The Department of Mechanical Engineering has established a specialized in-houseMaster of Science degree program for employees of Raytheon Systems Company in Portsmouth Rhode Island. A series of specially selected courses will be given at the Portsmouth facility, and Raytheon employees will also have the opportunity to take additional courses at any of the URI campuses. The developed program has been carefully designed to fit within the general master’s degree requirements at the university, and it includes both a thesis and non-thesis option. Thesis and project research may be related to employee work at Raytheon. The in-house course offering schedule will provide up to three courses each year, one given during each of the fall, spring and summer semesters. This will allow the program to be completed approximately within a three year period. Participating Raytheon employees will be subject to the standard admissions, continuation, and graduation policies of URI's Graduate School as outlined in the University Bulletin and/or in the mechanical engineering department Graduate Student Handbook. All matriculated employee participants will be assigned an academic advisor to aid with course selection, thesis/project activity and general program management support.

This specially designed program offers a broad course sequence that will provide Raytheon employees with advanced tools in traditional mechanical engineering design and analysis, along with particular non-traditional courses in acoustics, corrosion and manufacturing. It is expected that many employees participating in this program will start under non-matriculated status. However, those who are planning to pursue the masters degree should apply for admission and be matriculated by the end of the first year of the program.