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Master of Engineering Degree Program

The Master of Engineering (MEng) degree program is aimed at students seeking to become professional engineers or engineers already in the profession seeking to add depth or acquire specialized knowledge within an area of study by covering both basic science and its application to practical problem-solving.

The MEng degree is a flexible course-based program that prepares students for a professional engineering career through a foundational mastery in one of six engineering tracks. The MEng does not require a thesis and can be completed either full-time or part-time.

With the exception of the online Master of Engineering track in Computer Engineering, the Master of Engineering is an on-campus program.

On-Campus MEng Admissions

Online MEng Admissions

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How to Apply for On-Campus MEng

How to Apply for Online MEng

Overview

"Thayer is a call for action, an innovative hub, and a place to laugh all in one. And arguably most important, is a place to learn that we will all make a difference in our respective communities."

—Stephanie Emenyonu '16 Th'17 '18

Flexible & Streamlined

Dartmouth's MEng:

  • can be completed in three terms
  • is course-based
  • does not require the completion of a thesis
  • offers engineering design project elective
  • offers a one-course research experience

Graduates acquire:

  • basic competency in applied mathematics and engineering
  • breadth of engineering knowledge through elective courses
  • depth of engineering through courses specific to their areas of study
  • project leadership skills

Areas of Study

Through the MEng program, graduates acquire a depth of knowledge through courses specific to their specialized engineering track, as well as basic competency in applied mathematics and engineering and a breadth of understanding of various engineering disciplines through electives.

Learning Outcomes

  1. an ability to identify, specify, and formulate complex engineering problems beyond those typical of undergraduate academic training;
  2. an ability to solve complex engineering problems by using advanced engineering methods and techniques;
  3. an ability to assess the quality of solutions for complex engineering problems against technical, economic, and/or societal requirements/impacts;
  4. an ability to analyze complex engineering problems and their solutions to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement by employing advanced engineering processes and tools.

MEng students can tailor their degree to their individual interests with six specialized tracks in:

Biological/Chemical

Biological and chemical engineering exists at the interface of engineering, biological, and chemical sciences. This interdisciplinary field brings to bear fundamental design principles to both elucidate and modulate the function of biological systems, ranging in scale from molecular to cellular to whole organisms.

On-Campus Biological/Chemical

Biomedical

Biomedical engineering is the broad area of study in which engineers use an interdisciplinary approach to solve problems in the medical field, often associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems. The program is intended for engineers who want to add depth to their knowledge or acquire new specialized knowledge in biomedical engineering.

On-Campus Biomedical

Electrical/Computer

Electrical and computer engineering leverages the fundamental principles surrounding electricity to advance today’s emerging technologies ranging from semiconductor devices to advanced communication networks, from self-powered sensors to electric cars, from wearable devices to cognitive medical imaging, and from autonomous vehicles to smart cities.

On-campus Electrical/Computer

Online Computer Engineering

Energy

Energy is a major determinant of world events and quality of life. Energy engineering brings to bear the spectrum of engineering disciplines on challenges and opportunities involving energy, recognizing social, political, and economic contexts.

On-Campus Energy

Materials Science

The study of materials science and engineering relates the properties of materials—chemical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, optical—to their internal architecture or microstructure.

On-Campus Materials Science

Mechanical/Operations/Systems

Mechanical, operations, and systems engineering leverages fundamental principles of physics, economics, human behavior and advanced computing to innovate in a wide array of application domains.

On-Campus Mechanical/Operations/Systems

Prerequisites

MEng candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s level degree in engineering or a bachelor’s level degree in a scientific field such as physics, chemistry, or computer science from an accredited institution.

The background engineering knowledge and skills of applicants without an accredited bachelor's level engineering degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee. Applicants who do not hold accredited engineering degrees may be required to take the necessary prerequisite courses in addition to the requirements of the MEng degree.

Wondering what prerequisite engineering knowledge you may need? Discover how Dartmouth's Launch into Engineering summer track, tailored for STEM students from non-engineering backgrounds, can boost your engineering skills and prepare you for success in the MEng program.

Explore Launch into Engineering

Degree Requirements

On-Campus MEng Course Requirements

The program consists of nine courses in one of the six MEng areas of study, of which five should be from the list of core courses. The remaining four electives can consist of any graduate-level engineering or science courses at Dartmouth. For students with no engineering background, additional courses may be required.

Students who earned the BE at Dartmouth may count up to six applicable graduate courses towards the requirements for both the BE and MEng programs. The courses must not have been taken to fulfill the requirements for the AB.

Students may count up to three graduate-level electives towards both MEng and Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degrees and complete both degrees in as little as two years.

For a one-course research experience, students can elect ENGG 192: Independent or Group Study in Engineering Sciences. With the exception of ENGM 191: Product Design and Development, which must be elected as part of the MEng Design Project, MEng students may not take ENGM courses for credit.

