MS non-Thesis degree, WE

Information concerning the pursuit of a Master's non-thesis degree in WE, including degree requirements, time frame for completion, graduation details, and more.

The Master's degree program is designed to give students the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and necessary skills in a specific area of Welding Engineering. A non-thesis option Master's primarily involves academic course work followed by a written examination, during the final semester of enrollment. The structured research component of the MS with Thesis is not present in the non-thesis option.

Two forms of the MS non-thesis are available to WE students: 1) as a final degree, afterwhich the student exits the program, or 2) as an intermediate degree earned upon successful completion of the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam.

  1. MS non-thesis as final degree. This degree does not involve laboratory research instead requiring more academic study than the MS with Thesis. Thus this degree track is best suited for working students, as it primarily consists of course work.
  2. MS non-thesis based on Candidacy Exam. Students who successfully complete the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam may request to receive a MS non-thesis degree. This is optional, but serves as a tangible "mile marker" for the student. Students must meet the minimum course work requirements for the MS non-thesis degree as detailed in Section I A of the degree requirements below.

Time frame for completion

The typical length of time for completion of a Master's non-thesis degree while enrolled as a part-time student is approximately six to eight semesters; full-time is approximately three to four semesters. For the MS non-thesis as final degree the student will submit a written document (technical report, critical literature review, etc.) as the written portion of the exam. For students earning the degree based on the Candidacy Exam, the Exam typically occurs shortly after the point at which the student has completed 30 graded graduate credits.

Degree requirements

Master's non-thesis degree requirements
WE-specific requirements to earn a Master's non-thesis degree in welding engineering. Students earning the MS non-thesis based on completion of the Candidacy Exam must meet the minimum graded credit hours described in the degree requirements.