Online Master of Science in Engineering Education (MSENE)
Online Master of Science in Engineering Education
Our Program
Our online Master of Science in Engineering Education (MSENE) program is designed for professional engineers, industry training professionals, university faculty members, and graduate-level STEM students to advance skills without disrupting careers or current studies.
Online engineering master's programs at Purdue University are ranked #2 by U.S. News & World Report (2025). Home to the world's first School of Engineering Education, Purdue initially designed its Engineering Education Graduate Programs for doctoral students to pursue rigorous research in how engineering, science, technology, and math, are best taught, learned, and practiced. Later, the online MSENE was added for students who want to understand the underlying theory and the practical applications of engineering education without pursuing a Ph.D.
The online MSENE program covers both the theory and the practice of engineering education and is designed to be valuable to four different audiences:
- Ph.D. students in engineering or a closely related field who are preparing for a faculty career
- Current engineering or science faculty who would like to become more effective teachers
- Mid-career engineers and scientists thinking about a second career in education
- Industry professionals, consultants, and others seeking continuing professional development and additional qualifications to support technical training and education
Our Curriculum
The 30-credit hour, non-thesis curriculum is carefully designed to provide high quality, convenient versions of on-campus courses. Online courses are taught by the same faculty who offer on-campus sections and provide multiple opportunities for online students to interact with and receive feedback from both faculty members and other students in the course. Online students are expected to participate in weekly seminars, either asynchronously or virtually in real time, and have the option to join the Engineering Education Graduate Student Association (ENEGSA).
Online MSENE Requirements:
- 15 credit hours of online ENE core courses
- 6 credit hours of ENE elective courses
- 9 credit hours of ENE or other elective courses
- Portfolio of ENE-related work
Visit the Master of Science in Engineering Education Curriculum and Plan of Study to learn more about the coursework.
For those interested in a more compact program, we offer an online Teaching and Learning in Engineering Graduate Certificate with courses that count toward the master's degree if you subsequently decide to pursue an MSENE. In addition, students in the master's program who decide to pursue a Ph.D. in Engineering Education (offered on Purdue's main campus in West Lafayette) will benefit from a program designed so that most, if not all, master's-level courses count toward the Ph.D.
- GPA: Minimum 3.0 or equivalent (A=4.0) cumulative GPA from most recently conferred undergraduate, graduate or professional degree
- Background: Preferred undergraduate degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or Technology
- Test Scores: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are accepted but not required
- Application form
- Transcripts of all universities attended (international students need original language and English translation)
- An academic statement of purpose
- Two or more letters of recommendation
- A personal history statement
- A professional resume or CV
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)/Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) English Proficiency Requirements
Fall Start: July 1
Spring Start: Dec 1
Summer Start: April 1
Resident of Indiana
- $1,139 per credit
- $34,170 total
Nonresident of Indiana
- $1,459 per credit
- $42,770 total
Domestic students and permanent residents may qualify for the following types of financial aid:
- U.S. federal financial aid
- Military, veterans, and military-connected students
Is this program suitable for people who work full time?
Yes. Our typical student works full time. Most courses are delivered asynchronously, which means you can complete your coursework when it is convenient for you.
What degree would I earn with the Online MS ENE program?
You would earn a Master of Science in Engineering Education (MSENE).
Is there a minimum course registration required each semester?
You need to register for at least one credit to be considered an active student. If you do not enroll for more than two consecutive semesters, you will lose your student status and must reapply.
How long does it take to finish the program?
The MS ENE requires ten 3-credit hour, graded courses; two semesters of the research seminar; and a portfolio providing evidence that you have moved toward mastery of six graduate competencies. The research seminars and portfolio can be done at the same time as a class. If you take three classes per year, you can finish in a little more than three years. Typical completion time is 3 to 4 years.
Can I take time off during my program?
You may take a maximum of two consecutive semesters off. If you take more than two semesters, you will need to reapply to the program.
Are letters of recommendation from employers acceptable?
We suggest that you try to get at least one academic reference. If that is not possible, recommendations from employers will be accepted.
How are the online courses structured?
The courses will be offered asynchronously. The faculty member either records videos presenting the course material or uploads recordings of live lectures, which you can view at a time convenient for you. You are expected to keep up with the weekly lectures and readings and to submit assignments and projects by the due dates.
Are scholarships or funding offered for students?
Scholarships and funding are not available through Purdue as this program is a course-based, self-funded master's program. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for federal financial aid. The Purdue Division of Financial Aid can answer your questions. Veterans can visit the Dorothy Stratton Veteran and Miltary Success Center to learn more about wrap-around support services for Purdue students who are veterans, members of the military, or benefit-using family members.
Are there career services or resources after graduation?
Yes, students will have access through the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities.
Whom do I contact if I have questions about the graduate certificate program?
Questions about the online graduate certificate may be addressed to:
- Audeen Fentiman, Crowley Family Professor in Engineering Education, fentiman@purdue.edu
- Tina Putz, Manager of Graduate Programs in Engineering Education, tputz@purdue.edu
- Senay Purzer, Professor and Associate Head of Engineering Education Graduate Programs, purzer@purdue.edu
School of Engineering Education Seminars
During the fall and spring semesters, the School of Engineering Education (ENE) hosts a weekly research seminar from 3:30-4:20 p.m. most Thursdays. These seminars provide the engineering education community a chance to get together to talk about new ideas, share successes and new research, and support developing research. Please join us! We welcome graduate and undergraduate students, staff, and faculty from across the university with an interest in educating engineers.
Please contact Şenay Purzer, Associate Head of ENE Graduate Programs and Professor of Engineering Education, with any questions or to recommend future speakers.
Student Testimonial
Ryan Tang Dan
As a STEM instructor teaching introductory and intermediate robotics courses in New York City, mechatronics engineering graduate Ryan Tang enrolled in Purdue’s online MSENE program to further his career. While enrolled in the program, Tang says he learned a lot more than he expected. When he suddenly changed careers (twice) and industries – to a project manager for a drone company and then for a building management control systems company – his ongoing MSENE coursework helped him in both roles, making him more effective as a trainer and more efficient in moving his projects to completion.
Tang says the things he learned in pursuit of his MSENE allowed him to mentor people more effectively by understanding how they approached the technical material. He completed the MSENE program in less than 2-1/2 years and attributes his success to the way the program was structured, noting that it allowed him to create his required portfolio piece-by-piece as he progressed through the courses. He adds that support and flexibility from faculty advisors kept him on his academic path while the School’s weekly research seminars exposed him to different approaches to teaching and mentoring. Ryan is continuing to leverage his degree and gain professional experience through his recent appointment as a Program Coordinator for Robotics at the New York Power Authority (NYPA).