Santa Clara University

Academic Programs

GENERAL INFORMATION

More than 700 students attend Santa Clara University’s graduate engineering programs each quarter. The School of Engineering offers a large variety of programs to meet the needs of these engineering professionals.

B.S./M.S. FIVE-YEAR DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

The School of Engineering offers qualified Santa Clara University undergraduates the opportunity to earn both a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in five years. This is an excellent way to save time and open up more career possibilities early on. The degree is offered in computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and software engineering.

The application fee and GRE General Test requirement are waived. Upon notification of acceptance into the B.S./M.S. program, students may begin taking graduate level courses in their senior year. For more comprehensive information, interested students are encouraged to consult the Web site: http://www.scu.edu/engineering/graduate/degree_programs/BSMS.cfm.

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM

The master’s program is designed to extend the technical breadth and depth of an engineer’s knowledge. Students in this program complete a program of studies approved by the faculty advisor in the major department. The program must include no less than 45 quarter units and a 3.0 GPA (B average) must be earned in all coursework taken at Santa Clara. Residence requirements of the University are met by completing 36 quarter units of the graduate program at Santa Clara. A maximum of 9 quarter units (6 semester units) may be transferred from other accredited institutions that have not been applied to a previous degree at the discretion of the student’s advisor. All units applied toward the degree, including those transferred from other institutions, must be earned within a six-year period.

Students have the option to write a thesis as part of their master’s degree. Students who choose this option are responsible for obtaining an advisor for their thesis work. The maximum number of units awarded for the master’s thesis is nine.

The School of Engineering offers master’s programs in applied mathematics, civil engineering, computer science and engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, and mechanical engineering. The coursework requirements for the degree are determined by each of the major departments. In order to graduate, students must complete the required coursework for the program to which they are admitted and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all coursework listed on their approved program of study.

Note that the number of engineering management courses accepted for other degrees in the graduate engineering program is restricted to 6 units in computer engineering, electrical engineering, and most options of mechanical engineering.

ENGINEER’S DEGREE PROGRAM

The program leading to the engineer’s degree is particularly designed for the education of the practicing engineer. It is offered in the computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering departments. The degree is granted on completion of an approved academic program and a record of acceptable technical achievement in the student’s field of engineering. The academic program consists of a minimum of 45 quarter units beyond the master’s degree. Courses are selected to advance competence in specific areas relating to the engineering professional’s work. Evidence of technical achievement must include a paper principally written by the student and accepted for publication by a recognized engineering journal prior to the granting of the degree. A letter from the journal accepting the paper must be submitted to the department chairperson. In certain cases, the department may accept publication in the proceedings of an appropriate conference.

Admission to the program will generally be granted to those students who demonstrate superior ability in meeting the requirements for their master’s degree. Normally, the master’s degree is earned in the same field as that in which the engineer’s degree is sought. Students who have earned a master’s degree from Santa Clara University must file a new application (by the deadline) to continue work toward the engineer’s degree. A program of studies for the engineer’s degree should be developed with the assistance of an advisor and submitted during the first term of enrollment.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is sought by those engineers who wish to become experts in a specific area within their field. The work for the degree consists of engineering research, the preparation of a thesis based on that research, and a program of advanced studies in engineering, mathematics, and related physical sciences. The student’s work is directed by the degree-conferring department, subject to the general supervision of the School of Engineering. The school grants the Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Certificate programs are designed to provide intensive background in a focused area at the graduate level. With 16-20 required units for completion each certificate is designed to be completed in a much shorter period of time. Santa Clara’s certificate programs are appropriate for students working in industry who wish to update their skills or for those interested in changing their career path.

All Santa Clara University courses applied to the completion of a certificate program earn graduate credit that may also be applied toward a graduate degree subject to the requirements of the degree program. Students who wish to continue for such a degree must submit a separate application and satisfy all normal admission requirements. The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test requirement for graduate admission to the master’s degree will be waived for students who have been formally admitted to and completed a certificate program with a GPA of 3.5 or better.

Certificate programs are offered in bioinformatics, software engineering, grid computing, information assurance, networking, ASIC design and test, analog circuit design, digital signal processing, microwave and antennas, fundamentals of electrical engineering, technology jump-start, materials, mechanical design analysis, mechatronics systems engineering, dynamics, controls, and thermo-fluids.

NOTE: Santa Clara University does not issue F-1 visas to applicants who wish to enter directly into this program.

OPEN UNIVERSITY PROGRAM

Engineers who wish to update their skills or learn new technologies without pursuing a specific degree may enroll in the School of Engineering’s Open University program.

If a student from the Open University program is accepted into a degree program, a maximum of 16 units may apply toward the degree (if the courses are in the same discipline to which the student is accepted). The general GRE test requirement for admission to the master’s degree program will be waived if the student has completed a set of required courses in the department to which they are applying, and has earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher. A list of these courses can be found on the graduate engineering Web site: http://www.scu.edu/engineering/graduate/non_degree_programs/openuniversity.cfm.

Open University students who are considering enrolling in the master’s program should be aware that each specialization has its own set of requirements, and that the number of “free electives” is very limited. Such students are therefore strongly encouraged to choose their classes in consultation with a faculty advisor from the very beginning.

Students should remember, however, that all coursework taken at SCU, whether as a degree-seeking or an Open University student, becomes a part of the student’s academic history.

Note: Santa Clara University does not issue F-1 visas to applicants who wish to enter directly into this program.

Note: Open University students are not eligible to enroll in undergraduate or MBA classes.