Engineering Physics, M.A.Sc.

Master’s Degree

The degree may be earned either with a thesis option (M.A.Sc.) or an industrial internship (M.Eng.) to be decided jointly by the candidate, the supervisor, and the chair. A strong baccalaureate degree with an average of at least B (equivalent to a McMaster GPA of 8.0) in engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences is generally required for admission to the M.A.Sc. program. For the M.Eng. program, an average of at least B is required.

M.A.Sc. Degree

Course Requirements

A candidate for the M.A.Sc. degree is required to complete a minimum of three half courses, one of the three half courses can be at the 600-level, with an overall average of at least B and a thesis. The M.A.Sc. students are allowed to take one non-technical course at the 600- or 700-level among the three required half-courses. The thesis topic is chosen in consultation with the supervisor. In addition to the minimum of three half courses, M.A.Sc. candidates are required to complete the mandatory seminar half course ENG PHYS 702 .

Students currently enrolled in their final year of an Engineering Physics undergraduate program at McMaster University may apply for an Advanced Credit Option. The Advanced Credit Option is open to undergraduates who have an overall average (CGPA) of at least B at the time they are applying for the option. The Advanced Credit Option allows undergraduate students to take one 600-level course during their final undergraduate year for graduate credit. The Advanced Credit Option may not be used in conjunction with the Accelerated Option which similarly allows an undergraduate student to count one 600-level course taken during their final year towards their degree requirements of the M.A.Sc program. In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster applying for entry into the M.A.Sc. program in Engineering Physics may apply for the Advanced Credit Option with the permission of the Department’s Associate Chair (Graduate). Entry into the M.A.Sc. program under the Advanced Credit Option must occur less than one year upon completing one’s undergraduate degree and must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates.

An Accelerated Option is also available to students currently enrolled at McMaster as undergraduate students in the Engineering Physics Department. The graduate credit and thesis-related research work completed under the Accelerated Option are expected to reduce time to completion of the Master’s program. Application for entry into the Accelerated Option occurs in the final year of undergraduate studies. Applicants must have an overall average (CGPA) of at least B at the time they are applying for the option. The Accelerated Option requires students to complete at least one term of their thesis-related project with a supervisor from the department prior to completion of their undergraduate degree. A 600-level course offered by the department is required under the Accelerated Option in the final undergraduate year for graduate credit. For students enrolled in the Accelerated Option, research conducted in ENGPHYS 4H04 may count towards the Accelerated Option and therefore towards partial fulfillment of the graduate M.A.Sc. thesis work.

In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster may apply for entry into the Accelerated Option by contacting the department’s Associate Chair (Graduate). Entry into the M.A.Sc. program under the Accelerated Option must occur less than one year upon completing one’s undergraduate degree and must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates.

Transfer to the Ph.D.

After a minimum of 1 year in the M.A.Sc. or M.Eng. program, a student may transfer to the Ph.D. program without completion of the Master’s, upon successful completion of a transfer examination. The transfer examination will be completed with the intended Ph.D. Supervisory Committee. The transfer exam will count towards the requirement of the PhD thesis proposal.

The transfer exam is oral with a written report and presentation.