Programs on this page primarily provide advanced coursework and a professional component and lead to master's degrees in certain specified disciplines, without a thesis. This page is meant to be a helpful guide to current Rice undergraduates thinking about graduate programs.
Master of Architecture (MArch)
Thesis-based, professional degree program leading to various stages of professional accreditation.
Master of Applied Chemical Sciences
The Applied Chemical Sciences program offers an alternative route for individuals pursuing an MS degree in chemistry without the requirement of an extensive research project and thesis. This option caters to various demographics: local industry professionals seeking career advancement, undergraduates aiming to enhance their employability before entering the workforce, and educators and non-traditional students aspiring to meet teaching eligibility criteria at community colleges.
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
The MAT is a non-thesis degree program for students who want to qualify for secondary school teaching following a bachelor's degree. This program offers 3 tracks: (1) a 5 year MAT for Rice undergraduates offered as a 4+1 format, (2) an MAT for new teachers that includes state of Texas teacher certification (full time program), and (3) an MAT for experienced teachers that can be completed with or without principal certification (part time program).
Master of Bioscience and Health Policy
This program will train you to practice science policy by deepening your background in science and broadening your experience with courses in business, management, sociology, economics, and policy studies. It will foster your understanding of the role of science in policymaking and the role of public policy in science. The coursework provides communication training, professional development, policy writing, and study skills enabling you to develop specific policy recommendations. You will also acquire the tool-set to become knowledgeable in the formulation and execution of public policy. The direct access to Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and their fellows allows you to work closely with policy scholars, meet with many of the leaders in science and technology policy, and attend discussions on the latest topics in bioscience and health policy. The program allows you to tailor your studies to your career focus and adjust your courses to fit interests in policy, health care management, bioinformatics, data analytics/science, technology transfer, and/or prepare better for medical school.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Offered by the Jones Graduate School of Business, the MBA degree can be obtained via the Full-Time MBA Program, the MBA for Professionals Program, or the MBA for Executives Program.
The Energy Geoscience (formerly Subsurface Geoscience) program is geared for students who have a geoscience background and would like to become proficient in their area of interest. Students can choose from four focus areas that will prepare them to apply geological knowledge and geophysical methods to find and develop reserves of oil and natural gas; or to hone their skills in manipulating and managing energy-related data, or refit or expand their skill-set to the new areas of the on-going energy transition.
Master of Environmental Analysis
The Environmental Analysis program is designed to impart students with robust methodologies essential for addressing environmental challenges encountered by both industrial and governmental entities. This interdisciplinary initiative draws upon courses from diverse fields including environmental science, earth science, statistics, chemistry, ecology, evolutionary biology, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, chemical engineering, economics, computer science, and sociology. Graduates of this program will possess a comprehensive skill set and knowledge base highly sought after by environmental consulting firms, energy production companies, and government agencies.
This program is offered by the JGSB and the George R. Brown School of Engineering, in any of the departments of engineering. This program prepares students to become managers in organizations requiring a high level of technical expertise and management skills.
This program is offered by the JGSB and the Weiss School of Natural Sciences Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Program. This program prepares students to become managers in organizations requiring specialized technical knowledge and general management skills.
Master of Bioengineering (MBE)
A non-thesis degree that provides students with greater depth in their bioengineering training to advance their career objective..
Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE)
The MChE program offers a non-thesis professional degree intended to better prepare students for a career in the field of chemical engineering. The curriculum is designed for recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering to complete in two semesters (fall and spring).
Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering (MCEE)
The MCEE is a professional non-thesis degree with sub-tracks in Civil Engineering or Sustainable Environmental Engineering and Design. Degree requires 30 semester hours of approved course work including a final project of 2 semester hours.
Master of Computational and Applied Mathematics (MCAM)
The Professional Masters of Computational and Applied Mathematics (MCAM) is a non-thesis master’s program designed for students interested in a technical career path in industry or business. The MCAM program provides students with a fundamental understanding of computational and applied mathematics tools that are essential to tackle complex problems in science, engineering and business. With proper planning and coordination of undergraduate major(s) and senior year courses, Rice undergraduates have the option to complete the MCAM degree with just a 5th year of study.
Master in Computational Science and Engineering (MCSE)
The Master in Computational Science and Engineering (MCSE) is a non-thesis degree program offered jointly by the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics and Statistics in the School of Engineering. The program is designed to provide training and expertise in modern computational techniques that will find application in a wide range of industries, and technical and managerial functions within them.
Master of Computer Science (MCS)
The professional MCS degree is a terminal degree for students intending to pursue a technical career in the computer industry. Areas of concentration for the MCS include algorithms and complexity, artificial intelligence, robotics, compiler construction, distributed and parallel computing, graphics and geometric modeling, operating systems, and programming languages. The professional program normally requires three semesters of study.
