M.S. Program
The Automotive Engineering programs equip students with the knowledge needed for master's and doctoral-level expertise in systems integration and vehicle systems engineering. While the program is geared toward the automobile industry, it produces strong linkages with the aerospace and other industries within the state, region and nation, as some of the challenges encountered by the automotive industry are also faced in other sectors.
The M.S. curriculum is designed as a post-B.S. degree program providing top-notch talent to the automotive industry and advanced engineering companies. Students complete graduate coursework equivalent to 33 credit hours and a six-month internship either in industry, on the Deep Orange vehicle prototyping project, or completing a master's thesis.
Classes occur at Clemson's state-of-the-art facilities at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, South Carolina.
| Automotive Engineering Pathway Options | |||
| Course Type | Internal Internship (Deep Orange) | External Internship | Thesis Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Courses |
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| Technical Electives |
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| Internship/Thesis | Deep Orange Project (up to 3 semesters of INT8010, Zero Credits) | External internship (min 2 semesters of INT8010, Zero Credits) | Write and Defend M.S. Thesis (min 6 credits of AuE 8910) |
| Minimum Total Credits to M.S. degree | 33 Credits | 33 Credits | 33 Credits |
Note
- The Deep Orange option is not available for students enrolled in the AuE MS-Online program.
- External internships may be waived for those already working full-time while attending the M.S. program.
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Auditing Courses
Auditors are under no obligation for regular attendance, preparation, recitation, or examination and receive no credit. Auditors' participation in classroom discussions and laboratory exercises is at the instructor's discretion. A student who has previously audited a course is ineligible for credit by examination. Courses audited are not recorded on the student's academic record.
1. With approval, the following may audit courses without tuition (other fees apply):
- Graduate assistants
- Full-time undergraduate and graduate students (12 or more credit hours)
- Faculty and full-time staff
- South Carolina residents age 60 or over, provided they are not full-time employees of Clemson University
2. Other persons who audit pay the applicable tuition rate. Students may not sign up to audit until the first day of class, so priority may be given to students taking courses for credit.
3. The deadline to sign up to audit a course is the last day to register or add a class for that term. Normal drop deadlines apply as well.
Students currently registered for courses may add an audit course or change one to audit status in iROAR. Other auditors must obtain a request to audit card from the Registrar's Office.
102 Sikes Hall
Box 345125
Clemson, SC 29634-5125 -
Curriculum Overview
Core Courses
6 credit hours (2 courses). Core Courses are designed to provide basic competencies that every student graduating from the program should possess. All new incoming students must register for the two courses below if offered in their starting semester:
- AuE 8700: Automotive Business Concepts
- AuE 8810: 8811 Automotive Systems Overview
Technical Electives
A minimum of 27 credit hours (9 courses) or 21 credit hours (5 courses) if enrolled in “Deep Orange” or in the Thesis option. Technical electives must be chosen to provide depth in a given track. At least 3 courses must be AuE courses in a given track. The other courses can be from the same track; however, students taking classes outside a given track must pick complementary courses and be selected in consultation with their faculty advisor and the student’s advisory committee. Track areas include the following:
- Vehicle Manufacturing and Materials
- Vehicle Performance
- Advanced Powertrains and Drivelines
- Vehicle Electronics/Electrical Systems
Business Courses
There will not be a strict requirement to take additional business courses beyond AuE 8700. However, a maximum of one additional business course can be taken to count toward your total elective credit requirements. Students can select from MBA and MGT graduate courses for exposure to business topics, but the AuE department does not control the offering schedule or enrollment conditions for those courses. Additional business courses cannot be used to substitute for technical elective requirements for the M.S. degree; you can, however, take them as an overload.
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Applying to the M.S. Program
Requirements
The M.S. requires a minimum of 33 credits beyond the bachelor's degree.
The Department offers two pathways leading to the M.S. degree: a research-based thesis option, or an internship option. Following are requirements for each:
Masters of Science, Thesis Option
Research thesis will be submitted and defended during the final semester.
- 6 credits minimum M.S. Thesis Research (AuE 8910)
- 21 credits minimum of approved coursework (3 courses in a given track, 1 course outside track)
33 credits minimum beyond the Bachelor of Science degree
Masters of Science, Non-Thesis Option
- 6-12 credits minimum of approved coursework depending on internship selection
- 27 credits for External Internship, 21 for Deep Orange
Internships will include 2-3 semesters of INT 8010 (0), depending on the type of internship.
33 credits minimum beyond the Bachelor of Science degree
How to Apply
Students interested in applying to the AuE master's program must be accepted to the Clemson University Graduate School. Application information and forms can be found on the Graduate School website. International students are welcome to apply and must meet Graduate School requirements for TOEFL and GRE scores.
Apply | Graduate School
