Transdisciplinary Science, Computing, and Engineering Design MS

Major: Transdisciplinary Science, Computing, and Engineering Design
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: Available for full-time, on-campus master's-level students
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 15.1502
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2199

About the Program

New industries and product categories, such as wearable devices, consumer robotics, and the “Internet of Things,” have emerged from a combination of new technologies as well as a human-centered approach to interaction with technology. More and more, companies pursuing these areas seek hybrid employees combining both technical and creative skills, capable of integrating and implementing advances across multiple disciplines to further innovation. The Transdisciplinary Science, Computing, and Engineering Design (TranSCEND) MS program aims to prepare students for these opportunities by combining graduate-level classes in science, engineering, and computing with hands-on, collaborative project-based courses focusing on the development of physical devices and artifacts. The curriculum includes a six-month graduate co-op experience to gain real-world experience with collaborative project development. Program participants will be able to engage with boundary-crossing research projects, such as advanced functional fabrics, performing arts technology, humanoid robotics, and learning technologies at Drexel’s ExCITe (Expressive & Creative Interaction Technologies) Center.

Transdisciplinary work refers to a deeply collaborative process in which questions are approached through an integrated conceptual framework combining methods and approaches from different disciplines to illuminate problems and solutions in new ways. The TranSCEND program seeks to develop transdisciplinarity within individuals, equipping students with both the technical depth and the broader contextual experience to succeed in today’s technology-driven industries.

The TranSCEND MS combines a strong foundation of technical knowledge with the creative, expressive, and collaborative exploration of new technology design. This intensive program emphasizes learning through world-ready projects and collaborative experiences including direct industry engagement through a graduate co-op. Core TranSCEND MS activities (courses, research opportunities, academic advising, and industry engagement) are structured around a transdisciplinary philosophy to enable a broader range of student-faculty and student-student collaborations than traditional graduate technical programs. These principles and practices are not only integrated through courses, but also through the interactions between students pursuing a diversity of projects.

Additional Information 

For more information about the program, please visit the TranSCEND MS webpage on the ExCITe Center website.

Jillian Reilly
Student Programs Coordinator, ExCITe Center
jmreilly@drexel.edu
215-895-6635

Admission Requirements

The TranSCEND MS program is an advanced and highly selective program of study. Successful applicants will have a baccalaureate degree in an engineering, computing, and/or scientific or closely related field, or substantial demonstrated facility in one of those fields (e.g., an undergraduate minor with significant project work). Candidates should have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

Candidates may, at their option, submit a portfolio of prior work to be considered by program faculty and staff during the admissions process.

Degree Requirements

Sample Plan of Study

Full-time Plan of Study 

NOTE: Any term with less than 4.5 credits will not be eligible for Financial Aid.

Part-time Plan of Study 

NOTE: Any term with less than 4.5 credits will not be eligible for Financial Aid.

Transdisciplinary Science, Computing, and Engineering Design Faculty