Program Mission

Jackson State University offers course work leading to the Master of Science in Engineering through the Graduate Engineering Program in collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Industrial Systems and Technology, and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Engineering students may pursue a MS degree with emphasis in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computational Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Telecommunications Engineering. The Programs offers a non-degree admission for engineers in the Jackson area who are only interested in continuing engineering education or desire preparation for the Professional Engineering (PE) Exam.

One objective of the Graduate Engineering Program is to meet the post-graduate engineering educational needs of individuals in the greater Jackson metro area who are employed full time. The curriculum is designed not only to meet individual needs, but to provide courses that upgrade the technical skills of employees in private industry, and municipal, state and federal agencies. Classes are typically taught in the evenings to accommodate the working student. The Graduate Engineering Program provides an environment that accommodates full time graduate engineering students who plan to pursue careers in engineering practice, research, or academia.

Admission Requirements

Admission is open to applicants with an undergraduate degree in engineering. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in a closely related field may be considered. Engineering applicants may be admitted to the Graduate School as Regular Graduate Students, Qualifying Students, Conditional Students or Non-Degree Students. Admission requirements for each of these categories are outlined in the JSU Graduate Catalog. Applicants may have to satisfy undergraduate coursework prerequisites as determined by their Department Chairperson and/or Advisor. 

Applicants must also submit three (3) letters of recommendations and must meet all other admission requirements outlined in the Jackson State University Graduate Catalog. In addition, international applicants must submit all documentation as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. All applicants must comply with the admission date deadlines of The Division of Graduate Studies.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Engineering Graduate students may transfer up to 9 semester hours of graduate credit from another institution upon the recommendation of their advisor and approval by the Department Chairperson.

Time Limit

All course work applied toward a Master of Science Degree in Engineering must be completed within an 8-calendar year period from the date of first entering the graduate program.

Degree Requirements

Thirty (30), or thirty-six (36), semester hours are required for the Master of Science Degree in Engineering depending upon which of the following three options the student selects with approval of his or her department chairperson and/or advisor:

• Option 1: Twenty-four (24) semester hours of coursework plus a six-hour thesis
• Option 2: Twenty-seven (27) semester hours of coursework plus a three-hour project
• Option 3: Thirty-six (36) semester hours of coursework

• Option 1: Requires a formal written thesis, formal presentation and oral exam.
• Option 2: Requires a written project report, formal presentation and oral exam.
• Option 3: Requires an oral exam. 

To remain in “good standing,” students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (“B” average).

Core Courses

Each emphasis area has either three or four core courses (9 to12 semester hours). Electives are selected with approval of the student’s graduate committee and/or graduate advisor.

Note: Please refer to the Department of Computer Science for admission and degree requirements, as well as emphasis areas, core courses and description of all courses for the Master of Science in Computer Science.