Quality Assurance The Master’s Program with a major in Quality Assurance is offered by the industrial engineering technology department in order to meet an established need in both manufacturing and service industries. The program focuses on total quality management and on analytical methods such as statistics, process, analysis, and problem solving techniques. A primary objective of the degree is to provide graduate level study opportunity to individuals who are currently practicing in the quality and related fields so that they may be aware of recent advances and modern practice.
Engineering and Technology Concentration
This concentration is designed for prospective students who have undergraduate degrees in engineering technology (all majors), physical science, mathematics, and other technical majors. To qualify fully for admission students will need the technically oriented undergraduate degree including a laboratory based physical science, at least one calculus course, and a statistics course. Two years of full time experience in the field is also expected of all applicants for this concentration. For a fully qualified student the program requires 36 semester hours of study. This includes 8 semester hours for the Master’s project, which is usually performed in the employer’s facility. When admitted, students will be assigned a graduate advisor. Students are required to work frequently with their advisors to plan the program of study and to maintain progress.
 
Required Courses     Hours
QA  6602  Total Quality 4
QA  6611  Advanced Statistical Applications 4
QA  6612  Advanced Experimental Design 4
QA  6615  Applied Systems Reliability 4
QA  6650  Quality Systems Design 4
QA  7704 Project  8
    Electives 8

Note: A grade of "C" or better is required for each course.

Quality Systems Concentration

This concentration is designed for students who are working in the quality, training, and related developmental disciplines. The program has been established to meet the needs of the professional who has not received a formal technical education in quality, yet must support total quality, continuous improvement, process management, and re-engineering efforts within their organization. The program focuses on total quality management and on analytical techniques. Students may elect a thesis or non-thesis option as part of their studies. A primary objective of the degree is to provide graduate level study opportunity to individuals who are currently practicing in a quality related field who have not had any formal technical education in the discipline.

The concentration is designed for prospective students who have undergraduate degrees in business, social science, education, and other non-technical majors. To qualify fully for admission students will need to hold a bachelor’s degree and either be working in a quality related field, e.g., human resources or training, or desire to work in the field.

For a qualified student the program requires 36 semester hours of study. Students electing the thesis option will complete an 8 hour thesis. The remainder of the curriculum includes graduate coursework in Total Quality, Process Analysis, Technical Training, Quality Systems Design, Quality Cost Systems, and Statistical Process Control.
 
Required Courses     Hours
QA  6600 Methods of Analysis 4
QA  6602 Total Quality 4
QA  6610 Statistics for Quality Assurance 4
QA  6611 Advanced Statistical Applications 4
QA  6620 Inspection Systems Design 4
QA  6630 Technical Training Methods 4
QA  6650 Quality Systems Design 4

Thesis Option

QA  7804 Thesis 8

Research Option

QA  6640 Quality Cost and Supplier Evaluation 4
QA  7504 Research in Quality 4

Note: A grade of "C" or better is required for each course.