Master of Engineering

Graduating bachelor’s students and working professionals interested in expanded technical, business, and project management knowledge can benefit from the M. Eng. degree. Graduate students expand their engineering background to a new engineering discipline, collaborate with undergraduate students on design projects, extend learning based on current technical literature and experimentation, and engage in project management and decision-making skills. A major design or research internship is required as a part of degree completion.

The M. Eng. degree consists of development in three skill areas: (1) engineering specialty courses, (2) research/design theory and implementation, and (3) project management and decision making. Full time students with an engineering degree can complete the program in four quarters. Up to 12 credit hours of 300-level engineering prerequisites apply on a 2-to-1 basis for graduate credit. Students with an undergraduate degree in engineering must choose technical courses outside their undergraduate specialty. All prerequisites for courses taken for graduate credit must be met. Preparatory classes (300-level or below) cannot count towards the M. Eng. degree until the balance of the 200 credit hours required for an engineering bachelor’s degree are met.

Admission. Applicants must meet general admission requirements as outlined earlier in the Graduate Bulletin. A complete application consists of:

1. The application form
2. One professional reference
3. All transcripts for accredited colleges or universities previously attended
4. A summary of professional interest and the fit of the M. Eng. degree
5. A two-page summary of a previous research or design project

Admission Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited program
• A minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA (3.25 recommended)
• An introductory programming course
• A full-year sequence of biology, chemistry, or calculus-based physics
• Ordinary differential equations
• A demonstrated ability to work individually and collaboratively on a major project

Program Requirements:

• Minimum 3.00 GPA
• Fulfillment of degree requirements within 5 years of initial enrollment in the master’s program

Program Delivery. The M. Eng. degree requires in-person course interaction. Logistically, program completion requires four quarters. Some courses may require attendance on campus only one day per week or one-week immersive experiences to allow working professionals flexibility of attendance. Enrolled students working full-time should consider a minimum of 6 quarters to complete the degree and arrange schedules for study days or study weeks at the university.

4+1 Sequencing. Students enrolled in B. S. E. or B. S. degree programs at Walla Walla University are encouraged to apply for the M. Eng. program one calendar year prior to their anticipated BSE graduation date. A maximum of 12 credits completed prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree may apply towards the M. Eng. degree. Formal admission to the master’s program occurs only after completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements. However, completion of prerequisites is strongly encouraged in consultation with the academic advisor as part of the B. S. E. degree.

Curriculum. The curriculum for the program includes 36 core credits and 9 elective credits chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor.