Bridge to Chemical Engineering's Professional Master's Program

Recognizing that students with undergraduate degrees outside engineering may be interested in the pursuit of a Professional MS in Chemical Engineering, the department allows interested non-traditional students to complete a bridging program via Michigan State University. The program prepares undergraduates from science, technology, and mathematics backgrounds to successfully pursue a Professional MS in ChemE. 

Chemical Engineering is a highly versatile degree program, drawing upon tools from the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The bridging program is designed to provide a smooth transition for students from the natural sciences and mathematics to graduate study in chemical engineering. It is our expectation that students pursuing this degree will depart Pitt as scientists-turned-engineers who are better equipped to achieve their career goals. Students who complete the program will find they are now eligible for additional roles in industry, oftentimes in management positions in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and petroleum industries in addition to many others. 

What is the bridging program?

PLEASE NOTE: The formal bridging program described below will not be officially offered until further notice. Students may still transition into Chemical Engineering by completing Michigan State University's bridging program. Check back on this page for future updates regarding Pitt's own bridging program launch. 

Michigan State University Bridging Program: As of now, students must take two bridging courses, CHE 804 and 805, offered as Internet-based courses through Michigan State University before the fall term of their first semester in graduate school. The student must receive at least a B grade in each of these courses. See here for details about CHE 804 and 805. The procedures for the program can be found here.

Start Date TBD: Swanson's formal Bridging Program will not launch Summer 2021, please return to this page for further updates. Once the program is open, it will take place during the summer (4-week term starting in July) prior to starting your MS coursework. This is an intensive 6-credit summer course providing the highlights of ChE required to begin taking graduate coursework at the start of the fall term. The bridging course is only required for those students who do not have a traditional undergraduate engineering degree. 

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Chemical Engineering program welcomes students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Physics

Eligibility 

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with high academic standing in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, biology, or physics. This program is available to Pitt undergrads as well as students from other universities with a STEM undergrad degree interested in pursuing a Professional MS in Chemical Engineering. 

Applicants from disciplines other than engineering who want to pursue this degree must complete the following coursework before the start of the fall term:

• Ordinary differential equations (Pitt Math 0290, or equivalent) 
• The Bridging Program during the summer (4-week term starting in July)
• Please note that students whose undergraduate degree is in engineering are not required to complete the Bridging Program but students from some programs (e.g. Industrial, Electrical and Computer...) may find the program helpful. 

Program Requirements:

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (31 credits) in 18 months from the start of the bridging program through the completion of their credit requirements as a full-time student as follows:

• Entering Summer Term:
  • Students enroll in, or have already completed: Ordinary differential equations (Pitt Math 0290, or equivalent)
  • Complete 4 week Bridging Program 
  • Note: these credits do not count toward your 31 required credits toward the MS in Chemical Engineering
• Fall Term:
  • Complete ChE 2201, ChE 2301, ChE 2410, and 1 elective course toward degree in Chemical Engineering, or 13 credits
• Spring Term:
  • ChE 2101, 1 elective course, and Undergraduate Senior Design (ChE 0613), or 11 total credits (6 graduate)
• Second Summer Term:
  • Time off or internship
• Second Fall Term:
  • Complete remaining 4 MS courses towards degree in Chemical Engineering, or 12 credits

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Bridging Program and eligibility requirements please contact: 

Susan Fullerton, PhD
Vice Chair for Graduate Education, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
412-624-2079 – fullerton@pitt.edu 

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:

Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu 

For more information about the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering or application information please contact:

Rita Ann Leccia

Graduate Program Administrative Assistant, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

412-624-9646 – ril3@pitt.edu

MS in Bioengineering - Medical Product Engineering Focus

This 30 credit professional master’s program in bioengineering with an emphasis on Medical Product Engineering is offered through the Swanson School of Engineering in conjunction with the Center for Medical Innovation. The goal of this non-thesis program is to apply engineering innovation to the identification of and solution to challenges in health care delivery in the medical industry. Graduates will be well prepared for a career in the medical device industry through hands-on, practical experience in medical product design and development, development of advanced engineering skills, and instruction in professional affairs and practices in medical engineering. For more information about this program see here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has engendered a wave of new and adaptive technologies to address the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other innovations – some of which were developed at the University of Pittsburgh and within the Swanson School of Engineering. Join a program forging ahead in adapting to our ever changing need for medical product devices that deliver real-world, impactful solutions. 

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Bioengineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 12-16 months as a full-time student. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term:
  • Complete 3 MS courses towards degree in Bioengineering, or 9 credits
• Spring Term:
  • Complete 4 MS courses towards degree in Bioengineering, or 12 credits
• Summer Term:
  • Full-time students are recommended to complete part-time internship (paid, unpaid, or for credit) with an industry partner or related entity.
• Second Fall Term:
  • Complete remaining 3 MS courses towards degree in Bioengineering, or 9 credits

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Career Paths

Offering hands-on, practical experience in medical product design and development that prepares graduates for an industrial or academic career in the medical product engineering sector – graduates will enter a job market which is expect to see a 23% growth over the next 10 years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Upon graduation, 77% of our students enter industry careers with the remainder going on to further graduate work, medical school, and other related fields. Within 6 months of graduation, 95% of the MS students wishing to join the industry found employment at a mean starting annual salary of $85,000. 

A Word from our Executive Director

"Our MS program in Medical Product Engineering (MPE) at the University of Pittsburgh is hosted by the Department of Bioengineering in the Swanson School of Engineering. The program is tightly coupled with the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI), which provides seed grants for early stage translational medicine projects, and thus provides project opportunities for our students to work collaboratively with world-class UPMC clinicians and engineering faculty. Our students are encouraged to work as they might in a medical product development company starting with clinical “needs finding” and finishing with commercialization strategy. Many of our project teams have the additional guidance of industry professionals and entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh region. Most of the core faculty in the program have years of medical product industry experience and connections which benefit our students. We have an excellent record of placing students in the medical products industry as developers, designers, managers, business entrepreneurs, and regulatory professionals. Our students are encouraged to participate in startup competitions within the rapidly advancing “Eds and Meds” innovation infrastructure in the Pittsburgh region.
Feel free to explore our website and social media to learn more about what we do, and how our program could help you in your career growth."

Alan Hirschman, PhD

Professor of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Executive Director, Center for Medical Innovation

Hear directly from our students about their experiences here. 

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the MS BioE-MPE Program please contact:
Kilichan Gurleyik, DSc
Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering 
412-648-8071 - gurleyik@pitt.edu

For more information about the Bioengineering Department and application status please contact:
Erin E. Schuetz, MA
CMI/MS-MPE Program Assistant
412-624-7279 - MSMPE@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu 

MS in Bioengineering - Neural Engineering Focus

The Professional MS in Bioengineering with a Neural Engineering focus is comprised of ten courses or 30 credits. Students are required to build core competency in at least two of the following concentrations: brain-computer interfaces, neural tissue interfaces, neural imaging and systems, and neural devices and neuromorphic engineering. The concentrations for core competency will be selected in consultation with the program director and will take into consideration the student’s previous training and career aspirations. Graduates of the program are prepared to work in the neural engineering industry, or related fields such as medical devices or data science. For more information about this program see here.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Bioengineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

• Engineering disciplines
• Biological sciences (e.g., neuroscience)
• Physical sciences
• Mathematical disciplines, including computer science
• Applied health disciplines and pre-medical professions

Eligibility

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in a STEM discipline with high academic standing. Previous didactic instruction in linear algebra is preferred.

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in one year as a full-time student. Neural engineering track students are required to complete 12 credits in one concentration, 9 credits in another concentration, 3 credits in life sciences (typically, a systems neuroscience course), 3 credits in medical ethics, and 3 credits in an advanced math or statistics. Various options are available each semester to fulfill these requirements.

Application Requirements

• Minimum GPA - 3.00
• Academic Transcript
• Personal Statement
• Resume/CV
• 2 Letters of Recommendation (waived for Fall 2020 admissions)
• GRE (waived for Fall 2020 admissions)
• TOEFL or Duolingo test scores (required for international students)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information 

Career Paths

Students will garner a deep knowledge of the biology of the nervous system, and how, from an engineering perspective, to treat disorders, build clinical devices, and construct computational models. The non-thesis program is designed to provide excellent training for industry in neural engineering or related fields such as medical devices or data science.  

