Consult University Bulletin and Engineering Bulletin Board for More Up-to-date Details.

A.  Classifications of Graduate Status

Classified: One who studies for an advanced degree and meets all engineering graduate admission requirements. Only students in classified status are eligible to earn an M.S. degree.

Conditional: One who meets general admission requirements but must meet certain conditions (usually to remove deficiencies in undergraduate engineering work) before being accepted into the classified status.  A conditional graduate student must have his/her status changed to the classified status at least two semesters prior to graduation.

Unclassified: One who wishes to do post-baccalaureate study but not interested in an advanced degree.

B.  Graduation Requirements

Course Work:

        1.  Required Courses:                                                                     Units

                        ENGR 800  Engineering Communication                         3

                        ENGR 801  Engineering management                              3

                        ENGR 803  Applied Probability and Statistics                 3

                        ENGR 897  Research^*                                                                   3

                        ENGR 898  Thesis^*                                                                          3

        2.  Engineering Electives^**                                                            9-15

        3.  Non-Engineering Electives^**                                                    0- 6

             Minimum Total^***                                                                     30

        *     See Section C, Research and Thesis.

        **    See Engineering bulletin board for recommended electives in your area of interest.

        ***  Only course work taken within 7 years of graduation can be included.

Completion of Written English Proficiency Requirements (see Section D).

C or better grades in all courses and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00.

Completion, successful defense, and submission of thesis work.

Timely filing of all required forms (see Section E).

A registered student during the semester of graduation.

C.  Research and Thesis

            Research and Thesis are generally taken sequentially during the last two semesters of graduate work.  Before registering for Research, discuss possible research topics with an appropriate Engineering professor who would serve as your major professor and thesis committee chair.  You and your major professor will then elect two other qualified persons, at least one must be an engineering professor at SFSU, to serve on the thesis committee.

     ENGR 897 is intended for you to start on the graduate research project.  To register for the course, you must have completed at least 9 units of graduate work.  You must also have an approved research topic before you register for the course. To register for this course, you must complete a "Research Proposal" form (available from the Engineering office), obtain approval signatures from your research (thesis) advisor and the Engineering Graduate Program Coordinator.  The registration number is available only from the Graduate Coordinator.

     ENGR 898 is intended for you to continue your graduate research project and carry it to completion.  To register for the course, you must be a classified graduate student with Graduate Approved Program and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement Forms on file in the Graduate Division Office (see Section D, Paper Work Requirements).  A three-member thesis committee must evaluate and approve your thesis work. At the end, you must submit an acceptable written thesis and successfully defend your research work in a public forum.

D.  Written English Proficiency Requirement

Every graduate student must satisfy two levels of English proficiency requirement:

Level one (entry level) - this can be satisfied by one of the following:

A passing score on GET (Graduate Essay Test, consult Testing Center for dates).  A marginal pass is not considered a pass and you need to take the courses specified in option 2.

OR

A passing grade in SCI 614, CHS 514, or BUS 514.  (These courses should not be taken as CR/NC.)

Level two (exit level) - this is satisfied by the completion of an acceptable written thesis.

 Entry-level English Requirement and Registration Policy:

A graduate student must make an attempt to satisfy the entry-level English requirement during his/her first year at SFSU.  Once a student satisfies the entry-level English requirement, there are no additional restrictions on registration beyond the usual program and course requirements.

A graduate student who does not complete the entry-level English requirement during the first year, must register for an English class from the third semester on until the entry-level requirement is satisfied.

A graduate student is not allowed to register for Thesis (ENGR 898) without first satisfying the entry-level English requirement.

 E.  Paper Work Requirements

            Forms and materials mentioned in this section may be obtained from the Graduate Division, ADM room 254. See the Engineering bulletin board  or the University Web Site, http://www.sfsu.edu/~gadmit, for specific deadline dates.

         For all M.S. degree students:

GAP (Graduate Approved Program): Due the semester before taking the last 6 units.

Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement (Thesis proposal): Due date same as GAP.

Application for Graduate Degree: Due within  the first  two weeks of the graduating semester.

Report of Completion of Specified Graduate Program Requirements (with Abstract attached): Due the 13th week of the graduating semester.  Degree candidates must also submit a master copy of written thesis with original signatures, and a binding fee receipt to the Graduate Division Office.

         Other forms and materials:

To change from a different graduate major/status to engineering classified graduate status: Request for Advancement to Classified Graduate or Credential Standing.

To obtain transfer credits: Request for Graduate Program Transfer Unit Evaluation.  This should be done during your first semester at SFSU.

To change course list submitted in the GAP: Petition for GAP Substitution or Committee Revision.

To take an overload: Request to Exceed Regular Academic Unit Load (over 16 units). Under no circumstances will a post-baccalaureate student be given permission to exceed 18 units.

To take a leave of absence: Application for Planned Educational Leave.  See the University Bulletin for eligibility.

To use human/animal subjects in research: Protocol Approval Form for Human or Animal Subjects.

To waive graduate program regulations: Petition for Waiver of Graduate Program Regulation.

To prepare and submit thesis: Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Theses and Written Creative Works.

         Deadlines:

It is the graduate student’s responsibility to file the proper required documents on time for graduation. The deadlines are posted on the University Web Page:  http://www.sfsu.edu/~gadmit

 F.  Transfer and Open University Credits

            A maximum of 6 units may be granted for any combination of transfer credits and graduate credits taken through open university at SFSU.  These credits also subject to the 7-year time limitation.

 G.   Thesis Submission and Oral Defense Presentation

You need to prepare a flyer and advertise your oral defense presentation a week before the date of the presentation, and post it in Science building as well as Thornton Hall on official bulletin boards.

You should be in contact with your faculty advisor as well your committee members and find out how much time they need to review your thesis.  Make sure that you get your thesis to them when they have this time. Also find out if the committee members desire to see initial drafts of your thesis as well, or  whether  the final draft  is sufficient for their review.  I strongly suggest that you determine this the moment your thesis committee is formed.

During the semester that you defend your thesis you must be registered for 3 units of ENGR898 or ENGR899, even if you have completed the necessary number of units for your degree.

GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A.  Graduates from accredited engineering programs:

University admission requirements:

A minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00 for the last 60 units (3.0/4.0 for international graduates).

A minimum score of 550 on the paper exam or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL is required for graduate applicants whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English.

Engineering requirements:

A minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00 (3.0/4.0 for international students) in upper division major classes.

Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors. (Sent directly to Graduate Coordinator of School of Engineering)

A statement of purpose. (Send directly to Graduate Coordinator of School of Engineering)

  B.    B.  Graduates of non-engineering programs:

            Graduates from non-engineering programs may be admitted as conditional graduate students.  Applicants must have a record well above the university admission requirements stated above and be able to clearly demonstrate their potential in Engineering.  Conditional graduate students may apply for advancement to classified graduate status after removing deficiencies in undergraduate engineering work.  No conditional admissions are issued to international students.

C.  Deadlines for submission of applications & obtaining the necessary forms:

            For applications and deadlines please refer to the SFSU Web Page:    http://www.sfsu.edu/~gadmit