Rice's Master of Data Science (MDS) is a professional non-thesis degree designed to support the needs of interdisciplinary professionals intending to pursue a technical career in data science. The On-Campus MDS is a full-time program at the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. The program hosts a lively and invigorating community of scholars in the Department of Computer Science, the largest academic department at Rice. The program offers students online or on-campus options with a curriculum that delivers the skills needed to collect, evaluate, interpret and communicate data. Students must apply to either the online or on-campus program and will be explicitly admitted to one program or the other.
Master of Electrical and Computing Engineering (MECE)
The master of electrical engineering (MECE) degree is a course-based program designed to increase a student’s mastery of advanced subjects; no thesis is required. The MECE prepares a student to succeed and advance rapidly in today’s competitive technical marketplace.
Master of Energy Economics (MEECON)
The Master of Energy Economics (MEECON) develops and educates future leaders and strategic thinkers in the energy sector.
Master of Engineering Management & Leadership (MEML)
The Master of Engineering Management & Leadership (MEML) at Rice University will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the new and emerging technology era known as Industry 4.0. The Master of Engineering Management & Leadership program at Rice University is a professional, non-thesis master’s degree meant for technical professionals with engineering or related technical backgrounds; recent college graduates from engineering and the computational science fields should also apply.
Master in Energy Transition and Sustainability
The Master of Energy Transition and Sustainability (METS) Program is an advanced, professional non-thesis degree designed in partnership with the George R. Brown School of Engineering (SoE) and the Wiess School of Natural Sciences (SoNS) at Rice University. The METS program empowers individuals with the knowledge and expertise required to spearhead the global energy transition. This joint degree program will require 31 credit hours of curated courses at the 500-level or above, including a culminating three-credit hour capstone course.
The METS program is tailored for individuals holding a BA or a BS degree in a quantitative major (engineering or science) from an accredited institution. The degree will also be of value to professionals currently in the traditional energy field to allow them to retool their skills to join the global workforce in the areas of the Energy Transition, ideally those with a science or engineering background.
Master of Global Affairs (MGA)
The Master of Global Affairs (MGA) allows students to benefit from the academic and research strengths of Rice and ingress the field of international policy to thrive as leaders in the next century.
Master of Human-Computer Interaction and Human Factors (MHCIHF)
The Master of Human-Computer Interaction and Human Factors is a full-time 2-year professional master’s program that will expand students’ knowledge of critical concepts and methods in psychology and how to apply those concepts to real-world problems.
Master of Industrial Engineering (MIE)
Industrial engineering improves the efficiency and safety of various systems in manufacturing, services, health care, energy, and logistics. It uses mathematical and physical models to make data-driven decisions needed in every major economic sector. The Professional Master's Program in Industrial Engineering at Rice University is for students seeking a deeper understanding of how sophisticated decision models can optimize complex systems in any industry as well as the nonprofit sector.
Master of Liberal Studies (MLS)
The part-time Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) program is designed for those who love to learn new ideas and discuss them with others. The MLS program allows students to explore timeless and timely human questions within the humanities, social sciences and sciences.
Master of Material Science and NanoEngineering (MMSNE)
The professional Master of Material Science and NanoEngineering (MMSNE) is open to students who have shown academic excellence in their undergraduate studies. This non-thesis degree option, combining engineering coursework with professional development and communications, is designed for engineers who have attained a bachelor's degree and are looking to further their careers in industry.
Master of Mechanical Engineering (MME)
The professional master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (MME) is a non-thesis degree program intended for students who have completed a 4-year bachelor’s program in engineering and wish to enter industry as practicing professionals, rather than pursuing a research oriented or academic career.
The Space Studies program is tailored to enrich individuals' understanding of space engineering, science, program management, and policy. It encompasses advanced engineering, biological and physical science courses, and introduces students to economics, public policy, and management disciplines relevant to space commercialization and national policy. This program specifically aims to train scientists and engineers interested in program management, equipping them with the necessary tools to tackle the intricate challenges inherent in US space policy, human and robotic space exploration, and the role of science in space exploration and technology advancement.
Master of Social Policy Evaluation (MSPE)
The professional master's degree in Social Policy Evaluation (MSPE) provides the quantitative skills and hands-on application for real-world policy evaluations conducted at the Texas Policy Lab and other research centers at Rice.
The professional Master of Statistics (MStat) Program includes a solid foundation in statistical computing, statistical modeling, experimental design, and mathematical statistics, plus electives in statistical methods and/or theory. It is a bridge to industry, designed to provide advanced learning and training in the applied aspects of statistics theory, methodology and techniques beyond the typical undergraduate program.