Course Requirements for MS Mechanical Engineering

In addition to the Graduate School requirements stated in the Graduate School Catalog, all M.S. students in the Mechanical Engineering program are required to take a minimum of four (4) Mechanical Engineering focused courses (if Thesis-Option) or seven (7) courses if Coursework-Only. Overall, at least 21 credits at the 600-level are required. All MS-Thesis and PhD students must also register for the ME Graduate Seminar Course: MIE 689 (not required of coursework-only students). Note that all Accelerated Master’s Mechanical Engineering students are Coursework-Only. Please see the List of Courses section at the end of this Handbook for Mechanical Engineering focused courses. Department Advisors Nauman Tazeem and Kevin Romani will send out a list of graduate courses offered in the upcoming semester during each registration advising period. These lists will clearly indicate which courses are Mechanical Engineering focused.

Note Many students use earn a Graduate Certificate with their three allowable non-ME focused courses. See Graduate Certificate Options. If you do not wish to earn a certificate, that is fine, but your final three courses must be under a STEM topic at the graduate level. If a course you are interested in is outside of MIE and not listed at the end of the Handbook, please send the course title and description to the Graduate Program Director for approval.

TA positions in the MIE department are limited in number, and are generally reserved for PhD students. RA positions are decided by individual faculty based on their lab needs, and if you find on-going research that is a good match for your interests and expertise, you are welcome to reach out to see if they have openings. Please refer to Riccio College of Engineering and Graduate School assistantship and externship policies for additional guidelines

Course Requirements for MS in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

The MS in IEOR is a 30-credit program. The coursework only option consists of 10 courses, whereas the thesis option requires 7 courses and a 9-credit thesis. In addition to the Graduate School requirements stated in the Graduate School catalog, all master’s students in the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research program are required to take the following seven courses:

Mandatory Courses

• MIE 620 Linear Programming
• MIE 622 Predictive Analytics and Statistical Learning
• MIE 684 Stochastic Processes in Industrial Engineering

Human Factors Track (Choose One)

• MIE 627 Research Methods
• MIE 657 Human Factors Design Engineering

Decision Making Track (Choose One)

• MIE 654 or 754 MIE 686X Economic Decision Making for Engineers
• Multicriteria Decision Making and Analysis

Additional Courses (Choose Two)

Optimization Track

• MIE 532 Network Optimization
• MIE 624 Machine Learning for Dynamic Decision-Making
• MIE 724 Non-Linear Programming
• SCH-MGMT 752 Business Process Optimization
• SCH-MGMT 797AE Stochastic Models

Human Factors Track

• MIE 627 Research Methods
• MIE 657 Human Factors Design Engineering

Production Track

• MIE 578 Supply Chain Logistics
• MIE 651 Advanced Production Planning
• MIE 553/653 Industrial Automation
• MIE 659 Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
• MIE 697Q Logistics
• SCH-MGMT 758 Supply Chain Management

Decision Making Track

• MIE 654 or 754 Economic Decision Making for Engineers
• MIE 686X Multicriteria Decision Making and Analysis

Analytics Track

• MIE 621 Descriptive Analytics
• MIE 623 Prescriptive Analytics
• MIE 524/624 Machine Learning for Dynamic Decision-Making
• MIE 659 Intelligent Manufacturing Systems

All entering MS students who are planning to enroll in the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research program are expected to have successfully completed courses in linear algebra and probability and statistics. Entering MS students who have not taken a course at the undergraduate level covering these topics must get permission from the instructor of a required course to enroll. The instructor, at his or her discretion, may require that the student take a pre-requisite (e.g., Linear Algebra may be required as a pre-requisite for Linear Programming). This pre-requisite will not count for credit towards the graduate program requirements if it is an undergraduate level course. Those students who need make up courses should expect to take at least one additional semester to complete their graduate degree.