A Word from the Program Director

"Neural engineering encompasses a wide array of clinical, technological, and analytical fields. Examples include neural prosthetics, brain-computer interface systems, epilepsy monitoring, deep brain stimulation, engineering approaches to psychiatric disorders, and brain-inspired computation. Pitt is a recognized leader in this emerging discipline. Students learn from our core faculty and clinical collaborators through courses that prepare them to work in this exciting and dynamic field."

Neeraj Gandhi, PhD
Professor & Graduate Program Director, Department of Bioengineering

Find Applications Below

Apply Now

Apply Now (Pitt Undergrads - Swanson Supplemental)

Contact Information 

For more information about the Neural Engineering Program please contact:
Neeraj Gandhi, PhD
Professor & Graduate Program Director, Department of Bioengineering
412-648-4529 – msne@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu 

MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering – Construction Management Focus

The Professional Master's degree in CEE with a Construction Management focus is comprised of ten courses or 30 credits. The program prepares students to manage the rebuilding of public infrastructure and the modernization of private buildings and plants. Graduates of the program will become leaders in the construction industry and generally practice in public agencies, construction companies, consulting firms, and many other national and international positions. For more information about this program see here.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Civil and Environmental Engineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 12 - 18 months as a full-time student. Students must complete 6* required courses and 4 elective courses. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term:
  • Complete 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credits (Required courses offered in the Fall: CEE 2202* , CEE 2205* and CEE 2206* or CEE 2207*)
• Spring Term:
  
  • Complete 4 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 12 credits (Required courses offered in the Spring: CEE 2201*, CEE 2203*, CEE 2204*) 
• Summer Term:
  
  • Internship or work
• Second Fall Term
  
  • Complete remaining 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credits (Required courses offered in the Fall: CEE 2202* , CEE 2205* and CEE 2206* or CEE 2207*)

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Professional MS Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Construction Management Focus please contact:
Vikas Khanna, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
412-624-9867 – khannav@pitt.edu

For more information about the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and application status please contact:
Cheryl Morand
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
chm168@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu

MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering – Environmental Engineering Focus

The MS in CEE with an Environmental focus is comprised of 30 credits. The program provides opportunities for graduate education and research in the science and engineering of water and wastewater treatment, water quality, solid and hazardous waste management, air quality control and environmental impact assessment. Graduates of the program are in great demand by consulting firms and government agencies and by research organizations and educational institutions.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Civil and Environmental Engineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

Eligibility

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with high academic standing (Pitt2Pitt: 3.5/4.0 and other applicants 3.25/4.00). Regardless of the undergraduate degree, all applicants must complete the following coursework before the start of the fall term:

• Differential equations (or equivalent of Math 0290) 

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 12 - 18 months as a full-time student. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term:
  • Complete 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credits
• Spring Term:
  • Complete 4 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 12 credit
• Summer Term:
  • Internship or work
• Second Fall Term:
  • Complete remaining 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credits

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about this program and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering please contact:
Vikas Khanna, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
412-624-9867 – khannav@pitt.edu

For more information about application information please contact:
Cheryl Morand
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
chm168@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu 

MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering – Sustainable Engineering Focus

The MS in CEE with a Sustainable Engineering focus is comprised of 30 credits. The program aims to creatively address the multifaceted issues and challenges in sustainability today. Graduates emerge from SE with a novel perspective and cutting edge skills directed towards environmental stewardship and sustainability. The graduate program in SE prepares students for leadership roles in sustainability engineering practice, development and research.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Civil and Environmental Engineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

Eligibility

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with high academic standing (Pitt2Pitt: 3.5/4.0 and other applicants 3.25/4.00). Regardless of the undergraduate degree, all applicants must complete the following coursework before the start of the fall term:

• Differential equations (or equivalent of Math 0290)

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 12 - 18 months as a full-time student. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term:
  • Complete 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credit
• Spring Term:
  • Complete 4 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 12 credit
• Summer Term:
  
  • Internship or work
• Second Fall Term:
  
  • Complete remaining 3 MS courses towards degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or 9 credits

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about this program and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering please contact:
Vikas Khanna, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
412-624-9867 – khannav@pitt.edu

For more information about application information please contact:
Cheryl Morand
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
chm168@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu 

MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering is comprised of 30 credits. The goal of the program is to enable students to identify and solve electrical and computer engineering problems and course work is available in the following areas: computer systems and communications, signal processing and control systems, nanoelectronics and photonics, and electric power and energy systems. Graduates of the program are well prepared for leadership roles in the electrical and computer engineering industry and related fields.

