School of Engineering

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General Information

Mission

Widener University’s School of Engineering is dedicated to providing quality undergraduate and graduate education and to advancing the state of knowledge in engineering, with the aim of preparing graduates for successful professional careers.

Educational Objectives and Outcomes

The educational objectives of the various graduate programs are that its graduates will excel in industry, government, and academia, and will demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. By the time of graduation, students are expected to achieve the following educational outcomes:

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge and competence in the field of study.
• develop advanced skills in acquiring, evaluating, and integrating new knowledge.
• demonstrate ability to communicate effectively.
• demonstrate ongoing understanding of professional responsibility.

Sesquicentennial Anniversary

In 2012, the School of Engineering celebrated its 150-year anniversary of providing quality engineering education at Widener University. The first class of three engineers began their studies in the fall of 1862 and graduated from the Pennsylvania Military Academy (Widener’s predecessor institution) with the degree of bachelor of civil engineering in 1867. To date, thousands of students have completed their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of engineering disciplines. They have gone on to practice engineering in every corner of the nation and around the globe.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING PROGRAMS

The Master of Science in Engineering Programs offer seven specializations in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and robotics engineering, and in engineering & technology management. A dual degree in MSE/MBA is also offered in cooperation with the School of Business Administration. 

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program 

The bachelor of science/master of science in engineering program is an accelerated program (4+1) that enables qualified Widener engineering students to complete both their bachelor of science and master of science in engineering degrees normally in five years. 

Admission Requirements

Candidates should hold a bachelor of science degree in engineering. Candidates who hold undergraduate degrees in closely related areas are also considered.

Admission into a graduate program as a full-time student is predicated on a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.8 (based on a 4.0 system) from an undergraduate program and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE requirement may be waived for applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and above from an EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate program or equivalent and current Widener Students.

Admission into a graduate program as a part-time student is predicated on a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 (based on a 4.0 system) from an EAC/ABET-accredited undergraduate program, or equivalent, and relevant professional experience. Although the GRE is optional for part-time students, it may be helpful in the evaluation of credentials.

Inquiries and applications should be directed to https://go.widener.edu/apply.

RECOMMENDATION LETTER—Prospective students applying for admission into the graduate program must provide one letter of recommendation at the time of application submission.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS—International students should consult the International Student Services web page at www.widener.edu/iss for international graduate student guidelines or contact the Office of International Student Services at Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; or iss@widener.edu.

MATRICULATION - A matriculated student is one who has been officially admitted to an approved program leading to a graduate degree.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION—Students who graduate from unaccredited programs or whose academic record falls short of established standards but whose progress since graduation has demonstrated notable achievement may be admitted with conditions. To satisfy particular deficiencies, the student may be required to take certain undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses and must receive a grade of B or better in each of these courses. Conditional courses will be specified in the acceptance letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

SPECIAL STATUS—Students who are not formal degree candidates are considered special or nonmatriculated students. They must complete all course work assigned to degree candidates and receive a grade. A special student may request a change in status to degree candidate. The request must be submitted in writing to the Office of Graduate Programs, School of Engineering. An approval will specify the courses accepted for the degree program and the time limit. A maximum of nine credit hours may be accepted toward degree requirements.

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT - A Widener undergraduate student who wishes to take a graduate course must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must receive approval from their academic advisor.  

AUDITING—Students will be permitted to audit courses in the graduate program with the approval of the instructor. No grade or credit is given for auditing a course and examinations need not be taken; however, the registration procedure and fee structure are the same as that for other students.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT—A maximum of nine credit hours in total from all sources may be transferred.

Transfer of Credit for Graduate-Level Courses: Transfer credit for previous graduate courses that have not been used to satisfy the requirements of another degree may be accepted toward degree requirements. Transfer credit is granted only at the time the student is admitted to the program. The courses must form an integral part of the proposed program as approved by the student’s academic advisor and have been taken within five years prior to matriculation. A grade of B or better must have been earned to transfer courses. After matriculation, no more than three credit hours will be accepted for transfer from an external institution. Students must obtain written permission from their advisor and the Graduate Program Director prior to taking the course and must earn a B grade or better. Once the transfer has been pre-approved, the student is responsible for providing an official transcript showing the final grade at the conclusion of the course to the Graduate Program Director.