The remaining elective courses can be chosen from that list as well as a large array of courses offered across the university in consultation with a program advisor. Coursework only students can work on independent studies with faculty for up to 6 credits towards the MS IEOR degree. Finally, to complete all Graduate School and departmental requirements, at least 21 credits must be within the MIE Department and at least 21 credits (i.e., either 7 courses or thesis plus 4 courses) must be at the 600 level or higher. Pass/fail credits will not count towards degree completion.

Note TA positions in the MIE department are limited in number, and are generally reserved for PhD students. RA positions are decided by individual faculty based on their lab needs, and if you find on-going research that is a good match for your interests and expertise, you are welcome to reach out to see if they have openings. Please refer to Riccio College of Engineering and Graduate School assistantship and externship policies for additional guidelines

Course Requirements for a MS in Engineering Management

The MS in Engineering Management is a 30-credit, 10-course program. In addition to the Graduate School requirements stated in the Graduate School Catalog, all M.S. in Engineering Management students are required to take the following courses:

Mandatory Courses

• MIE 622 Predictive Analytics and Statistical Learning
• MIE 645 Project Budgeting and Finance for Engineers
• MIE 670 Technical Project Management

Management Depth (Choose 2 courses at minimum)

• MIE 664 Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship
• MIE 671 Product Management
• MIE 672 Strategy-Driven Engineering Innovation
• SCH-MGMT 636 Negotiations Theory and Practice
• SCH-MGMT 783 / MIE 585 Business Law / Engineering Law and Ethics

Engineering/Analytics Depth (Choose 3 courses at minimum)

• MIE 532 Network Optimization *currently not offered*
• MIE 578 Supply Chain Logistics
• MIE 621 Descriptive Analytics
• MIE 623 Prescriptive Analytics
• MIE 624 Machine Learning for Dynamic Decision-Making
• MIE 646 Introduction to Systems Engineering
• MIE 550/650 Vehicle Automation
• MIE 651 Advanced Production Planning
• MIE 654 Economic Decision Making I
• MIE 657 Human Factors Design Engineering
• MIE 659 Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
• MIE 686X Multicriteria Decision Making and Decision Analysis
• MIE 690D Deep Learning for Engineering Application
• MIE 754 Economic Decision Making II
• SCH-MGMT 602 Database Management for Analytics

Electives (6 total credits)

• Additional courses from the lists above
• Independent study guided by faculty advisor (up to 6 credits)
• Courses at the 500-level or higher within the student’s STEM field with advisor’s approval
• or any of the following classes:

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Courses

• MIE 553/653 Industrial Automation
• MIE 556 Augmented and Virtual Reality Design
• MIE 565 Operations Research in Healthcare
• MIE 573 Engineering Windpower Systems
• MIE 620 Linear Programming
• MIE 627 Research Methods
• MIE 684 Stochastic Processes
• MIE 724 Non-Linear Programming

Isenberg School of Management Courses

• SCH-MGMT 601 Data Management for Business Leaders
• SCH-MGMT 637 Analysis for General Managers
• SCH-MGMT 650 Statistics for Business
• SCH-MGMT 655 Machine Learning for Analytics
• SCH-MGMT 660 Marketing Strategy
• SCH-MGMT 663 Supply Chain Analytics
• SCH-MGMT 670 Operations Management
• SCH-MGMT 680 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
• SCH-MGMT 752 Business Process Optimization
• SCH-MGMT 758 Supply Chain Management

To complete the full program requirements, students must take at least five program courses from the MIE Department, and no more than three courses outside MIE and ISOM. Finally, the department requires 21 credits at the 600 level or higher and will not count any pass/fail credits towards the degree. Please contact Mr. Nauman Tazeem, Assistant Director of the MS-EM Program, with any questions.

TA positions in the MIE department are limited in number, and are generally reserved for PhD students. RA positions are decided by individual faculty based on their lab needs, and if you find on-going research that is a good match for your interests and expertise, you are welcome to reach out to see if they have openings. Please refer to Riccio College of Engineering and Graduate School assistantship and externship policies for additional guidelines.

