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School of Engineering

Christos Christodoulou, Dean
School of Engineering
Centennial Engineering Center, Room 3071
MSC01 1140
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-5521
https://engineering.unm.edu/


Introduction

Engineers and computer scientists are creators, problem solvers and builders. They direct their imagination, ingenuity, resourcefulness and intelligence to the economical use of our natural resources. Few professions offer individuals greater challenge, stimulation and satisfaction of creative accomplishment. In these days, when breathtaking technological advances are commonplace and the impacts of technology are widely recognized, engineers and computer scientists require ever greater breadth and depth of mathematical and scientific knowledge, combined with a sympathetic appreciation of social, economic, ecological and human values. Engineers and computer scientists are not only the couplers of science and mathematics into human needs; they also are managers of people, resources and machines in effecting the satisfaction of these needs.

The School of Engineering (SOE) seeks to educate persons as engineers and computer scientists who are readily employable, contribute significantly in their jobs, have a strong public responsibility, and continue to learn. SOE also provides graduate-level programs for those who need to strengthen or extend their knowledge and abilities.

The curricula of the School of Engineering are designed to give students suitable education, attitudes and motivation for their entry into successful careers as practicing engineers, computer scientists, administrators, researchers or educators. The undergraduate programs are solidly founded on mathematics and the natural sciences, with additional emphasis placed upon human values and relations. Many graduates continue their formal education at the post-graduate level and work toward master’s or doctoral degrees. Students must realize, however, that education does not stop with college graduation. True professional engineers and computer scientists never stop learning; they continually broaden their intellectual horizons.

Students in the School of Engineering have opportunities for scholarly study, laboratory exercise and research participation. They may interact with nationally recognized engineers and computer scientists. The University of New Mexico strongly believes that teachers must be competent professionals in their own right; faculty members are encouraged to participate actively in professional practice and research. This experience keeps the faculty involved with new developments, increases their understanding of subjects taught and gives students the benefit of their findings and personal experiences. Faculty and students work side by side in research and instructional laboratories.

Research organizations housed in and/or closely affiliated with the School of Engineering include: Center for High Technology Materials, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, High Performance Computing Education and Research Center, Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, Alliance for Transportation Research, Advanced Materials Laboratory, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Intelligent Systems Engineering Center, Manufacturing Training and Technology Center, Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations and Applications Center (COSMIAC), and Center for Water and the Environment.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate programs in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Construction Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, https://www.abet.org. The baccalaureate program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET, https:www.abet.org. The baccalaureate program in Construction Management is accredited by the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of ABET, https:www.abet.org. Please visit the ABET Web site for more information. The School of Engineering is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education.


Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science Degrees

The School of Engineering offers the degrees of:

  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (B.S.Ch.E)
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (B.S.Cp.E)
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (B.S.C.S.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering (B.S.Cn.E.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (B.S.C.M.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering (B.S.N.E.)

These curricula are designed as four-year programs for students who enter the program with all of the prerequisite skills and who carry the full course loads each semester. Students should anticipate more than eight regular semesters to complete the requirements for their degrees if they need preparatory courses to strengthen their skills or if they do not carry the prescribed course load every semester. Students who are employed while enrolled in coursework are typically advised not to carry a full course load each semester.


Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees Programs

The School of Engineering offers Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees Programs designed to allow students to complete a B.S. and M.S., or a B.S. and M.Eng. degree in five years (depending upon the student’s mathematics preparation upon entering UNM as a first-year student). To accomplish this, some courses are counted towards both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Students must have already been admitted to a baccalaureate program in the School of Engineering, and will apply during the junior year of the baccalaureate program after completing 75 credit hours applicable to the B.S. degree. Admission to the graduate portion of this program is provisional, and is not finalized until the student satisfactorily completes the requirements for the B.S. degree.

School of Engineering courses that can be shared between B.S. and M.S. degrees fall into two categories: 1) courses that are designated variously as technical electives, track electives, engineering electives, management electives, or advanced science electives; in the shared-credit degrees program, these courses are be replaced by 500-level graduate courses that count towards both degrees, and 2) courses that are double-numbers at both the 400- and 500-levels; students in the shared-credit degrees program take some of these courses at the 500-level with the course counting towards both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.

