Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Mechanical Engineering, MS


Program coordinator: Brian Sylcott (208 Slay Building; 252-737-4652; sylcottb15@ecu.edu)

The masters of science in mechanical engineering is a research oriented degree program that is administered by the Department of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Technology. The program has two focus areas of research - advanced energy systems and mechanics of biomaterials. Students are prepared for employment in a variety of areas of industry and the program provides training and research experience for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD degree in mechanical engineering or related fields.

I. Admission


Application for admission to the graduate program in mechanical engineering must meet the general requirements of admission set forth by the Graduate School. Advanced, highly motivated undergraduate students, may apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering .

A. Requirements for admission


Applicants for study in mechanical engineering are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a minimum 3.0/4.0 grade point average in the last two years of undergraduate study. The following preparatory courses are recommended:


• Mathematics - calculus through differential equations, probability and statistics
• Physics - one semester
• Chemistry - one semester
• Biology - one semester
• Engineering - one course in basic thermodynamics
• Engineering - one course in basic materials science
• Engineering - one course in basic electrical engineering
• Engineering - one course in three of the following five areas: biomaterials, fluid mechanics, heat and/or mass transfer, mechanics of materials, energy systems
• Engineering research or design experience

B. Conditional admission


Applicants may be granted conditional admission if they do not qualify for regular admission. Students entering from disciplines other than engineering may find it necessary to take preparatory undergraduate and/or graduate level courses that serve as prerequisites. Preparatory courses that are for undergraduate credit only may not be applied toward credit hours required for a graduate degree.

II. Degree Requirements


The university confers the degree of master of science in mechanical engineering when the candidate has earned at least 32 s.h. of graduate credit. In addition to the course work each student must complete a research-based thesis, a comprehensive defense of thesis proposal, a seminar based on thesis research, and a thesis defense.

The program requires a minimum of 32 s.h. as follows:

A. Core (8 s.h.)


C. Mathematics requirement (3 s.h.)


All students must complete one 3 semester hour graduate level course in advanced mathematics. Contact the program director for a list of approved mathematics courses.