Applying to an Engineering Master's Without an Engineering Bachelor's

A bachelor's in physics, mathematics, chemistry or computer science can be a starting point for an engineering master's, but the route is rarely direct. Programs that accept non-engineering graduates usually ask for specific undergraduate math and engineering courses, either before you apply or after you are admitted. This guide shows how programs phrase those rules, using wording from their own pages, and explains why a master's alone may not settle questions about licensure.

Which backgrounds programs name

Read the admission line word for word. The examples below show how wide the range is.

• Columbia's online MS in Electrical Engineering accepts an undergraduate degree "in engineering, science, mathematics, computer science or other related field."
• Colorado State's online MS in Electrical Engineering asks for a bachelor's in engineering, computer science, physics or a related field that includes calculus.
• Kansas State's online industrial engineering master's lists a bachelor's in engineering, mathematics or physical science.
• Michigan Tech's online Master of Engineering states "BS in Engineering. Degrees in Mathematics or Science may qualify."

Phrases such as "related field" or "may qualify" mean the department decides case by case. If the wording is unclear, send your transcript to the graduate coordinator and ask before paying an application fee.

Prerequisites you may need before applying

Some programs want the foundation finished before they review your file.

• Texas Tech's online civil engineering master's tells non-engineers to complete prerequisites such as chemistry, calculus I to III, physics, statics and mechanics of solids and fluids before applying.
• Wayne State's online MS in Biomedical Engineering (Injury Biomechanics) asks applicants from related non-engineering fields for Calculus I and II and Physics I and II, each with a B or better.
• Purdue's online biomedical engineering master's requires Calculus I and II when the bachelor's is not an ABET-accredited engineering degree.

Community college or university courses taken for credit usually serve this purpose, but confirm with the department which courses and grades it accepts.

Bridge, leveling and provisional admission

Other programs admit first and fill the gaps later. The names differ (bridge, leveling, remedial, deficiency or foundation courses) and so do the terms.

• Formal bridge. Auburn's online MS in Chemical Engineering requires graduates from outside chemical engineering to complete a two-semester online bridge program through Michigan State University or NC State, with grades of at least B.
• Provisional status with conditions. NC State's online Master of Biological and Agricultural Engineering says applicants with degrees from non-engineering or non-accredited programs and GPAs above 3.5 may be admitted provisionally while taking at least four remedial engineering courses. The same page requires those applicants to submit GRE scores.
• Courses assigned by background. NC State's online MS in Mechanical Engineering says admitted students from other majors are often expected to take one to three remedial courses. Florida Atlantic's online MS in Electrical Engineering has applicants without an electrical engineering bachelor's choose four prerequisite courses (12 credits) before graduate courses.
• Provisional offers for STEM graduates. University of Houston's online Master of Petroleum Engineering welcomes broader STEM graduates and may offer provisional admission with leveling and introductory master's courses.
• Starting as a non-degree student. Wright State's MS in Industrial and Human Factors Engineering lets applicants who lack calculus or programming begin coursework as non-degree students while they complete those courses.

Two practical questions follow. First, do leveling credits count toward the degree? Columbia's online MS in Materials Science and Engineering, for instance, requires an introductory materials course without degree credit for students who have not covered the material. NC State's online chemical engineering master's encourages non-chemical engineers to take two core concepts courses that count as electives. Second, can you take them online? Penn State's online Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering says it "does not offer online prerequisite courses."

Engineering technology graduates

A bachelor's in engineering technology is not an engineering degree, and programs treat it differently. Kansas State's online electrical and computer engineering master's says an electrical engineering technology degree "does not usually qualify for admission," and Colorado State's online MS in Electrical Engineering does not accept B.S.E.E.T. degrees. Kennesaw State's online MS in Mechanical Engineering lists engineering technology among accepted majors. Our engineering technology section explains how the two fields differ.

What a master's does and does not change for licensure

If you may want a Professional Engineer (PE) license later, check your state before you plan around a master's. NCEES, which develops the licensing exams, says boards generally require P.E. candidates to have a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program, that many states provide additional paths, and that candidates should verify the requirements of the state where they plan to practice.

Texas is one example of a state with a written rule for this situation. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors counts as an accredited degree a Board-approved combination of a bachelor's in a mathematical, physical or engineering science and a graduate degree in engineering from a university with an EAC/ABET-accredited undergraduate program in the same discipline. Its non-accredited route requires eight years of experience instead of four. Other states set their own rules, so a graduate degree does not automatically make up for a bachelor's outside engineering. Our guide to engineering licensure and online degrees covers the full process.

How to approach your application

• Make a list of the math, science and engineering courses on your transcript, with grades.
• Compare it with each program's stated prerequisites and note any gaps.
• Ask whether gaps are filled before admission, as provisional coursework or as part of the degree, and whether those courses are offered online.
• Check whether extra tests apply to non-engineering applicants, as at NC State's biological and agricultural engineering program.
• If licensure matters, read your state board's education rules before you enroll.

You can filter online engineering master's programs by major, start with the majors overview, and review the general admission requirements guide.