Eligible Majors

The Electrical and Computer Engineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

Eligibility 

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in a technical discipline with high academic standing. Prerequisites might be needed for non-ECE majors and will be determined on an individual basis.

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 18 months as a full-time student by taking 3 or 4 courses per term over three terms.

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information. 

Career Paths

Our recent graduates have been employed at industries, national labs and startups, e.g., Apple, Arm, Bechtel, Bettis Atomic Power Lab, Bloomberg, Duquesne Light, General Electric, GE Energy, Global Foundries, Google, HP, Intel, Lockheed Martin, MathWorks, Micron Technology, Mitsubishi, NASA, NVIDIA, ON Semi, Sandia National Laboratories, and Thales, France.

A Word from the Graduate Coordinator

"The Pitt ECE Department was founded in 1893 by two engineering giants, George Westinghouse (pioneer of  US electrical industry) and Reginald Fessenden (1st voice radio, 1st transatlantic radio). Since then the Department has grown significantly in terms of faculty size and student enrollment. The current enrollment of ECE Graduate Program is about 200. The Department is the home to many R&D centers and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Department also maintains strong and growing ties with industry. Our graduate curriculum offers a variety of courses in cutting-edge areas, such as high performance/space computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, nanotechnology, signals and systems, and power/energy systems."

Dr. Hong Koo Kim, PhD
Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about Professional MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering and application status please contact:
Sandy Weisberg
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
412-624-8001 – sweisber@pitt.edu

For more information about the Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Program please contact:
Dr. Hong Koo Kim, PhD
Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
412-624-9673 - hkk@pitt.edu 

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu

MS in Industrial Engineering

The Master of Science in Industrial Engineering is highly flexible and requires a minimum of 30 credits of graduate study. The discipline focuses on improving the design and operation of any system, such as a production or manufacturing system, a distribution and logistics system, a retail system, a financial system, and more! An applicant needs to have strong mathematical, analytical and computational skills, and the ability to work in a team setting to succeed in our IE MS program. Graduates of the program are well prepared for careers as technical leaders in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, logistics, consulting, media, retail, airline, financial, and technology.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Industrial Engineering department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Information Science/Technology
• Quantitative Business 
• Economics
• Statistics

Eligibility

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with high academic standing in engineering and exceptional students from other disciplines will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Prerequisites include (applicants should either have already completed in their undergraduate coursework or expect to complete in addition to their 30 MS credits):

• Calculus (or the equivalent of Pitt's Math 220 and Math 230)
• Linear algebra (or the equivalent of Pitt's Math 280)
• An engineering/calculus based course in probability & statistics 
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (such as C, Java, Python, C++, etc.) is beneficial but not essential

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 12 months as a full-time student. However, it is more common to complete the program in 16 months particularly for those students who require addition prerequisite courses. Students can begin their studies in any term; however, the majority begin in the Fall term. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term:
  • Complete 3 MS courses towards degree in Industrial Engineering, or 9 credits
  • NOTE: A student's fall semester may be modified due to their prerequisite requirements which the Industrial Engineering Department will allow you to complete alongside of other MS courses in the Fall term. 
• Spring Term:
  • Complete 4 MS courses towards degree in Industrial Engineering, or 12 credits
• Summer Term:
  • Internship or work
• Second Fall Term:
  • Complete remaining 3 MS courses towards degree in Industrial Engineering, or 9 credits

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Professional MS in Industrial Engineering please contact:
Jayant Rajgopal, PhD
Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Industrial Engineering
412-624-9840 – rajgopal@pitt.edu

For more information about the Department of Industrial Engineering and application status please contact:
Michael Sibenac
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Industrial Engineering
412-624-9829 – gradie@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu  

MS in Materials Science

The MS in Materials Science is comprised of 30 credits. The goal of the program is to apply scientific and engineering principles to the solution of materials problems that impede technological progress. Graduates of the program are provided the tools to become successful in research, development, production, management, and teaching.

