MS in Engineering

Advance in high demand, multi-disciplinary engineering fields with the technical and leadership skills earned in Oregon Tech’s MS in Engineering.

What You'll Learn

Depending on their interest and career goals students can choose a multidisciplinary MSE, a specialized MSE, or a more classical MSE program. 

The multidisciplinary MSE program is designed as a highly customizable and modular MS engineering degree, which enables students to choose coursework from multiple disciplines to design specialties typically not available in the classical engineering MS degrees.

The flexibility in the MS in Engineering degree ensures a relevant, up-to-date educational experience, and the ability to meet urgent industry needs in multidisciplinary technical fields. The program is designed to provide maximum flexibility while maintaining academic rigor.

MSE Program & Technical Fields

Oregon Tech currently offers a multidisciplinary MS in Engineering degree (MSE) where students take courses in Systems Engineering, Research Methods & Innovation (covering peer-reviewed research, IP fundamentals, and technology commercialization), as well as engineering specialization courses from the various engineering disciplines.

Additionally, students can choose to focus on a particular technical field by completing a specialized MSE degree or a MSE on a classical engineering discipline (MSE in EE).

Graduate Programs Blended/Portland-Metro Online
 Multidisciplinary MSE Programs  
MSE (Multidisciplinary)
MSE in Systems Engineering       ✔
 Engineering Discipline MSE Program  
MSE in Electrical Engineering (MSE in EE)  
 Specialized MSE Programs  
MSE in Power Systems Engineering (jointly offered with MSREE)  

 

The Multidisciplinary MSE and the MSE Systems Engineering programs can be completed fully online. The other MSE programs can be completed partially online but also require attendance to the Oregon Tech Portland-Metro Campus.

Concurrent accelerated BSEE/MSE and BSREE/MSE Program Formats

Candidates interested in earning a bachelor of science in electrical or renewable energy engineering may apply to the accelerated BS/MS program. Both degrees are awarded simultaneously at the completion of the program.

Undergraduate students earning a first bachelor's degree - Students enrolled in undergraduate BSEE or BSREE programs can usually complete both degrees within five years.

Post-baccalaureate students - Students who are interested in the MSE but do not have undergraduate degrees in engineering may wish to consider this accelerated program. Coursework from a first bachelor's degree can often be used to meet BSEE and BSREE requirements, allowing students to focus on the upper-division technical courses that will prepare them for master's-level engineering work.

To apply for the accelerated MSE program, a student must be admitted to the undergraduate BSEE or BSREE program at Oregon Tech.

Admission to the 4+1 & Accelerated BSEE/MSE

Students enrolled in the BSEE or BSEE programs with a record of academic excellence have the option of earning both a BSEE/BSREE and a MS Engineering (MSE) degree with an additional year of study. The MSE is a flexible multidisciplinary master's degree which is highly customizable to adapt to students' interests and industry needs. Students can select between different tracks or specialties, with the possibility of obtaining a more classical or more specialized graduate degree based on the track selected.

The accelerated and 4+1 options provide efficiency by allowing students to start their graduate level coursework in their senior year, and use some of these courses to simultaneously meet degree requirements for both the BS and MS programs. In the accelerated/concurrent program, students are awarded the BS and MS degree concurrently at the end of their fifth year of study. On the other hand, in the 4+1 program, the BS degree is awarded in the fourth year, and the MS degree is awarded in the fifth year. The accelerated option offers the most efficiency in terms of overall credit requirements. To be eligible for the accelerated and 4+1 options, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and apply for admission into the graduate program by the end of Spring term of their junior year. 
 

Students pursuing the accelerated or 4+1 options follow the standard BSEE curriculum for the first three years, start their graduate coursework in their senior year, and complete the MSE requirements during their fifth (graduate) year,

Application FAQs

MSE Application for applicants with a BS in an engineering or related field. 

Applications materials sent directly by the applicant may be emailed, or mailed. Transcripts, transcript evaluations, and test scores must be mailed from the originating agency (e.g., official transcripts must be mailed from the relevant university).

Admission Requirements

  1. Meet Oregon Tech Graduate Admissions Requirements.
    BS degree in engineering, physical science, or related technical field (depending on specialty).
  2. Show evidence of 1) potential for graduate level academic work, 2) work experience or potential for success in industry, and 3) demonstrated interest in selected area of specialty. This evidence is to be provided as part of a Resume (Required), Personal Statement and/or two Reference Evaluations for Graduate Admission.

References can be emailed from the evaluator's professional email account.

Reference (recommendation) letters can be from professors, academic advisors, work supervisors, and mentors. The format is open but they should be focused on assessing the applicant's potential as an engineering student at the graduate level (MS), as well as the professional success or potential for future professional success.

