Degree Pathway for Master of Science in Engineering, Plastics Engineering
Requirement 1: Core Courses
| Core Courses for Non - Thesis Students | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| Total | 18 | |
| PLAS.5030 | Mechanical Behavior of Polymers | 3 |
| PLAS.5440 | Advanced Plastics Materials* | 3 |
| PLAS.5780 | Advanced Plastics Processing ** | 3 |
| PLAS.5060 | Polymer Structure Properties and Applications | 3 |
| PLAS.5180 | Plastics Product Design | 3 |
| PLAS.5730 PLAS.5731 PLAS.5732 | Graduate Polymer Laboratory OR Hybrid Graduate Polymer Laboratory I (1 credit) AND Hybrid Graduate Polymer Laboratory II (2 credits) | 3 |
| Core Courses for Thesis Students | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| PLAS.5440 | Advanced Plastics Materials* | 3 |
| PLAS.5780 | Advanced Plastics Processing** | 3 |
| PLAS.5730 PLAS.5731 PLAS.5732 | Graduate Polymer Laboratory OR Hybrid Graduate Polymer Laboratory I (1 credit) AND Hybrid Graduate Polymer Laboratory II (2 credits) | 3 |
| Total | 9 | |
Requirement 2: Both thesis and non-thesis students will pick from one of the following Certificate programs and fulfill their required courses as an area of specialization (some of the certificate course requirements may also be core requirements). Note: The Graduate Certificate in Plastics Engineering Fundamentals does not satisfy Requirement 2 for the thesis option M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program. Acceptable certificates include:
- Plastics Design
- Plastics Materials
- Plastics Processing
- Medical Plastics Design and Manufacturing
- Elastomeric Materials
This will amount to 12 course credits. Please see our Plastics Engineering Certificates page for exact course options. Completing the required course options for a certificate does not automatically qualify a student to obtain said Graduate Certificate. Students must apply for admission to a Graduate Certificate and fulfill all requirements of the certificate to earn a certificate.
Total = 12.
Requirement 3:
Non-Thesis: Complete the requirements for an additional number of elective plastics graduate courses such that the "total" credit hours (core courses + certificate + electives) is 33 credits. Up to two elective courses from other engineering departments may be substituted if approved by the graduate coordinator. The M.S.E. degree will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of 33 credit hours of study as specified above.
Thesis: Complete the requirements for an additional number of elective Plastics Engineering graduate courses such that the "total" course credit hours is at least 24 credit hours (not counting thesis credits). Core Courses + Non-Core Certificate Courses + Electives Courses = 24 Credits. Up to two elective courses from other engineering departments may be substituted for Plastics Engineering courses if approved by the graduate coordinator.
Requirement 4: Thesis students only
Complete the mandatory six-credit-hour thesis requirement. The thesis research is conducted under the supervision of a three member advisory committee, the composition of which is described on our Master's Degree Requirement's Page. Upon completion of the thesis research work, the student must prepare the written thesis manuscript and defend the work in an oral presentation such that all three committee members approve the work.
Special notes for students having a B.S. Plastics Engineering from UMass Lowell:
- *Students who have a B or higher in Polymer Materials I (PLAS.2010) and Polymer Materials II (PLAS.2020) are not required to take Advanced Plastics Materials (PLAS.5440). These students, however, must still meet the course credit hour requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses
- **Students who received a grade of B or higher in Plastics Process Engineering I (PLAS.3770) and Plastics Process Engineering II (PLAS.3780) are not required to take Advanced Plastic Processing (PLAS.5780). These students, however, must still meet the 24 -course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses.
Total credits with thesis option = 30.
Total credits without thesis option = 33.
Updated February 18, 2025