Graduate Degree Programs
Current graduate students are encouraged to track their progress towards graduation each semester. The following information will outline all the required steps within each respective program.
For undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Master’s degree, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a combined degree program intended to foster undergraduate research (thesis option), provide an in-depth educational experience in a specific area of interest (thesis and non-thesis options), and to accelerate progress toward the M.S. degree. Read more about the BS/MS program here.
Admission
| B.S./M.S. Requirements |
|---|
| Mechanical Engineering Major at the University of Utah |
| Get Pre-Screened in third year in the major (thesis or non-thesis master's), or by first semester of final year (non-thesis master's) |
| Undergraduate GPA - minimum 3.0 |
| 1 name of faculty member we could contact for a reference (thesis master's only; list on screening form) |
Timeline
| B.S. Junior/Third Year |
|---|
| Semester 1 (On-Cycle - Fall/Winter, Off-Cycle - Spring/Summer) - Find Faculty Advisor (thesis master's only) |
| Semester 2 - Fill out Pre-Screening Application for BS/MS Program (On-Cycle Deadline - March 15, Off-Cycle Deadline - October 15)(Can apply as late as first semester of senior year for non-thesis master's) -Meet with BS/MS Advisor after filling out Pre-Screening form |
| B.S. Senior/Final Year |
|---|
| Semester 1 or 2 -Take 2 technical electives at the graduate level |
| Semester 2 - Apply to Graduate School (Please visit the Future Students page for deadlines) |
| M.S. Year* Timeline |
|---|
| Semester 1 - Turn in Request for Graduate Credit Form -Submit Program Declaration Form |
| Semester 2 - Form Supervisory Committee (non-thesis can be Mark Fehlberg) |
| Second to Last Semester - Submit B.S./M.S. Program of Study BS/MS Non-Thesis Program of Study BSMS Thesis Program of Study (submit to Grad Advisor after registering for final semester or by first week of final semester) - Apply to graduate in CIS or by using the Graduation Application form - Please visit the Office of the Registrar page for graduation deadlines and instructions for how to apply in CIS |
| Final Semester -Thesis Defense (thesis masters only) - Work with your committee to arrange a date and time - Work with the graduate advisor to schedule a room in MEK - M.S. Thesis Announcement Template (due 2 weeks prior to defense) - M.S. Thesis Oral Defense Form - M.S. Thesis Approval Forms -M.S. Non-thesis-complete exit interview with graduate advisor |
| *may take longer than a year if part time or thesis research or defense is delayed |
Coursework
| During B.S. |
|---|
| 6 Credit Hours - Approved undergrad-level technical electives for B.S. |
| 6 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX (or other graduate-level tech elective upon consultation with your faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies) |
| You may take up to an additional 6 Credit Hours of Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX to count towards your MS degree |
| During M.S. |
|---|
| 6 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX/7XXX Thesis Master's/15 Credit Hours Non-Thesis Master's |
| 9 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX (or fewer if additional credits taken during B.S. program) |
| 9 Credit Hours - ME EN 6975 (thesis-Master's only) |
**A total of 30 graduate credit hours are needed for the M.S. degree
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
***Turn in Request for Graduate Credit Form form for the minimum of 6 credits (if you took 4 tech electives total) and no more than 12 credits (if you took 6 tech electives total) of 6XXX courses taken during your BS years. Once these courses have been flagged for graduate credit, you can no longer use them to fulfill undergraduate requirements.
The thesis-track option is a research-oriented degree. Distinguish yourself from the large number of students with bachelor’s degrees by increasing your knowledge, interests, and training with an M.S. Degree.
Timeline
| 1st Semester |
|---|
| Find Faculty Advisor |
| Submit Program Declaration Form |
| 2nd Semester |
|---|
| Form Supervisory Committee |
| 3rd Semester |
|---|
| Turn in Program of Study Form - M.S. Thesis Program of Study |
| Apply to graduate in CIS or by using the Graduation Application form - Please visit the Office of the Registrar page for graduation deadlines and instructions for how to apply in CIS |
| 4th Semester |
|---|
| Thesis Defense - Work with your committee to arrange a date and time - Work with the graduate advisor to schedule a room in MEK - M.S. Thesis Announcement Template (due 2 weeks prior to defense) - M.S. Thesis Oral Defense Form - M.S. Thesis Approval Forms |
| Complete Thesis Release - Graduation Overview for Master's Candidates - Thesis Office |
Coursework
| Courses |
|---|
| 12 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours - ME EN 6975 |
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
The non-thesis option is a degree based on in-depth coursework in a focus area with breadth provided from electives taken in other areas (engineering, math and science). Distinguish yourself from the large number of students with bachelor’s degrees by increasing your knowledge, interests, and training with an M.S. Degree.
