The requirements for the MSME and MSEM degree follow those outlined by the Graduate School, with a few additions. For more information visit the degree requirements listed on the Graduate School website. Upon entering the MS program, a student selects an Advisor and in concert with their Advisor, develops a research topic and/or course plan to suit their individual interests and needs.
There are three plans that students may follow in an MS program: Plan A - Thesis Option, Plan B - Report Option, and Plan D - Coursework Option. Students following Plan A or Plan B should establish a thesis or report topic by the end of the first semester of study. The MS Plan A or Plan B degree program can generally be completed in 1-2 years and culminates in the preparation and oral defense of a thesis or report. The MS Plan D can be completed in one year and allows flexibility for an industrial internship. The specific course requirements for the MS degree options are summarized in the table below.
| MS Degree Requirements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
* Courses < 4000 level will not be counted * Grades < B (3.0) will not be counted | ||||
| Plan A Thesis Option | Plan B Report Option | Plan D Course Work (Signature) Option | ||
Total Credits | 30 | |||
Minimum | 20 | 24 | 30 | |
Minimum | 6 | 2 | 0 | |
Minimum | 12 | 12 | 18 | |
Minimum | none explicitly required | none explicitly required | 15 | |
EM oriented course credits | 9 required for MSEM degree | |||
Math course credits | 6 required for MSEM degree 3 required for MSME degree | |||
Graduate Seminar | Must be taken twice for a total of 2 credits -- counts toward coursework requirement | |||
It is the student’s responsibility to complete the Graduate School ‘M’ forms as they become due. All work required for the Master of Science degree must be completed within five calendar years of the first enrollment in the degree program.
For those students pursuing the coursework only Signature Master’s degree (Plan D) the ME-EM Director of Graduate Studies may serve as the student’s permanent Advisor.
Tuition for MS students who have completed all required courses and the required number of credits for their degree will be reduced to the full-time research-only level. These students will be charged a tuition rate equal to 1/3 of the normal graduate tuition rate. The M4 should be submitted at this time to notify the Department of the change in status and to ensure they have fulfilled all of the degree requirements.
All students must be continuously enrolled for a minimum of 1 credit whether on or off-campus. Off-campus students will not be charged fees.
Students who must take a "time-out" due to extenuating circumstances or lack of available online courses (for students in online or blended degree programs) need to register for a no-fee section of UN5951.
Forms and Requirements for Master's students
MS students may choose one of three different plans to complete their degrees:
- Plan A—Thesis option. Students complete coursework and a thesis.
- Plan B—Report option. Students complete coursework and a report.
- Plan D—Coursework only option.
Each plan has different requirements, as summarized in the table below. All required forms (marked with an "X") are due for signature by the Director of Graduate Studies during the semester indicated in the form description. The forms will then be forwarded to the Graduate School.
| Thesis Option | Report Option | Course Work Option | MBA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official, final transcript from previous college, if it is not Michigan Tech. If this does not include proof-of-degree, then an official proof of final degree is also required. Before arrival on campus/First semester | X | X | X | X |
| Responsible Conduct for Research Training Orientation | X | X | X | X |
| Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights Agreement First semester | X | X | X | X |
| Advisor and Committee Recommendation Form Second semester | X | X | X | |
| Advanced Responsible Conduct for Research Training Second or third academic semester (summers are not counted) | Required for all students who begin a degree in spring 2013 or later Required for externally funded students who began before spring 2013 | |||
| Degree Schedule Semester prior to oral exam OR final semester OR semester prior to moving to full-time research-only mode | X | X | X | X |
| Petition to Enter Full-Time Research-Only Mode (optional - Thesis and Report options only) Due one week prior to the first day of classes in the semester student plans to enter research only mode. | ||||
| Commencement Application Form Ten weeks prior to desired commencement ceremony if student wishes to participate in commencement (see "Deadlines") | ||||
| Draft of thesis or report to Graduate School and committee Two weeks before oral exam | X | X | ||
| Pre-defense Form Two weeks before oral exam. | X | X | ||
| Report on Final Oral Examination Immediately after oral examination | X | X | ||
| TDR-Review Students do not submit this form. It is completed by Graduate School staff and returned to students after review of draft and final theses. | ||||
| Verification of Final Degree Requirements Prior to the end of final exam week of final semester | X | X | ||
| Approval of a Final Dissertation, Thesis, or Report No more than one week before submitting a final thesis or report | X | X | ||
| Final PDF of thesis or report to Graduate School See Deadlines for due dates in upcoming semesters | X | X | ||
| Degree Completion Form See Deadlines for due dates in upcoming semesters | X | X | X | X |
| Online Michigan Tech questionnaire for exiting graduate students After degree requirements are complete. See Deadlines for due dates in upcoming semesters. | ||||
| Return University keys to Public Safety, return all library books, and pay any outstanding fees before leaving campus. | ||||
Copyright, Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
As the University continues to acquire research grants and the graduate student population swells, academic integrity becomes essential. Training sessions to assist faculty, staff, and students are currently available. Additional sessions are being developed. Several presentations have taken place and the links are provided below:
- Streaming video for the presentation, "Submission of a Thesis or Dissertation" is now online.
- "Responsible Conduct for Research: An overview" discusses various topics including fabrication of data, falsification of data, good practices for recording data, issues of data ownership and research on human subjects.