University of Kentucky - College of Engineering - Manufacturing Systems Engineering

The College of Engineering offers a master's degree program in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Because of its highly multi-disciplinary nature, the Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering is housed in the College of Engineering rather than in one of the existing departments. The resources and facilities of the UK Center for Manufacturing are a key component in this degree program.

Graduate degree programs in the field of manufacturing systems engineering are important for enhancing manufacturing productivity and quality in the U.S. The Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering is designed to equip the student for opportunities in modern manufacturing processes and systems. Some of the possible areas of concentration for research and study are:

• Manufacturing Processes and Equipment
• Design for Manufacturing
• Plastic and Polymer Processing
• Electronics Design and Manufacturing
• Computer-aided Design and Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Systems Planning and Control
• Automated Assembly
• Lean Manufacturing

The UK Center for Manufacturing, a part of the College of Engineering, conducts graduate-level academic research of the highest quality and transmits that knowledge to industry and government. Housing a 68,000-square-foot building, completed in the fall of 1989, the Center contains: R & D laboratories and offices including machining research lab, metrology lab, rapid prototyping lab, electronics assembly lab, welding lab, automation equipment lab, CAD/CAM/CAE lab, instructional TV classrooms, and TV satellite uplink and downlink equipment.

Admission Requirements

Applicants normally have a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution (or equivalent). For students with an undergraduate degree other than engineering, completion of a set of identified courses (or their equivalent) in an Engineering discipline will be required prior to admission to the program with full graduate standing.

A minimum grade point average of 2.8 on undergraduate work is expected, along with minimum GRE scores of 700 quantitative and 500 Analytical. If a student does not meet these criteria, an evaluation of the student's overall education and experience may allow admission, subject to evaluation by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Plan A (thesis option) master's degree requires 24 credit hours of course work, a thesis (12 credits), and the satisfactory completion of a final examination. One-half or more of the course work must be at the 600 level or above. All students are required to complete four specified core courses: Modeling of Manufacturing Processes and Machines; Systems for Factory Information and Control; Seminar and Project in Manufacturing Systems Engineering; and Organizational Behavior. The electives for each student will be developed in conjunction with an advisor to insure that the program provides breadth and depth of content for the student, and meets his or her specific needs and interests. Appropriate electives are drawn from areas of Engineering, Computer Science, Business and Economics, or Mathematics. Two electives are designated as Manufacturing Specialization electives.

The Plan B (non-thesis option) is reserved for students who have significant engineering research or development experience in a manufacturing environment, for which completion of a thesis would be less beneficial than the additional course work involved in Plan B. The program requires 33 credit hours of course work and the satisfactory completion of a final examination. Students must complete the four core courses specified above, as well as MFS 784 Research Project in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, nine credit hours of Manufacturing Specialization electives, and nine credit hours of other appropriate electives. Approval of the student's advisor and of the Director of Graduate Studies is necessary for a student to pursue Plan B.