DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

General Information

Goals and Objectives

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The PhD degree is a terminal degree beyond the MS and is focused on engineering research. Students are expected to advance the state of the art in their specialty by original and creative work.

An MS degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in one of the three departmental areas (thermal/fluid sciences, mechanical analysis/design or systems/controls/robotics) or in aerospace engineering is required for admission to the PhD degree program. A 3.5 GPA or better in the MS work is generally required for admission. In cases where it is unclear that the required MS specialization has been satisfied, the MS degree requirements of the preceding section shall be used to define the necessary preparation. The same criterion shall be used when the MS degree is in other engineering disciplines.

Unless specially exempted by the faculty, students have to take a written qualifying examination within the first two offerings of the exam after the date of joining the doctoral program. The general credit requirements for the PhD degree (beyond the BS degree and including MS degree credits) are:

An MS degree, as defined by the requirements described in the preceding section, will count for 36 units of the above total. A minor is defined by a set of four minimum courses that are in a given area. For example, a student may choose heat transfer as a major specialty, with minors in mathematics and fluid mechanics.

Studies for the PhD degree must be completed within a five-year period following the MS degree or the date of admission, whichever is later, unless there is a formal leave of absence approved prior to the period for which the studies are interrupted. Once the dissertation is begun, the student must register for at least 3 units of ME 999 PhD Dissertation each fall and spring semester. Actual registration should reflect the pace of the work and the activity of the student. An exception to the minimum registration requirement may be made in the last semester of registration if that semester is primarily devoted to finalizing the work and dissertation document. A dissertation grade of U for two consecutive terms will affect whether a student will be permitted to continue doctoral work. Students are required to present the progress in their dissertation work to their guidance committees twice a year (typically at the beginning of each semester).


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