Master of Science: Non-thesis Option

The Master of Science (non-thesis option) degree is designed to a) provide an in-depth educational experience in a specific area of interest, b) provide more breadth at an advanced level in mechanical engineering through courses in complementary areas, and c) strengthen analytical skills through courses in mathematics. As opposed to the M.S. (thesis option) degree, there is no required research component. Students desiring a research experience or who are planning to pursue the Ph.D. degree are encouraged to pursue the M.S. (thesis option) degree.

Course requirements

  • A total of 30 credit hours are required. Only courses in engineering, mathematics, and science are acceptable.
  • A minimum of 15 credit hours must be in an area of specialization. The areas of specialization are broadly defined as the Department divisions: 1) Thermal, Fluids and Energy Systems, 2) Mechanics, and 3) Design, Manufacturing, and Controls.
  • A minimum of 9 credit hours must be taken in the other two non-specialization areas.
  • A minimum of 6 credit hours must be in ME EN 7000 level courses.
  • A minimum of 6 credit hours must be taken from the Department of Mathematics. Acceptable math courses are listed below. Math courses not on the approved list may be substituted with approval of the supervisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
  • A maximum of 3 credit hours of ME EN 6950 Independent Study may be applied to satisfy course work requirements in the area of specialization.

Approved Math Courses

  • MATH 5010 Instroduction to Probability
  • MATH 5040 Stochastic Processes and Simulation I
  • MATH 5050 Stochastic Processes and Simulation II
  • MATN 5080 Statistical Inference I
  • MATH 5090 Statistical Inference II
  • MATH 5210 Introduction to Real Analysis
  • MATH 5215 Applied Fourier Analysis
  • MATH 5250 Matrix Analysis
  • MATH 5410 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
  • MATH 5420 Ordinary Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems
  • MATH 5440 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
  • MATH 5470 Applied Dynamical Systems
  • MATH 5600 Survey of Numerical Analysis
  • MATH 5610 Introduction to Numerical Analysis I
  • MATH 5620 Introduction to Numerical Analysis II
  • MATH 5650 Topics in Numerical Analysis
  • MATH 5660 Parallel Numerical Methods
  • MATH 5710 Introduction to Applied Mathematics I
  • MATH 5720 Introduction to Applied Mathematics II
  • MATH 5740 Mathematical Modeling
  • MATH 5750 Topics in Applied Mathematics
  • MATH 6070 Mathematical Statistics
  • MATH 6210 Real Analysis
  • MATH 6220 Complex Analysis
  • MATH 6410 Ordinary Differential Equations
  • MATH 6420 Partial Differential Equations
  • MATH 6430 Advanced Partial Differential Equations
  • MATH 6440 Advanced Dynamical Systems
  • MATH 6610 Analysis of Numerical Methods I
  • MATH 6620 Analysis of Numerical Methods II
  • MATH 6630 Numerical Solutions of Partial Differential Equations
  • MATH 6710 Applied Linear Operator and Spectral Methods
  • MATH 6720 Applied Complex Variables and Asymptotic Methods
  • MATH 6730 Asymptotic and Perturbation Methods
  • MATH 6740 Bifurcation Theory
  • MATH 6750 Continuum Mechanics: Fluids
  • MATH 6760 Continuum Mechanics: Solids
  • MATH 6790 Case Studies in Computational Engineering and Science
  • All MATH 7000 level courses

Research and/or Project Requirements

There are no research and/or project requirements for the degree. In the event that a student desires to conduct a research project, such as the case where the research could be applied to a subsequent Ph.D. dissertation project, the project should be conducted as an ME EN 6950 - Independent Study course. Should a project be undertaken, a formal presentation and/or defense of the research project are not required. In no circumstance may a project defense be substituted for the Comprehensive Final Exam requirement.

Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee consists of three University faculty holding tenured, tenure-track, or research positions. The student’s advisor serves as the chairperson of the supervisory committee. Two committee members must be regular faculty from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Two of the three committee members must have a research specialty consistent with the student’s specialization area.

Final Exam

A Comprehensive Final Exam is required. The exam may be taken no sooner than the semester in which all course work requirements are to be completed. The exam consists of both written and oral components, both of which are expected to be taken in the same day. The written exam should be two hours in length and have an open-book format. The oral exam should be approximately one hour in length. The supervisory committee administers the exam. The exam should only address topics consistent with the courses taken in the specialization area. In the event that the Comprehensive Final Exam is not passed, the exam may be retaken. The student is expected to retake the exam no sooner than two months and no later than one year after the original exam.

Changing Degree Programs

All Masters level students are expected to declare a degree choice during their first semester of graduate study by completing the Request for Supervisory Committee Form and Application for Admissions to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree Form. Students wishing to change their degree program to the M.S. (non-thesis option) degree program must submit a formal letter of petition to the Graduate Committee. The letter should explain the circumstances surrounding the proposed degree program change. Details should include the current degree program, transcripts of all graduate courses taken, and a description of all current and prior financial support at the graduate level. The student’s advisor must also submit a letter indicating his/her position on the proposed degree program change. The Graduate Committee will either accept or deny the petition based on all of the evidence supplied.