There are two Master of Science degree plans: a thesis-based plan (Plan A), and a course-only plan (Plan C). A student admitted to the general M.S.M.E. program is free to choose either the thesis-based (Plan A) or course-only plan (Plan C) master’s degree. A student may also be admitted to the course-only plan (Plan C), in which case the student must follow and fulfill the requirements of the course-only plan (for these students, switching to Plan A is allowed only with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies). Switching between plans will only be considered by the Director of Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of a faculty member in the ME graduate program who also agrees to serve as research advisor. For both M.S.M.E. and Ph.D. programs, a GPAS Planner must be on file well in advance of graduation (recommended before the end of the 3rd semester at the latest). The GPAS Planner lists all courses a student has completed or intends to complete towards their degree.  It must be approved by the student’s advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies in Mechanical Engineering, the Director of Graduate Studies in the minor program (if the student elects to complete a minor), and the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). The GPAS Planner should be developed in consultation with one’s advisor.  For this reason, it is essential that an advisor be identified no later than the end of the first semester of a student’s full-time enrollment. Ph.D. students are required to identify an advisor by November 15 of the first semester at the latest. Identification of an advisor is up to each graduate student; advisors are not assigned by the department. The only exception to this is for course-only plan (Plan C) M.S.M.E. students; the Director of Graduate Studies serves as the de facto advisor for all course-only plan students.

Full-time graduate students are enrolled in a minimum of 6 or up to 14 course or thesis credits (or a full-time equivalent course, as discussed in the student FAQ) each semester. Full-time students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (including those on fellowship or assistantship support) are expected to receive their master’s degree within two years and to receive their Ph.D. in four to five years after the B.S. degree or foreign equivalent.  Students can take less than 6 credits without taking a full-time equivalent course in selected instances; domestic students do not require prior permission to do so, while international students must register for reduced course load (RCL) with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to do this.  Please consult with the Graduate Program Manager if there is a semester where you will take fewer than 6 credits without a full-time equivalency course.

• Thesis based M.S. plan (Plan A): The M.S. Plan A degree is intended for students interested in research. Students must develop a course plan in consultation with their research advisor and record the plan in the GPAS Planner.

• Course based M.S. plan (Plan C): The M.S. Plan C degree is intended for M.S. students interested in coursework beyond the undergraduate level.  Students must develop a course plan that is approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and recorded in the GPAS Planner. 

• Ph.D. degree: The doctoral coursework requirements are intended to ensure students enroll in core and technical elective courses to carry out advanced research in Mechanical Engineering.  The Ph.D. is a research-based degree; coursework is intended to supplement dissertation research. Students must develop a course plan in consultation with their research advisor that is rigorous and appropriate for the dissertation research and record the plan in the GPAS Planner.