Non-engineering undergraduate background

Who knows? Maybe you've been an engineer all along.

Recent research shows that 62% of college graduates have jobs that require a degree, but only 27% work in a job that relates to their major. Every day, students with undergraduate degrees elsewhere on the STEM spectrum are exploring engineering as an alternative. 

An M.S. from the Wayne State University College of Engineering opens doors to all sorts of possibilities. Engineers are innovators, leaders and problem solvers. They work in health care, information technology, construction management, manufacturing, law and business. Engineers make significant contributions to the local and global economy as well as a profound difference in the community. 

Graduate students who come from a non-engineering background can earn the same M.S. as those who have a bachelor's in engineering

Questions?  Please contact engineeringgrad@wayne.edu

Do you have an undergraduate degree in chemistry? Physics? Biology? Math? You can potentially earn a graduate degree in the following: 

Alternative Energy Technology

Science degree in physics or physics-related, chemistry or chemistry-related, environment, and biological-chemistry *.

* Coursework varies in biological-chemistry programs; each applicant will be evaluated for eligibility based upon actual coursework completed

Visit AET's website

Biomedical Engineering

UG Degrees Accepted (with prerequisites: Calc I & II, Differential Equations, Physics I&II):

  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Kinesiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Other Life Sciences may be considered but is situational and usually reviewed by the department
  • Biomedical Physics are considered for admission without needing the prerequisites we normally require for non-engineering UG majors

Visit BME's website

Civil and Environmental Engineering

UG Degrees Accepted:

  • All science majors, such as geology, biology, physics and chemistry
  • Urban planning & Environmental Science programs (usually with prerequisites as determined by the department): can be quite variable in terms of the rigor of math and science requirements

Visit CEE's website

Chemical Engineering

Admitted applicants will be advised to reach out to instructors and work on necessary preparations/prerequisites to ensure they can pass the MS courses.

  • BS Chemistry majors
  • Physics and biology
  • Math

Visit CHE's website

Data Science and Business Analytics

  • Any STEM related undergraduate degree
  • Required coursework: Calculus I, Calculus II and Elementary Linear Algebra

Visit DSBA's website

Electric-Drive Vehicle Engineering

Science degree in computer or information technology, physics or physics-related, chemistry or chemistry-related.

Visit EVE's website

Engineering Technology

UG Degrees Accepted:

  • Science degree in computer or information technology,
  • Physics or physics-related, chemistry or chemistry-related.;
  • Science degree in physics or physics-related,
  • Chemistry or chemistry-related,
  • Environment, and
  • Biological-chemistry *
  • Math

* Coursework varies in biological-chemistry programs; each applicant will be evaluated for eligibility based upon actual coursework completed

Visit ET's website

Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

UG Degrees accepted: All science majors, such as geology, physics, chemistry, biology

Students with a strong science (without a declared major like above) and/or environmental science academic background are also eligible.

Visit ESE's website

Industrial and Systems Engineering

The Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing Engineering MS programs welcome applicants from degrees in STEM fields or Business degrees with a strong analytical base.

Visit ISE's website