Graduate Catalog 2007-2008
UDM Academic PoliciesCourse DescriptionsList of All ProgramsFaculty

Introduction

Mission
As the College of Engineering and Science of a comprehensive, urban, Catholic university, it is our mission to lead in the development of professional engineers, scientists and mathematicians who are uniquely capable and effective in their service to the greater Detroit area, the national and the world communities through the discovery, application and dissemination of knowledge.

Engineering & Science Graduate Programs
The College of Engineering and Science offers graduate programs in engineering leading to the degrees of Master of Engineering, Master of Engineering Management and Doctor of Engineering. Applicants for admission to these degree programs must hold an accredited engineering degree or a degree in a closely related discipline and have maintained an overall undergraduate grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale)or better . The College also offers the Master of Science degree in Chemistry, the Master of Science in Computer Science and Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics degrees and, in conjunction with the College of Business Administration, offers the Master of Science in Product Development degree.

Master of Engineering

Traditional Master's & 5-year Bachelor's/Master's
Students may enter the Master's program one of two ways:

Traditional:
Students who are not UDM students or UDM students who do not apply for or qualify for the 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program may apply for graduate school either on-line or by completing a written application. Typical minimum requirements include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a Bachelor's degree in engineering or closely related discipline. Although the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), if applicable, are not required as part of the application, they can be useful in facilitating the admission process

Five-year Bachelor's/Master's:
Students who are completing their Bachelor's degree in engineering at UDM may apply for the 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program in their senior year if they have a GPA of 3.25 or above, are in good standing with UDM, and are within two to three terms of graduating. If accepted into the 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program, students can receive up to nine credits of advanced standing work in their Master's program from their Bachelor's program

The College's engineering departments offer twelve concentrations within the Master of Engineering programs:

Civil and Environmental Engineering with concentrations in:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering with concentrations in:

  • Computer Engineering
  • Mechatronics Systems
  • Signals and Systems

Mechanical Engineering with concentrations in:

  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Mechatronic Systems
  • Thermal/Fluid Systems and Alternative Energy
  • Transportation Systems

Each engineering concentration sets minimum course requirements. A student may augment a concentration with courses up to six credit hours in mathematics and physical sciences upon approval of the department chair.


Degree

Master of Engineering Degree Requirements
The Master of Engineering programs require a minimum of 30 to 33 credit hours, depending on the concentration or thesis/non-thesis option. The minimum overall grade point average to graduate is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A graduate student in engineering develops a written program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor. A minimum of 21 credit hours must be in graduate courses numbered 500 or above. Programs of study may require a thesis (six credits). A student submits the plan of study to the Engineering Graduate Council for approval before completing 12 credit hours. Prior to the Council’s approval of the complete plan of study, the department chair approves a student’s course selections. Complete details on concentrations and requirements appear under the specific engineering departments. If a student takes a course outside of the College, the inclusion of either the credit or quality points earned in the student’s program requires the prior written permission of the Dean or Dean’s representative. For courses taken outside the University, quality points do not transfer.

Doctor of Engineering
Students interested in the Doctor of Engineering program must have demonstrated high academic achievement and an indication of the ability to engage in advanced engineering research. Interested students must submit an application to the Engineering Graduate Council for the College of Engineering and Science. The Doctor of Engineering requires that students complete the Doctoral core courses, the core courses for one concentration, as well as at least nine credit hours in a related discipline and 30 credit hours of dissertation. The Doctoral program is divided into three parts: Coursework, Dissertation, and Examination.

Coursework
Coursework consists of 51 post-baccalaureate course credits at the graduate level. Up to 30 graduate course credits can be transferred but at least 21 additional graduate credits must be accrued at UDM. Coursework is divided into:

  • Doctoral Core (9 credits)
  • Concentration Core (up to 33 credits)
  • Discipline Specific (9 or more credits)

Dissertation
Dissertation credits consist of research credits under the guidance of a Doctoral Dissertation committee headed by a faculty member who acts as the supervisor. Although Doctoral research is independent, novel, and advances the state of the art, the committee members can provide guidance, advice, and technical expertise. A minimum of 30 dissertation credits is required for the Doctor of Engineering degree.

Examination
Examinations comprise three stages: Qualifying, Dissertation Topic Proposal, and Final. The Qualifying Examination is administered and interpreted by the Engineering Graduate Council. The exam consists of three parts: Mathematics, Computer skills, and Discipline Specific (discipline specifics are engineering topics relevant to the individual examinee). The Qualifying Examination must be taken as soon as the student has completed the Doctoral Core Courses. Students passing the Qualifying Examination are allowed to advance in the doctoral program. Students failing the Qualifying Examination are dismissed from the Doctoral program. The Dissertation Topic Proposal Examination consists of the formal presentation of the dissertation topic to the studies committee. The committee provides feedback to the student regarding scope, depth and relevancy of the topic. With approval of the committee, the student can proceed with the research the subsequent accrual of dissertation credits. Final Examination consists of the formal and public presentation of the dissertation results. The written dissertation must also be approved and accepted by the supervisory committee. The Final Examination, in concert with the approval of the written dissertation by the Dean, constitutes the last step in completion of the Doctor of Engineering degree.

Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS)
The Master of Science in Computer Science is a 30 credit hour program with two possible areas of concentration: Computer Systems Applications and Software Engineering. It is designed to:

  • Produce graduates that are ready to work in industry, government, health, and education. The graduates will have both practical and theoretical educational experience in Computer Science/Software Engineering with some hardware skills
  • Provide computing educational experience that is rich in state-of-the-art laboratories, industry-related projects, and practical design skills, which highlight teamwork, computer-based problem solving, communication skills, and ethical values needed for computing professions and software engineers.
  • Prepare students to pursue a Doctorate degree in computer science, and software engineering through a motivating, extensive, and state-of-the-art educational experience

Requirements for Admission to the MSCS Program
In order to be admitted to the program, the applicant

  • Must hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum GPA 3.0 on a maximum 4.0 scale.
  • Must have knowledge of a modern programming language, such as C++ or Java, Data Structures and Algorithms, Machine Organization, and Discrete Mathematics. The level of knowledge required in these areas is equivalent to that taught in undergraduate courses CSC-345, Software Construction, or CSC-413, Java, CSC-443, Data Structures, CSC-271, Assembly Language or EE-480, Computer Architecture, MTH-142, Calculus II, and MTH-276, Discrete Mathematics.
  • Students will make up programming deficiencies in undergraduate preparation by taking the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent: CSC 503 - Java, CSC 504 - Object-Oriented Programming, and CSC 505 - Algorithms and Data Structures. The department may add/change courses as necessary.
  • Applicants with academic or work experience equivalent to any of these courses may have that course waived after passing a department test with a grade of at least "B."

MSCS Degree Requirements
The requirements for the MSCS degree can be found at the Computer Science page of the Graduate Catalog.

The Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics (ATM)
The Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics (MATM) degree is offered in two tracks: Mathematics and Computer Science.

Requirements for Admission to the MATM Program
This degree is designed for students who have an interest in teaching K-12 mathematics or computer science. .

Students must either have a teaching certificate or be in the process of earning one, having satisfied the entrance requirements for enrollment in a certification program in the College of Liberal Arts and Education. In particular, a passing score on the Michigan Basic Skills Test is required. Students must also have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA 3.0, having attained mastery of college mathematics up to and including a year of Calculus, listed as MTH 141 and MTH 142 in the UDM undergraduate catalog.

Students not meeting all requirements may be admitted provisionally, in which case they are expected to make up their deficiencies while under supervision of their advisor prior to beginning graduate work. Courses taken to satisfy admission requirements may be taken for graduate credit, but do not count toward completion of the degree. Upon completion of these courses, a formal application to the program can be made to the College of Engineering and Science.

Graduation Requirements for the MATM Degree
The graduation requirements for the MATM Degree can be found in the MATM section of the Graduate Catalog.

Master of Science in Chemistry
The Master of Science in Chemistry is a degree designed for the student who is currently working in a chemically-related field and/or wishes to prepare for more advanced studies in chemistry. Chemists need to be well versed in several branches of chemistry in order to solve current and future chemical research problems. The Master of Science in Chemistry degree allows the student to acquire a well-rounded, advanced education in chemistry, as well as specialization and research in polymers and materials, biochemistry, and computational chemistry.

Requirements for Admission to the MS (Chemistry) Program
Students can enter the graduate program in Chemistry in one of two ways: Traditional or 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program.

Traditional
Students who are not UDM students or UDM students who do not apply for or qualify for the 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program may apply for graduate school either on-line or by completing a written application.

Five-year Bachelor's/Master's
Students who are completing their Bachelor's degree in chemistry or biochemistry at UDM may apply for the 5-year Bachelor's/Master's program in their senior year if they have a QPA of 3.25 or above, are in good standing with UDM, and are within two to three terms of graduating.

Graduation Requirements for the MS (Chemistry) Degree
The graduation requirements for the MS (Chemistry) degree can be found in the Chemistry (MS) section of the Graduate Catalog.


Transfer Credit

Master's Degree: Students without a previous graduate degree may transfer up to six credits from another graduate school or program. Students with an appropriate, previous graduate degree may transfer credits as follows:

  • 9 credits if either graduate program is less than 36 credit hours;
  • 12 credit hours if both graduate programs are at least 36 credit hours.

In all cases, transfer of credit is granted only with the approval of the program director and the Dean after completing 12 credit hours at the University of Detroit Mercy with a minimum overall quality point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Doctoral Degree: Up to 30 graduate course credits can be transferred into the Doctoral Program but at least 21 additional graduate credits must be accrued at UDM. All courses transferred must be at the graduate level (minimum grade of 3.0/4.0 or B) and must be related to the student's doctoral focus. Transfer courses do not eliminate the Doctoral Core Course requirements unless there is a specific equivalency determined between core course(s) and transferred course(s).

In addition to classroom courses, a student who has completed a Master's degree may transfer up to six credit hours of thesis credit toward the Doctoral dissertation research requirements.

College of Business Administration

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For more information about UDM, or to apply online, go to www.udmercy.edu/apply.


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