MSE in Mechanical Engineering
About the Program
The master’s degree in mechanical engineering is the oldest graduate program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The program combines engineering practice with analysis. Approximately two thirds of the program requirements are in the broad area of mechanical engineering, where a student can freely select among courses in such areas as mechanical and thermal/fluid sciences, materials, manufacturing, automotive technology, instrumentation, and controls. The remainder of the courses are spread over mathematics, cognates, and distribution requirements. A thesis option is also available. Students must complete 30 credit hours to receive a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree in mechanical engineering.
This program may be completed entirely on campus, entirely online, or through a combination of on-campus and online courses. See the "Online Options" section below for more details.
Get an Inside Look
I was able to choose classes that allow me to develop my research skills and also classes that allow me to develop my product development and engineering skills.— LAURA BEYER, '13 MSE-ME, ENGINEER AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Program Details
A candidate for the Master of Science in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) degree must meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) degree at this campus, or the essential equivalent to these requirements. The candidate must then complete at least 30 credit hours of graduate coursework approved by the program advisor/graduate advisory committee with a grade of at least B in every course. Additionally, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (B).
Most mechanical engineering courses are worth 3 credits and on-campus sections are offered in the evening from 6-8:45 p.m. All classes are held Monday-Thursday. Classes are available in the Fall (September-December), Winter (January-April), Summer I (May-June) and Summer II (July-August) terms. Each course meets one night per week during the Fall and Winter terms and twice per week during the Summer I and Summer II half terms.
MSE-ME Program Goals
To provide students with a strong background in principles of mechanical engineering and a thorough knowledge of the latest technologies in the field which extends beyond the undergraduate experience.
MSE-ME Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to use the latest technologies in the mechanical engineering field.
- Students will be able to formulate, analyze, and solve advanced mechanical engineering problems.
- Students will be able to apply the latest scientific and technological advancements, advanced techniques, and modern engineering tools in their professional endeavors.
Undergraduate Degree Required
An applicant to the program should hold a Bachelor of Science (BS) or equivalent degree in engineering from an accredited program with a minimum cumulative grade point of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). An applicant with a lower GPA, or an applicant with a non-engineering Bachelor degree in a science or mathematics program, may be considered for admission consistent with the guidelines.
Standardized Test Scores
GRE not required
Please note: At least 2 letters of recommendation are required as part of the application. These should come from people who know you as an engineer, either academically (professor or research advisor) or professionally (supervisor or manager). Letters of reference from peer employees or personal sources are invalid and will not be considered.
Online courses are offered via CECS Online and utilize video streaming of the lectures given on campus. Online students have the opportunity to interact with their instructors and with fellow students (both on campus as well as online) through Canvas, a campus-wide learning management system. The class lectures, notes, and discussions are posted on Canvas for online students' access.
The program may be completed entirely on campus, entirely online, or through a combination of on-campus and online courses. Any student may take online courses; there is not a requirement to be enrolled in the online program. If you live in Michigan and would like the flexibility to take both on-campus and web courses, you should apply to the regular program. You will be able to register for as many online courses as you wish. Please contact the graduate programs coordinator for more information on the distinctions between the on-campus and online programs: umd-megrad@umich.edu
The candidate must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate course work approved by the ME graduate committee with a grade of at least a B covering all courses elected. These 30 hours must include one required course (ME 518), six to seven ME elective courses, and two to three cognate courses. The two required cognate courses must include 1) one non-ME graduate-level course and 2) one graduate-level mathematics or mathematics-related course. The optional cognate must be a graduate-level course from CECS (excluding courses in engineering management).
Students must earn a B or better in every graduate course to be credited toward the degree requirements. However, a maximum of one grade of B- will be accepted. In addition, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Curriculum
The 30 credit hours of graduate coursework must include:
Required Course
ME 518-Advanced Engineering Analysis (must be taken during the first or second semester after enrollment), 3 credit hours.
Mechanical Engineering Courses
Six-seven mechanical engineering courses from the ME graduate course list (18-21 credit hours)
Cognates
Two-three cognate courses per guidelines below (6-9 credits)
Cognates
- One graduate level mathematics or mathematics-related (non-ME) cognate course (3 credit hours): IMSE 510 and IMSE 511 are approved as mathematics-related courses, as well as any 500-level course from the mathematics & statistics department (excluding math subject courses for educators, e.g., ME 542-Geometry for Teachers).
- One non-mechanical engineering course (3 credit hours): any 500-level non-ME course.
- Optional: an additional cognate course (3 credit hours): any 500-level course from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), excluding the following courses: EMGT 500, 505, 510, 515, 530, 535, 541, 545, 550, 560, 570, 580; IMSE 5010, 515, 516, 517, 520, 5275, 5655, 570, 579.
Students choosing the thesis option may do so for 6-9 credit hours (to be taken from the 'Mechanical Engineering Courses' section noted above), contingent upon the thesis advisor. Please see the thesis guidelines for details regarding this option.
Most mechanical engineering courses are worth 3 credits and on-campus sections are offered in the evening from 6-8:45 p.m. When demand for certain courses is exceptionally high, additional daytime sections, offered from 2-5:45 p.m., may be added. Non-working students are required to take daytime sections (rather than evening sections) where these are available. All classes are held Monday-Thursday. Classes are available in the Fall (September-December), Winter (January-April), Summer I (May-June) and Summer II (July-August) terms. Each course meets one night per week during the Fall and Winter terms and twice per week during the Summer I and Summer II half terms.
All courses are 3 credit hours except those marked with "*", which are available for 1~3 credit hour(s).
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Mechanical Engineering Courses
- ME 510: Finite Element Methods
- ME 512: Structural Dynamics
- ME 513: Advanced Biomechanics (crosslist: BENG 570)
- ME 514: Advanced Mechanics of Materials
- ME 515: Advanced Mechanics of Solids
- ME 516: Special Topics in ME
- ME 521: Dynamics & Thermodynamics of Compressible Flow
- ME 522: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
- ME 525: Computational Fluid Mechanics & Heat Transfer (pre-req: ME 518)
- ME 526: Microfluidics (crosslist: BENG 551)
- ME 532: Combustion Processes
- ME 535: Advanced Thermodynamics
- ME 538: Vehicle Thermal Management (crosslist: AENG 566)
- ME 540: Mechanical Vibrations
- ME 542: Advanced Dynamics
- ME 543: Vehicle Dynamics
- ME 545: Acoustics and Noise Control
- ME 547: Automotive Powertrains I (crosslist: AENG 547)
- ME 548: Automotive Powertrains II
- ME 552: Sustainable Energy Systems (crosslists: ESE 500, ECE 541)
- ME 554: Theory of Gearing & Applications
- ME 556: Stress & Strength Cons. in Design
- ME 558: Fracture & Fatigue Cons. in Design
- ME 563: Advanced Instrumentation & Control
- ME 564: Linear Systems Control
- ME 565: Mechatronics (crosslist: ECE 566)
- ME 566: Materials Thermodynamics and Kinetics (crosslist: MTSE 501)
- ME 567: Reliability Considerations in Design
- ME 568: Computational Materials Design
- ME 569: Introduction to Materials Characterization (crosslist: MTSE 502)
- ME 570: Powertrain NVH of Electrified Vehicles
- ME 571: Conduction Heat Transfer
- ME 572: Convection Heat Transfer
- ME 573: Radiative Transport of Heat
- ME 576: Battery Systems Modeling and Control (crosslist: AENG 576)
- ME 577: Energy Conversion (crosslist: ESE 501)
- ME 580: Advanced Engineering Materials
- ME 582: Injection Molding
- ME 583: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
- ME 584: Mechanical Behavior of Polymers & Ceramics
- ME 585: Cast Metals in Engineering Design
- ME 586: Materials Consideration in Manufacturing
- ME 587: Automotive Composites
- ME 589: Composite Materials
- ME 591: Degradation of Materials
- ME 592: Fundamentals of Fuel Cells
- ME 593: Powder Materials and Processing
- ME 595: Digital Manufacturing (crosslist: BENG 595)
- ME 596: Internal Combustion Engines I (crosslist: AENG 596)
- ME 597: Internal Combustion Engines II
- ME 598: Engine Emissions
- ME 610: Finite Element Methods--Nonlinear (pre-req: ME 510)
- ME 611: Modeling of Engineering Materials (pre-req: ME 518)
- ME 622: Advanced Topics in Fluid Mechanics (pre-req: ME 522)
- ME 675: Predictive Control of Dynamic Systems (pre-req: ME 564 or ECE 560)
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Independent Study and Thesis
ME 600: Study or Research in Selected ME Topics*
ME 601: Experimental Research in Mechanical Engineering*
ME 602: Guided Study in Mechanical Engineering*
ME 699: Master's Thesis
*requires special permission
Program Contacts
Rebekah Awood
