ENERGY-MS - Energy Science and Engineering (MS)

Refer to university policy on Transfer Work.

Courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The Department of Energy Science and Engineering is committed to providing academic advising to support our MS students’ education and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative engagement by the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

At or before the start of graduate study — generally, at the beginning of autumn quarter — each student is assigned an advisor: a member of our faculty who provides research advice and guidance in course selection and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. A significant advising milestone is the MS Program Proposal each student completes at the end of their first quarter.  

The department’s graduate handbook provides information and suggested timelines for advising meetings. Typically, research MS students meet with their advisor twice weekly, once individually and once during the research group meeting. If a meeting is not possible, the student should send the advisor a brief email highlighting their activities for the week. Usually, the same faculty member serves as program advisor for the duration of the master’s study, but the handbook describes a formal advisor change process.

In addition, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) meets with all the master’s students at the start of the first year and is available during the academic year by email and office hours.

Students are expected to discuss with their advisor during or before the first week of each quarter to agree upon the courses that the student plans to take that quarter. Advisors formally approve the study list in person or by email.

The department’s student services office is also essential for the master’s advising team. The student services office informs students and advisors about university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and it maintains the official records of advising assignments and approvals. 

Finally, graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

See Graduate Advising for a statement of university policy on graduate advising.