Graduate Certificate Options within MSEM >>

Within the 30 credits of MSEM studies, students can get certificate credentials along the way by choosing the appropriate sets of courses.

Course Requirements for MS in Manufacturing Engineering

The MS in Manufacturing Engineering is a 30-credit, 10-course coursework only program. In addition to the Graduate School requirements stated in the Graduate School Catalog, all M.S. Manufacturing Engineering students are required to take the following courses:

Core Courses

(12 credits; Choose at least one course from each of the three categories and at least four total courses)

Industrial Engineering

• MIE 578 Supply Chain Logistics
• MIE 651 Advanced Production Planning
• MIE 657 Human Factors Engineering

Materials Science & Engineering

• MIE 608 Adv. Polymer Manufacturing
• MIE 611 Advanced Materials Characterization
•  MIE 618 Additive Manufacturing

Industry 4.0

• MIE 553/653 Industrial Automation
• MIE 643 Mechatronics
• MIE 659 Intelligent Manufacturing
• MIE 690STB Industrial 4.0 Technology & Systems

Elective Courses (18 Credits)

Mechatronics

• MIE 615 Robotics
• MIE 640 Introduction to MEMS & Microscience
• MIE 682 Highly Compliant Structures
• MIE 685 Biorobotics

Materials Science & Engineering

• MIE 609 Mechanical Properties of Materials
• MIE 614 Optical Engineering & Photonics

Industrial Engineering

• MIE 556 Augmented and Virtual Reality Design
• MIE 686X Multicriteria Decision Making and Analysis

Engineering Management

• MIE 645 Project Budgeting and Finance for Engineers
• MIE 664 Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship
• MIE 670 Technical Project Management
• MIE 671 Product Management
• MIE 672 Strategy-Driven Engineering Innovation

Data Analytics

• MIE 621 Descriptive Analytics
• MIE 622 Predictive Analytics
• MIE 623 Prescriptive Analytics

Practicum (max 6 credits)

• MIE 696 Independent Study
• MIE 698 Co-op/Practicum

Program Requirements Summary:

• 10 Classes Total (30 CR)
• 600-level (min 7; 21 CR); X first table, 3 second table
• 500-level (max 9 CR of 30 allowed); first table
• Independent Study (600-level; max 6 CR allowed); Optional

Note Students may take more than 12 credits from the core course options and substitute them for elective courses. Manufacturing students may be eligible for either the Project Management and Leadership or Data Analytics Certificates. Graduate Certificate Options within MSEM >>

TA positions in the MIE department are limited in number, and are generally reserved for PhD students. RA positions are decided by individual faculty based on their lab needs, and if you find on-going research that is a good match for your interests and expertise, you are welcome to reach out to see if they have openings. Please refer to Riccio College of Engineering and Graduate School assistantship and externship policies for additional guidelines.

Minimum GPA and Academic Dismissal

Minimum Required GPA

All students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above to graduate.
 

Academic Dismissal

Per the Graduate School Handbook,  “A graduate student who in any two semesters, consecutive or otherwise, has a GPA below 2.8 is subject to academic dismissal upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Director and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.”

Thesis or Coursework Only Options for ME and IEOR

Incoming students may choose one of the two options for earning their Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Master’s of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research: (1) The Thesis option or the (2) Coursework Only option. 

Students must declare which option they are pursuing when applying to UMass. Students are not generally permitted to switch from one option to the other; they may only switch options with the permission of the MIE Graduate Program Director.

Thesis Option for both ME and IEOR

All M.S. students who choose the Thesis Option are required to plan and carry out a research, design, or development thesis (MIE 699) of nine credits, and 21 course credits.

M.S. - Thesis students in Mechanical Engineering must also enroll in the 1-cr 689 Graduate Seminar.

As M.S. - Thesis students conduct research through MIE 699, independent studies do not count towards their remaining 7 courses (21 CR), rather can be taken in addition to coursework/thesis.

MS Thesis Defense and Timeline

Coursework Only Option in IEOR

Coursework Only Option in ME