

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses (18-21 credits)
   Minimum grade of B in each course
   LAW 5072 Business Law for Engineers and Entrepreneurs (3) [FIU online]
   EGN 5455 Numerical Methods in Engineering (3) [FIU online]
   EGN 6344 Environmental Thermodynamics (3)
   EGN 6457 Research Methods (3)
   EGN 6730 Renewable Sustainable Systems (3)
   EGN 6941 Project (3)  or  EGN 6971 Thesis 1 (3) and EGN 6973 Thesis 2 (3)
   
   
2. Restricted Electives (9-12 credits)*
   The following courses are grouped by area of emphasis.  Minimum grade of B in each course.
   
   Environmental Engineering
   CWR 6537 Contaminant Transport (3)
   CWR 6637 Surface Water Quality Modeling (3)
   ENV 6027 Bioremediation (3)
   ENV 6516 Advanced Treatment Systems (3)
   
   Renewable Energy Engineering
   EAS 6302 Direct Energy Conservation (3)
   EEL 6272 Smart Power Grids (3)
   EEL 6285 Sustainable Energy Sources (3)
   ETP 6515 Biofuels (3)
   
   *Note: Students who elect thesis will take 9 credits; students who elect project will take 12 credits.

Total Credits Required: 30 HRS

Additional Graduation Requirements

• Complied with University graduate policies and regulations. (Graduate Studies)
• Satisfied the University's graduate degree requirements.  (Graduate Studies)
• Satisfactorily completed the appropriate Plan of Study.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for all coursework in the program.
• Satisfy all degree requirements within seven (7) years from the time of admission to the program.
• Apply for graduation by the deadline indicated in the University Calendar.
• Provide two (2) signed, bound copies of the student's thesis or capstone project paper, one to the FGCU library and the other to the Engineering Graduate Program Director.
• Each student must have a graduate committee composed of a minimum of three (3) individuals with at least one from approved engineering faculty.

Plan of Study
A Plan of Study is a set of courses and a thesis or project activity chosen and completed in a sequence that meets the needs and interests of the individual student and the degree requirements and other stipulations of the University and the College of Engineering.  Prior to or immediately upon admission to the program, students should discuss their options with the graduate advisor.  There is no requirement for master's students to be full time, nor is there an on-campus service requirement.  The Plan of Study must be approved by the graduate advisor and the student's supervisory committee no later than the end of the student's first semester in the program, regardless of credits earned.  After this time, modifications must be approved by the supervisory committee.

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes for the MSE program will align with and elevate those of the undergraduate engineering program that were developed to meet ABET accreditation standards, as well as prepare students to be successful in the pursuit of, or maintaining, professional engineering licensure.  The MSE program will also prepare students to continue graduate studies at the doctoral level.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

MSE graduates will be able to:

1. Apply higher level math, science and engineering skills to research      and/or design engineering systems, components, or processes to      meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic,      environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,      manufacturability, and sustainability.
2. Understand the professional and ethical responsibilities associated      with engineering practice and engineering research.
3. Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary      for engineering practice and engineering research.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the program level using appropriate coursework including examinations, assignments and presentations.

Communication Skills

MSE graduates will be able to:

1. Organize and relate ideas coherently in written, oral, and graphic      form.
2. Develop and present consistent arguments to diverse audiences.

Communication skills are assessed at the University, College, and Program levels through oral and written presentations, project reports, and other assignments throughout the curriculum.

Critical Thinking Skills

MSE graduates will be able to:

1. Identify problems and the relevant information needed to solve      them.
2. Analyze and synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
3. Formulate and evaluate appropriate problem-solving strategies.

Critical thinking skills are assessed at the University, College, and Program levels through oral and written presentations, project reports, exams, and other assignments throughout the curriculum.

Information on tuition, fees and estimated total cost of attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar website.

Scholarships and Tuition Waivers

Scholarships and tuition waivers are available to degree-seeking graduate students and can be used for books, tuition, or other expenses. See the tuition support page on the Office of Graduate Studies website for more information.

Financial Aid

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid website for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for full-time students (those enrolled in 9 or more credit hours per semester). Graduate assistantships are competitive and based on a candidate's academic record and relevant experience rather than financial need. Assistants work 20 hours per week for the university teaching and/or conducting directed research. To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, you must: 

• be a U.S. citizen or legal resident,
• meet the admission requirements for the M.S. in Engineering,
• be a new applicant to the M.S. in Engineering,
• not be employed outside of the University during the assistantship award period. 

Application Process:  In the Statement of Objectives you submit as part of your online application to the program, please indicate that you would like to be considered for a graduate assistantship. Include a brief explanation of your academic and research interests. You must submit a completed application by March 15 to be considered for an assistantship.  Applicants usually are notified of the award status by April 15.

Other Types of Financial Aid

Other types of financial aid not listed above may become available. For more information, contact Dr. John Woolschlager, Director of Engineering Graduate Programs at jwoolschlager@fgcu.edu or at (239) 590-1897.