Degrees Granted

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science degree is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required as follows: three core courses (one course each in three of the four areas) and two analysis courses listed above; three graduate courses (nine credit hours) related to a specialty in mechanical engineering; and six credit hours of thesis. The student must enroll in ME 5398 or ME 6397 every semester in which the student is actively involved in thesis preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in ME 5698 in the semester of graduation.

Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Engineering degree is an engineering
practice-oriented program. A minimum of 36 credit hours is required as follows: four core courses (one in each area) and two analysis courses listed above; six courses (18 credit hours) of elective graduate courses in engineering, mathematics, and/or science relating to the student's interest areas. The elective courses may include as many as three hours of special project courses (ME 5391).

Manufacturing Engineering Option

Students desiring a program in manufacturing engineering may achieve this goal while meeting the requirements for a graduate degree in mechanical engineering. This is accomplished by selecting a specific program of courses. Upon completion, the student receives a Manufacturing Engineer's Certificate along with the MSME or MEME. Specifics are available in the Mechanical Engineering office.

B.S. to Ph.D. Track

Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree and who wish to pursue a doctoral degree without completing a master’s degree may apply for admission in the B.S. to Ph.D. Track. The admission requirements to this highly competitive track are the same as those for all doctoral applicants.

In addition to the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, a B.S.- Ph.D. Track student will be required to enroll in at least three hours of research each semester during the student's first two years, receiving a pass/fail grade (no R grade) in these hours. A student may be exempted from enrolling in research hours in the student's initial semester. A B.S.-Ph.D. Track student must have a faculty research (dissertation) advisor prior to the start of the student's second full semester. A B.S.- Ph.D. student must take the Ph.D. diagnostic examination prior to the start of the student's fourth full semester.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Ph.D. degree should normally require four years of full-time study after completion of the BS degree. There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

To meet the educational goal of a broad-based technical background in mechanical engineering, it is expected that each student will take sufficient coursework to obtain in-depth knowledge in at least two areas of mechanical engineering. Consequently, the Department expects all Ph.D. candidates to complete at least the following minimum requirements beyond the B.S. degree:

1. Three core courses (nine credit hours) listed for the MS and M.Engr. degrees.

2. One additional course (three credit hours) at the graduate level in one of the broad areas of mechanical engineering outside the student's major area of specialization. Core courses are also acceptable for meeting this requirement.

3. Eight additional courses (24 credit hours) in the student's major area of interest. A master's thesis can be used to substitute for six (6) credit hours.

4. Two courses (six credit hours) of engineering analysis (ME 5331, 5332, or other approved mathematics courses).

5. Two courses (six credit hours) of mathematics, numerical analysis, computer science, or statistics, outside of mechanical engineering.

6. Two courses (six credit hours) in science and/or engineering outside of mechanical engineering.

7. Nine credit hours (ME 6999) for Dissertation.
   

Final course requirements are determined by the student's supervising committee. In addition, a student must pass three examinations before being awarded the Ph.D. degree: the Diagnostic Exam, the Comprehensive Exam, and the Final Exam (or Dissertation Examination).

A Diagnostic Examination will be administered to the student within the first two semesters after a Master's degree or before the accumulation of 42 semester hours of graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree. The Diagnostic Exam is a written test of the student's capability to pursue successfully the doctorate degree, and it aids in developing the program of study for the student. The Diagnostic Examination tests for fundamental knowledge in two technical area of mechanical engineering. The student and the student's research advisor jointly choose the technical areas from the following five: (1) thermal science, (2) fluid science (3) mechanical design, (4) solid mechanics and structures, and (5) controls and systems. The exam topics for the technical areas are given in the ME Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam handout.

A comprehensive examination will be administered to the student after the successful completion of all phases of the diagnostic examination and during the student's research work for the dissertation. The comprehensive examination is used to determine if the student has the necessary background and specialization required for the dissertation research and if the student can organize and conduct the research. An applicant must pass this examination to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

The student must enroll in at least three hours of dissertation course (ME 6399-6999) or research course (ME 6397-6999) every semester in which the student is actively involved in dissertation preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in ME 6999 in the semester of graduation.

The student must submit the Application for Degree Plan Worksheet to the Mechanical Engineering Committee on Graduate Studies immediately after completion of the Comprehensive Examination. Coursework taken for the Master's degree at this institution may be used to meet these requirements; however, courses listed for the Master's degree or any other degree cannot be listed as the actual course requirement on the Degree Plan Worksheet. Transfer work is not accepted in doctoral programs; however, such courses may provide a basis for waiving some course requirements.

The Final Examination (or Dissertation Examination) is an oral presentation of the dissertation in the form of a seminar before the student's Committee and is open to the members of the University community. Approval of the dissertation by the members of the Dissertation Committee is required.

Please see the section entitled General Graduate School Regulations and Information in the Catalog for further details.