3. Admissions

3.1 Continuing Education Admission
Adult learners may apply for MSEM coursework through Continuing Education (CE). Nontraditional, part-time students and professionals who are seeking a degree or developing their skills can apply. Working professionals who need to meet Continuing Education Unit (CEU) or Professional Development Hour (PDH) requirements in order to maintain licensure may use MSEM coursework credits. For example, a three-credit semester course would be equivalent to 45 PDHs for a MN licensed Professional Engineer.


Students who plan to use credits earned through CE towards a MSEM degree must meet all UMD curricular requirements. In addition students must contact faculty in the MSEM Department and apply for admission to the College of Science and Engineering through the Office of Admissions. Plan A and B students may transfer a maximum of 14 MSEM Program credits and 12 MSEM Program credits, respectively, from CE into the Graduate School MSEM Program.


Registration information may be obtained by calling Continuing Education, located in 403 Darland Administration Building, at 1-218-726-8808 or by e-mail at mhelst1@d.umn.edu. Additional information pertaining to course offerings, planning, counseling, financial aid and admission is available at the Continuing Education website. This website also has the relevant CE registration forms available in PDF format.


3.2 Graduate School Application for Admission to MSEM
3.2.1 General Procedures and Forms
Forms are available in 431 Darland Administration Building (DAB). Students may also request application materials on-line by going to the UMD GS Application Request Form. The application fees are $55.00 for U.S. citizens and $75.00 for non-U.S. citizens. The application fee is non-refundable and is subject to change. Students have to fill out the application forms in duplicate and must include two official copies of their transcripts from each college attended, including any University of Minnesota credits and current registration information. The Graduate School Application for Admission deadlines are as follows: Fall Semester - July 15, Spring Semester - November 1, and Summer Term - May 1. Additional information on the application process may be obtained from the Graduate School website.


Students, who submit undergraduate transcripts containing a substantial number of courses without letter grades, during their junior and senior years, must submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test. International students applying for graduate assistantships, fellowships, traineeships or scholarships, while in the Master of Science in Engineering Management Program, are also urged to submit GRE scores. Arrangements to take this test can be made through the Educational Testing Service website.


The language standard for student admission to the Graduate School is a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) written test or 213 on a computer-based TOEFL test taken after June 1998. This examination is required of all students whose native language is not English. Scores must be less than two years old. There are no secondary language requirements for the MSEM program. More information on the TOEFL test may be obtained by visiting the Educational Testing Service website.


3.2.2 MSEM Program Requirements:
1) Official transcript of undergraduate degree in engineering or other technical major.
2) A minimum 3.00 GPA from an accredited US institution or foreign equivalent.
3) Two letters of recommendation regarding academic ability.
4) Resume outlining industrial experience and/or proof of PE licensure.
5) There are no secondary language requirements for the MSEM Program.


3.2.3 Additional Requirements for International Students
International students enrolled in the Graduate School are required to maintain registration with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS) in order to validate their GS registration. Information regarding this process can be obtained by visiting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service website.


The English language proficiency exam (TOEFL) is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English, unless 24 quarter/16 semester credits have been completed within the past 24 months, as a fulltime student, at another U.S. institution of higher education.


International applicants must complete the International Student Financial Certification Statement (ISFCS) before UMD will issue I-20 forms (Certificate of Eligibility) to them. The I-20 forms indicate when students will arrive at UMD. The ISFCS is not available on-line and has to be obtained by request from the Graduate School Office in 431 DAB. An estimate of GS related expenses for non-resident international graduate students will be provided at that time (the 2003-2004 total educational expense estimate was $24,338.00 per academic year).


The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (US CIS) requires the University to maintain records showing international students have sufficient funds available to meet all their educational expenses at the University of Minnesota Duluth, including tuition, fees, books, living expenses and transportation. If students are unable to obtain and show proof of funding required to earn the MSEM degree then the University will be unable to issue the government required I-20 forms.


In general students submit the ISFCS with their Graduate School Application for Admission form. They indicate their available funding sources along with affidavits of support. Once the MSEM Program determines which students will be awarded graduate appointments MSEM sends offer letters to the students that indicate their potential earnings, hours worked, and job responsibilities. Once a student accepts the offer letter, via e-mail or letter, the MSEM Department notifies the Graduate School of the appointment. The Graduate School then uses this information, in conjunction with the ISFCS, to file and issue I-20 forms to students based on their total monetary award. If students have sufficient funding without graduate appointments then an I-20 form may be issued prior to acceptance of offer letters.


It takes approximately two days for Immigration to approve an I-20 form. Delays in the I-20 filing process may result if the MSEM Program delays financial aid offers to students. Delays may also result because of the lengthy visa interview process for international students leaving their home countries (up to three months for students from China and India). It is therefore important for international students to begin their application process ahead of time. Please refer to the University’s International Student Handbook for additional information regarding immigration regulations.


All information listed above must be submitted to the Graduate School Office in 431 DAB prior to being considered for admission. The MSEM Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), located in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department, may also require additional information as shown in section 3.2.2, MSEM Program Requirements.


3.3 Changes and/or Readmission
3.3.1 Changes at the University of Minnesota Duluth
Students are responsible for obtaining this form from the Graduate School Office located in 431 DAB. If students are requesting readmission, a change of major, or an additional major at UMD then they complete the form and submit it, along with an unofficial school transcript and required fee, to 431 DAB by the following deadlines: Fall Semester – July 15, Spring Semester – November 1, and for Summer Term - May 1.


3.3.2 Changes at the University of Minnesota Minneapolis
If students are requesting a change of campus or degree objective then they complete the form and submit it, with the required fee, to the Graduate School located on the Minneapolis campus. Deadline dates differ, so please call 1-612-625-9364 to determine the correct deadline dates.


Examples of a change in major would be a change from Engineering Management to English, or Chemistry, etc. Likewise, examples of a change in degree objective would be a change from Master of Science to Master of Arts or from Master of Science to PhD, etc.