Mechanical Engineering (MSE), Materials Engineering Concentration
Overview
The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Mechanical Engineering. The program offers a general Mechanical Engineering Concentration and a Materials Engineering concentration. The 30-hour program has a thesis option and a non-thesis option. Coursework is offered in areas including mechanics and design, materials, and thermal/fluid sciences. Potential research opportunities exist in combustion, nanotechnology, MEMS and NEMS, smart structures, biomechanics, robotics, mechatronics, acoustics and vibrations, materials science, solid mechanics, experimental heat transfer and fluid mechanics, thermal and dynamic analysis of railroad bearings, and bearing condition monitoring. Students on the thesis option complete 12 hours of required courses, 12 hours of prescribed electives and 6 hours of thesis. Students on the non-thesis option complete 12 hours of required courses, 18 hours of prescribed electives and both an oral and written comprehensive exams.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in mechanical engineering, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a Bachelor’s degree in another field with courses and/or experience that prepare the applicant for graduate work in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science Engineering, depending upon the track the student opts to follow.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
- Letter of intent detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Resume.
- GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Applicants who do not satisfy the specific program criteria above will be considered for conditional admission. Those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than mechanical engineering may be admitted subject to completion of a set of undergraduate leveling courses prescribed by the graduate program Coordinator. Students admitted conditionally must successfully complete all leveling courses, if any, and successfully complete their first six hours of graduate work with a grade of B or higher.
Leveling Courses
Students whose undergraduate major is not mechanical engineering are required to take some or all the leveling courses from the list given below with approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Leveling courses are determined for each student by the Graduate Program Coordinator based on his/her course background and experience in mechanical engineering. Students must also have the prerequisites required to take the leveling courses.
Materials Engineering Leveling Courses
Program Requirements
Complete 12 credits hours of required courses and select 12 credits of prescribed electives for the thesis option and 18 credits of prescribed electives for the non-thesis option. Students on the thesis option will complete 6 credit hours of thesis courses and students on the non-thesis option must pass comprehensive exit exams.
Required Courses - 12 Hours
Thesis Option
Mechanical Engineering Electives - 6 to 12 Hours
Students can elect which courses they would like to register but they MUST have the consent of their faculty advisor and the graduate program coordinator. Students must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours of Mechanical Engineering Electives from the list below. Choose from the following:
College of Engineering and Computer Science or College of Science Electives - 0 to 6 Hours
Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments within the College of Engineering and Computer Science or College of Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Thesis - 6 Hours
Students in this option MUST produce a written thesis in a relevant Mechanical Engineering topic of study and defend their thesis in front of their formed Thesis Committee.
Non-Thesis Option:
Mechanical Engineering Electives - 12 to 18 Hours
Students can elect which courses they would like to register but they MUST have the consent of their faculty advisor and the graduate program coordinator. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of Mechanical Engineering Electives from the list below. Choose from the following:
College of Engineering and Computer Science or College of Science Electives - 0 to 6 Hours
Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments within the College of Engineering and Computer Science or College of Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Capstone Requirement
Oral Comprehensive Exam - students MUST successfully pass an oral comprehensive exam.
Written Comprehensive Exam - students MUST successfully pass a written comprehensive exam in the four required (core) courses.
Total Credit Hours: 30