M.S. in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics (MEAM)

Special Requirements for the Degree

A student interested in obtaining a M.S. in MEAM may select to do this under any one of the three options available for the M.S. degree and will need to complete the following requirements in addition to those required by the Office of Graduate Studies.

      1. OPTION I (thesis option): This option is for students who will complete their degree with a substantial research component that will culminate in a master’s thesis that is defended publicly and deposited at the University for public access. This option is recommended to students getting an M.S. degree with plans to continue for a Ph.D. degree, or with plans to work in a research and development position. This option is the only accepted option for students holding a research or teaching assistantship. A student in this option will complete:
      1. Total credits: A minimum of 30 graduate credits
      2. Course credits: A minimum of 24 graduate course credits
      3. Graduate-only credits: A minimum of 8 graduate-only credits (Credits in 900 level courses, and 800 level courses that do not have lower cross-listings)
      4. Total MEAM credits*: A minimum of 15 MEAM course credits must be completed that include:
        1. At least one credit of seminar (only one will count toward the total of 15)
        2. At least nine credits from one of the nine designated specialty areas**, OR at least six credits each from two of the nine designated specialty areas
        3. Courses from at least three of the nine designated specialty areas (not including seminar)
      5. Thesis credits: A minimum of 6 thesis credits
      6. Master’s thesis: A student in this option will complete a master thesis in an area related to MEAM. The thesis should contribute to the current body of knowledge in the area and should reveal a capacity to carry on independent study or research and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the techniques employed in her/his field of investigation.
      7. Thesis defense: The thesis must be defended in an oral examination that will include a public presentation of the thesis. The thesis title and abstract must be approved by the Graduate Committee at least two weeks prior to the defense to allow arrangement of the presentation and the public announcement of the defense. The examining committee will include at least three members of the faculty approved by the Graduate Committee.
      8. Comprehensive examination: This requirement is normally waved in lieu of the mandatory final oral exam during which the thesis will be defended. If a student's performance on course work has been marginal, the Graduate Committee may request a written examination of the student for further evaluation.

2. OPTION II (non-thesis option): This option is only recommended for students considering the M.S. degree as their terminal degree. A student in this option will complete:

      1. Total credits: A minimum of 36 graduate course credits
      2. Graduate-only credits: A minimum of 12 graduate-only credits must be completed (Credits in 900 level courses, and 800 level courses that do not have lower level cross-listings)
      3. Total MEAM credits*: A minimum of 18 MEAM course credits if one minor or at least 15 credits if two minors are selected. These must be completed in such a way to include: i. At least one credit of seminar (only one will count toward the total) ii. At least nine credits from one of the nine designated specialty areas**, OR at least six credits each from two of the nine designated specialty areas iii. Courses from at least three of the nine designated specialty areas (not including seminar)
      4. Minor: A minimum of one minor must be selected, and at least 9 course credits must be obtained in each minor
      5. Comprehensive examination: A written comprehensive exam, in the form of an extended report, must be presented to the Graduate Committee within ten months of graduation. The student and advisor, in consultation with the Graduate Committee, select the subject area and focus of the report. A written examination may be requested by the adviser from the minor department. It is the responsibility of the minor department to set criteria for waiving this examination and standards for passing. The written comprehensive examination may not be waived if any of the grades in the minor are below a B.
      6. Final oral examination: The final oral examination will normally be waived. However, if a student's performance on course work has been marginal, the Graduate Committee may request an oral examination of the student for further evaluation.

3. OPTION III (non-thesis option): This option is recommended for students planning to continue scholarly work. A student in this option will complete:

      1. Total credits: A minimum of 36 graduate course credits
      2. Graduate-only credits: A minimum of 18 graduate only credits must be completed (Credits in 900 level courses, and 800 level courses that do not have lower level cross-listings)
      3. Total MEAM credits*: A minimum of 18 MEAM course credits . These must be completed in such a way to include:
        1. At least one credit of seminar (only one will count toward the total)
        2. At least nine credits from one of the nine designated specialty areas**, OR at least six credits each from two of the nine designated specialty areas
        3. Courses from at least three of the nine designated specialty areas (not including seminar)
      4. Comprehensive examination: A written comprehensive exam, in the form of an extended report, must be presented to the Graduate Committee within ten months of graduation. The student and advisor, in consultation with the Graduate Committee, select the subject area and focus of the report.
      5. Final oral examination: The final oral examination will normally be waived. However, if a student's performance on course work has been marginal, the Graduate Committee may request an oral examination of the student for further evaluation.

* MEAM Credits: MEAM course credits refers to any courses that are currently designated as:

      1. Mechanical Engineering (MECH)
      2. Engineering Mechanics (ENGM)
      3. Metallurgical Engineering (METL)

** Specialty Areas and Courses: The MEAM master program has nine specialty areas designated as:

      1. Thermal Sciences
      2. Fluid Mechanics
      3. Solid Mechanics
      4. Systems, Design and Controls
      5. Dynamics and Vibrations
      6. Computational Methods
      7. Materials Engineering
      8. Manufacturing
      9. Biomedical Engineering

A list of courses designated for each area of specialization can be obtained from the program.

General Policies: A student in one of the M.S. programs in MEAM is expected to follow the policies:

  1. All option I students are required to select a thesis adviser before the end of their first semester of study in the program. A temporary advisor will be selected for the student by the Graduate Committee until the thesis advisor is determined. Designation of the thesis advisor is contingent on the agreement of both the student and the advisor, and on the approval of the Graduate Committee.
  2. Option II and III students will be assigned an academic advisor by the Graduate Committee. Students may change their advisor subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.
  3. All students are required to register for seminar every semester during their study in the program.
  4. A Memorandum of Courses, required for Candidacy, must be filed and approved before grades (letter grades, no reports or incompletes) have been received in more than one-half of the student's program. The Memorandum of Courses must be recommended by the major and minor departments and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
  5. Math 821 does not earn graduate credit in this program.
  6. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all published deadlines are met.
  7. Nothing in this policy statement is intended to supersede any university or graduate studies policy.