Timeline
| 1st Semester |
|---|
| Find Faculty Advisor or use Standard Committee (Director of Graduate Studies and Department Co-Chairs) |
| Submit Program Declaration Form |
| 2nd Semester |
|---|
| Form Supervisory Committee or use Standard Committee (Director of Graduate Studies and Department Co-Chairs |
| 3rd Semester |
|---|
| Turn in Program of Study Form - M.S. Non-Thesis Program of Study |
| Apply to graduate in CIS or by using the Graduation Application form - Please visit the Office of the Registrar page for graduation deadlines and instructions for how to apply in CIS |
| 4th Semester |
|---|
| Meet with Graduate Advisor to complete exit interview |
Coursework
| Courses |
|---|
| 15 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 15 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
The M.S./M.B.A. program combines students’ applied interests and training in Engineering with the comprehensive business sense developed in a full-time MBA program. The result is a professional comfortable moving between technical and the commercial issues. M.S./M.B.A. graduates will be, with appropriate experience, qualified to direct or manage the transition of new products, processes and systems from the laboratory to the board room. Students must be admitted to both degree programs separately.
MS/MBA Sample Degree Plan. Email ftmba@utah.edu with MBA questions and to verify admission and current degree requirements. Please also visit the M.S./M.B.A. Engineering Program page
Timeline
| 1st Semester |
|---|
| Find Faculty Advisor |
| Submit Program Declaration Form |
| 2nd Semester |
|---|
| Form Supervisory Committee |
| 3rd Semester |
|---|
| Turn in M.S.-M.B.A. Program of Study |
| Apply to graduate in CIS or by using the Graduation Application form - Please visit the Office of the Registrar page for graduation deadlines and instructions for how to apply in CIS |
| 4th/5th Semester |
|---|
| Complete exit interview with Mechanical Engineering graduate advisor. See Business advisor regarding any exams or interviews required for graduation with the MBA. |
Coursework
| Courses |
|---|
| 15 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 6 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours - Dual Counted Courses |
Math, Science or Engineering courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed to give students in-depth study in a particular research emphasis. Doctorate students have more say in crafting their topics and designing their research. In the workforce, doctorate graduates earn more than graduates with only a master’s. They have the flexibility to choose a career in industry, research, or education.
The first checkpoint in a doctorate student’s career is the Qualifying Exam. Students must pass this exam in order to be officially admitted to candidacy in the Ph.D. program. The exam is directed at testing students’ understanding and application of basic concepts and mastery of technical knowledge in different areas. The exam is administered near the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, and should be taken early in the student’s Ph.D. program.
- Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree will take the exam not later than their third semester
- Qual Exam Handbook 2022
The second checkpoint is a dissertation research proposal defense, which is given within a year of passing the qualifying examination and at least 8 months prior to the dissertation defense. The proposal defense assesses the student’s research abilities and is administrated and scored by the student’s supervisory committee. Passing the proposal defense indicates that the student’s proposed dissertation research is approved by the committee and can commence.
Ph.D. Proposal and Dissertation Defense Summaries Guide
Timeline
| 1st Semester |
|---|
| Find Faculty Advisor |
| Submit Program Declaration Form |
| 3rd Semester |
|---|
| Week 1 - Turn in Ph.D. Qualifying Exam Registration Form |
| Week 13 - Pass Qualifying Exam |
| 4th Semester (or within 1 semester of passing qualifying exam) |
|---|
| Form Supervisory Committee |
| 5th Semester (or within 2 semesters of passing qualifying exam) |
|---|
| Schedule Proposal Defense: - Provide a copy of your proposal to your committee at least two weeks prior to your defense - Coordinate the date, time, and location for the defense - Submit the Ph.D. Research Proposal Abstract Announcement at least one week prior to your defense |
| After Proposal Defense: - Turn in Ph.D. Report of Research Proposal Defense - with Ph.D. Research Proposal Summary |
| Apply for Milestone Master |
| 7th Semester |
|---|
| Apply to graduate in CIS or by using the Graduation Application form - Please visit the Office of the Registrar page for graduation deadlines and instructions for how to apply in CIS |
| 8th Semester |
|---|
| Schedule Dissertation Defense - Provide a copy of your dissertation to your committee at least two weeks prior to your defense - Coordinate the date, time, and location for the defense - Submit the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Abstract Announcement at least 1 week prior to defense |
| After Dissertation Defense - Turn in Ph.D. Report of Dissertation Defense - with Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Summary |
| - Complete Dissertation Release |
Coursework
| Post B.S. | Post M.S. |
|---|---|
| 15 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX | 6 Credit Hours - ME EN 6XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours - ME EN 7XXX | 6 Credit Hours - ME EN 7XXX |
| 15 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX | 6 Credit Hours - Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 14 Credit Hours - ME EN 7970 | 14 Credit Hours - ME EN 7970 |
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher