Graduate

Prospective Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) Students 

MSE program is an interdisciplinary program that provides a platform for those students who are interested in learning subjects that cross boundaries between traditional engineering disciplines. Students who are interested in obtaining a MS degree in a specific engineering discipline (such as MS in Computer Engineering or MS in Civil Engineering) should visit the program's website for information. 

Requirements for Admission to MSE with Classified Standing

Students seeking admission to MS Engineering programs must meet the general university requirements for admission as outlined in this page: General Admission information. Applicants who meet the following requirements beyond university requirements will be considered for admission into the MSE program.  

• A student who possesses a BS degree in an engineering field from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 2.75 or better in the last 60 units of the student’s undergraduate studies. 
• A student whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must obtain a score of 21 or higher in the writing section of the TOFEL iBT test (or 7 for IELTS test). 

Requirements for Admission to MSE with Conditionally Classified Standing

Applicants who meet the following requirements beyond university requirements will be considered for admission to conditionally classified standing in the MSE program.  

• A student who possesses a BS degree in a STEM field.
• A student who does not meet the TOFEL or IELTS writing requirement as stated above but otherwise is eligible for admission to MSE with classified standing..
• A student who possesses a non-STEM baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of 2.75 or better in the last 60 units of the student’s undergraduate studies and has earned a GPA above 3.0 from four college-level courses, one in each of the following four areas:  physics, calculus, statistics, and computer programing. 

Students with conditionally classified standing will take one or more prerequisite courses based on their evaluation by the MSE Graduate Advisor. 

MSE Application Deadline  

• Domestic applications.  (see 'Engineering' )
• International applications.  (see 'Engineering' )

Information Regarding Graduate studies at SJSU

Following web sites contain important information regarding graduate studies at SJSU.

• Information for newly admitted graduate students
• Admitted international students
• SJSU College of Graduate Studies
• Financial matters

FAQ from prospective MSE students

• What are the admission requirements to the MS Engineering program?
  • The requirements for MSE program is explained on this page above. Please visit the university's graduate requirements. You must first meet the university requirement before your application is considered by the department.  
• I am a former SJSU graduate student. I wish to re-enroll and change my program to MSE. What do I need to do? 
  • You should follow the procedures for re-admission. If you were disqualified and wish to be reinstated into IDE, you should follow the steps as described on this Reinstatement and Readmission page. You can also make an appointment with an IDE advisor to discuss your plan. 
• Is GRE required for admission to MSE?
  • No.
• I am an international student.   Do I need to take an English Language Proficiency Exam? 
  • Most likely.  See SJSU Requirements page for detail.  
• I have a BS in Physics (or any other science major).  Am I eligible for admission to MSE program?
  • Yes, see detail in the section “Requirements for Admission to MSE with Conditionally Classified Standing” above.
• I have a BA in Philosophy (or any other non-engineering or non-science major).  Am I eligible for admission to MSE program?
  • Yes, see detail in the section “Requirements for Admission to MSE with Conditionally Classified Standing” above.
• I am an international student. Would I be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and/or Optional Practical Training (OPT) after I graduated from MSE program?
  • Yes.
• I checked graduate courses offered by MSE (ENGR2xx) and saw only a few and none of the course is in my area of interet.  
  • MSE students are required to take 4 ENGR courses (ENGR201, ENGR202, ENGR295A, and ENGR195B) and 6 elective courses.   These 6 elective courses can be from MSE (e.g. ENGR297D) but more often, they are from other departments (e.g., EE2xx, CmpE2xx, or ME2xx). 
• I like to focus my MS study in Mechanical Engineering (or any one of the ‘traditional’ engineering programs). Is MSE the right program for me?
  • No. You should apply for admission to the ‘Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering’ (MSME) program, not the MS Engineering (MSE) program. MSE program is a platform that offers the opportunity for students to take classes from other engineering programs (including Mechanical Engineering). SJSU College of Engineering offers many MS programs.  MSE is one of them. If you are interested in any specific traditional engineering program, you should apply admission to that program.
• I understand that MSE students are able to take classes from other departments. Can I take all my classes from Computer Engineering department (or another one department)?  
  • No, you can’t. MSE program requires 10 courses including 6 electives courses. Among the 6 elective courses, MSE students can take up to 3 courses from the same department.  
• My career goal is in the area of robotics. For that, I plan to take some classes from Electrical and some from Mechanical engineering department. Will my degree be MS in Robotics or MS in Electrical and Mechanical engineering?
  • You can certainly take elective courses from EE and ME.  However, ‘MS Engineering’ is the name of the degree on the diploma regardless your focus area. 
• How long will it take me to complete the MSE program?
  • If you take full load, 9 units (3 courses) per semester, you can complete the program in 2 years.   
• Is it possible to complete the program in less than 2 years?
  • It is possible but very unusual. If you have a strong academic background and can complete more than 3 courses (9 units) with a high GPA in the first semester, you can discuss this with an MSE advisor.  Normally, students complete 6 approved graduate courses (18 units) in the first year before enrolling in the year-long MS project course. This makes the program 2 years long.
• I am working full time and don’t mind to stretch out my time in the MSE program. Can I do that?
  • If you are a US resident, you can take less than 9 units per semester and extend your study length.   If you plan to complete the program in more than 3 years, you should discuss it with an MSE advisor.   Students can petition for a short-term leave (1 or 2 semester).  International students should discuss this with an advisor in ISSS.
• Can I complete the program entirely online?
  • No.  Some of the courses are offered ‘in-person’ only.
• I am interested in enrolling in some business courses.  Is it possible? 
  • Yes.  The elective courses are not limited to engineering courses provided that the majority of the elective courses are in engineering or science. You must obtain an MSE advisor’s approval.
• For the six elective courses, can I take any 6 courses as I wish?
  • No, all elective courses requires an MSE advisor’s approval. See FAQs on Incoming Students and general graduate FAQs page for more information regarding course selection.
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