Academic Requirements

A student in Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering may become a candidate for the Master of Engineering degree if they have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program or have taken sufficient engineering core coursework to meet the minimum requirements specified by ABET.

Students who do not meet this requirement will be candidates for the Master of Science degree.

Supervision

Every entering M.S. graduate student should attend the New Student Orientation, usually given right before or at the beginning of Fall and Spring semester. The Graduate Advisor provides general advisement for all new students upon entering the graduate program.

If the thesis option is chosen, the student must form a supervisory committee no later than the end of the second semester of enrollment. The committee chairman henceforth becomes the student’s advisor. The student should consult the advisor for advice in creating and pursuing a plan of study. The supervisory committee must comprise of at least two members (including the committee chair).

Master’s examination

All Master’s students are required to pass an examination within six months prior to graduation. Students must be appropriately registered in their final term (three credit hours for Fall and Spring semesters and two credit hours for Summer semesters. Students with thesis option must register for three credits of CIS 6971 Master’s Research in the final term. A graduation workshop is held every semester for graduating students to review graduation requirements.

Students with thesis option are examined primarily on their thesis topic. The scope of the thesis will be determined by the student’s supervisory committee. Each student must request that the oral examination be scheduled, in concurrence with the Supervisory Committee Chair. The examination announcement must be posted by the Student Services Center a minimum two weeks prior to the examination. Committee members must be provided a copy of the thesis one week prior to the examination.

Non-thesis option students are given a brief written examination after they have satisfied all course and grade requirements. The exam requires general computer science engineering knowledge and may be administered in conjunction with the Exit Interview. Questions regarding the exam and/or Exit Interview should be directed to a graduate advisor.

Applying to enter the Ph.D. program for CISE master’s students

CISE Master’s students may apply to enter the Ph.D. program. A statement of purpose and three reference letters from CISE graduate faculty are required. The student’s graduate record will be reviewed and evaluated by the admissions committee for entry into the Ph.D. program.

All Master’s-to-Ph.D. decisions will be made in the early spring for the fall semester entry date. All materials should be submitted to the grad admissions officer at the Student Services Center before February 1.

Progress toward the master’s degree

All requirements for the Master’s degree shall be completed within seven years after enrollment. Full-time students are expected to finish their requirements within three years. If a student fails to do this, a decision will be made by the Graduate Affairs Committee as to whether the student should continue in the program. The decision is based on a recommendation by the student’s advisor as well as on each student’s progress towards the completion of the master’s degree.