This program is intended to facilitate both disciplinary and interdisciplinary B.S. and M.S. degree programs. The exact curriculum for each student is determined by the director of undergraduate studies for the student’s B.S. degree and the director of graduate studies for the student’s M.S. degree, and is approved by the School of Engineering Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Students pursuing an interdisciplinary Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees program may be required to take prerequisite courses for the graduate level courses in the M.S. program. Thus, an interdisciplinary Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees program may require more than the nominal five years to complete. Because the mathematics requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (B.S.C.M.) do not match those for engineering or computer science degrees, no interdisciplinary shared-credit degrees programs are available to those students who are pursuing the B.S.C.M. 

Further information regarding the shared-credit degrees programs can be found on the School of Engineering Web site and in the advising manuals for each department.

3-2 B.S./M.B.A. Program: The School of Engineering recognizes that many engineers become managers of engineering programs and projects and thus require training in business methods beyond their engineering training. In cooperation with the Anderson School of Management (ASM) at UNM, the School of Engineering offers a “3-2” program of studies leading to the B.S. and M.B.A. degrees in five years. This program involves selecting core and technical electives that are compatible with both degree programs and applying to the M.B.A. program at the end of the junior year of engineering studies. Prospective applicants must consult their departmental advisor in engineering and the advisors for the M.B.A. program in ASM for details of this program.

Dual Degrees in Combination with Other Colleges: If a student wishes to secure a degree in another college together with a School of Engineering degree, he or she is urged to seek advice early in the college program from the academic advisors of the colleges concerned. With care in selection of the program of studies, it is possible for students to secure a second degree in one additional year.

UNM Global and National Engineering Scholars Programs: The School of Engineering offers two shared-credit programs for students earning their B.S. degree from other universities. The Global Engineering Scholars Program and the National Engineering Scholars Program offer selected students the ability to count up to 9 credit hours from their B.S. degrees in engineering or computer science towards a UNM Master’s degree in engineering or computer science. The Global Engineering Scholars Program seeks to educate students with rich and meaningful experiences across nations to become competitive in a globalized market. The National Engineering Scholars Program seeks to provide students from accredited institutions in the United States with a streamlined pathway to a Master’s degree in engineering or computer science.

In order to participate in these programs, students must have completed at least 120 credit hours of the requirements for a B.S. degree. For many students, admission to these programs takes place upon completion of the B.S. degree from their home institution. For students from institutions outside the United States that offer engineering or computer science programs leading to the B.S. degree that require five years to complete, students finish at least 120 credit hours of coursework at their home institution, and complete a fifth year at UNM; upon completion of the coursework at UNM the student is awarded an M.S. from UNM and a B.S. from their home institution.

Since these programs are intended to provide an expedited pathway from the B.S. to an M.S. degree, only students who have completed the requirements for a B.S. degree within one year of application to the program are considered.

UNM School of Engineering has identified a list of domestic and international partner universities for these programs. Each School of Engineering department admits students to the National or Global Scholars program according to their normal admission rules and procedures. There is no GRE requirement for students applying to this program. Each School of Engineering department evaluates and approves up to 9 credit hours of appropriate undergraduate technical electives to be double-counted towards the M.S. requirements. The regular M.S. program requirements defined in the UNM Catalog apply.

Students from institutions that have not been identified as partners for this program may also apply, and are individually evaluated and considered.


Admission Requirements

Academic Preparation

High school students intending to study engineering or computer science are strongly advised to take four full years of high school English, mathematics and science. High school chemistry and physics are very important for preparation for engineering degrees. High school mathematics should include at minimum: two years of algebra, one year of geometry and one year of pre-calculus. High school courses in calculus and computer programming are highly recommended. Students are encouraged to take Enriched, Honors or AP classes in mathematics and the sciences.

Preparatory courses are provided for students who need to strengthen their skills in math and/or English. The skill levels for all entering freshmen are determined by the results from the ACT or SAT. Additional information regarding math placement is provided in the Schedule of Classes.

Admission to the School of Engineering

Students who meet certain criteria may be admitted to the School of Engineering in one of three ways: as freshmen in pre-major status; as internal or external transfers in pre-major status; or as internal or external transfers in department major status.

