Programs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Based on a firm foundation of basic science, applied mathematics, and engineering sciences, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a rigorous program designed to prepare well-trained, creative, responsible engineers capable of assuming leadership roles in their profession.
Students apply the latest software to problems in the mechanics of solid fluids, materials science, mechanical systems, and advanced power applications, among others.
Broad, hands-on laboratory and advanced design projects offer significant experience in experimental and computational work. These experiences complement a curriculum that includes a strong focus on the analysis, design, and development of mechanical and thermal systems.
In addition to strengthening leadership and communications skills necessary for excelling in the field, the program offers a deep understanding of the broad social and economic impacts of engineering.
Information about faculty and research can be found on the Department of Mechanical Engineering website.
AdmissionsLink to section
Applying to Master's ProgramsLink to section
Application materials for both the master’s and certificate programs include:
- A full online application
- Personal statement
- Transcripts from each university that you have attended, uploaded to the online application (copies are acceptable for application review; official transcripts are needed if applicant is accepted)
- Optional GRE scores (uploaded)
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for applicants whose native language is not English
- Three letters of recommendation submitted electronically
- Payment of application fee
Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section
Your application should reflect your academic preparedness and research experience and enthusiasm. Matching the research interests of our faculty members is a crucial factor in the selection process. Finally, we will also consider an applicant’s impact on the diversity of our department.
Application materials include:
- A full online application
- Personal statement
- Transcripts from each university that you have attended, uploaded to the online application (copies are acceptable for application review; official transcripts are needed if applicant is accepted)
- Optional GRE scores (uploaded)
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for applicants whose native language is not English
- Three letters of recommendation submitted electronically
- Payment of application fee
AcademicsLink to section
Advanced Certificates and RequirementsLink to section
The Advanced Certificate in High Density Physics (HEDP) is a collaborative graduate credential that prepares students to apply high energy physics concepts to current areas of high energy density physics which includesplasmas, high energy density materials, and high energy density astrophysics. Fifty percent or more of the course requirements for the certificate can be completed through study delivered by distance education. The certificate requires 16 credits with 8 credits of required courses and 8 credits of elective courses.
Required core courses (8 credits):
- ME 536: Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Fluids and High Energy Density Plasmas
- ME 537: Introduction to High Energy Density Physics
Elective courses (8 credits; choose 2):
- ME 408: Phase Transformation
- ME 434: Introduction to Plasma Physics I
- ME 435: Introduction to Plasma Physics II
- ME 439: Turbulence
- ME 488: Computational Methods for High Energy Density Physics
- ME 533: Intro-Inertial Confinement Fusion
- ME 535: Laser Plasma Interactions
- ME 545: Advanced Topics in Plasma Physics
- PHY 451: Physics of Astrophysics I
- PHY 452: Physics of Astrophysics II
- EES 454: Physics of Planetary Interiors
Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Requirements
The MS degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 30 hours of graduate credit. Students are also required to complete a thesis (plan A) or an oral exam (plan B). No more than 10 credits can be transferred from non-matriculated study at Rochester or from an outside institution.
Plan A
Plan A requires a written dissertation prepared by the student under the supervision of their advisor. Of the 30 required credit hours, this option requires:
- Six to 12 hours of thesis research
- At least 16 hours of courses 400 level or higher
- At least 12 of these 16 hours must be ME courses
The formal defense of the dissertation takes place after the completion of all coursework, and the student must be registered for the semester in which the defense takes place.
Plan B
Plan B requires at least 20 hours of formal ME courses, at least 16 of which must be at the 400 level or higher. Reading and research credits cannot be counted toward the 20 required ME credit hours. The maximum number of research credits for this option is six. Plan B students are required to take a comprehensive oral exam at the end of their coursework.
Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering Requirements
The curriculum for the MS degree in aerospace engineering consists of four core courses in applied mathematics, fluid dynamics, computational methods, and solid mechanics. Additional elective courses can be selected from three groups of structures and materials, dynamics and controls, or fluids and propulsion. The program provides a culminating thesis option (Plan A: 6 credits of thesis research followed by a thesis defense) and a non-thesis option (Plan B: an oral examination, or 2 credits of research followed by an oral presentation).
This 30 credit program consists of two sets of courses: Required core courses (16 credits) and Elective courses (no less than 14 credits). All graduate courses are four credits, except as indicated.
Required core courses (16 credits)
ME 400 (Applied Boundary Value Problems)
ME 441 (Finite Element Methods) OR ME 432 (Optomechanical)
ME 427 (Aerodynamics)
ME 449 (Elasticity) OR ME 444 (Continuum Mechanics)
Elective courses (no less than 14 credits)
Select any four (not less than 14 credits) among any of the three thematic groups of courses A, B, C and optional master’s research.
Students in the Plan B non-thesis, nonresearch option will choose four courses (16 credits; these students will need to take at least one of the following: ME 427, ME 446, ME 407). Students in the Plan B non-thesis, research option will choose three courses plus two credits of MS research (14 credits; MS research should be on an aerospacer elated topic and supervised by a suitable faculty members).
Students in the Plan A thesis option will choose two courses, six credits of MS research, and MS dissertation (14 credits).
Group A (Theme: Solids and Structures):
- ME 481: Mechanical Properties of Solids
- ME 446: Aerospace Structures (NEW COURSE)
- ME 440: Mechanics of Structures
Group B (Theme: Dynamics and Controls):
- ME 407: Advanced Dynamics (NEW COURSE)
- ME 431: Feedback and Control of Dynamical Systems
- ME 424: Robust Design
- ME 445: Precision Instrument Design
Group C (Theme: Fluids and Propulsion):
- ME 433: Nanoscale Energy Transport
- ME 436: Compressible Flow
- ME 437: Incompressible Flow
- ME 439: Turbulence
- ME 434: Plasma Physics I
- CHE 468: Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics
- ME 536: Hydrodynamic Stability
Master’s Research
ME 495: MS Research (Two or six credits, for non-thesis and thesis option). MS research hould be on an aerospace-related topic and supervised by an appropriate faculty member.
ME 897: MS Dissertation (No credits, for students pursuing Plan A thesis option). The dissertation should be on an aerospace-related topic and supervised by an appropriate faculty member.
Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
The PhD in mechanical engineering requires 90 hours of graduate credit. Students holding a master of science degree receive 30 credit hours toward the 90 required hours.
Students must take at least 32 hours of coursework at the 400 level or higher, of which at least 24 credit hours should be mechanical engineering courses. The dissertation is typically 30 of the total of 90 credit hours. No more than 10 of these may be transferred from non-matriculated work at Rochester.
There are three examinations during the PhD program:
- Preliminary Exam (Taken at the end of the first full year of academic study)
- Qualifying Exam (Typically taken at the end of the second or during the third year)
- Final Oral Exam of dissertation
Graduate Course TitlesLink to section
- ME 400: Applied Boundary Value Probability
- ME 402: Partial Differential Equations
- ME 404: Computational Methods
- ME 407: Advanced Dynamics
- ME 408: Phase Transformation
- ME 410: Opt Fab and Testing Tech
- ME 424: Intro to Robust Design and Quality Engineering
- ME 427: Aerodynamics
- ME 430: Optomechanical System Design
- ME 431: Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems
- ME 432: Opto-Mechanical
- ME 433: Nanoscale Energy Transport and Conversion
- ME 434: Introduction to Plasma Physics I
- ME 435: Introduction to Plasma Physics II
- ME 436: Compressible Flow
- ME 437: Incompressible Flow
- ME 438: Introduction to Quality Engineering
- ME 439: Turbulence
- ME 440: Mechanics of Structures
- ME 441: Finite Elements
- ME 444: Continuum Mechanics
- ME 445: Precision Instrument Design
- ME 446: Aerospace Structures
- ME 449: Elasticity
- ME 450: Introduction to Quantum Theory of Materials
- ME 451: Characterization Methods in Materials
- ME 465: Principles of Lasers
- ME 481: Mechanical Behavior of Solids
- ME 482: Biosolid Mechanics
- ME 488: Computational Methods for High-Energy-Density Physics
- ME 494: Master’s Internship
- ME 495: Master’s Research in ME
- ME 497: Research Seminar in ME
- ME 533: Introduction to Inertial Confinement Fusion
- ME 535: Laser Plasma Interactions
- ME 537: Introduction to High-Energy-Density Physics
- ME 545: Advanced Topics in Plasma Physics
- ME 594: Research Internship
- ME 595: PhD Research in ME
- ME 897: Master’s Dissertation
- ME 986V: Full-Time Visiting Student
- ME 995: Continuation of Doctoral Enrollment
- ME 997: Doctoral Dissertation
- ME 999: Doctoral Dissertation