Transfer of Credit for Half-Course Modules and Professional Short Courses: Transfer credit for half-course modules or professional short courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the above guidelines. Transfer credit for professional short courses may be considered only upon evaluation of the student course portfolio. Portfolios will be evaluated by at least two faculty members from the department involved. One and one-half (1.5) credit hours may be transferred for a professional short course with a minimum of 22.5 contact hours, including 1.5 hours of examination/evaluation time.

Academic Calendar

At the start of each semester, students should check MyWidener.edu or the University website for the academic calendar and deadline information.

Grading System

The following grades and their associated grade points are used:

*Only for courses offered on a pass/fail basis.

NOTE: Individual instructors may elect, at their discretion, not to use plus/minus grades.

The grade point value for a given course is the product of the semester hours for the course and the numerical value of the grade obtained. The GPA is the total grade points divided by the number of semester hours undertaken and is based upon the graduate courses that are required for the master’s degree program.

The grade of I is given when a student has not completed course requirements because of excusable reasons. A student who receives a grade of I must arrange to make up all deficiencies with the instructor issuing the grade. If the work is not made up within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which the incomplete is received, the grade will be automatically converted to F, unless the course in question is a thesis research course or a dissertation research course. Upon completion of the requirements, the instructor will institute a change of grade. (Note: A student does not register again for a course in which the grade of incomplete has been received.) A student cannot be awarded a degree when there is an outstanding incomplete grade on the transcript, even if the incomplete is in a course not required in the degree program.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS—Master’s candidates are required to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Courses for which grades lower than B– are received may be repeated only with the permission of the Curriculum Committee. The new grade replaces the old for computation of the GPA, but both grades are recorded on the transcript. No more than two repetitions total and only one repetition per course are allowed.

A student whose academic performance is considered inadequate will be subject to dismissal from the program. Conduct inconsistent with the ethical and professional standards of the discipline, whether it occurs before or after matriculation, is also grounds for dismissal from the program. Such conduct includes academic fraud, which consists of any actions that serve to undermine the integrity of the academic process, including cheating, post-test alteration of answers, plagiarism, and electronic or computer fraud.

A student dismissed for academic fraud may no longer enroll in the graduate programs of the university and may not apply for admission into another division of the university. Please see the section titled “Standards for Academic Integrity.”

Course Offerings

Graduate course offerings are published each semester by the Office Registrar.

DROP/ADD POLICY

Students may withdraw from a course during the University Add/Drop Period without penalty. Following the expiration of the Add/Drop Period, students may withdraw from a course and receive a WD on the transcript, provided they do so by the end of the midpoint of the given semester (end of week 7 for a full semester course).

Students may add a course in consultation with the Graduate Program Director during the first week of the semester.  If a student wishes to add a course after the first week, written permission must be obtained from both the instructor and the Graduate Program Director.

The School of Engineering reserves the right to cancel the offering of any course due to enrollment or scheduling.

Continuous Matriculation

Unless formally approved for a Leave of Absence, students must enroll for a minimum of three credit hours each regular semester (e.g. Fall, Spring) to be considered continuously enrolled.  If continuous enrollment is not maintained, the student’s matriculation status will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Admissions.  A “hold” may be placed on registration privileges.  The student must meet with the Graduate Program Director to discuss the release of the “hold.”  The “hold” will be released only upon the recommendation of the Graduate Program Director.

Leave of Absence

Students who have not completed their programs of study and desire a leave of absence must apply to Graduate Program Director specifying the duration of the requested leave. A student who does not apply for a leave of absence and does not register for at least one course in an academic year will be considered withdrawn from the program. International students must contact the Office of International Student Services before pursuing a leave of absence.

