Students pursuing the MS degree in Science and Technology for Innovation in Global Development must complete a minimum of 30 credits of relevant work at the graduate level. In some cases, students may enter the program if they have a related graduate certificate. Students may not retake courses they have already taken at WPI or elsewhere.
There are two project options satisfaction of the degree requirements. Students may take a three-credit Graduate Qualifying Project (GQP) or a six-credit MS thesis. Students will typically have a field experience no matter which track they choose. The MS degree with a GQP concentration can be completed in twelve months. The MS degree with the Thesis option will typically take one-and-a-half to two academic years. If a student seeks to add a language to their study, the program will take two years.
Upon acceptance to the MS Program, a student will be assigned to a team of academic advisors from different disciplines. In consultation with that committee the student must prepare a Plan of Study that outlines the pathway the student will take to meet the MS degree requirements.