Freshman students admitted to UNM who declare a School of Engineering major and meet the criteria listed below are eligible for enrollment in the School of Engineering in a pre-major status. To be admitted in pre-major status, a student must have:

  1. ACT math score of 25 or higher;
  2. ACT English and Science scores of 19 or higher; and
  3. ACT Reading score of 18 or higher.

Freshmen who do not initially meet the above criteria or any student wishing to transfer from University College, from other degree-granting colleges, from non-degree status or from other accredited institutions to the School of Engineering in the pre-major status must meet the following requirements.

  1. MATH 1230 and MATH 1240 or equivalent with a grade of "C" or better;
  2. Minimum 2.20 cumulative grade point average for all courses presented;
  3. Minimum 2.50 grade point average in classes required in the curricula, including prerequisite classes;
  4. Completion of no more than 24 credit hours that count toward a major in the School of Engineering, exclusive of credit hours in communications skills, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, fine arts and foreign languages; and
  5. Accumulation of no more than 9 attempted credit hours with grades of D+, D, D-, F, or NC other than those subject to removal by academic renewal or use of the repeat policy.
  6. Any courses required for a School of Engineering curriculum cannot have been attempted more than three times. An attempt includes receiving any letter grade (A through F), W, CR, NC, I or AUDIT. For the purposes of this requirement, coursework taken at other institutions is treated the same as coursework taken at UNM.

To be eligible for admission to one of the five departments in the School of Engineering in a department major status, students must, as a minimum, meet the following requirements. Some departments have stricter admission requirements. Academic records are maintained by the respective departments.

  1. Completion of 26 credit hours of acceptable credit for a degree in the School of Engineering. Of these 26 hours of credit, at least 18 must be from the courses required in the first year curricula, excluding English, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, fine arts and foreign languages.
  2. In addition to requiring a 2.20 grade point average for all courses presented, it is required that the 18 credit hours also yield at least a 2.50 grade point average and a grade of "C-" or better in each course.
  3. Any courses required for a School of Engineering curriculum cannot have been attempted more than three times. An attempt includes receiving any letter grade (A through F), W, CR, NC, I or AUDIT. For the purposes of this requirement, coursework taken at other institutions is treated the same as coursework taken at UNM.
  4. Any specific program requirements, as noted in the departmental sections of this Catalog.

For additional information about pre-major status or other aspects of admission, contact Engineering Student Services, Centennial Engineering Center, Room 2080, (505) 277-4354.


Graduation Requirements

Specific graduation requirements are as follows:

1.  Candidates for bachelor’s degrees must complete all of the work outlined in their respective curricula. The student is solely responsible for completing all requirements for graduation.

2.  Students must file applications for degrees with their department chair during the second semester of their junior year but in no case later than when they have completed 100 credit hours acceptable toward the degree.

3.  Each candidate for a degree must have at least a 2.00 GPA on work taken at UNM which is counted toward the degree and at least a 2.00 GPA on all work taken at UNM. Unless otherwise noted, each course required in a School of Engineering curriculum must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better in order to count towards graduation. Courses used to fulfill the UNM General Education curriculum require a grade of "C" or better. Departments may have more restrictive academic requirements which also must be met.

4.  All coursework required for graduation in a School of Engineering degree program must be successfully completed within three attempts. This includes courses offered by other departments at UNM, such as mathematics and physics. An attempt includes receiving any letter grade (A through F), W, CR, NC, I or AUDIT. For the purposes of this requirement, coursework taken at other institutions is treated the same as coursework taken at UNM.

5.  Students who have accumulated 30 or more credit hours of D+, D, D-, F, or NC other than those subject to removal by academic renewal or use of UNM repeat policy are not allowed to graduate from a School of Engineering degree program.

6.  For minimum residence requirements, see the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog on University-wide Graduation Requirements.

7.  Physical education activity courses are not acceptable toward bachelor degree requirements in the School of Engineering.

8.  Introductory Studies courses are not acceptable toward bachelor degree requirements in the School of Engineering.

9.  Total number of credit hours required for graduation varies, depending on the specific program.

10.  All baccalaureate degrees in the School of Engineering include the requirements of the UNM General Education curriculum. Due to accreditation standards in the School of Engineering, some programs require specific General Education courses. Refer to the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog for the total list of courses.

