The mission of the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering is to provide graduate students with learning opportunities for acquiring a broad foundation of mechanical engineering knowledge, an in-depth research experience at the frontiers of mechanical engineering, and skills for life-long learning and professional development.

Program Objectives

Consistent with its mission, the graduate program has the following educational objectives for the graduates of its M.S. degree programs:

• The graduates shall have expertise in a core subject area of Mechanical Engineering or Nuclear Engineering.
• The graduates shall have a working knowledge of various areas of Mechanical Engineering or Nuclear Engineering and in allied fields, including other engineering disciplines, the sciences, and mathematics.
• The graduates shall gain exposure to advances in Mechanical Engineering or Nuclear Engineering.
• The graduates shall have the ability to execute a research plan, to generate and analyze original research results, and to communicate those results through oral presentations and written publications.
• The graduates shall have the basic skills needed for life-long learning and professional development.

 
Typical Course Work

The Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 24 hours of course work, six hours of thesis preparation and a thesis. The course work must include the following core courses:

• EMCH 508: Intro to Finite Elements Analysis in Mechanical Engineering
• EMCH 584: Advanced Mechanics of Materials OR EMCH 532: Intermediate Dynamics
• EMCH 794: Thermodynamics OR EMCH 751: Advanced Heat Transfer
• ENCP 707: Continuum Mechanics

Other courses should be of 500-level or above and  at least half of those courses should be numbered 700 or above.

All candidates for the M.S. degree must defend the thesis in a public presentation and a comprehensive examination covering the major field of study is also required, which is conducted immediately following the thesis defense. The student's thesis committee administers this exam.

Note: All students must consult with their academic advisor and complete a Program of Study form during the first semester of enrollment. A new form must be submitted whenever it is necessary to modify the program of study.

Please refer to the Graduate Handbook [pdf] for further information.