Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering Add to Wentworth’s Growing List of Master’s Degree Programs

Durga Suresh-Menon is all smiles as she talks about graduate programs at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Positive energy is nothing new for the dean of graduate education, but she is especially enthusiastic on this day, mapping out a future where the university grows its graduate student population by 1,000.

“It’s a lofty goal,” she says, “but this seems to be the clear future for us.”

A 19-year veteran educator at Wentworth, Durga Suresh-Menon has most recently been instrumental in the university adding a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering to its slate of academic offerings.

She also helped revamp and launch the master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, Applied Computer Science and Project Management as 4+1 programs, accelerated programs that allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years.

“A great number of graduates are looking to advance themselves beyond a Bachelor of Science degree and we’ve heard from many of our alumni, as well as graduates of other schools, that they want to do that here, with Wentworth professors, Wentworth labs and resources,” said José Sánchez, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “These degrees can really help them advance in a competitive job market.”

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering master’s programs each offer concentrations in power and energy, embedded design, or robotics and process automation. Thesis and non-thesis options are available for both programs, and both are also offered part-time to help fit the schedules of working students.

The new programs add to recent changes and improvements that President Mark A. Thompson, Provost Ian Lapp, Suresh-Menon, graduate program coordinators and others at Wentworth have implemented this year to advance the graduate experience at Wentworth: 

• Cross-registration established for graduate programs with the Colleges of the Fenway 
• Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) approval for five graduate programs to issue I-20’s  
• Comprehensive university-wide graduate policies  
• Relaunch of two graduate programs this year in Project Management and Civil Engineering 
• Seven new graduate proposals in the works for Fall 2021 and 2022 
• Increase in the incoming graduate class by 35% 
• Alumni scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year that will cover up to 20 percent of the cost of tuition and fees for all qualifying graduate degrees and graduate certificates

Suresh-Menon believes that added graduate programs will increase diversity, “not only from the standpoint of underrepresented groups—a big part of our vision—but also with international students, who will bring a rich cultural diversity to campus,” she said.

“Whether it is a one-course professional development or earning a full-fledged graduate degree, we are here and ready to serve our students,” Suresh-Menon added. “The future is bright here at Wentworth. We are at the forefront of what is needed for someone to succeed in this ever-changing landscape.”

Learn more about Wentworth’s graduate programs—including its newest master’s degrees—during the September 30 Graduate Open House. Register online now.