Master of Science in Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering offers both Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) program and a combined BSE/MSE program. These programs offer a choice of either a thesis track or a non-thesis track. To receive the MSE degree requires a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours of acceptable graduate work, including nine (9) credit hours of research for the thesis track.

The entrance requirement for the MSE program is a BSE in Mechanical Engineering, or other engineering discipline, at an acceptable grade point average providing strong performance in mathematics and science courses. Students with a non-ME bachelor’s degree can be required to take up to 5 undergraduate ME courses in order to ensure that the student has adequate background knowledge. Applicants must meet all Graduate Admissions standards for this program, which includes two letters of recommendation. Official GRE scores are no longer required for this program.

Students on the thesis track may register for thesis credits after submitting a thesis agreement signed by his/her thesis advisor to the graduate coordinator. Upon completing the thesis, the student is required to defend it orally before a committee of at least three faculty members including the advisor. The committee members must receive a completed version of the thesis manuscript at least 14 days before the thesis is defended.

Co-op Option in Engineering

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering participates in the Graduate Master's Co-op Option in Engineering. For detailed information about the Co-op Program and curriculum requirements, please see the Graduate Catalog Engineering Co-op page.

Degree Requirement

All MSE degree candidates must satisfy each of the following four requirements. No course can count towards more than one requirement:

  1. Three (3) credit hours of advanced mathematics from the following list:
    1. MECH.5200 Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
    2. ENGY.5390 (CHEN.5390) Mathematical Methods for Engineers
    3. MATH.5450 Partial Differential Equations
    4. MATH.5300 Applied Math I
  2. Three (3) credit hours of solid mechanics courses from the following list:
    1. MECH.5130 Theory of Finite Element Analysis
    2. MECH.5620 Solid Mechanics I
    3. MECH.5630 Dynamic behavior of Materials
    4. MECH.5910 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
    5. MECH.5960 Mechanics of Composite Materials
  3. Three (3) credit hours of thermofluid courses from the following list:
    1. MECH.5410 Advanced Heat Transfer
    2. MECH.5491 Advanced Thermodynamics
    3. MECH.5590 Multi-Scale Computational fluid Dynamics I
    4. MECH.5810 Advanced Fluids Mechanics
    5. MECH.5260 Transport Processes in Energy Systems
  4. Either 1. or 2. below:
    1. Thesis Track: Nine (9) credit hours of thesis research, twelve (12) credit hours of coursework approved by the thesis advisor, and at least one semester of the 0 credit research seminar (MECH.5010). M.S. students on the thesis track will design a student-specific curriculum sequence of twelve credit hours of coursework (in consultation with the thesis advisor and approved in writing by the student and their thesis advisor) within the first semester of graduate study. The contract will be sent to the graduate coordinator and to the Registrar's office.
    2. Non-Thesis Track: Nine (9) credit hours of course work in a Mechanical Engineering Concentration and twelve (12) credit hours of course work approved by the graduate coordinator. Nine (9) of these twelve credits may be taken in second concentration. In their first year students must submit on a non-thesis track must submit a plan of study to the graduate coordinator and obtain his/her approval. Any change to the submitted plan requires the approval of the graduate coordinator.

Mechanical Engineering Concentrations (for student on non-thesis track)

  1. Mechanics & Materials Concentration:
  2. Thermofluids Concentration:
  3. Energy Concentration:
  4. Vibrations/Dynamics/Controls Concentration:
  5. Design and Manufacturing Concentration:

Second Concentrations:

Students on a non-thesis track can take nine (9) credit hours in a second concentration which will normally consist of nine (9) credit hours from one of the graduate certificates listed below. Students can suggest their own second concentration, but prior approval must be obtained from the graduate coordinator.

Courses from one of the following graduate certificates offered out of the ME department are acceptable:

  • Applied Statistics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
  • Communications Engineering
  • Elastomeric Materials
  • Energy Conversion
  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Foundations of Business
  • Identification & Control of Ergonomic Hazards
  • Integrated Engineering Systems
  • Materials Sciences & Engineering
  • Medical Plastics Design & Manufacturing
  • Microwave and Wireless Engineering
  • Modeling, Simulation, and Control of Systems and Processes
  • Molecular & Cellular Biotechnology
  • Nanotechnology
  • New Venture Creation
  • Plastics Design
  • Plastics Materials
  • Plastics Processing
  • Stochastic Systems
  • Sustainable Infrastructure for Developing Nations
  • Telecommunications
  • VLSI & Microelectronics

Energy Engineering Option

The University offers a Master of Science degree in Energy Engineering. This unique area of concentration represents a separate multidisciplinary program that is administered jointly by the Mechanical Engineering Department (Solar Option) and the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department (Nuclear Option). The Energy Engineering Program has two M.S. degree options: Renewable (Solar) Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. Students interested in either of these program options should refer to the catalog section focused specifically on the Energy Engineering Program.

ME-Based Certificate Programs

Non-degree candidates who have a BS in engineering or a physical science are encouraged to apply to take a graduate certificate in which the ME department participates. A paper certificate will be awarded upon successful completion.