Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

All Master of Science options can be earned on either a full-time or a part-time basis. A two-year projection of course offerings is available upon request. Course offerings are arranged to permit the master's program to be completed by full-time students in a maximum of two calendar years.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The undergraduate backgrounds of applicants for admission to the master's degree (M.S.M.E.) programs vary considerably. For this reason, a variety of master's degree options are available. The applicant should have a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree from a mechanical engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In evaluating an international application, consideration is given to academic standards of the school attended and the content of the courses leading to the degree obtained. Master's applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (General Test). Applicants whose bachelor's degree are in other engineering fields, mathematics, or the physical sciences may be accepted, but will be required to remedy any deficiencies by satisfactorily completing a number of undergraduate courses in preparation for graduate study in mechanical engineering.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate study; however, within each option, course choices vary considerably. Prior to the completion of nine credit hours, the student must submit for approval a Master's Degree Program Plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken. Up to six credit hours of thesis work may be included in the 30 credit hour requirement. The nonthesis option requires that the candidate satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work and the master's final program examination.

CURRICULUM

Regardless of which degree path the student chooses, the degree candidate must choose one of three specialization fields. Listed below are required and elective courses for the Master of Science specializations. Each specialization requires a total of 30 credit hours.

Structures, Solid Mechanics and Materials Specialization

Three core courses (9 credit hours) selected in consultation with the student advisor from the list below:
MAE 5050 Finite Element Fundamentals
MAE 5060 Applications in Finite Element Methods
MAE 5410 Elasticity
MAE 5420 Advanced Mechanical Design
MAE 5460 Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Materials
MAE 5470 Principles of Composite Materials
MTH 5xxx Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Approved electives, (15 credit hours) may include 6 credit hours of thesis

Specialization in this area focuses on analytical and computational techniques as they apply in design. Each student plans a program of study in consultation with a member of the faculty whose professional field is related to the student's interests.

Thermal-Fluid Sciences Specialization

Three core courses (9 credit hours) selected in consultation with the student advisor from the list below:
MAE 5130 Viscous Flows
MAE 5210 Conduction Heat Transfer
MAE 5220 Convection Heat Transfer
MAE 5230 Radiation Heat Transfer
MTH 5xxx Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Approved electives, (15 credit hours), may include 6 credit hours of thesis

Specialization in this area focuses on heat transfer, combustion and energy systems. Analytical, computational and experimental techniques are emphasized.

Dynamic Systems, Robotics and Controls Specialization

Three core courses (9 credit hours) selected in consultation with the student advisor from the list below:
MAE 5316 Mechatronics

MAE 5318 Instrumentation and Measurement Systems

MAE 5480 Structural Dynamics

MAE 5610 Advanced Dynamics
MAE 5630 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
MAE 5650 Robotics
MAE 5660 Robot Control
MTH 5xxx Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Approved electives (15 credit hours), may include 6 credit hours of thesis

The student's program of study in this area will be tailored to provide the background and training to pursue a career in a desired and related area of interest.

Biomedical Engineering Specialization

Four core courses (12 credit hours) selected in consultation with the student advisor from the list below:
BIO 5501 Cell and Molecular Biology
CHE 5103 Transport Processes in Bioengineering
CHE 5569 Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration
ECE 5259 Medical Imaging

MAE 5710 Biomechanics

MAE 5720 Biomedical Instrumentation
MTH 5xxx Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Approved electives (12 credit hours), may include 6 credit hours of thesis

Biomedical engineering applies engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems and the delivery of heathcare. The biomedical engineer serces as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems, and may focus on either, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or engineering new approaches to human health.