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Department of Mechanical Engineering

Graduate Program

The department of Mechanical Engineering prepares students for careers involving technical innovation and leadership. Our graduate programs provide a solid foundation for careers in industry, research labs, and academia. The department tradition of interdisciplinary research provides students with exciting new opportunities in three modern technological thrusts:

Department research activities are supported by a wide range of industrial and federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institute of Health (NIH), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and Defense Agency Research Project Association (DARPA). Some research activities are carried out through interdisciplinary department research centers including the DARPA Focus Center on Nanoscale Science and Technology for Integrated Micro/Nano-Electromechanical Transducers (iMINT), NSF Membrane and Applied Science Center (MAST), NIH-supported Biomechanical Engineering Program, the Center for Combustion and Environmental Research (CCER), and the Collaborative for Air Quality Research (CAQR).

Degree Programs

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Engineering (ME), Master of Science (MS) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. These programs can involve both research and course work. Graduate students work closely with faculty members to arrange their study and tailor research to their individual preferences. Virtually all PhD students in the Mechanical Engineering department receive financial support for the duration of their studies. This support may take the form of a fellowship, a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, or a combination of these options.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
  • Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record.
  • Have adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
  • Provide three letters of recommendation.
  • Provide a personal statement of academic and research interests.
  • Fill in subspecialty field as follows. Applicants without a masters degree indicate track choice from the following list: Air Quality, Applied Mechanics, Bioengineering, Energy & Environment, Materials Science, Microsystems, Mechanical Engineering Foundation, or Simulation Based Mechanical Engineering Sciences. Ph.D. Applicants with a previous masters degree indicate area of research interest.
  • Ph.D. applicants must provide GRE scores. Masters applicants are encouraged to submit GRE scores although not required. For applicants whose undergraduate language of instruction was not English, a TOEFL score of 213 CBT/550 PBT required for masters applicants and a TOEFL score of 250 CBT/600 PBT required for Ph.D. applicants.

Financial Support

Financial support and tuition waivers are offered to PhD students in the form of teaching or research assistantships. In addition to department support, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for national fellowships (NSF, NIH, etc.).