Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for the program are:

• An earned undergraduate degree in engineering, engineering technology, energy, or a closely related field
• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above
• Positive recommendations
• An acceptable TOEFL score is required if the previous degree was from a country where English is not the common language
• Integral and differential calculus (MATH 1121 or MATH 1241 or ETGR 2171, and ETGR 2272 or MATH 1242 at UNC Charlotte or equivalent from other institutions)
• Statistics (STAT 1220 or STAT 3128 at UNC Charlotte or equivalent from other institutions)
• Applicants may optionally submit GRE scores for inclusion in their admission package for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections.
• Other credentials as required by the Graduate School
• Admission is based on the overall background, motivation, and potential, as determined by the program

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Master of Science engineering degree in Applied Energy and Electromechanical Engineering is a 30 credit hour program.  Students select one of the three options described below; each contains requirements to complete core courses, elective courses, and a capstone experience. 

Option A: Thesis

Requires the formation of a Master’s Committee consisting of members of the Graduate Faculty, to be chaired by a member of the Department.

Requires successful completion of 24 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, research, and a thesis:

• 3 credit hours of Mathematics
• 6 credit hours of prescribed core courses
• 15 credit hours of electives
• 6 credit hours of research
• Successful oral defense of thesis work by the student’s Master’s Committee
• Acceptance of written thesis by the student’s Master’s Committee

Option B: Project (Non-thesis)

Requires successful completion of 27 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and a Capstone Project:

• 3 credit hours of Mathematics
• 6 credit hours of prescribed core courses
• 18 credit hours of electives
• 3 credit hours of individualized project work (as AEEE-6850), concluding in a paper and successful presentation to graduate faculty members

Option C: Comprehensive Exam (Non-thesis)

Requires successful completion of 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and students must pass a written comprehensive that is administered by the program:

• 3 credit hours of Mathematics
• 6 credit hours of prescribed core courses
• 21 credit hours of electives
• passing a written comprehensive that is administered by the program

Degree Total = 30 Credit Hours

Grade Requirements

All candidates must earn an overall 3.0 GPA to graduate. Accumulation of one U grade will result in the suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program.

Advising

Each student is advised by the Graduate Program Director and may be supervised by their graduate advisor and/or their program Master’s Thesis Committee.

Application for Degree

Each student must apply for graduation by the published deadline in their final term. Students who apply to graduate but fail to finish will need to update their application to graduate to a future term.

Plan of Study Requirements

Each student is required to submit a Plan of Study to and receive approval from the program’s Graduate Program Director before completing 9 graduate credit hours. The Plan may be reviewed and updated periodically with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

Transfer Credit

The department, at its discretion, may accept transfer of graduate courses (6 credit hours maximum) taken at another institution or from another program prior to admission to the M.S. in Applied Energy and Electromechanical Engineering program. Only courses in which the student earned a grade of B or above may be transferred.

Assistantships

Research and teaching assistantships are available from the Department on a competitive basis to highly qualified applicants/students.

Tuition Grants

Tuition grants including out-of-state tuition differential waivers and in-state tuition support are available on a competitive basis for both out-of-state and in-state students, respectively.