Degree Requirements

Choose Your Path

Learn more about the curriculum, courses, research and experiential requirements and more for Master of Engineering, Master of Science and Master of Engineering Management.

Master of Engineering

Depth in a future-focused tech discipline, plus business skills

Master of Science

Get ready for research leadership or a PhD

Master of Engineering Management

The tech-savvy alternative to the MBA

Master of Engineering

Curriculum

30 credits, including:

  • Core industry preparatory courses (2 graduate courses, 6 credits)
  • Departmental or interdisciplinary core courses (5-6 graduate courses, 15-18 credits, varies by department)
  • Technical electives in a concentrated area (2-3 graduate courses, 6-9 credits, varies by department)
  • Internship or Project (or equivalent)

Industry Preparatory Courses

The business savvy and technical expertise gained in a Duke Master of Engineering program will help you work effectively in a high-tech industry. Click for course numbers and descriptions.

  • This course addresses critical qualities of leadership, management skills, and decision making in complex environments. Essential topics include:

    • Leadership and communication principles
    • Strategic decision making where outcomes depend on high technology
    • Management of project-based and team-based organizational structures and the role of the manager in expertise driven organizations
  • This course provides an overview of the essentials of intellectual property, marketing, accounting and finance, and business strategies for technology companies. Principles covered include:

    • Marketing, methods of distributing products, analysis of marketing situations, and connections between marketing and other functions of the business
    • Accounting and Finance, including time value of money, financial statements, balance sheets, cash flow and risk, receivables, inventories, assets and liabilities, investments, and shareholders’ equity
    • Intellectual Property, including the patenting process, drafting claims, legal recourses for patent infringement, the patent appeal process, patents strategies, the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the European Union Patenting System. Copyright, trademarks and trade secrets will also be covered
    • Technology based business strategy topics such as Forces of Strategic Space, Blue Ocean Strategy, and Disruptive Technologies

Departmental Courses

Each Master of Engineering program is designed to give you in-depth technical knowledge in a particular field. Our programs are flexible in course selection within your chosen discipline. Departmental course requirements vary. Click to choose your field of interest.

Technical Electives

Technical elective options allow you to specialize in your area of interest and take advantage of Duke’s leading status in several fields. Specializations like these will distinguish you from potential employers. You will work with a faculty advisor to customize a curriculum that suits you. Sometimes, an independent study sponsored by a faculty member may satisfy an elective requirement.

Technical elective options vary.  Click to choose your field of interest.

Internship or Project

All Duke Master of Engineering students engage in an internship or project. There are many options, but each provides the opportunity to practice what you’ve learned in an authentic environment. Internships may be paid or unpaid, public sector or private sector. Projects can be applied research, provided learning objectives are met. At the end, you’ll prepare an assessment. This description is general. Individual degree programs may have additional requirements and/or offer exceptions. Click for course numbers and descriptions.

  • Internships are typically 8-12 weeks. The minimum hourly requirement for the internship is 320 hours, equivalent to 8 weeks, 40 hours per week.

    Projects require approval from your faculty adviser. Projects must fulfill the same learning objectives as internships. Individual programs/majors may have additional requirements or exceptions to fulfill the internship component of the program.

    All internships/projects must:

    • Apply engineering principles to solving one or more problems outside the classroom environment
    • Define a problem and determine potential solutions
    • Appreciate the importance of organizational dynamics and work relationships
    • Practice professional communication both written and orally
    • Complement material presented in MEng courses
    • Include a self assessment upon completion in MENG 551(251)
  • The MEng Assessment course is the culmination of your internship or project work. You will prepare a substantive assessment of your internship or project experience via a written report and/or oral presentation. A polished analysis should include:

    • Problem or task conducted
    • Challenges faced
    • Solutions incorporated
    • Workplace communication and interpersonal relationship critique
    • Individual performance review

Master of Science

Our Master of Science programs offer cutting-edge courses and a dynamic curriculum designed to deepen your expertise and foster innovation. With specialized classes in key areas of engineering and science, you’ll gain the advanced knowledge and skills needed to excel in your field. Select a programs to learn more.