Mechanical Engineering PhD Program Degree Requirements

A central requirement for the PhD degree in mechanical engineering is submission and defense of a dissertation based upon original research in an area of focus acceptable to the student's supervisory committee. The completed dissertation must be approved by the committee, the department Chair and the Graduate College. 

A minimum of 72 graduate credits is required beyond a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree in a related field is considered equivalent to 30 credits **. Additional requirements are:

  1. A minimum of 42 credits of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree, or a minimum of 18 credits beyond the master of science degree**;
     
  2. No more than 3 credits of directed independent study or OME Advanced Research (EML 6918) may be used to satisfy the minimum 18 credits of coursework;
     
  3. A minimum of 12 credits must be in Mechanical Engineering courses, including three core courses:

    • EGM 6533, Advanced Strength of Materials;
    • EML 6223, Mechanical Vibrations or EML 6317 Advanced Control Systems
    • EML 6716 Advanced Fluid Dynamics.
     
  4. Completion of two semesters of EML 5937, Graduate Seminar (0 credits) with grade of Satisfactory ("S")*;
     
  5. Doctoral thesis research of at least 24 credits for students entering with a master’s degree and at least 30 credits for students entering with a bachelor’s degree **;
     
  6. Successful completion of General Examination 1;
     
  7. Successful completion of General Examination 2;
     
  8. Prior to the defense, the student is required to have published or have accepted for publication, a refereed research paper in a field of study deemed acceptable by the dissertation committee. A journal article is preferred, but a peer-reviewed conference paper is also acceptable *;
     
  9. Submitted and defended a dissertation based on original research in the student's area of specialization. The supervisory committee, the Department chair and the Graduate College must have approved the dissertation;
     
  10. Satisfaction of all University regulations and requirements for the PhD degree.

* Changes are effective for students admitted to the program in Fall 2019 or later.

** Changes are effective for students admitted to the program in Spring 2020 or later.