ENERGY-MS - Energy Science and Engineering (MS)
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Program Overview
An Energy Science and Engineering master’s degree can be used as a terminal degree for pursuing a professional career in the engineering or energy industries or in any related industry where the application of physical principles or computer simulation skills is required. It can also be a stepping stone to a PhD degree that usually leads to a professional research career or an academic position.
The MS program is available either as a standalone MS degree or as a coterminal degree in combination with the BS degree.
Standalone MS Program in Energy Science and Engineering
The two types of MS degrees, the research degree and the coursework-only degree, as well as the courses required to meet degree requirements, are described here. Both degrees may take one to two years to complete depending on circumstances unique to each student.
Coterminal MS Program in Energy Science and Engineering
The coterminal BS/MS program offers an opportunity for Stanford University students to pursue a graduate experience while completing a BS degree in any relevant major. Energy Science and Engineering graduate students generally come from backgrounds such as chemical, civil, or mechanical engineering; geology or other earth sciences; or physics or chemistry.
University Coterminal Requirements
Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described here. Coterminal Master’s Program describes university requirements for the coterminal master’s degree. Graduate Degrees describes university requirements for the master’s degree.
After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request a transfer of some courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.
In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.
Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.
The university requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The university also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.
Admissions Information
Application Information for the Coterminal Master's Degree
Students may apply to the program any time after they have completed 120 undergraduate units. Contact the Department of Energy Science and Engineering to obtain additional information. Before beginning graduate work in this program, students should have a background at least through course Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra and course Programming Methodology and course Programming Abstractions.
Coterm Admissions Information
https://ese.stanford.edu/academics-admissions/coterminal-ms-program
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Complete a 45-unit program of study. The degree has two options:
a. A coursework degree requiring 45 units of coursework
b. A research degree, with a minimum of 39 units of coursework and the remainder comprising no more than six research units.
Complete three units of ENERGY352 ESE Graduate Seminar. These units do not count toward the 45 units of coursework required for the MS degree.
Coursework units must be divided among two or more scientific and/or engineering disciplines and can include the core courses required for the PhD degree.
All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
The academic advisor and the department graduate program committee must approve the program of study.
Students taking the research-option degree must complete an MS thesis approved by the student’s thesis committee.
The following are the minimum requirements for a student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering to remain in good academic standing regarding coursework:
No more than one incomplete grade at any time
A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
A grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 each quarter
A minimum of 15 units completed within each two-quarter period (excluding summer quarter).
Unless otherwise stated by the instructor, incomplete grades in courses within the department are changed to NP (not passed) at the end of the quarter after the one in which the course was given. This one-quarter limit is different from the maximum one-year limit the university allows.
Academic performance is reviewed each quarter by a faculty committee. At the beginning of the next quarter, any student not in good academic standing receives a letter from the committee or department chair stating the criteria that must be met to return to good academic standing. If the situation is not corrected by the end of the quarter, possible consequences include termination of financial support, termination of departmental privileges, and termination from the university.
Students funded by research grants or fellowships from the department are expected to spend at least half of their time (a minimum of 20 hours per week) on research. Continued funding is contingent upon satisfactory research effort and progress as determined by the student’s advisor. After autumn quarter of the first year, students receive a letter from the department chair concerning their research performance. If problems are identified, and they persist through the second quarter, a warning letter is sent. Problems continuing into a third quarter may lead to loss of departmental support, including tuition and stipend. Similar procedures are applied in subsequent years.
A balanced master’s degree program, including engineering coursework and research, requires at least one maximum-tuition academic year beyond the baccalaureate to meet the university residence requirements. Many full-time students spend at least one summer to complete the research requirement. An alternative master’s degree program based only on coursework is available, also requiring at least one full tuition academic year to meet university residence requirements.
MS students who anticipate continuing in the PhD program should follow the research option. MS students receiving financial aid typically require two academic years to complete the degree. Such students must take the research option.
The following list is recommended for most students. With the prior consent of the student’s advisor, courses listed under technical electives may be substituted based on interest or background.
- 2254051
- 1039632
- 2207011
- 2205661
- 1048651
- 1297631
- 1297171
Complete technical courses to obtain 18 total elective units. It may include graduate-level courses in Energy Science and Engineering.
Students interested in theme sequences can consider the following courses for the technical elective requirement:
- 2209091
- 1297791
Students choosing the self-funded coursework-only option for the MS degree may substitute six units of additional technical elective courses in place of the research.