While students may enroll in the graduate program upon admission with either full or conditional standing, they must attain full graduate status, and be in good standing academically to graduate with the MSE or MS degree.

Continuous Enrollment
Academic Loads
Academic Requirements
Transfer and Transient Credit
Graduation Requirements
Optional Thesis
Thesis Advisory Committee
Application for Graduation and Degree

Continuous Enrollment
Students enrolled in graduate degree programs should make consistent progress toward their degree in order to complete the program according to the requirements under which they enrolled. Unless the student maintains continuous matriculation, the school may require that the student meet the degree requirements in force at the time of his or her last readmission. When engaged in a thesis, the student must officially register for at least one course every term (not including summer term), except that one term may be missed with prior approval of the Graduate Committee. All work submitted for degree credit must be completed within seven consecutive calendar years. (Back to Top)

Academic Loads
Most graduate students in the School of Engineering are part-time students. To qualify for full-time status, a graduate student must schedule at least nine hours each term (summer term excepted). For financial aid purposes, graduate loads are: full time, 9 or more credits; three-quarter time, 6-8 credits; half time, 4-5 credits; quarter time 1-3 credits. (Back to Top)

Academic Requirements
Graduate students are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Students in the integrated bachelor of science in engineering and master of science in engineering programs must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on all coursework which applies toward the master of science in engineering degree. Any student earning a grade lower than a "B'' will receive a warning. A student earning a second grade lower than a "B'' will be placed on academic probation. The student will be informed of requirements for retaining good academic standing. Failure to meet the requirements will result in the student being dismissed from the program. An S/U grade does not affect the GPA. No credit is awarded for any course in which a grade below "C" is earned. No more than two grades of "C" or "C+" in any combination may be applied toward a graduate degree. (Back to Top)

Transfer and Transient Credit
Under certain circumstances, students may receive transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken elsewhere. The student must have his or her previous institution supply an official transcript to the Graduate Programs Division for this evaluation. Upon recommendation of the student's graduate advisor, and approval of the program director, transfer credit may be awarded for courses of acceptable quality which form a logical part of the student's graduate program. Such credit will be limited to six semester hours, and may substitute for no more than two courses.

Students enrolled in the Mercer School of Engineering graduate program who wish to attend graduate classes at another institution, and to transfer credit back to their graduate program here, should receive permission to take transient courses prior to enrolling at another institution. Otherwise, courses taken elsewhere may not count toward their Mercer degrees. Authority to take transient course work is granted through the dean's office. The maximum number of transfer/transient credit may not exceed the University guidelines as specified in the "Graduate Studies'' section of this bulletin. (Back to Top)

Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work and a minimum of 18 hours in discipline 12 of which must be at the 600 level. Students must also complete a minimum of 18 hours at the 600 level. An optional thesis or minor is also available. Specific course work requirements for graduation with the Master of Science and Master of Science in Engineering degree are established by the departments offering the program. The following general requirements are common to all programs. (Back to Top)

Optional Thesis
Students electing to complete a thesis must complete a minimum of 24 hours of course work and a minimum of 6 hours of research including a formal master’s thesis. The purpose of the thesis is to further the educational development of the student by requiring him or her to plan, conduct, and report an organized and systematic study which makes a contribution to the student’s field. The thesis must be directed by a fellow of the graduate faculty. A maximum of 6 hours of research may be counted toward the degree. Only grades of satisfactory or unsatisfactory will be assigned. Each student will work with a faculty advisor to develop a plan for the research that will satisfy the departmental requirements for the degree. A narrative description of the plan, approved by the faculty advisor, must be submitted to the program director during the academic term preceding the initiation of work on the research.

Students may do research “in absentia” provided:

1. They have gained the written approval of their research committee and their department chair.
2. They conform to the continuous enrollment guidelines. Payment of fees is the responsibility of the student regardless of sponsorship by his or her employer. (Back to Top)

Thesis Advisory Committee
A thesis advisory committee is appointed by the program director to each graduate student electing the thesis option. The committee has oversight responsibility for the student's research. The committee shall meet all the following requirements:

1. The committee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom must be from outside the home department.
2. A majority of the committee shall be full-time faculty of the School of Engineering and full members of the Graduate Faculty.
3. The committee chairperson appointment shall be a fellow of the graduate faculty.
4. Individuals with relevant expertise who are not full-time members of the faculty may serve as members of the committee. (Back to Top)

Application for Graduation and Degree
Students who expect to qualify for degrees must file a graduation application with the Office of the Registrar by the dates specified in the University Calendar. The program director normally recommends to the Registrar the awarding of the Master's degree to any candidate who:

1. has satisfied the requirements of the School of Engineering, and of the major department, with respect to course work and academic performance;
2. has an overall grade point average of at least 3.0;
3. has successfully completed the oral defense of any required thesis;
4. has received the final approval of any thesis from the appropriate review bodies;
5. has submitted three unbound copies of any thesis with an abstract of not more than 300 words, certified for accuracy and proper format by the faculty advisor;
6. will have completed all work submitted to satisfy the degree requirements within a period of not more than seven consecutive calendar years;
7. is, at the time, a registered student in good standing. (Back to Top)