Graduate Program: Mechanical Engineering (ME)

 

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to either the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEngr) degrees. The MS degree is a research-oriented degree that is available in either thesis or non-thesis options. The non-thesis MS degree requires completion of an independent study. The MEngr degree is an engineering practice oriented degree that requires completion of an engineering design project.

Engineering Combined Degree Program

The department offers combined BS/Masters programs that allow a student to complete a master's degree in as little as one year beyond the bachelor's degree. The master's degree may be either an MS or MEngr. Interested students may apply for this program upon completion of 95 credits toward the bachelor's degree. All requirements for both degrees must be met, but up to six credits of prior-approved coursework taken subsequent to admission to the combined program may be counted towards both degrees. Courses required for the BS degree may not be counted toward both degrees but courses used as technical electives for the BS degree may also be counted toward the Master's degree.

 

Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements

• Master of Science
• Master of Engineering
• Ph.D. in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Track

 

Admissions Requirements

 

1. Students who hold a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET accredited program and an acceptable GPA are accepted without need for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

2. Students who hold an undergraduate engineering or science degree other than Mechanical Engineering may be admitted to provisional or qualified status with an obligation to acquire additional background in mechanical engineering as appropriate.

3.The GRE general test will be required for those applicants with undergraduate degrees from other than ABET accredited programs.

4. Students seeking admission to the Master of Science program must have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 or a GPA of at least 3.00 for the junior and senior years of their undergraduate program.

5. Students seeking admission to the Master of Engineering program must have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50 or a GPA of at least 2.75 for the junior and senior years of their undergraduate program.

6. Students seeking admission to a combined BS/Masters program must have a GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of admission.

7. A minimum TOEFL Score of 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test, or for the Internetbased TOEFL, a composite score of 79, with minimum scores of 21/30 (Speaking*); 19/30 (Listening); 19/30 (Reading); and 17/30 (Writing) for applicants whose native language is not English. Applicants may also meet language requirements by presenting IETLS scores of 6.5.

*Applicants being considered for Graduate Teaching Assistantships must achieve these minimum TOEFL scores, but have a minimum score of 26/30 on the Speaking subtest.

8. Students who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from the United States or English speaking Canada are not required to submit the TOEFL.

 

Admissions Timeline

The ME Graduate Faculty meets to decide on admissions and financial aid for spring admission on or about October 1 of the preceding fall semester. The first meeting for fall/summer admission occurs on or about February 15 of the preceding spring semester. All complete and partially complete applications will be considered, but the more information the faculty has to consider, the better an applicant's chances for admission and support. Applications received after these dates will be considered for admission and financial aid as resources allow.

 

Graduate Financial Aid

The department has a limited number of tuition waivers and graduate teaching assistantship appointments available on a competitive basis. The bulk of the support is typically allocated to continuing students. Funds for incoming students tend to be reserved for outstanding applicants or students whose interests and experience mesh exceedingly well with current faculty/departmental needs. New applicants seeking financial support are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty in their area(s) of interest prior to the admissions/financial aid meeting of the ME Graduate Faculty.

 

Degree Requirements 

Students seeking the Master of Science degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the Graduate School as well as particular requirements set forth by the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Thesis Option

1. A minimum of 30 semester credits in a major field approved by the graduate committee, including the credits granted for the thesis and the research leading to the thesis.

2. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500-level.

3. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution.

4. Completion of a research project and its presentation in a thesis (4-9 credits for 998 Thesis).

 

Non-Thesis Option

 

1. Thirty-two (32) credits including credits approved by the graduate advisor required for the major.

2. Two credits of 997, Independent Study.

3. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500-level.

4. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution.

5. Preparation of a written independent study approved by the faculty advisor.

6. Comprehensive final examination.

The research project, independent study, or design project may be from interdisciplinary areas such as bioengineering or environmental engineering, or they may be topics in design, manufacturing processes, vibrations, stress analysis, materials, power, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, or combustion.

 

Students seeking the Master of Engineering degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the Graduate School as well as particular requirements set forth by the Mechanical Engineering Department.

1. 30 credits approved by the graduate advisor.

2. 15 credits at the 500 level or above.

3. 9 credits of engineering science, basic science, and/or mathematics.

4. ME 595 Design Project for 9 credits.

5. A written report on the design project.

6. All major department courses must be at the 400 level or above, and no courses below 300 level may be included in the program.

7. Comprehensive final examination.

The research project, independent study, or design project may be from interdisciplinary areas such as bioengineering or environmental engineering, or they may be topics in design, manufacturing processes, vibrations, stress analysis, materials, power, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, or combustion.