Dartmouth Master of Engineering (MEng)

As an MEng candidate, you're required to hold a bachelor-level degree in engineering or a scientific field such as physics, chemistry, or computer science from an accredited institution. If your degree is from a non-accredited institution, you may be required to take the necessary prerequisite courses, in addition to courses for the MEng, to fulfill degree requirements.

Wondering what prerequisite engineering knowledge you may need? Discover how Dartmouth's Launch into Engineering summer-long preparation, 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

The program consists of nine courses in one of the seven specialized tracks—five of which should be from the list of core courses. The remaining four electives can consist of any graduate-level engineering or science courses at Dartmouth. If you do not have an engineering background, additional courses may be required. 

• artificial intelligence (AI) track
• biological and chemical engineering track
• biomedical engineering track
• electrical/ computer engineering track
• energy engineering track
• materials science and engineering track
• mechanical, operations, and systems engineering track

Your specialized track will be reflected as a "concentration" on your transcript at the time of graduation. Although some areas have subfields, the concentration listed on your transcript will match one of the seven main tracks. 

If you earned the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) at Dartmouth, you may count up to six graduate courses toward the requirements for both the BE and MEng programs. The courses you count cannot have been used to fulfill the AB requirements. 

You may count up to three graduate-level electives toward 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, you can elect ENGG 192: Independent or Group Study in Engineering Sciences. With the exception of ENGM 191: Product Design and Development, you may not take "ENGM" courses for credit.

Dartmouth's online MEng in computer engineering requires you to complete nine courses over 15–27 months, depending on your desired pace. The coursework focuses on intelligent systems, which are foundational for AI, virtual, and augmented reality, as well as autonomous technologies.

The computer engineering specialized track will be reflected as a "concentration" on your transcript at the time of graduation.

Learn more about the online computer engineering master's degree.

The MEng program provides unique pathways for you to engage in elective coursework focusing on research and the engineering design process. 

Research elective

You can apply for a one-course research project aligned with Dartmouth Engineering's ongoing research initiatives and collaborate closely with a faculty mentor. The MEng director publishes a list of active research projects before the beginning of each year.

Design project elective options 

For hands-on experience in product design, elective options cover the entire product life cycle, including market research, development, design research, and prototyping. The appropriate design option will depend on your prior experience and coursework, with each option requiring different prerequisites. You will work with the graduate academic advising director to determine your options.

Design project elective option 1: Product Design and Development (one 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 project elective option 2: Engineering Design Methodology Project Initiation & Completion (two-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 six 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.

You may pursue the MEng degree at a pace that best fits your professional schedule. If you're enrolled full-time in the on-campus program, you may complete the program in three terms (nine months) by taking three courses at a time. If you're a Dartmouth student pursuing the BE and MEng degrees simultaneously, you must have at least one term of residency solely as an MEng student. 

You must complete the MEng program within six years of initial enrollment. If you're enrolled in the online MEng: CE program, you may complete the program in five to seven terms (15–27 months), taking two courses at a time. If you attend either program part-time, you may take one or more courses over additional terms.

International students enrolled in Online MEng: CE

International students living abroad may pursue the online MEng: Computer Engineering track 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.

You may be allowed to transition to either the MS or PhD degree programs with the approval of the MS-PhD Committee, and at the invitation of a faculty sponsor. If you're enrolled in either the MS or PhD programs, you can only transition to the MEng upon request from your faculty advisor.

Your faculty advisor will aid you in developing your course of study, which is submitted to and approved by the MEng director during the student's first term enrolled in the degree program.

A Master of Engineering (MEng) is a graduate degree designed to strengthen and expand your knowledge and skills to advance your engineering career. 

You may be wondering if a master of engineering degree is worth it. The answer is, it depends on your personal and professional goals. If you're looking to advance your career, an engineering master's can help make you more competitive, particularly for upper-level leadership roles. With the MEng degree at Dartmouth Engineering, you can choose a track to develop specialized knowledge and skills for more advanced roles. 

You're also likely to attract a higher salary with a master of engineering degree. For example, by earning a master's at Dartmouth with a concentration in mechanical engineering, you could earn a median annual salary of $99,510, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A master's with a concentration in electrical engineering could earn you $117,680, according to the BLS. 

Although the admissions requirements differ slightly between the online and on-campus programs, either way, you should describe in your application materials how your educational background and professional experience will set you on a path for success. Please note that GRE scores are optional, and if you choose to include them, self-reported scores are accepted initially with official scores required, if admitted. 

Please review the requirements below for your degree path:

On-campus students: You must hold a bachelor's degree in engineering or a scientific field such as physics, chemistry, or computer science from an accredited institution. If admitted with a degree from a non-accredited institution, you may need to take prerequisite courses in addition to your MEng courses. 

Online students: You must have a bachelor's degree before starting the online MEng in computer engineering. The admissions team considers applicants holistically, welcoming those with a variety of STEM-related educational backgrounds and professional experiences. With an accredited bachelor's degree in engineering or related STEM field like computer science or physics, you should be well-prepared for the program. Even with an accredited bachelor's degree outside of engineering, your relevant STEM experience and skills make you eligible, though additional prerequisite coursework may be required. Demonstrating knowledge in areas such as linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics, basic programming (eg. C, Python), digital logic, and analog circuit fundamentals will benefit you in the program.

Non-US citizens must submit language proficiency test scores, unless you have earned a degree from institutions in the US or Canada, or you are from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Slovenia, Sweden, or the United Kingdom. Dartmouth Engineering accepts TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo tests, with self-reported scores acceptable during the application process, but official scores required upon admission. 

Dartmouth offers an online computer engineering master's degree through Coursera. The other seven specialized engineering tracks are offered exclusively on the Dartmouth campus.

By attending Dartmouth full time, you can earn the on-campus master of engineering in nine months and the online computer engineering degree in 15 months. If you take classes part-time, you must complete the engineering master's program within six years.

Learning outcomes for the master's in engineering:

• An ability to identify, specify, and formulate complex engineering problems beyond those typical of undergraduate academic training;
• An ability to solve complex engineering problems by using advanced engineering methods and techniques;
• An ability to assess the quality of solutions for complex engineering problems against technical, economic, and/or societal requirements/impacts;
• 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.

The master of engineering program provides opportunities to engage in research, which can pave the way for you to transition to Dartmouth's engineering PhD, the PhD-Innovation (PhD-I) Program, or the PhD in Medical Physics.

Need-based financial aid that can cover up to 40% of your tuition is available to all eligible full-time engineering master's students, both domestic and international. To be considered, you must request financial aid while submitting your application and complete the necessary forms, including the CSS Profile (Dartmouth CSS Code: 3355) and the FAFSA (for US citizens). Learn more about financial aid options and how to apply. 

Note: MEng online students are not eligible to apply for need-based aid. 

Questions? Contact engineering.financial.aid@dartmouth.edu. 

With advance planning, Dartmouth's Bachelor of Engineering (BE) students can pursue the MEng, significantly shortening the time required to achieve dual credentials.

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 online MEng:

• ENGS 110: Signal Processing may be substituted for ENGG 410: Signal Processing
• ENGS 128: Advanced Digital System Design may be substituted for ENGG 463: FPGA Architecture and Algorithms.

By earning your master's in engineering degree at Dartmouth, you'll receive robust support from a dedicated engineering career services office as well as through academic advising, professional development workshops, and more. MEng graduates benefit from an extensive Dartmouth Engineering alumni network and a high job placement rate.