Master of Engineering

Program Description

The Master of Engineering degree is a practice-oriented, interdisciplinary degree designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in furthering a career in engineering with a business/management emphasis. Students will determine their degree plan in consultation with the graduate advisor of the respective engineering department of the student's primary focus. In addition to course requirements, students must complete a design project and a final written report. This phase of the program introduces students to the problems and solutions faced by practicing engineers. The program is designed for both the industrial professional who is seeking a career enhancement and also to the new baccalaureate graduate who wants to continue to study in order to be able to enter the work force with well-defined and honed professional skills.

Degree Learning Outcomes

The Degree Learning Outcomes of the Master of Engineering program are to produce graduates who will:

  • Have the capacity to use advanced analytical and experimental methods needed to solve engineering problems.
  • Have a breadth of knowledge that fosters an awareness of and skill in interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving.
  • Exhibit leadership skills and the ability to work effectively in teams.

Additional Information

The GRE is not required, but recommended, for the Master of Engineering Program. 

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related discipline. Applicants with non-engineering undergraduate degrees could be admitted conditionally and they would be required to take specified undergraduate courses to remove the condition.

Candidates must have attained an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 (4 point scale) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of technical study.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) is required for all applicants who have not earned a degree from an English-speaking university.

  • TOEFL minimum is 80 on the Internet Based Test (IBT)
  • IELTS minimum score is 6.5
  • PTE minimum is 58

TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE must have been taken within the last 2 years to be accepted.

Applications for Fall 2025 will be accepted from:
October 1, 2024 to February 1, 2025

Summer, and Winter admissions are not offered.

To start an application, follow the guidelines at:
SDSU Office of Admissions

All required documents must be received by the SDSU Office of Admissions no later than:
February 15, 2025 for Fall 2025 admission 

Documents received after the deadlines above for the respective admission cycles will not be evaluated and incomplete applications will be withdrawn. 

Applicants must also email their resume and a statement of purpose to:

Master of Engineering Program Manager 
Donovan Geiger
[email protected]

Letters of recommendation are optional and may be emailed directly to the Program Manager at the above address by reviewers. Please have your reviewers indicate your full name in the subject line along with "MEng LOR".

Resume, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation must be received by: 
February 15, 2025 for Fall 2025 admission 

Students must complete a graduate program of 36 units of which are divided into:

  • 18 units of graduate engineering courses
  • 12 units of graduate business courses
  • 6 units of a project

The project is industry-oriented and integrates engineering and business knowledge attained through coursework and experience.

The program provides tremendous flexibility in course selection. Students can choose from a variety of graduate level courses offered in the College of Engineering and Fowler College of Business in consultation with the graduate adviser in each area.

For graduate engineering courses, students can select from the graduate programs in the College of Engineering:

Graduate course work at Fowler College of Business is grouped into four tracks:

  • Supply chain management
  • Technical sales and marketing
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Technology commercialization

The normative time for the Master of Engineering degree completion for a full-time student taking nine units per semester is two years.  

 

The laboratories of the engineering departments involved in the program are fully equipped for modern research in different areas of engineering science. Major items include sub- and supersonic wind tunnels, a low speed water channel, shake tables, an acoustic visualization system, soil mechanics laboratory, powder technology laboratory, microelectromechanical laboratory, and a biodynamics laboratory. Research support, machine shops, and numerous computational facilities are also available; SDSU is also a member of the regional CRAY Supercomputer Consortium and is the only participant in The California State University System.

Cost of attendance and estimated living expenses for graduate programs for California residents and non-residents/international students is listed by the SDSU Office of Admissions.

The cost of living in San Diego is very high being in the top 10 most expensive cities in the US and top 20 most expensive cities in the world. Housing costs (rent, utilities, and taxes) are exceptionally high. As of July 2024, A small 1 bedroom apartment rents for an average of $2,800 a month, a 2 bedroom for over $3,700 a month, and a 3 bedroom for over $5,000 a month. Rental prices are expected to increase every year. 

The cost of food, transportation, and entertainment are also well above the national average. As of July 2024, average gas prices are the most expensive in the US at over $5 a gallon. Be sure to plan accordingly to maintain your desired standard of living. 

 

San Diego, a city of over 1.3 million residents, is located on the coast of southern California, about two hours south of Los Angeles. SDSU is located about 10 minutes east (by car) from downtown San Diego and is served by the San Diego Trolley and several bus lines.

Master of Engineering Program Manager - Donovan Geiger, MBA
619-594-6079, [email protected]

The program is administered by:

Associate Dean:
Temesgen Garoma, PhD

Program Manager:
Donovan Geiger, MBA
 

Faculty advisers responsible for academic requirements in the College of Engineering are:

Aerospace Engineering:
Xiaofeng Liu, PhD

Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering:
Sahar Ghanipoor Machiani, PhD 

Electrical and Computer Engineering: 
Santosh Nagaraj, PhD

Mechanical Engineering:
Parag Katira, PhD 
 

The faculty adviser responsible for academic requirements in the Fowler College of Business Administration is:

Congcong Zheng, PhD
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs

To submit official documents as part of an application:

Graduate Admissions
SDSU - Enrollment Services
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182-7416