The M.S. in Engineering with an Emphasis in Mechanical Engineering degree provides specialized expertise in mechanical engineering by providing a rigorous curriculum and innovative research in three distinctive areas: Design, Optimization and Manufacturing; Energy, Fluid and Thermal Systems; and Mechanics and Materials. The M.S. thesis program offers students the opportunity to conduct state-of-the-art research in a number of areas of pressing societal concern. The M.S. non-thesis program offers students added professional training through added coursework and engineering M.S. project completion.

The Design, Optimization and Manufacturing option provides a basis of study in product design and the process for building those products. The Energy, Fluid and Thermal Systems provides a basis for study of diverse topics such as energy or fluid power systems. Finally, the Mechanics and Materials provides the student with insight into methods for analyzing new materials and systems and how new products and technologies use these materials.

Admission to the Emphasis

• M.S. requirements

Program of Study

Thesis Option

The thesis option is provided for students wishing to receive professional training via coursework integrated with research training through the successful completion of a thesis. The M.S. in Engineering with an Emphasis in Mechanical Engineering under a thesis option requires a minimum of 33 semester hours in the Program of Study, which consists of:

• A minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework, which must include:
  • 23 hours of graduate-level coursework, including
    • 9 hours selected from one of the Mechanical Engineering Emphasis course lists.
    • 12 hours from UGA courses open only to graduate students and exclusive of thesis (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis) and research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research, and ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).
  • 1 hour of ENGR 8950, Graduate Seminar*
• A minimum of 6 hours of master’s research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research) or project-based research (ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research). A typical student’s research hours will exceed this minimum; however, at most 6 hours of ENGR 7000 or ENGR 7010 may be listed on the program of study.
• 3 hours of thesis preparation and writing (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis)

* Only 1 hour of Graduate Seminar may apply on the program of study. Students are strongly encouraged to continue regular attendance at speaker series presentations even if not formally registered in the seminar.

In the MS Thesis Option, all coursework is selected consistent with specific degree and emphasis area requirements in coordination with the Student’s Faculty Advisor and approved by the student’s Advisory Committee on the Program of Study. To receive the M.S. degree, each student is required to present a satisfactory research proposal approved by the student’s advisory committee and the graduate coordinator and pass a final examination and defense of the research thesis.

Non-thesis option

The non-thesis option for M.S. in Engineering degree is available for students who wish to emphasize professional training without performing a research-based thesis. This degree option is suitable for students who are interested in engineering as a second major, undergraduates currently enrolled in double dawgs pathway, mid-career professionals, non-traditional students who are currently employed in engineering-related professions. The M.S. in Engineering with Mechanical Engineering Emphasis under a non-thesis option requires a minimum of 33 semester hours in the Program of Study, which consists of:

• A minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework, which must include:
  • 27 hours of graduate-level coursework, including
    • 15 hours selected from one of the Mechanical Engineering Emphasis course lists.
    • 12 hours from UGA courses open only to graduate students and exclusive of thesis (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis) and research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research, and ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).
  • 1 hour of ENGR 8950, Graduate Seminar*
• 3 hours of project-based research (ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).

For the M.S. non-thesis option, the program of study will include course work that is consistent with specific degree and emphasis area requirements that is approved by the program’s Graduate Director (Dr. XQ Wang). Each student is required to complete a three-credit-hour Master’s project (ENGR 7010) under the supervision of the faculty project advisor. The student needs to identify an appropriate graduate faculty in his/her degree program to serve as faculty project advisor for his/her Master’s project. To receive the M.S. degree under the non-thesis option, each student should prepare a project plan at the beginning of his/her Master’s project for the faculty project advisor’s approval, then follow the project plan to successfully finish the Master’s project, and finally submit a written Master’s project report for the faculty project advisor’s approval.

Students elect their MS option at the start of their programs. In the event a student wishes to change their degree option during their program, the student must request a change in degree objective. Students successfully petitioning to change their previously elected MS option must 1) complete at least two full-time semesters in their new option before they are eligible for graduation, 2) adequately complete any prior work to which they committed or for which they were supported under assistantship in their prior option, and 3) after option change start and complete either the MS project requirement (ENGR 7010) or MS thesis research requirement (ENGR 7000/7010, 7300). Only students in the thesis option are eligible for the College assistantship support.

Completion of the M.S. requirements for all programs in the College of Engineering fulfill all requirements of the University of Georgia Graduate School. No grade below C will be accepted in the program of study. To be eligible for graduation, a student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on the graduate transcript and a 3.0 (B) average in the program of study.