Second Major

Students in the School of Engineering wishing to pursue a second major must work in conjunction with their program advisor and the departmental advisor of the second major to ensure that requirements for both majors are met. When all degree and major requirements are complete, only one degree will be awarded. For additional information, students should consult their program advisor.


Minor Study

Students pursuing the B.S.C.S. in Computer Science are required to complete a minor. See the Computer Science: Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog for further information.

Students pursuing other undergraduate degrees within the School of Engineering may complete a minor if they so desire. For the purpose of determining which courses from outside the School of Engineering may apply to a minor, the SOE considers all courses with an SOE subject code (CBE, CE, CS, ECE, ENG, ME, or NE) to be required courses in the curricula. All other courses (e.g. chemistry, English, math, physics, UNM General Education curriculum, etc.) are considered to be supporting courses in the curricula. For example, the calculus sequence of MATH 1512, 1522, and 2530, and other MATH courses are supporting courses. For the purposes of a minor, SOE allows students to apply supporting courses toward the requirements of their curriculum, and to count these same courses toward the requirements for a minor.

Peace Engineering Minor

For those schools and colleges accepting the Peace Engineering minor, the requirements are a total of 15 credit hours. 

Required courses (6 credit hours):

  • ENG 220 – Engineering, Business, Sustainability, Ethics and Society
  • ENG 320 – Design Thinking, Project Management, Metrics, Data Models and Analytics

These courses will be modular, consisting of 2 to 3-week modules with flexible topics. The courses will be coordinated by a UNM engineering faculty member, but the modules will be delivered by guest experts from the Peace Engineering community including faculty at Drexel University, University of Colorado-Boulder, Stanford University, Purdue University, Georgia Tech, USC, and others including international partners.

Elective courses (9 credit hours):

Courses in fields related to Peace Engineering from other departments at UNM in areas such as:  international studies; conflict, peace and diplomacy; society, environment and sustainability; indigenous, national and transnational identities; culture and arts, global perspectives; global markets, international institutions, global governance; rituals and belief systems; women and gender in the contemporary world.  Consult an engineering advisor for UNM courses that can be applied to the PENG minor.  See engineering advisors for a list of specific courses from partner institutions such as Drexel University and University of Colorado-Boulder that will apply to the PENG minor.

Collaborations: The Peace Engineering Minor will form collaborations with student organizations such as Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), The Hispanic Engineering and Science Society (HESO), the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), Out in STEM (O-STEM), and others.


Additional Information

Advisement

Academic advising is mandatory each semester for all students in the School of Engineering. Students may not register for classes until after being advised. All School of Engineering students are advised by designated advisors in the departments.

Scholastic Regulations

Students should become familiar with the general academic and scholastic rules that apply to all students enrolled in the University. Special attention is called to the rules on probation, suspension, and dismissal for the School of Engineering.

Courses Numbered 300 or Above: School of Engineering courses numbered 300 and above are intended for students majoring in one of the SOE degree programs. Non-majors may only take these courses with the written permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students who are in pre-major status, or who have been admitted to one of the SOE degree programs may register for courses numbered 300 or above that are required in the junior and senior years of their program in the School of Engineering only if: 1) they are not more than 8 credit hours short of completing all freshman and sophomore requirements, including any 300-level courses within these requirements; 2) they have completed all prerequisites for the course in question; and 3) they take all remaining freshman and sophomore course requirements at that time; OR 4) they obtain written approval from the department in which the student’s program resides. If a student fails a required course listed in the freshman or sophomore years of his or her program while enrolled in another required 300- or 400-level course, the student is not eligible to enroll in additional 300- or 400-level courses until all required courses listed in the freshman and sophomore years have been completed. Failure by a student to observe this rule can result in the student being placed on School of Engineering probation or dismissed from the School of Engineering.

The School of Engineering does not accept 300-level or above engineering courses which have been taken by extension or correspondence except by prior approval of the appropriate Department Chair and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Maximum Credit Hour Load: The maximum credit hour load for students in the School of Engineering is 18 credit hours, including physical education. Only in exceptional cases and with approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs’ office is a student be permitted to carry 21 or more credit hours.