Reinstatement to the Program

Students who have withdrawn from the program may seek readmission by submitting a new application with the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Registration

New and continuing students may register for courses online through Student Planning during their issued date and time from the Office of the Registrar.

Student Status

Students pursuing a program of study in Widener’s School of Engineering are considered to be full-time graduate students when they are enrolled in nine or more credit hours of graduate study in the fall or the spring semester or six credit hours in the summer semester or in ENGR 691 , ENGR 692 , or ENGR 693  (thesis). It is recommended that students take no more than 12 credit hours of graduate study per semester. Students who enroll in at least five credit hours of graduate study are considered to be half-time students.

Time Limit

All requirements for the master of science in engineering degree must be completed within seven years from the beginning of the first semester or within two years from the start of ENGR 691 (Thesis I), whichever comes first. See “Thesis Regulations” and “Thesis Continuation” below. Students enrolled in the dual MSE/MBA program must complete all requirements within nine years.

Degree Requirements

The master of science in engineering degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours.  Students have the option of pursuing thesis research (thesis option) or regular coursework (non-thesis option).  Credit hour requirements for the dual MSE/MBA program vary according to the undergraduate business courses completed. A savings of two to four courses results from the combination of the two degree programs. Please note that a waiver of any requirement for the degree must be approved in writing by the Office of the Dean of the School of Engineering.

Thesis Option

The thesis option provides students an opportunity to conduct scholarly research in an area of interest.  Thesis track is optional and registration for six credit hours of thesis replaces six credit hours of course work. 

THESIS REGULATIONS

The thesis (and the research upon which the thesis is based) represents six credit hours. Instructions for the preparation, format, and scheduling of the thesis and thesis defense may be obtained from the Graduate Program Director. A thesis proposal must be submitted to the research advisor and to the Graduate Program Director for approval prior to the student’s enrollment in ENGR 691 (Thesis I). Upon successful completion of ENGR 691, students must enroll in ENGR 692 (Thesis II) during the following semester. The student must complete the thesis within a two-year period from the start of Thesis I. An oral defense of the thesis must be completed prior to final submission of the thesis. The final thesis document must be completed within two months after the oral defense unless otherwise approved by the research advisor and Graduate Program Director.

THESIS CONTINUATION

Students who have not completed their thesis after enrolling for two consecutive semesters of ENGR 691 (Thesis I) and ENGR 692 (Thesis II) must register for ENGR 693, Thesis Continuation, for which no graduation credit is given. Students must register for ENGR 693 in all subsequent semesters until the thesis is completed. Under unusual circumstances, the student may be granted an extension to complete the thesis beyond the two-year limit, in which case the student must register for ENGR 693 every semester until the thesis is completed. Tuition for thesis continuation is assessed at the rate of 1.5 credit hours.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Requests to schedule oral thesis presentations must be submitted to the research advisor and Graduate Program Director in writing. No oral thesis presentations will be permitted in the period 30 days prior to the scheduled graduation date. For additional information, contact the Graduate Program Director or Office of Graduate Programs.

Graduate Cooperative Education

Widener University’s School of Engineering offers an optional graduate-level cooperative educational experience to qualified students. The program is intended to supplement students’ graduate studies while preparing them for employment in the professional sector. The minimum grade point average to qualify for the program is 3.0. Students must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average for the duration of the cooperative education experience. International students may participate in the graduate co-op program after their first year of full-time studies and after attending an orientation session. For information, please contact the Graduate Program Director.

Standards for Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity Policy

Please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy located in the Graduate Catalog.  For additional information about the School of Engineering policy, please contact the Graduate Program Director.

Graduation Requirements and Awarding of Degrees

Students are responsible for knowing and meeting curriculum requirements as shown in this catalog.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required for graduation, and, if applicable, completion of all thesis requirements. A student may not graduate with more than two course grades lower than B–. A student cannot graduate with a grade of F in any of the courses attempted.

