Graduate Education

The College of Science and Engineering offers the Master of Science degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, information technology, manufacturing engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and Physics/Interdisciplinary Studies.

The mathematics graduate program offers concentrations in mathematics teaching and mathematical sciences. In addition, the college provides several graduate support courses for students in graduate programs in other colleges.

Biology

The Department of Biology offers courses leading to a Master of Science in biology and provides minor and support areas for degrees in other fields. Credit for a 5000-level course is not given to a student with previous undergraduate credit in a similar course. Only 15 hours of 5000-level courses may count toward a graduate degree.
Students pursuing a master’s degree in related fields can include 12 to 18 hours of work in biology. Students pursuing the non-thesis option for the Master of Science degree with a major in biology can include up to nine hours of work in an approved minor or support area.

Department of Biology website

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry provides the programs for graduate students to complete the Master of Science degree in Chemistry to become professional chemists or to become professional secondary school/community college teachers. Both program tracks require students to finish 12 credit hours of core courses, three credit hours of seminar courses and nine credit hours of elective courses. In order to meet the total 30 credit hour requirement for graduation, students in traditional research track need to complete six credit hours on “thesis,” while those in teacher preparation track should finish six credit hours on “chemical educational project” on secondary school/community college education.

Department of Chemistry website

Computer Science

The UTPA Department of Computer Science provides a wide range of opportunities for graduate level study, offering degrees in both computer science and information technology. Faculty members conduct research on topics as diverse as bioinformatics, wireless networks, image processing, and computer algorithms. There is ample opportunity for students to become involved in research projects by pursuing the Department’s Master’s of Science in Computer Science (MS-CS) and its thesis option. The MS-CS degree’s project option provides students more application-oriented experience.

Application to both the University and Department is through a single online application. Students with a bachelor's degree in any field may enter either program.

Department of Computer Science website

Electrical Engineering

The Department of Electrical Engineering offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in engineering degree. The program has a thesis option, and a non-thesis option. Coursework is offered in areas that include computer engineering, systems and controls, communications, digital systems, and electronics.

Applicants to the master’s program in electrical engineering must meet the University requirements for admission to graduate. Prospective graduate students whose bachelor’s degree is in a field other than electrical engineering are required to take leveling courses, prescribed by the graduate program director, before they can be considered for admission to the electrical engineering graduate program.

Department of Electrical Engineering website

Engineering Management

The University of Texas-Pan American offers a graduate program in engineering management leading to a master of science. The department offers thesis, report and non-thesis options. The manufacturing engineering department is transitioning this program to an online delivery mode. Students are provided an opportunity to strengthen their technological education and acquire the skills to manage and lead engineers and engineering systems.

The graduate program in engineering management requires 30-36 semester credit hours, fifteen of which are required of all students. There are three choices of programs in engineering management: 1) thesis, 2) report and 3) coursework only.

 Department of Engineering Management website

Information Technology Program

The Master of Science in Information Technology (MS-IT) Program, within the department of computer science, provides students a strong foundation for study of advanced topics in information technology and a knowledge of state-of-the-art applications in the field. Students come to the program with a wide range of backgrounds, and the first semester of study supplies the competencies for further, more specialized courses. In general, students with degrees in other disciplines or who have been away from academic study for an extended period can begin graduate studies in selected courses during their first semester of enrollment. Many students are practicing professionals who seek to extend and refine their skills in information technology, and most courses are offered in the evening.

Information Technology program

Manufacturing Engineering

The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Manufacturing Engineering offers a graduate program in manufacturing engineering leading to a Master of Science in engineering. The department offers thesis, report and non-thesis options. Students may further specialize within the major through selection of elective courses.

The graduate program in manufacturing engineering requires 30-36 semester credit hours, nine of which are required of all students. The nine hours are selected such that there is a course from each of three area lists in quality, design and systems. There are three choices of programs in the manufacturing engineering area: 1) thesis, 2) report, and 3) coursework only.

Department of Manufacturing Engineering website

Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics offers a 36-hour master’s degree program which can be completed in one of three ways:
(a) a 36-hour non-thesis program completed with coursework leading to a Master of Science in mathematics; (b) a 36-hour coursework-research project program completed by taking Research Report, MATH 6390 [three hours for project]; (c) a 36-hour coursework-thesis program completed by taking Thesis, MATH 7300 and MATH 7301 [six hours for thesis].
An 18-hour core is required of all students; additionally, students must complete 18 hours in a concentration area. A master’s in applied mathematics has also been added recently, a new option in the current master’s program. All students applying for admission to this program must meet all University requirements for entrance into graduate studies and hold a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or a related field.

Department of Mathematics website

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in engineering degree. The program has a thesis option, a project with report option and a course option. Coursework is offered in areas including mechanics and design,
materials and thermal/fluid sciences. Potential research opportunities exist in combustion, nanotechnology, smart structures, biomechanics, robotics, mechatronics, acoustics
and vibrations, materials science, solid mechanics and laser material processing.

Those whose bachelor’s degree is in a field other than mechanical engineering may be admitted subject to completion of a set of undergraduate leveling courses prescribed by the graduate program director.

Departmnet of Mechanical Engineering website

Physics/Interdisciplinary Studies

The Department of Physics and Geology offers a 36-hour program leading to a Master of science in interdisciplinary studies (MSIS) in physics education with thesis and non-thesis options. These options are designed to prepare students in their pursuit of further professional development and for interdisciplinary graduate studies in their area of concentration in physics.

NOTE: All the prospective students must have science background to enroll in the MSIS in physics education program. Requirements: 16-18 hours of physics courses must be required (including PSCI 1421, PSCI 1422, PHYS 1401 and PHYS 1402 and advanced physics hours) for students/teachers coming from other disciplines.

Department of Physics and Geology website