Online MEng in Computer Engineering (MEng: CE) Course Requirements

Students pursuing the online MEng: CE may only enroll in courses specifically designed for this online degree program. These are ENGG courses numbered between 400 and 499. All courses are offered asynchronously online via the Coursera platform. Optional weekly live sessions and additional office hours will be held synchronously via Zoom.

Residency and Program Duration

Students may pursue the degree at a pace that best fits their professional schedules.

On-campus students enrolled full-time complete the program in three terms (nine months), taking three courses at a time.

Online students enrolled full-time complete the program in five to seven terms (15-21 months), taking two courses at a time.

Part-time students may take one or more courses over additional terms.

Dartmouth students pursuing the BE and MEng degrees simultaneously must have at least one term of residency solely as an MEng student. Students must complete the MEng program within six years of initial enrollment.

International Students Enrolled in Online MEng: CE

International students living abroad may pursue the online MEng: CE entirely from their home country and would not be sponsored on a work visa. With sponsorship regulations, international students currently in the United States would need to pursue an in-person option.

Advisors

Graduate advisors aid MEng students in developing their course of study, which is submitted to and approved by Director of the MEng Program during the student’s first term enrolled in the degree program.

Transition to or from MS or PhD Program

Students may be allowed to transition to either the MS or PhD degree programs with the approval of the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, and at the invitation of a willing faculty sponsor. Students enrolled in either the MS or PhD programs can only transition to the MEng upon request from their faculty advisor.

Research Elective & Design Elective Options

The on-campus MEng program provides pathways for students to engage in elective coursework focusing on either research or the engineering design process as part of their elective requirement.

Research Elective

Students can apply for a one-course research project aligned with Dartmouth Engineering’s ongoing research initiatives, collaborating closely with a faculty mentor. The MEng Director publishes a list of active research projects before the beginning of each year.

Design Elective Options

For students seeking to delve into design projects, elective options are available to gain hands-on experience in product design and development, or engineering design and methodology. The appropriate design option will depend on the student's prior experience and coursework, with each option requiring different prerequisites. Students will work with the graduate academic advising director to discuss their options.

Learn more about the design elective options below.

  • Design Elective Option 1: Product Design and Development (1 course)
    • Course: ENGM 191
    • Term: Fall
    • Focus: Student teams conceive, design, and prototype a physical product.
    • Ideal for: Students who are new to the realm of design and have an undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, or other STEM field such as physics or math.

  • Design Elective Option 2: Engineering Design Methodology Project Initiation & Completion (2 course sequence)
    • Courses: ENGS 190 and ENGS 290
    • Terms: Fall and Winter
    • Focus: Student teams define, develop and evaluate a solution to a problem sourced from various industrial and non-profit organizations. Students are assigned to multidisciplinary teams and matched to a project based on the collective skills and experience of the team and the requirements of available projects for the year. Completion of both courses is required.
    • Ideal for:
      • Students with an undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, or other applied sciences that include training in design methodology.
      • Students with an undergraduate degree in STEM fields such as physics, chemistry, math, and biology, who have also taken at least 6 courses in applied science or design.
      • Students with undergraduate degrees in adjacent fields and significant post graduate experience in applied science or design may also be considered.

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Planning Ahead for Multiple Degrees

With advanced planning, students in Dartmouth’s Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and graduate engineering programs can pursue advanced engineering degrees or joint degrees, significantly shortening the time required to achieve dual credentials.

  • BE-MEng

    Students pursuing the BE at Dartmouth may count up to six graduate courses towards the requirements for both the BE and MEng programs. The courses must not have been taken to fulfill the requirements for the AB. Dartmouth students pursuing the BE and MEng degrees simultaneously must have at least one term of residency solely as an MEng student. Students should discuss their plans to satisfy both program requirements with the MEng program director.

    Note for BE students interested in the Online MEng: CE: There are only two courses that are eligible for credit in both the BE and the MEng — ENGS 110: Signal Processing may be substituted for ENGG 410: Signal Processing and ENGS 128: Advanced Digital System Design may be substituted for ENGG 463: FPGA Architecture and Algorithms.

  • Joint MEng Degrees

    Students in Dartmouth’s graduate engineering programs can pursue joint master's or doctoral degrees with the Tuck School of Business or the Geisel School of Medicine, significantly shortening the time required to achieve dual credentials.

    Learn about our joint degree programs.

Tuition, Expenses & Financial Aid

Tuition & Expenses

Review the breakdown of estimated expenses per term and per year for our on-campus and online MEng programs.

Cost of attendance for the on-campus MEng program

Cost of attendance for online MEng program

Financial Aid

Need-based financial aid is available to all eligible full-time on-campus domestic & international MEng students. To be considered for financial aid, prospective students must request financial aid while submitting their application.

Need-based, partial tuition scholarships to eligible students is capped at 40% of tuition. Students must submit financial aid materials at the time of application. Late applications for financial aid may be accepted, but awards will be capped at 20% based on budget availability.

Apply for Financial Aid