Pass/Fail (CR/NC) Grading Option: Students in the School of Engineering may take only humanities, arts, languages and social and behavioral science electives and courses not counting toward their degrees on a pass/fail (CR/NC) basis. All other courses counting toward their degrees must be taken for a letter grade unless the course is offered only on a pass/fail basis. Any exceptions must be approved by the
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Prerequisites and Corequisites: Students are required to fulfill all course prerequisites and corequisites as listed in this Catalog or required by the instructor of the course. Students who do not meet prerequisites and corequisites for a course are disenrolled from that course.

Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal

Students who are not making progress towards degree requirements due to poor grades are subject to the UNM policies on probation and suspension described in the Student Services Information section of this Catalog. In addition, the School of Engineering has policies on probation and dismissal from the School that are described below. Dismissal and suspension may be appealed at the School of Engineering.

Pre-Majors in the School of Engineering

Pre-major students in the School of Engineering are considered to be in good academic standing if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.3. Poor academic progress can trigger a Warning, Probation (P1, P2), Dismissal, or Suspension.

Warning: Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 to 2.4 receive a warning letter. Students with an acceptable cumulative GPA and a term GPA of 2.0 or less are also given a warning letter. This standing is not placed on the transcript or any official academic record.
P1 Probation: Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.3 are placed on probation. This standing will appear on the transcript.
P2 Probation: If previously on P1 Probation and cumulative GPA is less than 2.3 but term GPA is at least 3.0, the student will continue on Probation status for one semester only (P2). A term GPA of at least 3.0 is only required if a student did not reach a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3. This standing will appear on the transcript.
To be removed from P1 or P2 Probation, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3.
Dismissal: Students on either category of Probation with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 but less than 2.3 and a term GPA less than 3.0 will be dismissed from the School of Engineering. Students may also be dismissed from the School of Engineering if they have attempted a course required for their degree three times without earning the minimum grade required by the program. This standing will appear on the transcript. See the "Graduation Requirements" section of this page for more information of the "three-attempts" rule. Students dismissed from the School of Engineering may continue study at a different College/School at UNM. 
Suspension: Students in either category of Probation with a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 and a term GPA less than 3.0 will be suspended from UNM. This standing will appear on the transcript.

Majors in the School of Engineering

Students admitted to majors within the School of Engineering are considered to be in good academic standing if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.0. Poor academic progress can trigger a Warning, Probation (P1, P2), Dismissal, or Suspension.

Warning: Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to 2.2 receive a warning letter. Students with an acceptable cumulative GPA and a term GPA of 2.0 or less are also given a warning letter. This standing is not placed on the transcript or any official academic record.
P1 Probation: Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 are placed on probation. This standing will appear on the transcript.
P2 Probation: If previously on P1 Probation and cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 but term GPA is at least 3.0, the student will continue on Probation status for one semester only (P2). A term GPA of at least 3.0 is only required if a student did not reach a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. This standing will appear on the transcript.
To be removed from P1 or P2 Probation, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
Dismissal: Students will be dismissed from the School of Engineering if they have attempted a course required for their degree three times without earning the minimum grade required by the program. This standing will appear on the transcript. See the "Graduation Requirements" section of this page for more information of the "three-attempts" rule. Students dismissed from the School of Engineering may continue study at a different College/School at UNM. 
Suspension: Students in P2 Probation with a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will be suspended from UNM. This standing will appear on the transcript.

Testing (CLEP, AP and ACT)

The School of Engineering grants credit hours for courses in its degree programs for performance on nationally administered examinations only when specific course equivalence has been established by the University department associated with the subject matter of the course. (See CLEP Subject Examination and CEEB Advanced Placement Program.) Students may not have been previously enrolled or have earned a W grade in the course at UNM.

A student who scores high enough on the English portion of the Enhanced ACT exam or on the verbal portion of the SAT exam, as determined by the English Department and published in the Schedule of Classes, is not required to take ENGL 1110 or 1120. The student may graduate with fewer credit hours than normal, so long as the total degree credit hours do not fall below 120, or may make up the difference by taking another course.

Transfer Procedures

Students transferring from another institution to UNM, from another college within the University to the School of Engineering, or from one program to another within the School of Engineering must comply with the academic requirements in effect at the time of the transfer. For additional University policies, see "Graduation Requirements" in the Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog.

