Rutgers logo
School of Engineering
Rutgers logo
School of Engineering
Rutgers logo
School of Engineering
Rutgers logo
School of Engineering

Master of Science and Master of Engineering Degrees

Eligibility

Rutgers undergraduates who have a GPA of 3.2 or higher (note: some departments have different GPA requirements) and have completed (or are completing) their sixth semester are eligible to apply to the BS/MS program. The interested student must have completed 96 credits of coursework at the end of their sixth semester of undergraduate study.

In addition to the possibility of completing your graduate studies in a reduced time frame, the BS/MS program offers the following advantages:

  • The GRE requirement is waived for students in the BS/MS program. It is recommended that you take the GRE exam if you are applying to national fellowships or graduate programs at other universities.
  • You do not need to submit a formal application to the School of Graduate Studies. Your application will be processed internally. Students receive an official admissions letter from SGS a few weeks after notification by the department you are admitted to.

Course of Study

Students interested in pursuing a BS/MS or BS/MBA take one or more graduate-level courses in their senior year in addition to undergraduate degree requirements. The following is a recommended study sequence:

  • Summer following third year (optional): Apply for a summer internship or fellowship program and begin research/project work.
  • Senior year: Enroll in Slade Scholars Program. Take six credits of 650:491 and 650:492, which count as course credits towards the MS degree (or Master Engineering degree, if your department offers it). Research can become the thesis topic for the MS degree. Students can take graduate courses, if prepared.
  • Fifth year: Three courses and three credit hours of research each semester. You can take fewer courses each semester, but this would lengthen the duration of the master's studies.
  • Summer (and perhaps fall) following fifth year: Write MS thesis (for thesis students) or take comprehensive final exam, or M.Eng. project report (for Masters Engineering students) and present your project.

Note: Students can change advisors at the end of their fourth year. The Slade Scholar research topic does not necessarily have to be the M.S. thesis topic or Master of Engineering project topic.

Application Procedure

You apply to the graduate program office of the department in which you are enrolled. While departmental procedures (such as GPA requirements and deadlines) may vary slightly, the following general rules govern the application process:

  • Fill out the BS/MS degree application (available from department office or department web site)
  • Attach a copy of your transcript 
  • Brief personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation

Please contact the graduate program director for your department for more information.