Those who expect to receive the master’s degree should make clear their intentions to their academic advisors and Graduate Program Director.

A student who completes the requirements for the degree at the conclusion of either summer session will be awarded the degree in August of that year; the student must submit a graduation petition per the instructions online at www.widener.edu/registrar by March 1.

A student who completes the requirements for the degree at the conclusion of the fall semester will be awarded the degree in December of that year; the student must submit a graduation petition per the instructions online at www.widener.edu/registrar by July 1.

A student who completes the requirements for the degree at the conclusion of the spring semester will be awarded the degree in May of that year; the student must submit a graduation petition per the instructions online at www.widener.edu/registrar by November 1 of the previous year. The university holds only one formal commencement in the spring to which August (of the previous calendar year), December, and May graduates are invited.

A student who petitions for graduation and who, for whatever reason, is not awarded the degree is not permitted to ‘walkthrough’ commencement and must re-petition.

Dual Specialization

A student may elect to pursue a dual specialization while achieving their master of science in engineering degree. In such cases, students must satisfy all requirements of both programs. Dual specialization requires a total minimum of 39 credit hours for both the thesis or non-thesis path.

Financial Assistance and Awards

Graduate assistantships are available for highly-qualified students. Assistantship appointments require service to the School of Engineering via participating in research projects or assisting faculty in executing teaching assignments. The amount of service generally requires 20 hours of service per week. Additional stipends may be available to students conducting research with faculty members. Most students who accept assistantship appointments complete their course of study within two years. Tuition reimbursed for graduate assistants is considered taxable income in accordance with current Internal Revenue Service regulations. Students who have been determined to be in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy of the School of Engineering or the University Student Code of Conduct are not eligible.

Appointments to assistantships are made for one semester only, but may be renewed. Holders of such appointments must devote study at full-time status and fulfill assistantship commitments. They may not be employed elsewhere without the prior consent of the School of Engineering. 

The 150th Engineering Anniversary Scholarship is to be awarded to a full-time graduate student pursuing the Master of Science in Engineering degree with the thesis option. The scholarship is renewable for one year.

The Frank and Angela LaVerghetta Award is given annually to a graduating MSE student who has secured the highest cumulative GPA. However, no award will be made if the highest GPA is less than 3.7. In case of a tie, professional contributions of the candidates will be considered in deciding the winner.

The Shirley Kornfield Memorial Graduate Award is presented annually to the student graduating with an MSE in the electrical engineering specialization who has secured the highest cumulative GPA.

Widener University offers a wide range of financial aid programs. Financial information is available on the University’s website.

Fellowships

The School of Engineering is grateful to have received a generous gift to establish the Suheil H. Sabbagh Family International Engineering Fellowship. This fellowship fully funds undergraduate and graduate engineering students and their faculty members.

Board of Advisors

William Fryberger, ‘73, Chair

President

Engineering Equipment Sales

Belcamp, MD

Nick Cirilli, PE, PLS ‘79

President/CEO

Cirilli Associates, Inc.

Springfield, PA

J. Earl Coffman ‘90

Director, Transmission Operation Support

Exelon

Philadelphia, PA

Dionne Douglas

Sr. Engineering Manager

Kimberly Clark Corp.

Chester, PA

David Maraldo ‘99

Senior Vice President of Global Biologics Operations

Merck 

Rahway, NJ

Samir Mehta ‘93

Chief Product Officer

Wrench, Inc.

Seattle, WA

Charles Mouzannar

Chief Operating Officer

Exp Federal

Chicago, IL

Suheil Sabbagh

President 

Consolidated Contractors Company

Athens, Greece

Rebecca Salvadore ‘99

Director, Organizational Performance & Regulatory

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station

Constellation Energy Corporation

York, PA

Joseph Viscuso ‘73

Senior Vice President, Director of Strategic Growth

Pennoni Associates, Inc.

West Chester, PA

Jeff Warmann

CEO & President

Monroe Energy, LLC

Trainer, PA

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