The Plan A 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. All students will be required to complete four specified core courses [MFS 606, MFS 605, MFS 505, MFS 613 (MFS 611, if enrolled prior to Spring 2016)]. The electives for each student will be developed in conjunction with an advisor to insure that the program provides breadth and depth of content for the student, and meets his or her specific needs and interests. Appropriate electives are drawn from areas of Engineering, Computer Science, Business and Economics, or Mathematics. Two electives are designated as Manufacturing Specialization electives.

The Plan B (non-thesis 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. The Plan B requires thirty (30) credit hours of course work and the satisfactory completion of a final examination. All students will be required to 2 complete four specified core courses [MFS 606, MFS 605, MFS 505, MFS 613 (MFS 611, if enrolled prior to Spring 2016)], as well as MFS 784 Research Project in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, nine credit hours of Manufacturing Specialization electives, and nine credit hours of other appropriate electives. Approval of the student’s advisor and of the Director of Graduate Studies is necessary for a student to pursue Plan B.