Mechanical Engineering M.S.

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is a thesis program requiring a significant research project as well as 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.

Digital Design and Manufacturing theme components: new manufacturing components, product design, sustainable engineering, advanced materials, automation

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.

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:

  1. A minimum of 21 credit hours of graded coursework of which:
    • At least 15 credit hours must be at the MECH 500-level,
    • MECH 501 is required (3 credit hours),
    • Six credit hours of additional courses as approved by the student's advisor.
  2. 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.

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