SDSU's College of Engineering has prepared hundreds of graduates for careers in management and/or research and development with its Master of Science in Engineering degree.  The MS degree is a recognized credential that can open new doors of opportunity for professional advancement by engineers.  It should be considered a necessity for those pursuing a career in R&D and is a requirement for admission into most engineering doctoral programs.  Most full-time students complete the degree in 2 years.

The College of Engineering offers the MS in Engineering degree with emphases in the following classical engineering disciplines:

• Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering


• Civil and Environmental Engineering


• Computer Science


• Electrical Engineering


• Mechanical Engineering


• Physics

Now Available On-Line

As announced on our Graduate Degrees main page, all of the College of Engineering's M.S. degrees are available by distance delivery.  For additional information contact the department of the specific emphasis discipline on our main College of Engineering page.

Students may select between Thesis (Option A), Research or Design Paper (Option B), or coursework only (Option C).  Not all engineering programs offer Option C.  All Options require passing an oral examination and Option C also requires passing a written examination.  The best choice for Option is made when a student consults with his or her Graduate Coordinator or Department Head to discuss professional goals following completion of the degree.  For those students seeking to continue their education in an engineering doctoral program, the Thesis option better prepares a student for the rigors of doctoral research and the dissertation. 

An interested student applies for admission into the MS in Engineering program through the College of Engineering program he or she chooses as the area of emphasis.  For example, a student seeking the MS in Engineering degree with emphasis in Electrical Engineering, will apply to the Graduate School for admission and his/her application will be considered for approval by the Graduate Coordinator for Electrical Engineering.  If accepted into the program, the student is considered an Electrical Engineering graduate student.  Students must follow the graduate program guidelines of the department from which they choose an emphasis.

The College of Engineering has active research in numerous areas that support graduate student research.  Information on specific research topics and student opportunities can be determined by viewing the web site for the relevant academic department.