Mechanical Engineering Emphasis Course List

As a requirement of the M.S. Engineering Degree with Emphasis in Mechanical Engineering, students with thesis option must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours selected from among the list below and work with their Faculty Advisor to select the most appropriate specialty area and coursework.  Students with non-thesis option must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours selected from among the list below and work with their program’s Graduate Director (Dr. XQ Wang) to select the most appropriate specialty area and coursework.

Design, Optimization, and Manufacturing

• BIOE 6720 Human Factors & Ergonomics in Biomedical Device Design
• CHEM 8880 Nanomaterials: Engineering and Characterization
• CVLE(MCHE)(LAND) 6660 Sustainable Building Design
• CVLE(MCHE) 8350 Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis
• CVLE(MCHE) 8640 Advanced Strength of Materials
• ELEE 6210 Linear Systems
• ELEE 6220 Feedback Control Systems
• ELEE 6230 Sensors and Transducers
• ELEE 6235 Industrial Control Systems
• ELEE 6260 Introduction to Nanoelectronics
• ELEE 6540 Applied Machine Vision
• ELEE 8220 Nonlinear Control Systems
• ELEE 8310 MEMS Design
• ENGR 6350 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
• ENGR 6670 Quality Engineering
• ENGR 6920 Theory of Design
• ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering
• ENGR 8130 Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering
• ENGR 8910 Foundations for Engineering Research
• ENVE 6550 Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
• ENVE 8450 Design for Rapid Change: Food, Energy, and Water
• INFO 6150 Engineering Informatics
• INFO 8750 Advance Programming for Data Mining
• MCHE 6360 Robotic Manipulators
• MCHE 6390 Advanced Mechanical Vibration
• MCHE 6430 Introduction to Tribology
• MCHE 6650 HVAC Systems for Buildings and Industry
• MCHE 6850 Advanced Manufacturing Processes
• MCHE 8380 Continuum Mechanics
• STAT 6315 Statistical Methods for Researchers

Energy, Fluid, and Thermal Systems

• CVLE(MCHE)(LAND) 6660 Sustainable Building Design
• CVLE(MCHE) 8160 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
• CVLE(MCHE) 8350 Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis
• CVLE(MCHE) 8640 Advanced Strength of Materials
• ENGR 6350 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
• ENGR 6490 Renewable Energy Engineering
• ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering
• ENGR 8130 Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering
• ENGR 8180 Advanced Mass Transfer
• ENGR 8220 Microfluidic Transport Phenomena
• ENGR 8910 Foundations for Engineering Research
• ENVE 6230 Energy in Nature, Civilization & Engineering
• ENVE 6250 Energy Systems & the Environment
• ENVE 6530 Energy & Environmental Policy Analysis
• ENVE 6550 Environmental Life Cycle Analysis
• ENVE 8450 Design for Rapid Change: Food, Energy, and Water
• MCHE 6500 Advanced Thermal Fluid Systems
• MCHE 6530 Combustion and Flames
• MCHE 6580 Computational Fluid Dynamics
• MCHE 6650 HVAC Systems for Buildings and Industry
• MCHE 6590 Fluid Mechanics II
• MCHE 8170 Advanced Heat Transfer
• MCHE 8250 Combustion Science
• MCHE 8380 Continuum Mechanics
• MCHE 8500 Technical Foundations of Energy for Policy Practitioners
• MCHE 8650 Aerosol Science and Engineering
• MCHE 8850 Gas Dynamics
• MIST 6550 Energy Informatics
• PHYS 6300 Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory
• PHYS 8301 Statistical Mechanics I
• STAT 6315 Statistical Methods for Researchers

Mechanics and Materials

• BIOE 6740 Biomaterials
• BIOE 6760 Biomechanics
• BIOE 8210 Multiscale Biomechanics
• BIOE 8490 Advanced Biomaterials
• CVLE(MCHE)(LAND) 6660 Sustainable Building Design
• CVLE(MCHE) 8160 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
• CVLE(MCHE) 8350 Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis
• CVLE(MCHE) 8640 Advanced Strength of Materials
• ENGR 6350 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
• ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering
• ENGR 8130 Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering
• ENGR 8270 Computational Nanomechanics
• MCHE 6380 Solid Mechanics
• MCHE 6390 Advanced Mechanical Vibrations
• MCHE 6430 Introduction to Tribology
• MCHE 6590 Fluid Mechanics II
• MCHE 6850 Advanced Manufacturing Processes
• MCHE 8380 Continuum Mechanics
• MCHE 8710 Engineering Properties of Animal and Plant Materials: Form and Function
• PHYS 8301 Statistical Mechanics I
• PHYS 8601 Computer Simulation Methods in Physics
• PHYS 8602 Computer Simulations of Materials
• STAT 6315 Statistical Methods for Researchers