The reference letters should be between 1 and 2 pages long. A maximum of 2 letters will be considered in support of the application. 

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement: 45 credits (12-15 graduate courses; quarter system)
  2. Specialization Credit Requirement: 15 or more (4 to 5 specialization courses) [of the total 45 credits]
  3. Residency Requirement: 30 or more credits at Oregon Tech (on-campus or online)
  4. Completion of Approved Plan of Study:
    • - Defined Specialty (Specified Plan of Study)
    • - Custom Specialty with Advisory Committee Approval (Advisor(s), Program Director, Department Chair)

The MSE Specialties appear on the official transcript. Consequently, the following designations are appropriate:

  • Master of Science in Engineering - Specialty Name (e.g., Master of Science in Engineering - Systems Engineering),
  • M.S. Engineering - Specialty Name, or
  • M.S.E. Specialty name.

As an example, in the case of students completing the Systems Engineering MSE Program, the appropriate degree designations include:

- M.S. in Engineering - Systems Engineering
- M.S. Engineering - Systems Engineering
- M.S.E. Systems Engineering
- MSE in Systems Engineering

Similarly, students completing the other MSE programs can use the following designations:
- MSE in Electrical Engineering
- MSE in Embedded Systems Engineering
- MSE in Power Systems Engineering

The MSE and MS degrees differ mainly in name. The MSE (Master of Science in Engineering) designation is used to emphasize the engineering nature of the graduate program and the focus on engineering design.

In some universities (e.g., University of Michigan) the MSE in Electrical Engineering (MSE in EE) requires an accredited BSEE degree for admission, while the MS in EE does not. Similarly, at Oregon Tech, admission to the MSE in Electrical Engineering is restricted to graduates from an accredited BSEE program (ABET accredited BSEE in the US or accredited BSEE for international applicants).

While the MSE in EE requires a BSEE undergraduate degree, admission to the multidisciplinary MSE Programs (General MSE or MSE in Systems Engineering) as well as the Specialized MSE Programs is possible with other undergraduate degrees in engineering, technical fields, and hard sciences (e.g., BS in Physics).

You can find information regarding tuition costs, scholarships, and financial aid on the Oregon Tech website.

This page includes an online Tuition and Fees calculator. Make sure you select the right campus (Wilsonville), class standing (Graduate), credit hours per quarter, and under Special Major, select the option “Engineering & Technology Major". The calculator will provide you with estimated per quarter costs (tuition, fees, and other expenses). For example, if you are completing 9-12 credits per term (approx. 3 courses), your per quarter tuition + fees expenses will be between $4,605 and $6,103.

The total tuition + fees of the program based on 45 credits would be around $22,914. This is based on the current (2017-18) tuition rates and fees, assuming no graduate assistantships, scholarships, or other financial aid.

There are a number of Teaching & Graduate Assistantships (TA/GAs) available that provide tuition remission. All MSE applications of full-time students are automatically considered for the TA/GAs. No additional application is necessary. 

There are a number of Teaching & Graduate Assistantships (TA/GAs) available. TA/GAs receive tuition remission and/or a stipend. 

All MSE applications from full-time students are automatically considered for the TA/GAs. No additional TA/GA application is necessary. The teaching assistantships are awarded based on the academic record and background of the MSE applicant based on departmental needs. Since TA/GAs can only be considered once the full MSE application is completed and evaluated by the MSE Admission Committee, we discourage prospective applicants to contact individual faculty regarding TA/GAs before receiving the admission decision letter. 

 

Master of Science
Master of Science

Careers

The MSE program allows you to specialize in a number of different career paths and industries. By applying the valuable knowledge and leadership skills you gain in the classroom, you can qualify for rewarding, high salary roles in your career. Career paths that you may be eligible for include:

Example career Paths you may be eligible for after completing a discipline in the MSE program:

Systems Engineering

  • Systems Engineer
  • Product Engineer
  • Project Engineering
  • Technical Product Manager
  • Senior Engineer - Systems
  • System Integration Engineer
  • Engineering Technical Lead

Flexible and Modular Graduate Degree

The multidisciplinary MSE program allows students to choose coursework from multiple disciplines such as Systems Engineering. This flexibility ensures a relevant, up-to-date educational experience, and the ability to meet urgent industry needs in multidisciplinary technical fields.

Specialized MSE programs have a more defined curriculum map. For course and curriculum details for the various MSE programs, please refer to the MSE Presentation and the Catalog for course descriptions. 

MSE Programs & Focus Areas

  • Systems Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Power Systems Engineering

 

For more information, visit our: 
     Course Catalog.