The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering offers a graduate program in manufacturing engineering leading to a Master of Science in Engineering degree. The department offers thesis and non-thesis options. Students may further specialize within the major through selection of elective courses. The manufacturing engineering major is designed to help practicing engineers and managers with extensive engineering experience in manufacturing and graduates in engineering, the physical sciences and business to further their education for better opportunities in manufacturing industries. The major provides technical and engineering management skills, provides education in cutting-edge technology to manufacturing professionals so they can be competitive in the global market, and prepares students for doctoral programs in manufacturing engineering. The graduate program in manufacturing engineering requires 30 semester credit hours, 12 of which are required of all students. The 12 hours are selected such that there is a course from each of four area lists in quality, design, systems, and engineering management. There are two options for completing an MSE in manufacturing engineering: 1) thesis and 2) non-thesis only. Students on the thesis option must complete an additional 12 hours of prescribed electives and 6 hours of thesis. Students on the non-thesis option must complete an additional 18 hours of prescribed electives and must submit a course project report from any M.S. Manufacturing Engineering course to meet the capstone requirement.