A transfer student from another university who does not meet the requirements for admission to the School of Engineering may be eligible to enroll in other UNM units until the admission requirements have been met. If such a transfer student is ineligible to enroll in other UNM units, the student should seek advisement in the School of Engineering Student Programs Office.

Student Diversity

The School of Engineering recognizes that ethnic minorities and women have been under-represented in the engineering and computer science professions and that this is a particularly important issue in New Mexico. Therefore, the School provides a variety of services through the Engineering Student Services Office. Study groups, tutoring, workshops, summer programs and scholarships are offered through these offices. Four student groups are also sponsored: Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization (HESO), American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The primary goal of these programs and services is to increase the retention and graduation rates of minority students and women in engineering and computer science.

Licensure

All students pursuing engineering degrees are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination during their senior year as a first step toward becoming Registered Professional Engineers. Students in some degree programs are required to take this examination prior to graduation.

Military Studies

Students enrolled in Air Force, Naval or Army ROTC may need an extra semester to complete the requirements for both a degree and a commission. Students should consult an advisor or the department chair in planning their programs.

Dean’s List 

To be placed on the Dean’s List in the School of Engineering, undergraduate students must achieve a minimum semester grade point average of 3.50 on a minimum of 15 credit hours that contribute to the GPA.  Courses with a grade of CR do not count towards the 15 hour minimum.   See "Dean's List" in the Student Services Information section of this Catalog for more information.

 


Graduate Programs

Students wishing to pursue graduate programs in engineering or computer science must meet both the requirements for admission to graduate study and the particular prerequisites established by the School of Engineering department through which the desired program is offered.

Applicants are normally expected to hold bachelor’s degrees in the same field as their proposed graduate study. Departments also consider applicants holding bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, the physical and biological sciences or other fields of engineering. In such cases, applicants are required to satisfy specified prerequisites, listings of which can be obtained from the Departmental Graduate Advisor. As conditional admissions are not granted, prospective students lacking the required background are advised to satisfy prerequisites on a non-degree basis before admission is sought. In some cases, students with a small prerequisite requirement may be admitted to graduate studies. Outstanding prerequisites are added to the degree requirement. All applicants must submit the results of the Graduate Record Exam General Test to the appropriate department prior to admission.

Interdisciplinary Concentration: In addition to the programs offered by the individual departments, concentrations involving disciplines from more than one department may be undertaken. These concentrations are tailored to accomplish specific goals. These interdisciplinary concentrations do not result in separately titled degrees. Rather, at the M.S. level, students receive their degrees from their resident engineering department. At the Ph.D. level, all students (with exception to Ph.D. in Computer Science students) receive the Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in a specific discipline. For further information contact the departments involved.

Financial Assistance: Most full-time graduate students in the School of Engineering are supported through research assistantships and/or teaching assistantships. Applications for and appointments to these assistantships are made by the individual departments. In addition, there are a limited number of fellowships available: contact the graduate advisor in the appropriate department for information on fellowships.

Master of Science

A program of graduate studies is offered by the School of Engineering leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Optical Science and Engineering (jointly administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering).

The University, under the auspices of the departments of the School of Engineering, offers the M.S. program to any student holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, if the student can qualify to pursue a major in one of the departments of the college. The graduate advisor of the department in which the student wishes to major, or a designated alternate, is the student’s advisor and works out a program of studies for the student to follow in completing the requirements for the degree. A student may be required to take certain courses without degree credit to remove deficiencies or to broaden his or her training.

Plan I (Thesis)

  1. A minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework, including a minimum of 15 hours in the major field.
  2. A minimum of 9 credit hours of 500-level courses in the major and minor fields combined.
  3. At least 18 credit hours completed at UNM.
  4. Six to 9 credit hours of Thesis (599) credit, with a maximum of 9 credit hours of thesis and problems or independent research, combined.

Plan II (Project)

  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, including a minimum of 18 hours in the major field.
  2. A minimum of 12 credit hours of 500-level courses in the major and minor field combined.
  3. A limit of 6 credit hours of problems courses in the major and minor fields combined.
  4. At least 24 credit hours completed at UNM.
  5. Completion of a master's project and/or master's exam.

Plan III (Coursework only)

  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, including a minimum of 18 hours in the major field.
  2. A minimum of 12 credit hours of 500-level courses in the major and minor field combined.
  3. A limit of 6 credit hours of problems courses in the major and minor fields combined.
  4. At least 24 credit hours completed at UNM.
  5. No final examination is required.

