Mechanical Engineering, MSME

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Program Description:

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering offers a program of graduate study leading to a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) degree with a major in mechanical engineering. The M.S.E. program is broad in scope and emphasizes portable concepts in the design and analysis of complex physical systems using modeling, synthesis, and optimization techniques, and bridges interdisciplinary engineering areas such as controls, robotics, electronics, and communications. A Ph.D. in engineering with an emphasis in mechanical engineering disciplines is also available. For details, see Engineering Ph.D. program.

Admissions Requirements:

To be considered for admission to the M.S.E. mechanical program, students must first satisfy basic requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. This includes having a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related area with an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) or an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 with an average of 3.0 or better for the last 90 quarter hours (60 semester hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree. International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 79(IBT)/ 213(CBT)/ 550(PBT). In addition, the program requires students from non-ABET accredited undergraduate programs to submit general GRE test scores. Program admission decisions are based on complete application information including overall academic performance and standardized tests scores where applicable.

Program Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this program, the graduate will be able to:

Outcome 1. Demonstrate engineering competency in one of two concentration areas: mechanics or thermofluids 

Outcome 2. Apply advanced engineering analysis techniques to the solution of complex problems 

Outcome 3. Articulate the results of complex engineering problems in written or oral form. Direct assessment: class final exams collected, 3 data points and/or thesis/papers/project reports. Indirect assessment: MS exit survey 

For additional information:

• Mechanical Engineering, MSME
• Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• College of Engineering and Computer Science

Design Concentration

Program Requirements:

Students should plan a program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor. The program of study should be finalized by the time the student completes nine (9) semester credit hours of graduate study.

The following requirements must be met for the Master of Science in Engineering degree:

1. Completion of 30 graduate credit hours in courses that have prior approval by an engineering graduate advisor.
2. At least 24 of the 30 graduate credit hours must be in engineering or computer engineering courses, and at least 18 of these must be engineering courses.
3. At least 18 of the above 24 credit hours must be courses numbered above 7000.
4. The program of study must include MTH 5040 - Advanced Engineering Mathematics.
5. Students must choose either a thesis option or an advanced coursework option. For students choosing the thesis option, nine (9) credit hours of ME 7950 - Thesis are required and will count toward the degree requirements outlined above in items 2 and 3. Students employed as teaching or research assistants through the School of Graduate Studies at any time during their degree candidacy must choose the thesis option.
6. Students who elect the non-thesis option must take graduate courses at the 7000 level from an approved list to replace thesis credits. Students have the option of taking up to three (3) credits of independent studyME 7990.

DEPT. CORE AND ELECTIVES

I. CORE COURSES

Mechanics

• ME 7100 - Advanced Mechanics of Solids Credit Hour(s): 3

Also must choose two (2) courses from the list below: 6 Hours

• ME 7210 - Computational Methods for Structural Dynamics Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7060 - Structural Reliability Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7080 - Multidisciplinary Structural Optimization Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7120 - Finite Element Method Applications Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7150 - Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7130 - Mechanics of Electronic Packaging Credit Hour(s): 3

II. MATH COURSE: 3 HOURS

• MTH 6050 - Advanced Engineering Mathematics Credit Hour(s): 3

III. ELECTIVE COURSES: 9 HOURS

Elective courses at the graduate level.

IV. THESIS OR NON-THESIS OPTION: 9 HOURS

Thesis Option

• ME 7950 - Thesis Credit Hour(s): 1 to 12

Non-Thesis Option

• Additional 7000-level courses

Note(s):

Students who elect to do the non-thesis option must take graduate courses at the 7000-level from an approved list to replace thesis credits. Students have the option of taking up to three (3) credits of independent study ME 7990.

