Degree Pathway

The degree pathway for the Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering. A total of 63 credit hours of graduate level courses are required for the Ph.D. degree.
The Ph.D. degree must involve a traditional research-based dissertation, plus: 
  • A minimum of 30 approved credit hours of graduate-level engineering courses, including associated science and math courses*.
  • A minimum of 21 credit hours of doctoral dissertation. 
  • The balance of the remaining 12 credits can be a mix of graduate-level engineering courses including associated science and math coursework and dissertation credits at the discretion of the department, faculty advisor and dissertation committee.
  • At least two semesters of the 0 credit research seminar MECH.5010
Required Graduate Level Engineering Courses (30 credits)
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
IENG.XXXXGraduate level engineering course including associated science and math courses3
MECH.XXXXGraduate level engineering course including associated science and math courses
3
XXXX.XXXXGraduate level engineering course including associated science and math courses3
Total
30

Dissertation Courses (21 credits)
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
MECH.XXXX ORDoctoral Dissertation
IENG.XXXX ORDoctoral Dissertation
XXXX.XXXXDoctoral Dissertation
Total
21


Remaining Elective Credits (12 credits)
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
IENG.XXXXGraduate-level engineering course including associated math and science coursework OR dissertation credits*
0-12
MECH.XXXXGraduate-level engineering course including associated math and science coursework OR dissertation credits0-12
XXXX.XXXXGraduate-level engineering course including associated math and science coursework OR dissertation credits0-12
Total

12


Research Seminar (0 credits)
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
MECH.5010Research Seminar, must be taken for at least two semesters0
Total

0

*Concerning graduate-level STEM courses, the Ph.D. candidate must take the following:

  • One Course in advanced mathematics:
    • MECH.5200 Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
    • CHEN.5390 Mathematical Methods for Engineers
    • MATH.5300 Applied Math I
    • MATH.5450 Partial Differential Equations
    • Or another advanced mathematics approved by the doctoral dissertation advisor
Total credits required for the degree = 63
Updated 9/17/24