The master's of engineering, major Mechanical Engineering program is designed to provide graduates with an opportunity to advance their understanding of the fundamentals of mechanical engineering in at least one of the following major areas: thermal and fluid sciences; design, materials, and manufacturing; and mechatronics. It is also designed to provide students with a significant research experience.
Thesis Program Requirements
In this program, students may choose a concentration in any of the following areas:
- Thermal and Fluid Sciences
- Design, Materials, and Manufacturing
- Mechatronics
The student is encouraged to select a concentration area of personal interest, the area of major
concentration. The master’s degree requires a minimum of 21 credit hours of course work and
a thesis equivalent to 9 credits. Twenty to twenty-four months of research are usually required
to complete the master’s degree. The student and the graduate advisor, in coordination with
the thesis committee, develop a plan of study tailored to the student’s specific interest and
background. It is advisable that this plan be developed no later than the first month of the
second semester of graduate work.
The required 21 course credit hours and the nine credits for thesis are distributed as follows:
- A mandatory 3-credit course in applied mathematics. The math course or math-oriented course offered by other departments must be approved by
the graduate student’s adviser.
- Three engineering technical courses (9 credit hours) in the concentration area and at least one
from the list of fundamental courses in the area.
- Three engineering elective courses (9 credit hours) with a maximum of two courses in other
departments within the SFEA, also subject to the approval of the graduate student’s advisor
- Seminar Course: MECH 797 (0 credit). Students must register for the course each time it
is
offered
- Thesis: MECH 799 (equivalent to 9 credit hours) should be completed based on
independent
research
Non-Thesis Program Requirements
- The course-based master’s program requires a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate
- level
course:
- A minimum of a three-credit course in applied mathematics. Acceptable courses are listed on
the previous page
- Three engineering technical courses (9 credit hours) in the concentration area and at least one
from the list of fundamental courses in the area
- Seven engineering electives courses (21 credit hours) within ME with a maximum of two
- courses in other departments within MSFEA, also subject to the approval of the graduate
student’s advisor
- Seminar Course: MECH 797 (0 credit). Students must register for the course every time it
is
offered
- Qualification examination: comprehensive exam (MECH 799T) should be done upon the
completion of the course work in all major and minor areas