Mechanical Engineering, M.S.

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The Mechanical Engineering Department offers both a thesis (Plan A) and a non-thesis (Plan B) M.S. program. No graduate credit is allowed for 4000-level mechanical engineering courses.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

Plan A (Thesis)

A thesis project is chosen in consultation with an ME faculty member, and constitutes 4 credit hours of ME 5960 of the 30-hour Plan A program. ME 5478 (Seminar) is to be taken during the final semester when the thesis is presented and defended, and constitutes 2 credit hours of the 30-hour Plan A program. Classes must meet the following constraints:

ME courses (5000-level): minimum of 15 hours
A maximum of 9 credits at the 4000 level outside of ME may be taken
Thesis research (ME 5960 ): 4 credit hours
Seminar (ME 5478 ): 2 credit hours
Total: minimum of 30 hour

Plan B (Non-Thesis)

The Plan B M.S. degree can be completed by earning a minimum of 31 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree. Classes must meet the following constraints:

ME courses (5000-level); minimum of 15 hours
A maximum of 9 credits at the 4000 level outside of ME may be taken
Graduate Project (ME 5961 ); minimum of 1 hour
Total: minimum of 31 hours

Courses outside of ME must be chosen with the approval of the academic adviser. They can be in mathematics, statistics, science, or other engineering disciplines. Up to two courses may be from the fields of business, ENR, or public policy. Special topic credits may be earned using ME 5475 (maximum of 6 credits). Research credits earned through ME 5960 as part of an unfinished M.S. Plan A program may not be counted. Although the Plan B M.S. degree is not research-oriented, the program must contain an “element of discovery,” documented by completing ME 5961 (Graduate Project). This could be a special project performed as independent study or as part of a graduate course.