Systems Science and Mathematics

The MS degree in SSM is an academic master's degree designed mainly for both full-time and part-time students interested in proceeding to the departmental full-time doctoral program and/or an industrial career.

1. The MS degree requires 30 units, which may include optionally 6 units for thesis or independent study.

2. Required courses (15 units) for the MS degree include: ESE 551, ESE 553, ESE 520, , ESE 415 and one chosen from the following courses: ESE 524, ESE 544, ESE 545 or ESE 557. ESE 516 may be substituted for ESE 415.

3. The remaining courses in the program may be selected from senior- or graduate-level courses in Electrical and Systems Engineering or elsewhere in the University. Courses outside of Electrical and Systems Engineering must be in technical subjects relevant to systems science and mathematics and require the department's approval.

4. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 out of a possible 4.0 over all courses applied toward the degree. (effective fall 2016).

5. ESE 590 Electrical & Systems Engineering Graduate Seminar must be taken each semester. This satisfactory/unsatisfactory course is required for the M.Sc., D.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Systems Engineering. A passing grade is required for each semester of enrollment and is received by attendance at regularly scheduled ESE seminars. M.Sc. students must attend at least 3 seminars per semester. D.Sc. and Ph.D. students must attend at least 5 seminars per semester. Part-time students are exempt except during their year of residency. Any student under continuing status is also exempt. Seminars missed in a given semester may be made up during the subsequent semester.

6. The degree program must be consistent with the residency and other applicable requirements of Washington University and the School of Engineering & Applied Science.

Either a thesis option or a course option may be selected. The special requirements for these options are as follows:

Course Option

This option is intended for those employed in local industry who wish to pursue a graduate degree on a part-time basis, or for full-time students who do not seek careers in research. Under the course option, students may not take ESE 599, Master's Research, and with faculty permission may take up to 3 units of ESE 500, Independent Study.

Thesis Option

This option is intended for those pursuing full-time study and engaged in research projects. Candidates for this degree must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of course instruction and six (6) credit hours of thesis research (ESE 599). These six (6) credit hours of thesis research can be counted as part of the 15 graduate-level electrical engineering credit hours specified above. The student must write a master's thesis and defend it in an oral examination.
ELP English Placement Exams: These exams are taken by new international graduate students upon arrival. Students may be placed into E60 510A or E60 510B, courses customized to the needs of Engineering students and offered only in the spring, or they may be placed into one or more of the ELP’s University College courses. Supported students do not pay tuition for enrollment in Engineering courses, but may be responsible for the cost of enrollment in a University College course. The English classes, E60 510A and E60 510B are free and are offered in the Spring. The English classes offered by U-College during the Fall are not free and the student has to pay for them.

Requirements

• Application Fee ($75), credit card or check by mail
• Unofficial copies of undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts
• Three Letters of Recommendation

• • Input recommendation providers' names and email addresses. Recommendation providers are automatically sent an email requesting a recommendation.
  • Paper and email recommendations will not be accepted.
  • The recommendations must be posted by the published deadline for final application submission.
• Statement of Purpose and Resume/CV
  • The Statement of Purpose should be a brief document explaining your goals and ambitions. (3 page maximum)
  • Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae is to be uploaded in the section immediately following the Statement of Purpose.
• GRE Scores

  • GRE scores are required for all PhD and full-time Master’s applicants with the exception of applicants to the M. Eng. in Biomedical Innovation degree program.

  • GRE scores are not required for applicants to part-time Master’s or the Bachelor’s/Master’s programs.

  • If submitting scores, applicants must report their official scores via ETS at the time of application submission for evaluation purposes. The WashU School Code is 6929.

• TOEFL or IELTS Scores
  • Required for all international applicants.

  • Applicants must report their official scores via ETS at the time of application submission for evaluation purposes. The WashU School Code is 6929. 
    Note: This requirement may be waived if the applicant has a minimum of three years of documented study at an English-speaking institution, in a country where English is the primary language of daily living. Based on the evaluation of your application package, we retain the right to require English testing upon arrival and you may be required to take additional English classes. If you are recommended to take English classes, the cost of the courses will be your responsibility.

Scholarships

• Chancellor's Graduate Fellowship Program
• Need-based financial aid assistance
• Merit-based scholarships