Eligible Majors

The Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Physics

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 18 months as a full-time student. An example of the course layout by term follows:

• Fall Term: MSE 2067, MSE 2003, MSE 2073
• Spring Term: MSE 2015, MSE 2030, MSE 2046, MSE 2008
• Second Fall Term: MSE 2085, MSE 2061, MSE 2998 

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Career Paths

Our recent graduates have been employed in the steel/metal industry (US steel, GE, Kennametal, Alcoa/Alconic), semiconductor industry (Applied Materials, Intel, TDK), nuclear industry (Westinghouse, Bettis Laboratory), and more!

A Word from the Graduate Coordinator

"Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is an interdisciplinary field. MSE is for students who genuinely want to be involved with using engineering science at the cutting edge of today's technological world. Modern MSE creates the “stuff" out of which we fabricate our society, using concepts of engineering design from the microscopic level of atoms, molecules, and electrons to the macroscopic scale of bridges, machines, motors, turbine engines, and supersonic aircraft. A major attraction of this major is the breadth of career opportunities available to graduates because of the impact and influence of materials on an ever-greater number of critical manufacturing and processing technologies and because of their critical role in vital areas such as transportation, energy, and communications."

Dr. Jung-Kun Lee, PhD
Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Find Applications Below

Contact Information 

For more information about the Professional MS in Materials Science please contact:
Dr. Jung-Kun Lee, PhD
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

412-648-3395– jul37@pitt.edu

For more information about the Mechanical and Materials Science Department and application status please contact:
Carolyn Chuha
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

412-624-9722 – cac90@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA

Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing 

412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu

MS in Mechanical Engineering

The MS in Mechanical Engineering is comprised of 30 credits and is designed for the student to develop an advanced understanding in a specific area of interest. The program offers education and research at the cutting edge of thermal-fluid science, engineering simulation and computation, solid mechanics, biomechanics, manufacturing, dynamic systems and control. Graduates of the program are well prepared for leadership roles in the mechanical engineering industry.

Eligible Majors

The Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science department welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

• Engineering
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Computer Science

Eligibility

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree with high academic standing from one of the eligible majors. Prerequisite undergraduate courses might be needed for non-ME majors and will be determined on an individual basis.

Program Requirements

This program is designed that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 15 months as a full-time student. Part-time students will likely require more time.

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information. 

Career Paths

In addition to an array of traditional courses relevant to the field of mechanical engineering, the graduate curriculum in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science also offers specialized courses that reflect the research competencies of our faculty in topical areas such as: advanced manufacturing and design; materials for extreme conditions; soft matter biomechanics; computational and data-enabled engineering; cyber-physical systems and security;  nuclear engineering; and quantitative and in situ materials characterization. Our graduates find employment in major engineering companies in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and energy industry. Some of our graduates continue their studies to pursue a PhD at Pitt or at other major research universities.  

A Word from the Graduate Coordinator

"The mechanical engineering graduate program offers our students the flexibility to tailor their studies under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students can choose courses from the array offered by the MEMS Department and courses offered from other engineering, mathematics and science departments to meet the prescribed educational goals. Additionally, full-time Pitt students may take one course per semester for credit at other participating universities through the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education. The MEMS Department invites distinguished speakers as part of its weekly graduate-seminar series in the fall and spring semesters to further enrich the academic experience of its students."

Inanc Senocak, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Professional MS in Mechanical Engineering please contact:
Inanc Senocak, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

412-624-5430 - senocak@pitt.edu (preferred)

For more information about the Mechanical and Materials Science Department and application status please contact:
Carolyn Chuha
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

412-624-9722 – cac90@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA

Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing 

412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu

MS in Nuclear Engineering – Stephen R. Tritch Nuclear Engineering Program

The professional MS program is oriented toward full-time students seeking a career in industry, and part-time students currently working in industry. The professional master's degree requires the completion of at least 30 course credits of graduate study approved by the Nuclear Engineering program directors, with at least a 3.00 QPA, and consists of graduate-level coursework with study areas in nuclear operations and safety, nuclear science, and nuclear systems. The focus on nuclear operations and safety not only fulfills a recognized educational need, but is also designed to take advantage of unique industrial resources in the Pittsburgh area. Graduates of the program are prepared for both technical and leadership roles in the nuclear power industry and related technologies. For more information about this program see here.

Eligible Majors

The Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science department welcomes high achieving (3.50/4.00) students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to:

• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Physics

Applicants from other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Eligibility 

All applicants must have a foundation in a physical science or branch of engineering and associated mathematics.

Program Requirements

This program is designed such that students can complete their Professional MS degree (30 credits) in 18-24 months as a full-time student. A list of all courses regularly offered can be found in the Nuclear catalog. For applicants with no previous Nuclear Engineering coursework, ME 2100, "Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering", is a requirement.  Course offerings per semester are designed to be compatible with the two-year full-time target for degree completion. In addition, select additional courses taught by guest faculty may be offered in a manner also compatible with the two-year degree goal.

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information. 

Career Paths

The professional MS program at Pitt is oriented toward full-time students seeking a career in industry, and part-time students currently working in industry. Disciplines typically involved in the nuclear power industry include 80% Mechanical Engineering, 10% Electrical engineering, and 10% comprising all other disciplines, including the physical sciences, applied mathematics, health physics, industrial engineering, and others. In addition, various nuclear applications offer opportunities to learn and grow in medical radiation technologies, security applications, non-proliferation activities at national laboratories, and niche applications such as sterilization of medical equipment or foods.

A Word from the Associate Director

“In an audit conducted in 2015 by three highly respected US nuclear educators, the Pitt program's strength was cited to be our focus on operations and safety.  We instruct in the same subject areas as "classical" NE programs, but are focused from the start on operations - not only in power plants, but also in the nuclear fuel cycle.”

Thomas Congedo, PhD
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Associate Director, Stephen R. Tritch Nuclear Engineering Program

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Professional MS in Nuclear Engineering Program please contact:

Thomas Congedo, PhD

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Associate Director, Stephen R. Tritch Nuclear Engineering Program 

412-477-1091 (mobile preferred) - tvc9@pitt.edu

For more information about the Mechanical and Materials Science Department and application status please contact:
Carolyn Chuha
Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

412-624-9722 – cac90@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA

Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing 

412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu

MS in Sustainable Engineering

The Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering is a 30 credit program designed for students to take five core courses and five electives in a track which meets their educational and career goals. The tracks students may pursue include: Energy, Environmental Water and Sustainability, Green Computing, Sustainable Built Environment and Infrastructure, and Sustainability Data Science. This program is offered in conjunction with the Swanson School of Engineering and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation providing a learning environment for students which leverages the strengths of faculty conducting research in may different realms of sustainability. The goal of the program is to provide students the ability to identify and solve sustainability issues using systems approaches in the context of the triple bottom line of environmental, societal, and economic problems. Graduates of the program have a distinct advantage in pursuing sustainable solutions in a variety of professional settings ranging from industry and non-profit to government and military. For more information about this program see here.

Examples of Eligible Majors

The Sustainable Engineering program welcomes high achieving students from various academic backgrounds, including but not limited to: 

Eligibility

Engineering undergraduates are typically able to matriculate into their desired track without prerequisites. Students from non-engineering backgrounds should have completed the following coursework before the start of their graduate coursework:

• Physics 1
• Calculus 2
• Differential Equations
• Intro to Programming for Engineers (ENGR-0012 or ENGR-0016)

Additional prerequisites may be required for non-engineers, and will be identified by working with the Program Director (Dr. Sanchez) to develop a tentative plan of study.

Program Requirements

The MSSE program is 30 credits (10 courses) and can be completed in 1 year (full-time). Please keep in mind that this does not include any of the foundational courses that students from non-engineering backgrounds may need.

Application Requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Applicants can find more information about our graduate tuition rates here. Undergraduate Pitt students who are high academic performers (meet minimum GPA) are eligible for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, see here for information.

Find Applications Below

Contact Information

For more information about the Sustainable Engineering program please contact:
David Sanchez, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Assistant Director for Education and Community Engagement, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
412-624-9793 – davidsanchez@pitt.edu

For more information about Swanson's graduate programs please contact:
Stephanie Opalinski, MBA
Director of Graduate Programs Recruitment and Enrollment Marketing
412-383-7027 – stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu