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  MSMSE Graduate Handbook - Section II

 •  Introduction  •  Section I  •  Section III  •  Appendices  • 

Degree Requirements for the
Master of Science Degree (MS)

Program Administration and Direction

The MSMSE in Manufacturing Systems Engineering is a program housed in the College of Engineering rather than in one of the existing departments because of its highly multidisciplinary nature. It is administered by a Committee appointed by the Dean of Engineering, on recommendations from the Faculty Advisory Committee. The Director of Graduate Studies is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, upon recommendation of the Dean of the College of Engineering; the Dean obtains input from the Faculty Advisory Committee in developing his recommendations. The Committee includes faculty who are active in the teaching of courses in the program. The Committee will also typically consist of one or more members from departments outside the College of Engineering, which by their nature have an affiliation with manufacturing.

A minimum of twenty-four semester hours of course work plus a thesis (Plan A) or thirty-three semester hours including MFS 784 Research Project in Manufacturing Systems Engineering is required. In no case will independent work, used for part of the thesis be counted as part of the twenty-four hours of course work. The thesis must be actively supervised by a member or associate member of the Graduate Faculty. Students pursuing this degree under the dual degree option must meet the same requirements as all other students. MSMSE Faculty

  1. Program Options

    2. The Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering is offered through the Graduate School. There are currently two options approved for fulfilling the requirements for the MS degree:

    1. Plan A (Thesis Plan)

      2. This program provides for study and research leading to the degree of Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. The thesis plan requires twenty-four credit hours of course work and a thesis. Per Graduate School requirements, one-half or more of the coursework must be at the 600 level (graduate credit only) or above. All students will be required to complete four specified core courses (MFS 505, MFS 605, MFS 606, MFS 611). The electives for each student will be developed in conjunction with a faculty adviser to insure that the program provides breadth and depth of content for the student, and meets the specific needs and interests of the student.
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      The coursework consists of the following (see Course Descriptions, excerpted from the University Bulletin):
      Four core courses
        MFS/ME 505 Modeling of Manufacturing
      Processes and Machines       		3 hr  
        MFS/EE 605 Systems for Factory
      Information and Control       		3 hr  
        MGT/MFS 611 Organizational Behavior 3 hr  
      MFS/ME/EE 606 Manufacturing
      Seminar/Project Crs.       		3 hr  
      Manufacturing Specialization Electives 6 hr  
      Other Electives (appropriate courses in Engineering, Computer Science, or Business & Economics) 6 hr  
      Thesis    
      Total 24 hr  

      Recommended Sequence for Plan A (an example)
      Since this is a graduate program, a semester by semester sequence can not be completely defined. Some students will be part-time, and the sequence for full-time students may vary to some degree depending on their individual needs and prerequisites of courses. However, the sequence recommended for a full-time student would be as follows:

      Semester 1
      MFS 505 Modeling of Manufacturing Processes 3 hr  
      MFS 611 Organizational Behavior 3 hr  
      Manufacturing Specialization Elective 1 3 hr

      		 
      Semester 2
      MFS 605 Systems for Factory Information and Control 3 hr  
      Manufacturing Specialization Elective 2 3 hr  
        Elective 1
      		3 hr

      		 
      Semester 3
        MFS 606 Seminar/Project Course 3 hr  
        Elective 2 3 hr  
        Thesis/project
      Students working on their thesis, who have completed all required course work should register for MFS 748 (0 hours) to maintain their status in the university.
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    2. Plan B (Research Project)
      3. The research project option is reserved for students who have significant engineering research or development experience in a manufacturing environment, for which completion of a thesis would be less beneficial than the additional course work involved in Plan B. Approval of the student's advisor and of the DGS is necessary for a student to pursue Plan B.

      The Plan B (research project) requires thirty-three credit hours of course work including an individual project. Per Graduate School requirements, one-half or more of the coursework must be at the 600 level (graduate credit only) or above. All students will be required to complete four specified core courses (MFS 505, MFS 605, MFS 606, MFS 611). The electives for each student will be developed in conjunction with a faculty adviser to insure that the program provides breadth and depth of content for the student, and meets the specific needs and interests of the student. The project class (MFS 784) will be conducted in consultation with the student's advisor.
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      Recommended Sequence for Plan B (an example)
      The coursework sequence consists of the following (see Course Descriptions, excerpted from the University Bulletin):

      Semester 1
      MFS/ME 505 Modeling of Manufacturing
      Processes and Machines       		3 hr spacer
      MGT/MFS 611 Organizational Behavior 3 hr  
      Other Electives (appropriate courses in Engineering,
      Computer Science, or Business & Economics): 2 electives       		6 hr  
           
      Semester 2
      MFS/EE 605 Systems for Factory Information
      and Control       		3 hr  
      MFS/ME/EE 606 Manufacturing Seminar/Project Crs. 3 hr  
      Manufacturing Specialization Electives 3 hr  
      Other Electives (appropriate courses in Engineering,
      Computer Science, or Business & Economics): 2 electives       		3 hr  
       
       
      Semester 3
      Manufacturing Specialization Electives 6 hr  
      Project (MFS 784) 3 hr  
       
      Total 33 hr

    3. Dual Degree
      Recommended Sequence (an example)
      Mechanical Engineering Option
      Electrical Engineering Option

  2. Course Requirements

    1. Transfer of Credits

      2. In some cases a student may transfer up to 9 semester hours credit from another program or university. Consult the Graduate School Bulletin for details.

    2. Program Approval
      3. Each student's Plan of Study must be approved by both the faculty advisor and Director of Graduate Studies.

    3. Deficiencies

      4. A student may not be able to begin immediately a full graduate program leading to the MSMSE degree; it may be necessary for the student to satisfy prerequisites omitted in his/her undergraduate curriculum. Deficiencies are determined by the Director of Graduate Studies. (See Section I.2 and Appendix A)
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    4. Requirements by Numbering

      5. A candidate for the MSMSE degree may credit the following toward degree requirements:

      1. Any 500-, 600-, or 700-level course; and

      2. Any 400G level course offered by a program other than Manufacturing System Engineering.

      In addition, the following conditions apply:


      1. A minimum of half of the required credit hours must be 600- and 700- level courses (those meeting as organized classes). For thesis option this means twelve credit hours.

      2. At least two-thirds of the required credit hours must be in regular courses (excluding MFS 768, 780, 784).

    5. Requirements by Major Area

      6. At least two-thirds of the course work must be in manufacturing-related areas. All courses must be included in the student's Plan of Study.

    6. Grades

      7. The MS degree will be awarded only if the student has attained a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all work taken as a graduate student and on all work carrying graduate credits.

    7. Transfer from Other Degree

      8. Students currently enrolled in other degree programs at the University may be transferred to the MSMSE program with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School. All regulations and procedures stipulated herein shall be applied to such students.

  3. Thesis Requirements

    4. The thesis must be developed under the direction of a member or associate member of the Graduate Faculty. It must be approved by the thesis director (i.e. a faculty advisor), the Director of Graduate Studies, the examining committee, and the Graduate School, and must be in conformity with instructions prepared by the Graduate School entitled, "Instructions for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations." (See Appendix C)
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  4. Final Examination

    5. The student is required to take a final oral examination for the MSMSE degree regardless of the option. This examination is administered by an examining committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation by the Director of Graduate Studies. The committee must consist of at least three members of which the chairman is the student's faculty advisor. The examination is comprehensive and covers the student's entire program including, but not limited to, the thesis.

    The final examination is given no earlier than the beginning of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded and no later than eight days before the last day of classes of that semester. The examination must be declared either pass or failure on a majority basis. In the event of failure, the committee may recommend to the Graduate School the condition under which a second examination may be administered. In so far as it is practicable, the same examination committee gives this examination. A third examination is not permitted.

    Plan A
    The following procedures apply:

    1. Submit an "Application for Degree" to the Graduate School within 30 days of the beginning of the semester in which the student will take the examination.

    2. Submit thesis to the thesis director and the Director of Graduate Studies in draft form.

    3. Complete a Final Examination Recommendation Form (see Appendix D). This form, accompanied by a Thesis Approval form (see Appendix C), must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 2 weeks prior to the anticipated date of the examination.

    4. Submit thesis to the examining committee at least one week prior to the final examination.

    5. Take final examination.

    6. Modify thesis as required by the examining committee.

    7. Submit thesis in final form to the Graduate School (see calendar for exact date). A copy of the thesis should be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies.

    Plan B
    The following procedures apply:

    1. Submit an "Application for Degree" to the Graduate School within 30 days of the beginning of the semester in which the student will take the examination.

    2. Complete a Final Examination Recommendation Form (see Appendix D). This form must be submitted to The Graduate School no later than 2 weeks prior to the anticipated date of the examination.

    3. Submit written project report to examining committee at least one week prior to final examination.

    4. Take final examination. A copy of the project should be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies.
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  5. Submission of Thesis

    6. After the final examination is passed, the final copy of the thesis, with appropriate signatures, is submitted. The Graduate School requires two copies, unbound and on 100% cotton paper. The cost of preparation and duplication of the thesis is normally the responsibility of the student. One copy of the thesis must be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies.

  6. Graduation Fees

    7. There are no graduation fees for MS candidates. However if a thesis is being submitted, a fee for the binding of the thesis must be paid at the Student Billings and Collection Office when the thesis is submitted to the Graduate School.

  7. Residence Credits

    8. An MS MSE student who has completed the formal coursework and who is/is not receiving a graduate assistantship through the Department or University during Fall or Spring Term, with his/her time principally devoted to the MS MSE thesis, is required to register for MFS 748 (0 hours).
Graduate Handbook  

 •  Introduction  •    Section I    •    Section III    •    Appendices    • 

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Last Updated: September 4, 2008