TOTAL: 30 HOURS

RESEARCH/AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Research in mechanical engineering spans several exciting areas. There is a large program in design optimization addressing large structures, die-shapes, flight trajectories, and other applications. Work is also being done in structural dynamics areas including vehicle suspensions and turbine blades. Mechanical design studies include the characterization of carbon-carbon composites. Fluid dynamics research is being conducted both experimentally and via computer computation (CFD). Projects include the study of flows in turbine engines and reciprocating compressors. There is also a large thermal science program in the analysis and application of heat pipes and related devices.

Research at Wright State is not limited to the laboratory facilities on campus. Several industrial companies, laboratories, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are involved in joint research efforts with the university and have unique facilities that are available for faculty and graduate research.

Graduate students have access to a wide range of modern facilities including classrooms, laboratories, and computer systems interconnected by local and wide-area communication networks. Computational facilities include numerous PC clusters, workstations, X-windowing terminals, and personal computers.

Thermal Fluids Concentration

Program Requirements:

Students should plan a program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor. The program of study should be finalized by the time the student completes nine (9) semester credit hours of graduate study.

The following requirements must be met for the Master of Science in Engineering degree:

1. Completion of 30 graduate credit hours in courses that have prior approval by an engineering graduate advisor.
2. At least 24 of the 30 graduate credit hours must be in engineering or computer engineering courses, and at least 18 of these must be engineering courses.
3. At least 18 of the above 24 credit hours must be courses numbered above 7000.
4. The program of study must include MTH 5040 - Advanced Engineering Mathematics.
5. Students must choose either a thesis option or an advanced coursework option. For students choosing the thesis option, nine (9) credit hours of ME 7950 - Thesis are required and will count toward the degree requirements outlined above in items 2 and 3. Students employed as teaching or research assistants through the School of Graduate Studies at any time during their degree candidacy must choose the thesis option.
6. Students who elect the non-thesis option must take graduate courses at the 7000 level from an approved list to replace thesis credits. Students have the option of taking up to three (3) credits of independent study ME 7990.

DEPT. CORE AND ELECTIVES

I. CORE COURSES

Thermofluids: 9 Hours

• ME 7500 - Advanced Thermodynamics Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7520 - Hydrogen Energy Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7530 - Exergy Based Analysis and Design Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7300 - Advanced Fluid Dynamics Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7330 - Convective Heat & Mass Transfer Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7340 - Computational Fluid Dynamics Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7550 - Photovoltaics Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7350 - Radiation Heat Transfer Credit Hour(s): 3
• ME 7400 - Hypersonic Flows Credit Hour(s): 3

II. MATH COURSE: 3 HOURS

• MTH 6050 - Advanced Engineering Mathematics Credit Hour(s): 3

III. ELECTIVE COURSES: 9 HOURS

• Elective courses at the graduate level.

IV. THESIS OR NON-THESIS OPTION: 9 HOURS

Thesis Option

• ME 7950 - Thesis Credit Hour(s): 1 to 12

Non-Thesis Option

• Additional 7000-level courses

Note(s):

Students who elect to do the non-thesis option must take graduate courses at the 7000 level from an approved list to replace thesis credits. Students have the option of taking up to three (3) credits of independent study ME 7990.

TOTAL: 30 HOURS

RESEARCH/AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Research in mechanical engineering spans several exciting areas. There is a large program in design optimization addressing large structures, die-shapes, flight trajectories, and other applications. Work is also being done in structural dynamics areas including vehicle suspensions and turbine blades. Mechanical design studies include the characterization of carbon-carbon composites. Fluid dynamics research is being conducted both experimentally and via computer computation (CFD). Projects include the study of flows in turbine engines and reciprocating compressors. There is also a large thermal science program in the analysis and application of heat pipes and related devices.

Research at Wright State is not limited to the laboratory facilities on campus. Several industrial companies, laboratories, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are involved in joint research efforts with the university and have unique facilities that are available for faculty and graduate research.

Graduate students have access to a wide range of modern facilities including classrooms, laboratories, and computer systems interconnected by local and wide-area communication networks. Computational facilities include numerous PC clusters, workstations, X-windowing terminals, and personal computers.