Graduate Program

Masters

Degrees Offered | Program of Study | Combined Program 3+2 | Program Objectives | Study Fields

Degrees Offered

• M.S. of Mechanical Engineering

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Program of Study for Masters

The department offers both thesis and non-thesis options of program of study. Both options require 30 credit hours. To take full advantage of the academic experience available, however, students are encouraged to take the thesis option. Of the 30 credit hours required, at least 15 credit hours must be at the ME 500 level (thesis work for up to 6 credit hours). At least 21 credit hours must be in mechanical engineering courses and 6 hours must be in mathematics or physical sciences. The discipline of mechanical engineering has a close interface with civil engineering in the areas of stress analysis and elasticity and with electrical engineering in the areas of system dynamics and control theory.

Whenever possible, courses in these areas will be cross-listed so as to enrich the variety of course offerings for students in all programs. The specific program of study is selected by the student and approved by his/her advisor. The program allows one elective courses that may be selected from any of the courses listed in the current Graduate Catalog if they meet the prerequisites. All students are required to complete either ME 530-Advanced Dynamics, or ME 575-Advanced Fluid Mechanics I.

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Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Program 3+2

Mechanical Engineering offers a five-year program leading to the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) Degrees. Students with senior level status (at least 90 semester hours) and a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) overall may be admitted to the BS/MS program that allows them to earn 30 hours of graduate level credit (400- and 500-level) during their combined fourth and fifth years. An application for degree-seeking status as a graduate student must be approved by Graduate Admissions and the Director of the mechanical engineering graduate program. A program outline must also be submitted for approval by Graduate Records and the Director of the mechanical engineering graduate program prior to enrollment in any courses to be included as part of the master's program. Official admission to the graduate program and to status as a classified graduate student is made only after the award of the baccalaureate degree. In no case will a graduate degree be conferred before all requirements for both degrees have been completed.

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Program Objectives

1. To prepare undergraduate students to become successful problem solvers, lifelong learners, innovators, and professionals.
2. To prepare students for working in both mechanical and energy systems including the design and realization of such systems.
3. To provide service to the profession, to the state of Illinois, to the country, and to the future development of engineering worldwide.
4. To ensure that our students are exposed to significant elements of social sciences, humanities and fine arts so that they understand the necessities for professionalism , ethical responsibilities, and the need to function in multidisciplinaryteams.
5. To prepare students to express themselves effectively in both oral and written communication.
6. To prepare the students for engineering analysis and problem solving using appropriate mathematical and computational methodologies.
7. To teach students to use current experimental and data analysis techniques for engineering application.
8. To create an intellectually stimulating atmosphere within the department for advancing the art and science of mechanical engineering.
9. To establish a mechanism for continued observation of the demands of practice and the continuing reevaluation of departmental programs to meet these demands.

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Fields of Study

• Dynamic Systems and Vibration
• Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
• Mechanics of Materials: Multi-Scale Plasticity Modeling and FEM
• Mechatronics, Robotics, and Controls
• MEMS and BioEngineering

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