NOTE: Individual department requirements may differ and may require more credit hours. See the appropriate departmental sections of this Catalog. Students must also meet all University-wide requirements as specified in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog.

One Year M.S. Program: The departments in the School of Engineering offer programs leading to the M.S. degree that can be completed in one calendar year. For further details, refer to the sections of this Catalog describing the graduate program in each department.

Concentration in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management

The School of Engineering offers a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management for the M.S. programs in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Optical Science and Engineering. This program allows students pursuing these M.S. degrees at the School of Engineering to complement their technical training with the management and business skills required to be successful entrepreneurs. Concentration requirements are as follows:

  • 15 credit hours minimum of graduate-level courses at the School of Engineering. Includes 3 credit hours for Project or Thesis.
  • 1 credit hour of graduate seminar (if required by the department).
  • MGMT 512 Strategic Management of Technology.
  • Choose 3 from: MGMT 513, 514, 515, 516; or other courses as approved by advisor.
  • 3 additional MGMT credit hours for Thesis, Project, or Business Plan.

The minimum total credit hours for the concentration is 30 (31 if the graduate seminar is required). Note that prerequisites may be required.

Master of Engineering

The Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree is offered by the School of Engineering for professional development in specific areas of developing technology and specific areas of immediate need to society. The degree is offered by the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering department. Admission requirements to this program are the same as for the Master of Science degree. See the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering: Graduate Program section of this Catalog.

Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering

The Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering (M.E.M.E.) degree is offered by the Manufacturing Engineering program. This program is administratively separate from the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of New Mexico and is housed in the Manufacturing Training and Technology Center (MTTC), located in the South Campus. The M.E.M.E. has completion tracks in Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Mechanical and Equipment Manufacturing (MEM) and Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing (SEM). For the CIM and MEM tracks, at least three electives must be selected from a set of CIM or MEM track courses respectively, defined by the Manufacturing Engineering program. The SEM track has a special core that covers semiconductor process design, microelectronics design and processing, and factory design and operations, and a special set of concentration courses that cover microelectronics processing technology. A total of 33 or 32 credit hours is required for the M.E.M.E. degree.

Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering and Master of Business Administration: The School of Engineering and the Anderson School of Management offer a Dual Degree Program leading to the M.E.M.E. and the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). For details, see the Graduate and Professional Dual Degree Programs section of this Catalog.

Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees Program: Students in the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) program may seek admission to the M.E.M.E. under the Shared-Credit Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees Program. Interested students should contact the Director of the Manufacturing Engineering program. See the Mechanical Engineering: Undergraduate Program section of this Catalog.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing M.E.M.E. track and Mechanical and Equipment Manufacturing M.E.M.E. track curriculum:

Credit
Hours
CS 585 Computer Networks 3
ME 586  Design for Manufacturability 3
MGMT 506 Managing People in Organizations 3
MGMT 504 Managerial Economics 3
MGMT 521 Manufacturing Systems Management 3
STAT 570 Industrial Statistics 3
Elective Track Elective 3
Elective Track Elective 3
Elective Track Elective 3
Plan I
CS 599
-or-
ECE 599
-or-
ME 599
Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis
6
Plan II
Elective Plan II Elective 3
CS/ECE/ME Project  3
Total 33


Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing M.E.M.E. track curriculum:

Credit
Hours
CBE 586 Introduction to Statistics and Design of Experiments 2
ME 585 Modern Manufacturing Methods 3
ECE *473 Semiconductor Materials, Devices, and Circuits 3
ECE *487 Semiconductor Factory Design and Operations 3
ECE 529 Semiconductor Process Integration and Test 3
ECE 574L Microelectronics Processing 3
ECE 579 Adv Microelectronics Process 3
MGMT 504 Managerial Economics 3
MGMT 506 Managing People in Organizations 3
Plan I
CBE 599
-or-
CS 599
-or-
ECE 599
-or-
ME 599
Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis

Master's Thesis
6
Plan II
Elective Plan II Elective 3
CBE/CS/ECE/ME Project 3
Total 32


In addition to the above courses, regardless of track, a three-month Internship at an industrial manufacturing site is required, at no credit. It is also expected that Plan II students pursue a Project that it is done in collaboration with an industry partner. 

