Mechanical Engineering

Programs of Study

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers two graduate degree options:

Admission Requirements

For the M.S. program, applicants should have a B.S. in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.).

The standards are the same for admission into the thesis and non-thesis options of the M.S. program. At the time of application to the master's program, the student must specify his/her option (thesis or nonthesis) of choice.

For the Ph.D., a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.) is required.

The Mechanical Engineering Department reserves its financial aid for graduate students in the Ph.D. program or in the thesis option of the M.S. program.

Degree Requirements

M.S. Program

When applying to the master of science program, students must specify their intention to pursue either the thesis or non-thesis M.S. option. Both the thesis and non-thesis options require the completion of 30 graduate credit hours. Students in the thesis option must complete 12 credits of thesis research (ME 599), whereas students in the non-thesis option may complete up to 9 credits of directed research (ME 598). The result of the research credits (ME 599) in the thesis option must be a completed master's thesis. The number of directed research credits (ME 598) completed in the non-thesis option can range from 0 to 9.

In the thesis option, the distribution of credits is as follows:

In the non-thesis option, the distribution of credits is as follows:

In either option, all full-time students are required to register for the graduate seminar (ME591) every semester.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the M.S. program, each student is assigned or may select a temporary advisor to arrange an academic plan covering the first 9 credits of study. This plan must be made before the first registration. Prior to registering for additional credits, the student must specify an academic advisor with whom the remaining course of study is arranged. The plan must be approved by the mechanical engineering graduate committee.

For students in the thesis option, the academic advisor is the thesis advisor. Prior to completing more than 18 credits, every student in the thesis option must form a thesis committee that consists of the thesis advisor and at least two other mechanical engineering faculty members from WPI with knowledge of the thesis topic.

The schedule of academic advising is as follows:

This schedule ensures that students are well advised throughout the program, and that students in the thesis option are actively engaged in their research at the early stages of their programs.

Thesis Defense

Each student in the thesis option must defend his/her research during an oral defense, which is administered by an examining committee that consists of the thesis committee and a representative of the mechanical engineering graduate committee who is not on the thesis committee. The defense is open to public participation and consists of a 30-minute presentation by the student followed by a 30-minute open discussion. At least one week prior to the defense each member of the examining committee must receive a copy of the thesis. One additional copy must be made available for members of the WPI community wishing to read the thesis prior to the defense. Public notification of the defense must be given by the mechanical engineering graduate secretary. The examining committee will determine the acceptability of the student's thesis and oral performance. The thesis advisor will determine the student's grade.

Changing M.S. Options

Students in the non-thesis M.S. option may switch into the thesis option at any time by notifying the mechanical engineering graduate committee of the change, provided that they have identified a thesis advisor, formed a thesis committee, and have worked out a Plan of Study with their thesis advisor. Subject to the thesis advisor's approval, directed research credits (ME 598) earned in the non-thesis option may be transferred to thesis research credits (ME 599) in the thesis option.

Any student in the thesis option M.S. program may request a switch into the non-thesis option by submitting the request in writing to the mechanical engineering graduate committee. Before acting on such a request, the graduate committee will require and seriously consider written input from the student's thesis advisor. Departmental financial aid given to the thesis-option students who are permitted to switch to the non-thesis option will automatically be withdrawn. Subject to the approval of the mechanical engineering graduate committee, a maximum of 9 credits of thesis research (ME 599) earned by a student in the thesis option may be transferred to directed research credit (ME 598) in the non-thesis option.

Ph.D. Program

The course of study leading to the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering requires the completion of 90 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, or 60 credits beyond the master's degree. For students proceeding directly from B.S. degree to Ph.D. degree, the 90 credits should be distributed as follows:

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Last modified: July 22, 2009 16:05:37