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Dartmouth offers a diversity of concentrations with collaborative synergies between engineering disciplines. Graduate students are expected to propose a plan of study that supports their interests on a path unconstrained by disciplinary boundaries. Both faculty and students draw from these multiple areas of expertise for maximum human-centered impact:
Engineering MS students are funded through a professor’s sponsored research or a fellowship throughout the thesis phase of their studies. Applicants interested in pursuing a particular area of research are encouraged to reach out to individual faculty members to discuss potential projects.
Arrangement of a thesis research topic is done with the individual faculty member who sponsors the student in the program.
With advance planning and pending a willing Dartmouth faculty sponsor, Dartmouth Bachelor of Engineering (BE) students interested in also pursuing the MS may be able to earn the degree within one year after finishing the requirements for the BE.
Students may use up to six applicable graduate courses for both their BE and MS programs. Those courses must be beyond the requirements for the AB (typically in the fifth year) and students must have taken a substantial portion of the undergraduate program at Dartmouth or in one of its official exchange programs. Students should discuss their plans to satisfy both program requirements with the MS program director. At least one term prior to their thesis defense, the BE/MS candidate submits to the Undergraduate Engineering Program Director a BE program plan approved by both their advisor and the BE program director. Within one term of admission to the MS program, BE/MS candidates must submit an approved MS program plan to the Registrar.
For available projects that can satisfy BE-MS degree requirements, see the MS projects list.
MS candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s level degree in engineering or in one of the physical sciences from an accredited institution. Admitted students who require additional engineering coursework may be required to complete additional undergraduate engineering courses prior to beginning their MS studies.
All students entering the program are required to take six graduate-level courses, beyond the AB degree, which may simultaneously be counted for the BE degree. Students with prior graduate credits may transfer up to a maximum of three graduate course credits to count towards their required MS coursework, provided they were not used to satisfy bachelor’s degree requirements. Students may count up six applicable classes towards both the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Master of Science (MS) degrees.
Please note: The information below reflects degree requirements, effective as of Fall 2024.
| COURSE TYPE | NUMBER OF REQUIRED COURSES | COURSES |
|---|---|---|
Applied Mathematics | 1 course | Choose at least one course, from the following: ENGS 91: Numerical Methods in Computation |
Engineering Depth | 3 or more courses | Choose at least three courses, from the following: Courses in the area of the student's research should be chosen to increase the student's depth of expertise and knowledge. These courses should be chosen in concert with the thesis advisor from the graduate engineering listings. Engineering Management courses are not permitted. |
Engineering Breadth | 2 or more courses | Choose at least two courses, from the following: Students may choose courses from any graduate course listing area, with approval of the thesis advisor and the graduate program committee. |
| Research | 1 course | ENGG 700: Responsible & Ethical Conduct of Research |
Students are required to take ENGG 700: Responsible & Ethical Conduct of Research as part of the requirements for embarking on research for the MS program. The research must lead to a written thesis that demonstrates a depth of knowledge in a specific field of engineering research or design.
Candidates must also present a public oral defense of the thesis, which is conducted by the candidate's thesis committee. The MS thesis committee typically consists of three Dartmouth faculty members (including the student's thesis advisor); one of the three may be from outside the program of study.
Candidates are responsible for giving final, signature-ready copies of the thesis to each committee member to review at least two weeks prior to the defense. Candidates must submit an electronic notice of the defense to the registrar two weeks in advance for distribution to the faculty and for posting. A PDF copy of the thesis, including thesis committee members' signatures, must be submitted to the registrar for archiving. Copyright to the thesis is held by the Trustees of Dartmouth College.
MS candidates are required to be in residence for a minimum of three terms. Students who are registered and enrolled in two or more courses a term (or in ENGG 298) are considered full-time and as being “in residence.”
All students, upon matriculation, are required to attend a series of workshops in ethics and sign a statement that they agree to abide by the honor principles established by Dartmouth. Review the full Academic Honor Policy.
Faculty advisors aid MS candidates in developing their course of study, which is submitted to and approved by Thayer’s Graduate Programs Committee during the student’s first term of residency. For planning purposes, students may use the MS Course Planning Sheet (.pdf) and then submit their MS program plans through the Banner Student portal to complete the MS program plan.
In the tradition of our founder Sylvanus Thayer, graduate students are encouraged to participate in service activities, such as those sponsored by the Tucker Center and Thayer Council.
Highly qualified students may be allowed to transition to a PhD degree program with the approval of the MS-PhD Committee and at the invitation of a willing faculty sponsor.
Learn how Dartmouth Engineering's graduate programs could be a great fit for you. Connect with faculty, staff, and students, and navigate the application process.
Review tuition and cost of attendance for tuition and college-related expenses. Personal expenses will vary based on individual lifestyle. All tuition and college-related expenses are estimates and subject to change.
MS students are funded through research grants and faculty funding, which begins with the initiation of thesis research. Funding covers tuition, stipend, and health insurance, but does not cover the six graduate courses that MS students must have completed, either at Dartmouth or a prior institution, before commencing thesis work.
Qualified students may be awarded stipends through positions as research or teaching assistants. Graduate research assistantships normally carry an award of full tuition, a monthly stipend, and credit toward medical insurance if purchased through the College.
In addition, a number of scholarship, fellowship and grant programs offer financial awards that are also available to MS students.
Current Dartmouth BE students applying to the MS program may be eligible for need-based "BE aid" for the terms that they need to take classes and then covered by faculty research support.
There are a number of fellowships offering financial awards that are available to graduate students. We have collected a list, organized by the application deadline, to help you navigate some of the opportunities available.
