Engineering (M.S.) - Thesis
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Core Courses 1 | ||
| ENGR 596 | Research Process Fundamentals | 3 |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Thesis Courses | ||
| Engineering Elective 3 | 12 | |
| ENGR 685 | M.S. Thesis Proposal in Engineering | 0 |
| ENGR 690 | Thesis Defense in Engineering | 0 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
A M.S. committee comprising three faculty members who have earned their Ph.D.s will oversee the M.S. student's research and educational program. One committee member will be the advisor. The committee is responsible for oversight of the following: (1) the educational program of study, and (2) the thesis defense. In order to complete the requirements for this degree, the student must plan a program with the M.S. committee.
- 2
Choose Core courses, based on plan of study approved by M.S. Committee: Core courses exclude Thesis courses:ENGR 685, ENGR 687, ENGR 688, ENGR 689, ENGR 690. Ph.D. and M.S. students may take ENGR 500, ENGR 520, and ENGR 590 as Core courses. All other ENGR 500-600 level courses are restricted to the M.S. program with the exception of course transfer into the Ph.D. program. M.S. students may take residential ENGR 700-800 level non-dissertation research courses with instructor signature approval or satisfaction of a specified graduate prerequisite course.
- 3
Choose a minimum of 12 hours from the following: ENGR 687, ENGR 688, and ENGR 689
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 36 hours
- A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
- 3.0 GPA
- No grades lower than B- may be applied to the degree
- Degree must be completed within 5 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Residential Format
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGR 596 | Research Process Fundamentals | 3 |
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ENGR Elective 2 | 3 | |
| ENGR 685 | M.S. Thesis Proposal in Engineering 3 | 0 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR Elective 1 | 3 | |
| ENGR 690 | Thesis Defense in Engineering 4 | 0 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Choose Core courses, based on plan of study approved by M.S. Committee: Core courses exclude Thesis courses: ENGR 685, ENGR 687, ENGR 688, ENGR 689, ENGR 690. Ph.D. and M.S. students may take ENGR 500, ENGR 520, and ENGR 590 as Core courses. All other ENGR 500 and 600 level courses are restricted to the M.S. program with the exception of course transfer into the Ph.D. program. M.S. students may take residential ENGR 700-800 level non-dissertation courses with instructor signature approval or satisfaction of specified graduate prerequisite courses
- 2
Choose a minimum of 12 hours from the following: ENGR 687, ENGR 688, and ENGR 689
- 3
M.S. students are required to write a M.S. Thesis Proposal. The M.S. research proposal should be in the National Science Foundation (NSF) format of a title page, summary page, 15-page description, and references. It must contain a working hypothesis with chapters focused on the “Current State,” “Future State,” “Challenges/Barriers,” and “Research Roadmap.”
- 4
M.S. students must give a defense of their research to illustrate that they can conduct independent research in the future. There are three processes in which the graduate student must demonstrate the capability to earn the master’s thesis degree: (1) integrate qualitative and quantitative tools to perform effective engineering analysis and research (2) evaluate and present scholarship relevant to engineering contexts that reflect a knowledge of literature of the discipline, and (3) incorporate Christian worldview perspectives when solving engineering challenges
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Important: It is recommended that the Graduate Orientation class be taken in the 1st semester of the graduate program. We also recommend that the M.S. student select their faculty advisor within their 1st semester. It is recommended that the M.S. Thesis student and faculty advisor establish the M.S. committee by the 4th semester. The committee requirement is waived for Non-Thesis students. A M.S. committee comprising three faculty members who have earned their Ph.D.s will oversee the M.S. student’s research and educational program. One committee member will be the advisor. The committee is responsible for oversight of program with the M.S. committee the following: (1) the educational program of study, and (2) the project/report presentation. In order to complete the requirements for this degree, the student must plan a program with the M.S. committee.