Accelerated Programs

Accelerated MSME

The Accelerated MS Program was introduced in 2003 as a procedure whereby all the required credits for earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering can be satisfied in 5 years. The primary motivation for the program is to facilitate and encourage our undergraduate students, in particular Louisiana natives, to pursue a graduate degree in the Department.

Admissions Process and Criteria

Students with an Overall GPA ≥ 3.5, and a Mechanical Engineering GPA ≥ 3.5 after having completed ME2334, ME2733, ME2212, ME3133, ME3701, ME3143, ME3834, ME4133 are invited to apply to the Mechanical Engineering Department’s Accelerated MSME Program.

Note: The selection is made by January of the Junior (3d) year (start of second Junior-year semester) of the students.

The selected students are now asked to talk with the ME faculty and:

1. Decide on their Primary Area of Concentration (Thermal/Fluid Science, Mechanical Systems, Materials)
2. Select a research project for their MS degree under the Accelerated MS Program
3. Select their faculty advisor for their MS degree
4. Identify the members of the MS Advisory Committee
5. Students will then submit an application for enrollment into the program by:

• Completing and submitting the “APPLICATION FOR THE ACCELERATED MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM” application form issued by the graduate school,
• Completing and submitting the “PLAN OF STUDY FOR THE ACCELERATED MS PROGRAM IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING” form.
• Submitting a Statement of Purpose Essay (limit 1 page).

Note: Steps 2 and 3 must be completed by the last day of classes of the Spring semester of the Junior (3d) Year of the Student and step 4 must be completed by the end of May of the Junior (3d) Year of the Student.

Curriculum Requirements and Timeline

General Requirements for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Degree

• Total Course Hours Required for Master’s Degree –24 Hrs.A minimum of 5 courses (15 hours) must be from Mechanical Engineering
  A minimum of 3 core courses (9 hours) must be from the Primary Area of Concentration (Thermal/Fluid Science, Mechanical Systems, Materials)
• At least 1 course (3 hours) must be in Mathematics (one of MATH4038, 4340, 4036 or ME7533)
• At least 1 ME core course (3 hours) must be outside the Primary Area of Concentration
• At least 4 courses (12 hours minimum) must be at 7000 level
• At least six (6) credit hours must be for Thesis Research (ME8000)
• Enrollment in ME7901 (Graduate Seminar) is required every semester with a maximum of 1 credit hour counting towards Graduate degree.
• No grade of “D” will count towards the Master’s degree

Roadmap to Complete 3/2-Program in 5 Years

1. The student starts his/her participation in the Accelerated MS Program during the summer after Junior year (1st summer in the 3/2-program)
2. The student completes two Technical Electives towards his/her Undergraduate degree during the Senior (4th) year. These courses must fulfill the design requirements in the Thermal/Fluid Science and Materials areas.
3. The student completes a Mathematics Course (one of MATH4038, 4340, 4036 or ME7533) and one 4000 or 7000 level course towards his/her Graduate degree during the Senior (4th) year, as per the student’s “Plan of Study”.
4. The student is encouraged to attend or enroll for ME7901 (Graduate Seminar) during his/her Senior (4th) year.
5. The student takes the GRE and submits a formal application to the Graduate School during the first semester of the Senior (4th) year.
6. The student receives his/her Undergraduate degree (BSME) in May of the Senior (4th) Year.
7. The student is classified as a Graduate Student beginning the summer after obtaining his/her Undergraduate Degree (2nd summer in the 3/2 program) and becomes eligible to receive Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship.
8. During the 2nd summer the student completes ME7903 for 6 credit hours of independent study towards his/her Graduate degree. These courses will directly address the research needs and challenges of the student’s degree project.
9. The student completes Graduate coursework according to his/her “Plan of Study”, during the Graduate (5th) year. The suggested schedule follows below:

Fall

• 3 courses (9 credit hours) at the 7000 and/or 4000 levels
• 3 credit hours of Thesis Research (ME8000)
• Enrollment in ME7901.

Spring

• 1 course (3 credit hours) at the 7000 and/or 4000 levels
• 3 credit hours of Thesis Research (ME8000)
• Enrollment in ME7901.
• The student completes his/her MS Thesis and defense adhering to the deadlines imposed by the Graduate School in the second semester of the Graduate (5th) year.
• The student receives his/her Master of Science Degree in May of the Graduate (5th) year.

Ph.D. Option

Students may elect to go directly for Ph.D. after completion of the 2nd summer internship. If this is the case, eligible students may be nominated for fellowships and enhancements/or supplements that are made available to Ph.D. candidates.

It is recommended that such direct PhD students as well as those desiring continuation of their graduate program toward Ph.D. take the department-administered Qualifying/Comprehensive Exams at a time corresponding to the end of the regular Accelerated MS Program, i.e., during ensuing August after the 5th

Note: Students who have completed the Qualifying/Comprehensive Exams get higher pay-rate assistantships than those who haven’t.

Guidelines for the Accelerated MS Special Study Subjects

ME 7903

Objectives: To develop independent research skills, including: literature review, and analyzing a component of the research.

Implementation: With the approval of the student graduate advisory committee, a professor in charge will be appointed for each student. The scope of the study will be defined by the professor in charge who will direct, monitor and have the final say in the evaluation of the outcome and the grade. A concisely written proposal will define the scope of the study and the expected outcome(s).

Evaluation and defense: The components of the evaluation include the general opinion regarding the progress of the student gained by the professor in charge, a final presentation, and a final report. The final presentation will be defended in front of a panel of three professors, including the professor in charge. One of the professors will be a departmental representative who will make sure that uniformity of standards is preserved.

Roadmap to Completing the Accelerated MS Program in 5 Years

3/2 Joint BS Industrial Engineering (BSIE) / Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program

The 3/2 program provides highly capable Industrial Engineering students an option to complete both a BSIE degree and MBA degree in 5 years.  Normally this would take 6 or more years to complete.

To be considered for the program, students must take the GMAT or GRE during their junior year and apply for admission to MBA at end of junior year. As part of the application process, an interview is required with the MBA coordinator and/or admissions committee. While there is a minimum requirement of 3.0 overall GPA and 600 GMAT/314 GRE to apply, special emphasis is given to assessing the student’s maturity and likelihood of success in the 3/2 program, and students with above minimum scores may not be admitted.

If admitted, students pay MBA premium tuition for their final two years. In addition, students must earn a 3.0 or higher on all coursework applied to the MBA program.

The MBA and BSIE degrees would normally be awarded concurrently at the end of the 5th year. Note that you must complete the BSIE degree before or concurrent with the MBA in order to complete the MBA.

Accelerated completion of the two degrees is accomplished by:

• Students in BSIE accelerate the undergraduate program through advanced placement credit and summer / intersession / independent study work so that most requirements for their BSIE program are met by end of junior year.
• Up to 9 ch of MBA 7000 level coursework is also applied towards Technical Elective requirement in the BSIE undergraduate curriculum. These courses must be taken while co-enrolled in the MBA.
• Up to 9 ch of senior level IE coursework eligible for graduate credit is also applied toward the MBA elective requirements. These courses must be taken while co-enrolled in the MBA.
• Students should conduct an internship during the summer following their senior (4th) year, which will count towards 3ch of MBA elective requirement as well as IE Tech Elective A.

Freshman Year

• CHEM 1201 General Chemistry I (3)
• CHEM 1202 General Chemistry (3)
• CM 1020 Engineering Graphics for Mechanical Engineering (2)
• IE 1002 Industrial Engineering Fundamentals (3)
• IE 2400 Methods and Systems Engineering (3)
• ENGL 1001 English Composition (3)
• MATH 1550 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (5)
• MATH 1552 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4)
• PHYS 2110 Particle Mechanics (3)
• PHYS 2108 Introductory Physics Laboratory (1)

• CMST 1061 Fundamentals of Communication (3) or
• CMST 2060 Public Speaking (3)

Total Hours: 33

Freshman Summer and Intersessions

• PHYS 2112 Fluids, Thermodynamics, Waves, and Modern Physics (3)
• General Education arts, humanities, social sciences course (6)

Total Hours: 9

Sophomore Year

• BIOL 1001 General Biology (3) or
• BIOL 1201 Biology for Science Majors I (3)

• IE 3201 Principles of Engineering Economy (3)
• CE 2450 Statics (3)
• ECON 2030 Economic Principles (3)
• EE 2950 Comprehensive Electrical Engineering (3)
• IE 2060 Introduction to the Use of Computers (3)
• IE 3302 Engineering Statistics (3)
• MATH 2090 Elementary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4)
• ME 2733 Materials of Engineering (3)
• ME 3633 Manufacturing Processes & Methods (3)

Total Hours: 31

Sophomore Summer and Intersessions

• General Education arts, humanities, social sciences course (6)
• IE Tech Elective A (3)

Total Hours: 9

Junior Year

(take GMAT, apply to MBA)

• CE 3400 Mechanics of Materials (3)
• IE 3520 Supply Chain Logistics I (3)
• IE 4362 Advanced Engineering Statistics (3)
• IE 4453 Quality Control & Six Sigma (3)
• IE 4461 Human Factors Engineering (3)
• IE 4516 Plant and Systems Design (3)

• IE 4113 Information Technology Project Management (3) or
• ISDS 4113 Information Technology Project Management (3)

• IE 4530 Lean Manufacturing Systems (3) (also counts as MBA elective)
• IE 4425 Information Systems Engineering (3) (also counts as MBA elective)
• IE 4520 Supply Chain Logistics II (3) (also counts as MBA elective)
• ENGL 2000 English Composition (3)

Total Hours: 33

Fourth Year - Fall

• BADM 7010 Emerging Business Issues and Practices in a Global Economy (1)
• BADM 7020 Managerial Statistics (3)
• BADM 7030 Understanding Financial Information (3) (also counts as IE Tech Elective B)
• BADM 7100 Marketing Administration (3)
• IE 4597 Industrial Engineering Capstone Design I (2)

Total Hours: 12

Fourth Year - Spring

• BADM 7010 Emerging Business Issues and Practices in a Global Economy (1)
• BADM 7120 Operations Management (3)
• BADM 7060 Elements of Cost Management (3)
• BADM 7090 Financial Management (3) (also counts as IE Tech Elective B)
• IE 4598 Industrial Engineering Capstone Design II (2)

Total Hours: 12

*Awarded Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

Fourth Year - Summer

(after graduation with BSIE)

• BADM 7000 Internship in Business Administration (3)

Total Hours: 3

Fifth Year - Fall

• BADM 7010 Emerging Business Issues and Practices in a Global Economy (1)
• BADM 7200 Economic Environment of the Firm (3)
• BADM 7050 Information Systems (3)
• BADM 7070 Understanding Behavior in Organizations (3)
• MBA Elective (2)

Total Hours: 12

Fifth Year - Spring

• BADM 7010 Emerging Business Issues and Practices in a Global Economy (1)
• BADM 7190 Managing Sources of Competitive Advantage (3)
• BADM 7140 Legal Environment of Business (3)

Total Hours: 7

Awarded Masters of Business Administration