Nov 14, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2023-2024 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2023-2024 [Archived Catalog]

Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Certificate (Troy)


Rensselaer’s graduate level Advanced Manufacturing Certificate program offers cutting-edge research and innovative curricula to position recipients as national leaders in advanced manufacturing.

Manufacturing Certificate Program


The Advanced Manufacturing certificate is a project-based lecture and laboratory curriculum for graduate students who will focus on developing new manufacturing processes and systems. Courses will be taught by a team of faculty members from Rensselaer’s School of Engineering who are leading experts in areas that include: manufacturing supply chains, manufacturing systems, micromachining, high speed machining, metals and ceramics processing, polymer and composites processing, additive manufacturing, smart manufacturing, and digital manufacturing.

Prior to enrolling in the program, students are required to meet a number of requirements that include: a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, and completion of a manufacturing processes analysis course at Rensselaer or elsewhere. The program is open to Rensselaer students. As part of the program, students will be able to demonstrate the underlying theory, technology, and standard industrial practice for selected advanced manufacturing processes and systems. In addition, students will perform a hands-on laboratory exercises and corresponding design exercises pertaining to each of the selected advanced manufacturing topics.

Certificate Information:

The certificate requires three specific 3-credit hour courses and either another 3-credit hour course chosen from a manufacturing course master list or a culminating manufacturing experience (e.g., Ph.D./M.S. thesis or M.Eng. project related to manufacturing, manufacturing internship) approved by a faculty member.

  • The program results in a graduate-level, NY State-approved certificate in Advanced Manufacturing
  • Courses are taken for credit, and successful completion requires a grade of B or better in each course.
  • One of the require courses involves the design, analysis, and development of a prototype using a new manufacturing process and/or system through a team-based industrial sponsored project Practitioner faculty guide the completion of project work as it relates to students’ career objectives.
  • The students should only apply in their graduating semester.
  • Deadline for Application will be the same as the Registrar’s ‘Last day to apply for Graduation”. (Refer https://info.rpi.edu/registrar/academic-calendar for more details).
  • Note: (i) No late submissions will be accepted; (ii) Retroactive awarding of the certificate after graduation is against Registrar’s policies.
  • For more information about the Certficate and application requirements, see program website at https://manufacturing.eng.rpi.edu/about/advanced-manufacturing-certificate OR https://catalog.rpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=26&poid=8945&returnto=669.

Graduate-level engineers completing this certificate are able to:

  • Apply theory, technology and best practices to practical problems related to design, modeling and implementation of advanced manufacturing processes and systems
  • Follow an effective methodology for managing advanced manufacturing projects in industry
  • Pursue Ph.D. coursework and research in advanced manufacturing should a student decide to pursue this career path.

Minimum Degree Requirement


  • Complete a M.S., M.Eng., or Ph.D. degree in engineering

Receive a grade of “B” or better in three specific courses:


Manufacturing Courses or Culminating Manufacturing Experience


One course may be chosen from the Manufacturing Course Master List (prior approval not needed) OR complete one culminating manufacturing experience from the list below that is approved by the Manufacturing Forum* both midway and at the end of its completion:

*The current Manufacturing Forum Co-Chairs are Professors Daniel Walczyk, Johnson Samuel, and Prof. Semih Akin

Culminating Experiences


  • Thesis (M.S. or Ph.D.) or project (M.Eng.) related to manufacturing
  • Teaching Assistant for ENGR 4710  or ENGR 4720    
  • Prior professional experience (one year cumulative) in manufacturing including full-time position, Co-op position, or internship