Students following the thesis plan or the project plan must submit a proposal to their examination committee prior to the semester in which they register for their thesis or project semester hours, and the examination committee must approve the proposal for the thesis or project.
Students in either plan may choose one of three tracks. In the first two tracks, the student may choose to specialize in either thermal science or mechanics. The third track is the general mechanical engineering option.
The thermal science option requires 12 semester hours of course work in analytical methods, numerical methods, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. The student then selects 9 semester hours of course work in approved electives from a selection of thermal science electives.
The required courses for the thermal science track are
- MECH 5110 (Numerical Methods for Engineers)
- MECH 5120 (Analytical Methods for Engineers)
- MECH 5122 (Macroscopic Thermodynamics)
- MECH 5141 (Viscous Flow)
The mechanics option requires 12 semester hours of course work in analytical methods, numerical methods, elasticity and dynamics. The student then selects 9 semester hours of course work in approved electives from a selection of mechanics electives. For students following Plan I, both the thermal science and mechanics options allow the student to pick one approved 3-semester-hour elective not necessarily in the chosen specialty. For students following Plan II, both the thermal science and mechanics options allow the student to pick two approved 3-semester hour electives not necessarily in the chosen specialty.
The required courses for the mechanics track are
- MECH 5175 (Finite Element Analysis)
- MECH 5120 (Analytical Methods for Engineers)
- MECH 5163 (Dynamics)
- MECH 5143 (Theory of Elasticity)
The general mechanical engineering option requires the student to take 18 semester hours of required course work in analytical methods, numerical methods, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, elasticity and dynamics. For students following Plan I, the general mechanical engineering option allows the student to pick two approved 3-semester hour electives. For students following Plan II, the general mechanical engineering option allows the student to pick three approved 3-semester hour electives.
The required courses for the general track are
- MECH 5120 (Analytical Methods for Engineers)
- MECH 5163 (Dynamics)
- MECH 5143 (Theory of Elasticity)
- MECH 5110 (Numerical Methods for Engineers)
- MECH 5122 (Macroscopic Thermodynamics)
- MECH 5141 (Viscous Flow)
All courses are 3 semester credit hours and the student must complete a total of 30 semester credit hours including thesis or project hours. In addition the student must present the required thesis or project to his/her graduate committee and the committee must approve the thesis or project for satisfaction of the student’s graduation requirement.