Master of Science in engineering technology

The master's degree in engineering technology (MSET) is designed to provide graduate education to engineering technology baccalaureate degree holders and to prepare them for performing more sophisticated and independent tasks in a technical workplace. Graduates of this program have been employed in such areas as manufacturing engineering, production engineering, maintenance, marketing, quality control, product testing, field engineering, design, technical supervision, and more. 

• Program objective
• Admissions
• Conditional admission
• Plan of work
• Core requirements
• Flexibility
• Guidelines for additional MSET credits
• Master's project

Program objective

• To provide faculty and students with an environment that is conducive to carrying out cutting-edge applied research and excellence in teaching.
• To produce graduate engineering technologists at the MS level who have the analytical, computational and communication skills to practice in the profession of engineering technology at an advanced level.
• To provide opportunities to the students at the MS level to develop their research and problem solving skills that would enable them to function competently in, and ultimately lead, a project team while working in a private or government institution.
• To instill in the graduate students a keen sense of professionalism with a commitment to the highest standards of ethical principles and pursuit of excellence in their careers.

Admissions

The MSET degree program is designed to provide a graduate-level education opportunity to those who have earned a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in a related discipline from any college or university of recognized standing. Admission to the MSET program requires admission to Wayne State University as a graduate student. A 3.0 GPA (B average) is required in the undergraduate or upper division (junior and senior year) coursework for admission.

Applicants must provide:

• A copy of their transcripts
• A qualifying TOEFL or IELTS score, if applicable
• All international applicants must submit an official WES evaluation.

Conditional admission

Applicants who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement but fall within the Graduate School's qualified admission span of 2.2-2.9 may be admitted on a conditional status. Immediately upon successful completion of two graduate level courses with a grade of B or better, these applicants must request, in writing, a change to regular status. If undergraduate courses are required as prerequisites to graduate-level work in any discipline or area, these must be included in the student's program in addition to graduate level courses.

The master's degree is offered by this department under the following options:

• Plan B: A minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate level (5000 and above) course work, including a four- to six-credit master's project (ET7999) 
• Plan C: A minimum of 30 credits of graduate level (5000 and above) course work.

Plan of work

Preliminary Plan of Work

A preliminary plan of study should accompany the application. It is intended to ensure that the university can meet the applicant's individual educational needs within the limits of the program. (The MSET program advisor will help potential students prepare the initial plan.)

Finalized Plan of Work

Students are required to submit a finalized Plan of Work that includes:

• A statement of objectives, i.e., the educational aims of the student courses, both completed and remaining.
• For students choosing "Plan B" The plan must include a master's project topic appropriate to the student's educational objectives

Core requirements

All MSET students must complete the core requirement, ET7430. A minimum grade of 'B' is required in this core course, and the grade of 'F' grade is not acceptable in any course.

Flexibility

One great feature of the MSET program at WSU, is that it is extremely flexible. Students can tailor their plans to fit professional goals by choosing which master's level classes will be included in their plans.

Guidelines for additional MSET credits 

• Of the required credits, 18 credits must be in Division of Engineering Technology courses.
• A maximum of eight transfer credits may be allowed for graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions, if they are appropriate to the student's plan of study. 
• Students may choose to take graduate level classes from other departments in the College of Engineering. (Departmental permission and prerequisites may apply.)
• Graduate courses completed at Wayne State as a nonmatriculated graduate student (up to eight credits) may be transferred toward the degree if they are applicable to the program. The minimum completion period for the program is estimated to be three semesters.

Master's project

The master's project emphasizes integration and application of knowledge to performing sophisticated tasks in practical industrial problems. Students in the MSET program must take a minimum four credits of master's project, although a greater number of credits may be taken for a project of broader scope. However, no more than six project credits can be counted toward the degree. Prior approval must be obtained before registering for the project. Project research can be conducted at Wayne State or at industrial sites. Students are required to submit a formal written report of the master's project in an acceptable master's thesis format, and will be examined orally on its content. The student will also be examined in the chosen area of specialization and in general aspects of engineering technology.