Degree Requirements
Designed to balance foundational knowledge with specialized expertise, the MS in Advanced Technology includes core coursework, track-specific electives, and a capstone experience. Working closely with a faculty advisor, students personalize their degree through one of three specialization tracks and complete either a research thesis or an applied project that demonstrates mastery of advanced technology concepts.
Program Structure
The MS in Advanced Technology requires a minimum of 33 credit hours (11 courses), consisting of:
| Requirement | Credit Hours | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Core (Required) Coursework | 9 | 3 |
| Track/Specialization Coursework | 6 | 2 |
| General Elective Coursework | 12 | 4 |
| Culminating Thesis or Project | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 33 | 11 |
Core (Required) Coursework (9 credits)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 503: Recent Advances in Advanced Technology | 3 |
| DSA 503: Data Collection and Design | 3 |
| TIM 500: Project Management OR TIM 530: Managing New Product Design and Development* | 3 |
| Total | 9 credit hours (3 classes) |
*TIM 530 requires a prerequisite of TIM 500 or instructor permission.
Track/Specialization Coursework (6 credits)
The MS in Advanced Technology offers three focused tracks:
- Semiconductor
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Robotics
Students complete two courses (6 credits) within their chosen track, gaining focused expertise in one of today's most in-demand advanced technology fields.
Advanced Manufacturing Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 692: Materials Selection in Design | 3 |
| MST 694: Advanced Manufacturing with Metals: Fundamentals and Applications | 3 |
Robotics Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 650: Industrial Robotics | 3 |
| MST 651: Autonomous Robots | 3 |
Semiconductor Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 674: Semiconductor Device and Fabrication | 3 |
| MST 675: Semiconductor Characterization | 3 |
General Elective Coursework (12 credits)
To complete the degree requirements, students must earn 12 credit hours (4 classes) of elective coursework. With advisor approval, any 500- or 600-level graduate course may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Students have the flexibility to customize their program by selecting Advanced Technology courses from outside their chosen MSAT specialization or from other graduate programs across the university.
MSAT Elective Options by Track
Students may choose courses from the other Advanced Technology specialization tracks as electives.
Advanced Manufacturing Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 650: Industrial Robotics | 3 |
| MST 651: Autonomous Robots | 3 |
| MST 674: Semiconductor Device and Fabrication | 3 |
| MST 675: Semiconductor Characterization | 3 |
Robotics Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 674: Semiconductor Device and Fabrication | 3 |
| MST 675: Semiconductor Characterization | 3 |
| MST 692: Materials Selection in Design | 3 |
| MST 694: Advanced Manufacturing with Metals: Fundamentals and Applications | 3 |
Semiconductor Track
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 650: Industrial Robotics | 3 |
| MST 651: Autonomous Robots | 3 |
| MST 692: Materials Selection in Design | 3 |
| MST 694: Advanced Manufacturing with Metals: Fundamentals and Applications | 3 |
Electives from Other Graduate Programs
In addition to Advanced Technology elective courses, students may also satisfy elective requirements with approved graduate courses offered by other academic programs.
Examples of commonly selected electives include:
- DSA 500: Intro to Stats and Matrix Mathematics for Data Science
- DSA 504: Data Analytical Tools
- TIM 530: Managing New Product Design and Development*
- TIM 685: Strategic Planning
- BLW 570: Business Law, Ethics, and Intellectual Property Rights
- ENT 575: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
*TIM 530 requires a prerequisite of TIM 500 or instructor permission.
Culminating Thesis or Project (6 credits)
The program concludes with a 6-credit culminating experience completed over two semesters. Working closely with a faculty advisor, students may choose to complete either a traditional research thesis, applied analysis, or project-based work, allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a way that aligns with their academic interests and professional goals.
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MST 690: Thesis I | 3 |
| MST 691: Thesis II | 3 |
| Total | 6 credit hours (2 classes) |
Graduation Requirement: To graduate with an MS in Advanced Technology, a student must achieve an average GPA of 3.0 or above for all courses counted toward the degree.