Doctor of Philosophy

The School of Engineering offers programs leading to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Engineering (with concentrations in Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering), in Computer Science, and in Optical Science and Engineering (jointly administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering).

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is offered under regulations set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. The general policies and procedures relating to graduate studies in the School of Engineering can be obtained from the departmental graduate advisors. A prospective candidate for this degree must have an acceptable bachelor’s or master’s degree, or equivalent, in some field of engineering, the physical sciences or mathematics. For more specific departmental requirements for the degree, prospective candidates should consult the specific statements for the different departments in their sections of this Catalog and should also communicate with the graduate advisor of the department. The applicant must also present satisfactory evidence of adequate preliminary training and ability in the field of major interest.

The minimum amount of coursework required for the Doctor of Philosophy degree is 24 credit hours beyond the master’s degree or 48 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. This requirement is exclusive of dissertation or master’s thesis. These are minimum requirements; ordinarily, more than the 48 credit hours are necessary. The program of each student is an individual matter planned by the committee on studies.

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering

The School of Engineering participates in the interdisciplinary Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering program; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Catalog.

Graduate Certificate in Computational Science and Engineering

The Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) graduate certificate program is an interdisciplinary graduate program that prepares students to effectively use high-performance computing and/or data analysis within their own disciplines. The program is open to graduate students in the following participating departments: Biology, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology. Students in other departments may be admitted with the approval of the CSE Program Committee and the Graduate Director of their home department. The program is also open to students who already have a graduate degree in a mathematical, scientific or engineering discipline (post-degree).

Admission Requirements: Admission to the CSE program is based on academic record and letters of recommendation. GRE scores may also be considered for students in a degree program. Prerequisites for admittance into the CSE program in addition to a bachelor’s degree are:

  • One year of general college physics or chemistry.
  • One year of differential/integral calculus, and either a course in differential equations (e.g. MATH **316), a course in applied statistics (e.g. STAT 427), or a course in numerical methods (e.g. MATH **375).
  • A course in computer programming or equivalent experience using a programming language generally used for high-performance and/or data-intensive computing such as C, C++, FORTRAN, Java, or Python.
  • For the certificate earned alongside a degree, admission is to the participating home department. For post-degree CSE students, a graduate degree in a mathematical, scientific or engineering discipline and degree-seeking admission at UNM is required.

Program Requirements: To complete the CSE program, a student must: 

  • Be admitted to the CSE program, as described above.
  • For students earning the certificate alongside a degree, all degree requirements of their participating home department must be completed.
  • Complete CSE program core requirements, based on the degree program: M.S. and post-degree students must complete 3 credit hours of CSE program core courses; Ph.D. students must complete 6 credit hours of CSE program core courses. See course list below.
  • Complete a total of 9 credit hours of approved CSE electives or program core courses not used to fulfill the program core requirement.
  • Complete a computational science and engineering research project through either: A thesis or dissertation with a significant computational component under the direction of at least one associated faculty member on the student's committee; or complete an advanced computational project (3 credit hour minimum) under the direction of one associated faculty member, presented at an open forum.

CSE Program Core Courses: CS/MATH *471 Introduction to Scientific Computing; CS 542 Introduction to Parallel Processing; CS 567 Principles and Applications of Big Data.
CSE Program Electives: The list of approved CSE program electives is maintained by the CSE Program Committee.

Students may petition the CSE Program Committee to substitute a course (for an equivalent number of credit hours) for any of the courses of the approved curriculum. Note that most CSE program courses have a CSE program course as a prerequisite, so students are strongly encouraged to work with a Program Advisor to develop their CSE program of study before enrollment.

Detailed information about the CSE graduate certificate program, including suggested programs of study for specializations in specific areas and the current lists of approved program electives and associated faculty, may be obtained at the Center for Advanced Research Computing Web site, or by writing to:

Computational Science and Engineering Program
Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC)
The University of New Mexico
1601 Central Ave. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87131


Associated Departments

Biomedical Engineering


Chemical and Biological Engineering


Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering


Computer Science


Electrical and Computer Engineering


Mechanical Engineering


Nuclear Engineering


General Engineering and Engineering Cooperative Education Program


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