Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

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The MS program in Mechanical Engineering is designed to provide the student with advanced technical knowledge beyond what is offered in a Bachelor's program, and offers some exposure to research at the cutting edge of today's technology. The MS program requires at least three quarters of course work and the completion of a thesis on a research topic. Students typically complete the MS program in 12-18 months.

The MS program has two options: the thesis option and the non-thesis option for terminal MS degree.

Thesis option requirements

All students receiving departmental support-TAs, RAs, any fellowships - must take this option.

Course Requirements:

  • Number of courses: Nine course units are required, excluding project units.

  • Breadth: Students must take at least one course each from four of the seven subareas: (1) Solids, (2) Fluids, (3) Dynamics/Controls, (4) Design/Manufacturing/Tribology, (5) MEMS/Nanotechnology, (6) Biomedical/Biology, and (7) Mathematics/Sciences. The following courses are suggested:
Solids: CE 415 or ME 362, ME 365, ME 466, CE 417-1, CE 417-2, 317, 318, 426-1 and ME 426-2
Fluids: ME 425, ME 426, ME 427
Dynamics/Control: ME 314, 391, 460
Design/
Manufacturing/
Tribology:		 ME 319, 320, 346, 439, 442, 443, 446,
MEMS/
Nanotechnology:		 ME381, ME385, ME451, ME453, ME 317 and ME 318
Biomedical/biology: to be decided
Mathematics/
Sciences:		 to be decided

  • Level: A minimum of 4 course units (excluding project units) must be 400-level.
  • ME courses: A minimum of 5 course units must be ME courses.
  • Seminar: Registration for the non-credit ME512 Seminar is required for all quarters. 
  • Approval: Students must obtain approval from their advisor for all courses in advance and submit a signed course form each quarter to the ME graduate program assistant before registration.

Research

Three credit units of ME 590 are required in which a suitable thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor must be completed and defended.

Residency

Three quarters of full-time registration (3-4 courses or project units per quarter) are required.

Admission to Candidacy for the MS degree

A student is admitted to candidacy for the Master's degree upon recommendation of the Mechanical Engineering Department when the student is enrolled in the final quarter of coursework.  The student must at that time submit an application which includes a list of all coursework for the degree and is signed by the student's advisor. The application form can be obtained from the ME graduate program assistant.

Master's Thesis and Examination

The Mechanical Engineering Department requires a written thesis to be approved at a final examination.  The final examination shall include a presentation by the student of the thesis material and examination by the Examining Committee.  The Examining Committee is comprised of at least two full-time members of the Northwestern University faculty, and at lease one of them must also be a member of the Graduate Faculty. Coursework and core courses must be filled out on the "ME MS Degree Requirement" form, signed by the advisor and by the Graduate Studies Chair.  This form must be presented at the time of final examination.  Upon successful completion of the final examination, the Examining  Committee signs the Report of Committee on Examination of Candidate for a Master's Degree, which is then submitted to the Graduate School.

MS thesis

The thesis should be based on original research that is of publishable quality and should have a quantity of material equivalent to at least one journal paper. It should be prepared according to the Graduate School format for PhD dissertations.

Non-thesis option requirements

For terminal MS degree only

Course Requirements:

Number of courses: Eleven course units are required, not including project units.

Breadth: Students must take at least one course each from four of the seven subareas: (1) Solids, (2) Fluids, (3) Dynamics/Controls, (4) Design/Manufacturing/Tribology, (5) MEMS/Nanotechnology, (6) Biomedical/Biology, and (7) Mathematics/Sciences. The following courses are suggested: 

Solids: CE 415 or ME 362, ME 365, ME 466, CE 417-1, CE 417-2, 317, 318, 426-1 and ME 426-2
Fluids: ME 425, ME 426, ME 427
Dynamics/Control:  ME 314, 391, 460
Design/
Manufacturing/
Tribology:		 ME 319, 320, 346, 439, 442, 443, 446,
MEMS/
Nanotechnology:		 ME381, ME385, ME451, ME453, ME 317 and ME 318
Biomedical/biology: to be decided
Mathematics/
Sciences:		 to be decided

Level: A minimum of 5 course units (excluding project units) must be 400-level.

ME courses: A minimum of 9 course units must be ME courses.

Seminar: Registration for the non-credit ME512 Seminar is required for all quarters. 

Approval: Students must obtain approval from their advisor for all courses in advance and submit a signed course form each quarter to the ME graduate program assistant before registration.

Project

One credit unit of ME 499 or an approved project course is required in which a suitable research project under the direction of a faculty advisor must be completed.

Admission to Candidacy for the MS degree

A student is admitted to candidacy for the Master's degree upon recommendation of the Mechanical Engineering Department when the student is enrolled in the final quarter of coursework.  The student must at that time submit an application, which includes a list of all coursework for the degree and must be signed by the student's advisor. The application form can be obtained from the ME graduate program assistant.