The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering requires coursework in the following general areas:
- Solid mechanics
- Manufacturing and design
- Robotics and automation
- Fluid mechanics
- Heat and mass transfer
- Micro/nano technology
Students with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering are well prepared for the program. Students with bachelor’s degrees in other engineering disciplines, mathematics or the physical sciences may be required to take certain courses. For admission requirements, see the fact sheet.
Digital design and manufacturing theme
Digital Design and Manufacturing refers to a modern and critical set of digital technologies for advanced modeling, simulation, analysis, integration of information technology, sensing, automation and big data to rapidly design and manufacture products.
The Digital Design and Manufacturing theme of the program is used as a unifying platform to make connections between the courses. We accomplish this by using Digital Design and Manufacturing as an “application” of some of the topics covered in each course.
The degree does not focus solely focus on Digital Design and Manufacturing. Except for the MECH 501 course, all other Mech graduate courses are in-depth and advanced coverage of the specific topics addressed by each course.
Thesis degree requirements
The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is a Thesis-option Program and requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. This includes 21 hours of graded coursework beyond the bachelor's plus a minimum of 4 thesis credits. Students present their research results to the faculty at the end of their last semester. The master's degree is awarded after approvals of the research by the student's advisory committee.
The thesis-option program must contain:
- A minimum of 21 credit hours of graded coursework of which:
- At least 15 credit hours must be at the MECH 500-level,
- Six credit hours of additional courses as approved by the student's advisor.
- A minimum of four credit hours of MECH 700 (thesis credits).
These requirements add up to 25 credits. The Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 total credit hours for an MS degree. The remaining five credits can be additional MECH 700 thesis credits or 500-level Mech courses. Up to 50 percent of the program of study can be conjoint MECH 400/500-level courses.
Non-thesis degree requirements
Students in the M.S. Mechanical Engineering Non-thesis Program must complete the following coursework for their program of study:
- 30 total credits—minimum
- 26 graded credits—minimum
- 18 Mech credits—minimum
- 9 credits non-graduate (400-level) credits—maximum
- 6 transferred/Pullman credits—maximum
- 26 graded credits—minimum
- 4 Mech 702 credits–minimum
- Any undergraduate coursework assigned to the student to make up for undergraduate deficiencies at the time of admission may not be used toward the student’s degree.
Each student must complete these courses with an average grade of B or better.
Questions?
- Send an email to encs.grads@wsu.edu
- Next step: How to apply