Master of Science in Engineering

The Master of Science (MS) in Engineering opens up a multitude of pathways for working adults with general engineering backgrounds. Four possible concentrations—Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering—present opportunities for higher-level specialization and offer a credential for advancing into a management role. The research-based curriculum further positions students to progress into a Ph.D. program following the completion of their master’s degree or to transition into a more education-leaning or analytical role within the workplace.

About the Master of Science in Engineering

LSU New Orleans (LSU New Orleans) recognizes that many master’s students matriculating through the Graduate School and the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering (COE) already have full-time careers. Earning an advanced degree allows these working professionals to gain new knowledge, acquire additional skills, or move into a position with more responsibilities.

Accommodating a range of students and their diverse goals, the MS in Engineering degree is structured for working engineers seeking to take the next step in their careers. Flexible courses are held on campus after working hours, and students may complete the program on a full- or part-time basis. Students typically complete this master’s degree in engineering in 18 to 24 months.

Many graduate-level engineering students have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a similar field, and the MS in Engineering builds upon this in-demand and easily adaptable foundation. Through core and concentration courses and a research-based project, students gain advanced engineering knowledge in a specialized discipline and further improve their project management and leadership skills.

• Within this framework, Engineering students:
• develop and specify an appropriate physical or system model for a selected problem;
• specify or design an experiment to address a need, including conducting the experiment, analyzing, and synthesizing all subsequent data;
• identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by utilizing mathematical or computational tools and methods; and
• acquire advanced technical knowledge related to a traditional or industry-based engineering discipline.

Master of Science in Engineering Curriculum

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering must decide on their degree’s track: thesis or non-thesis and one of four concentrations. For thesis students, six (6) of all credit hours are devoted to a research-based thesis project. For non-thesis students, three (3) credit hours go toward a master’s project. Review all Thesis and Dissertation Requirements.

All students must complete at least 30 credit hours to earn their degree. Fifteen (15) or more of these credit hours must include 6000-level or higher courses. With their advisor’s approval, students may also complete up to six (6) credit hours outside the COE. To receive a degree, students must fulfill all COE-specific and Graduate School requirements.

Upon admittance or completion of core requirements, students must select one of the following concentrations.

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Concentration

The only program of its type in southeastern Louisiana, the CEE concentration focuses on structural, geotechnical, environmental, hydraulics, water resources, and coastal engineering concepts. Students learn how the laws and principles of science and mechanics apply to the design, modification, construction, and building of structures of all kinds, and how civil engineering both resists and harnesses the forces of nature to improve quality of life.

Review the course structure for the CEE concentration, or read the complete course descriptions in the CEE course catalog.

Electrical Engineering Concentration

Anticipating the needs of well-established energy, defense, communications, and design industries, the Electrical Engineering concentration covers a broad range of topics in signal, image, and data processing; information fusion; target surveillance; optics and optical surveillance; computing and communications; and systems, control, and power.

Review the course structure for the Electrical Engineering concentration, or read the complete course descriptions in the Electrical Engineering course catalog.

Mechanical Engineering Concentration

This concentration prepares students to meet the needs of regional petrochemical, aerospace, manufacturing, and oil industries by employing emerging technologies in the classroom and in research settings. Courses expose students to topics in robotics, dynamics, biomechanics, thermofluids, acoustics, systems and controls, nanotechnology, and solid mechanics.

Review the course structure for the Mechanical Engineering concentration, or read the complete course descriptions in the Mechanical Engineering course catalog.

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) Concentration

The marine industry needs engineers with advanced degrees and offers them high-paying career opportunities. Created to fulfill local demands, the innovative NAME concentration prepares students for engineering-related careers in shipbuilding or offshore industries. Many NAME graduates, in fact, have become naval architects or marine engineers who work across a variety of fields.

Review the course structure for the NAME concentration, or read the complete course descriptions in the NAME course catalog.

Career Outlook for the MS in Engineering Program

The combination of research, experimentation, and specialized coursework angles degree-earners toward project management, quality management, biomedical, higher education, and technical careers across the scope of engineering disciplines. Based on figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is predicted to steadily increase from 2018 through 2028, at a rate of 4–5%. Median salary varies between $80,000 and $100,000, depending upon role and industry. Renewable energy, robotics, oil, and gas extraction are fueling much of the growth.

Here’s a breakdown by discipline:

• Civil engineers, with median annual earnings of $86,640, may find a role in federal or local government, architecture, or construction, in which they plan, design, or oversee projects related to new construction or maintenance of facilities, infrastructure, or waterways.
• Mechanical engineers, earning roughly $87,370 per year, are needed to design, develop, build, and test mechanical sensors and similar devices. Opportunities exist across manufacturing, aerospace, research, transportation, and architecture.
• Electrical engineers, earning $96,640 on average, have opportunities across architecture, energy, manufacturing, research, and oil and gas. Positions generally entail designing, developing, or testing electrical equipment, individual components, or systems.
• Environmental engineers, seeing $87,620 on average per year, are needed to address and find solutions to environmental challenges. As such, the greatest demand exists across urban and regional planning and construction.

How Much Does the MS in Engineering Degree Cost?

The MS in Engineering is based on the same structure as all other Graduate School programs. Tuition on a per-year basis is $18,353 for in-state residents and $22,923 for out-of-state residents. These costs do not include any summer coursework nor any fees.

View a complete breakdown of all additional fees and course costs, and explore graduate student–specific financing options.

Admission Requirements

Candidates interested in applying to the Master of Science in Engineering program need to follow all Graduate School admission requirements . COE additionally has its own admission requirements:

• Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree in a field of engineering from an ABET-accredited or equivalent program.
• Students must have a 2.5 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale for a bachelor's degree, OR 2.75 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework, OR 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale on at least nine hours of graduate course work.

Review the COE’s full list of graduate student admission requirements.

Interested students who did not earn their bachelor’s degree in an engineering-related discipline may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If admitted, these students must complete the department’s prerequisite core courses in math, physics, and general engineering topics or pass the equivalent credit examinations with a “B” grade or higher before selecting their concentration.

Learn More About the Master of Science in Engineering Degree

Take your engineering career in a more specialized, research-focused direction with a Master of Science in Engineering degree from LSU New Orleans. To find out more about the program, fill out a request for information form, or after reviewing all requirements, start filling out an online application.