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  GRADUATE STUDY  
 
 
ISE Department
 

 

 

Admission Criteria

Admission to the graduate program depends on performance in undergraduate studies, GRE scores, recommendations, and evidence of research potential. Below we provide some guidelines to help you decide if you wish to apply. We emphasize that the following numbers are only guidelines for admission to the graduate program.

• BS GPA (minimum): 3.0/4.0 for engineers (first class ranking); 3.2/4.0 for others
• MS GPA (minimum): 3.5/4.0 for Ph.D. applicants
• GRE scores (minimum): Verbal 560; Quantitative 750; Analytical 690
• TOEFL for International students (minimum): 575/233

Below you will find a list of the required prerequisite undergraduate courses. The courses are described in detail in Section 14 of this handbook.

• Four semesters of calculus including differential equations and linear algebra
• High level computer language (C++, FORTRAN, for example)
• Deterministic Methods in Operations Research including linear programming (equivalent to Rutgers ISE course 540:311 or math course 640:354)
• Probability - calculus based (equivalent to Rutgers ISE course 540:210)
• Engineering Economics (equivalent to Rutgers ISE course 540:343)

If you are missing one or more of the prerequisite courses you may be admitted to the graduate program conditionally; that is, you are accepted with the requirement that you take the prerequisites for no credit within the first year and receive a grade of B or better. If these conditions are not satisfied you may be dropped from the program. Part-time students are given additional time.
If you have not taken the calculus-based course in probability you may take an undergraduate course for no credit or you may take a graduate course in probability for graduate credit.
Ph.D. students may take a graduate level course in engineering economics, for credit, to satisfy the prerequisite requirement. MS students must take Engineering Economics 540:343 for no credit.
Sometimes it is difficult for the admissions committee to judge the content of a course from its title on the transcript. If you believe you have studied material in a course that is an admission condition, discuss it with the Graduate Director. Prepare yourself with a catalog description or course outline to show that you have already studied the required material.


Financial Support

The department currently supports about thirty graduate students with fellowships, teaching assistantships, and graduate research assistantships. The support includes a stipend of approximately $14,000 plus tuition. Other students receive partial support or are paid hourly to participate in research projects.
Fellows, graduate research assistants and teaching assistants are required to work for fifteen hours per week on the projects or courses to which they are assigned.
In funding new students, doctoral students receive first priority for support. Most of the offers go to students who have already completed their MS degrees. Occasionally an exceptional student is offered support for doctoral study immediately after the BS degree.
Some MS students have received full or partial funding after they have joined the program. This funding may be hourly payment for research assistance or a limited term appointment as a teaching assistant or graduate research assistant. There are also many job opportunities on campus – assisting in research projects on an hourly basis, conducting recitations in calculus, and so on. It is unlikely that an international MS applicant will be offered financial support before joining the program.
When the admissions committee accepts a student, he or she is notified by letter and is placed on the list of students eligible for financial support. In March, offers for fellowships are sent out.
Financial support is highly competitive. The typical recipient has qualifications that far exceed the admission requirements. In particular, the recipients show clear evidence of research potential, for example, detailed recommendations from a research advisor or a prize in recognition of excellent research.


 

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