Each type of engineering graduate program requires specific courses for two reasons. One, the college must ensure that its graduates enter their respective fields with a comprehensive knowledge of the subject. Two, colleges require certain courses in order to maintain accreditation from professional engineering organizations, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or the Energy Institute. The required coursework varies by field. For example, doctoral candidates in pharmaceutical engineering at Rutgers University must complete five courses in biochemistry. The university may also stipulate that graduate students take specific, required courses before beginning a thesis or dissertation. Required courses can also include undergraduate or graduate level classes for students admitted to a graduate program without a bachelor's degree in an engineering field.
Once a graduate student has completed the required courses, she can take courses that will specialize her study in a particular sub-discipline. For example, electrical engineering majors may elect to specialize in microchip technology and take courses such as microelectronics and fiber optics. Students in biochemical engineering may wish to focus on the development of new pharmaceuticals; some specialized courses in this field include statistics and materials engineering.
A number of graduate departments encourage students to take independent study or independent research projects. The student works with a professor in his chosen field in order to determine the content of the independent study or the research project. During the independent study, the student then completes the research or project, while making periodic progress reports to the overseeing faculty member. These programs earn credit hours for the students and count toward the amount needed to complete the degree.
Companies often promote engineers into management positions. Here, these engineers oversee the work of design teams, tech crews, sales and user-support employees. Many graduate schools now offer specific degree programs and courses in the management techniques and skills need to effectively manage engineers. Some courses teach how to set project budgets, give performance reviews or ensure quality.
Graduate programs in engineering strongly encourage students to take courses in fields that support the student's work in engineering. Students in electrical, mechanical and civil engineering programs might take additional courses in the Mathematics or Physics department. Energy engineering students can enhance their study with coursework in geology or oceanography. Robotics engineering graduates can take classes in psychology or anthropology.
The thesis and dissertation represent a culmination of the knowledge and skills the graduate student has acquired during her coursework and independent study. During the thesis or dissertation phase of a graduate degree, the student earns his remaining credit hours by enrolling in a "Dissertation" course; for example, at the University of Buffalo, electrical engineering Ph.D. students sign up for "EE 699." Students then complete the thesis or dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member or dissertation committee, respectively.