As a discipline, mechanical engineering encompasses concepts and technologies with the power to transform the futures of organizations and industries. The curriculum in the online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program prepares engineers to lead those changes by covering a variety of fields and topics including fluid mechanics, energy, dynamics and control, robotics, additive manufacturing, biomechanics, autonomous vehicles, and thermodynamics.
In this rigorous and mathematically intensive online curriculum, engineers apply analytical methods to complex problems and identify ways to improve industrial processes. Online students may prepare for the quantitative demands of the rest of the program by first completing ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis.
8 Focus Areas
Specialize in high-demand areas of mechanical engineering roles with one of eight focus areas.
Choose from the following tracks:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Computational Modeling
- Controls
- Energy
- Mechanics, Dynamics, and Manufacturing
- Thermal Fluids Science and Engineering
Explore our full list of course descriptions and other curriculum information below.
Inside the Curriculum
Learn about the degree plan, specialization options and how the coursework can benefit your career. Watch the program overview now.
Online M.S. in Mechanical Engineering Program Requirements
- Total credit requirement: 30 credits
- A maximum of 9 credits at the 400 level
- A minimum of 21 credits at the 800 level or above
- A maximum of 4 independent credits (total from ME 490 and/or ME 990)
- A maximum of half (15 credits) of course credits outside of Mechanical Engineering
- Online Mechanical Engineering students must also complete one course from each of the following three areas:
- Fluid-Thermal Science and Engineering
- ME 810 Advanced Classical Thermodynamics
- ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer
- ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
- ME 819 Combustion
- ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
- ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
- ME 872 Finite Element Method
- Dynamic Systems and Control
- ME 851 Linear Systems and Control
- ME 860 Theory of Vibrations
- ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
- Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing and Biomechanics
- ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
- ME 821 Linear Elasticity
- ME 872 Finite Element Method
“In online ME820: Continuum Mechanics, students get a fundamental understanding of vector and tensor analysis as applied to solid and fluid mechanics, allowing for a more in-depth and accurate interpretation of mechanical design and material characterization. To overcome the limitations of an asynchronous online format, regular and extra Zoom sessions were provided to assist students’ ongoing learning and engagement. In addition, thorough feedback on assignments, quizzes, and tests was supplied to assist students in identifying and correcting errors, so strengthening their mathematical reasoning and mechanical analysis skills.”
Seungik Baek
Associate Professor
Seungik Baek
Associate Professor
Suggested Course Progression
Note: Class schedules may be subject to change depending on enrollment and instructor availability.
Advanced Manufacturing
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
ME 821 Linear Elasticity
ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics or ME 491 Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineering
YEAR 2
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer or ME 851 Linear Systems and Control
ME 874 Analysis of Metal Forming and Manufacturing Processes
ME 874 Analysis of Metal Forming and Manufacturing Processes
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations
Aerospace
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis or ME 851 Linear Systems and Controls
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer or ME 819 Combustion
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer or ME 819 Combustion
ME 810 Advanced Classical Thermodynamics
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
YEAR 2
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations (breadth)
Automotive
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis or ME 851 Linear Systems and Controls or ECE 821 Advanced Power Electronics and Applications
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer
ME 810 Advanced Classical Thermodynamics
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluids Dynamics
YEAR 2
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer
ME 819 Combustion
ME 819 Combustion
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations (breadth)
Computational Modeling
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics or ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics or ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
ME 821 Linear Elasticity
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluids Dynamics
YEAR 2
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
ME 417 Design of Energy Systems or ME 491 Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineering
Controls
YEAR 1
ME 851 Linear Systems and Control
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis or ECE 821 Advanced Power Electronics and Applications
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis or ECE 821 Advanced Power Electronics and Applications
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ECE 818 Robotics
ECE 818 Robotics
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations
YEAR 2
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer (breadth)
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer (breadth)
ME 859 Nonlinear Control
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 433 Introduction to Fluid Dynamics or ME 491 Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineering
Energy
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer or ME 819 Combustion
ME 812 Conductive Heat Transfer or ME 819 Combustion
ME 810 Advanced Classical Thermodynamics
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 417 Design of Energy Systems (required)(also offered in Spring)
YEAR 2
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 834 Fundamentals of Turbulence or ME 819 Combustion
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 821 Linear Elasticity (breadth)
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations (breadth)
Mechanics, Dynamics, and Manufacturing
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
ME 820 Continuum Mechanics
ME 821 Linear Elasticity
ME 810 Advanced Thermodynamics
ME 810 Advanced Thermodynamics
ME 860 Theory of Vibrations
YEAR 2
ME 823 Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue
ME 851 Linear Systems and Control
ME 874 Analysis of Metal Forming and Manufacturing Processes
ME 851 Linear Systems and Control
ME 874 Analysis of Metal Forming and Manufacturing Processes
ME 861 Advanced Dynamics
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ME 872 Finite Element Method
ME 417 Design of Alternative Energy Systems
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
Thermal Fluids Science and Engineering
YEAR 1
ME 800 Mechanical Engineering Analysis
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 812 Conduction Heat Transfer
ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I or ME 812 Conduction Heat Transfer
ME 810 Advanced Thermodynamics
ME 814 Convection Heat Transfer
ME 814 Convection Heat Transfer
ME 417 Design of Alternative Energy Systems or ME 433 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
YEAR 2
ME 812 Conduction Heat Transfer or ME 830 Fluid Mechanics I
ME 819 Combustion
ME 819 Combustion
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
ME 821 Linear Elasticity
ME 821 Linear Elasticity
ME 860 Theory of Vibration
Graduate Mechanical Engineering Course Descriptions
Note: Not all courses are available every semester. Contact an Enrollment Specialist for more information on course availability and to discuss your desired academic plan.
Robot modeling, kinematics, dynamics, trajectory planning, sensors, controller design, motion planning.
Power semiconductor devices, circuits, control, and applications. Converter and inverter analysis and design, DSP (Digital Signal Processor) control and implementation. Automotive and utility applications.
Analysis of alternative energy systems, including ocean, wind, fuel cells, solar, and nuclear. Predictive models for the systems. Design studies.
Theory and application of finite difference and finite volume methods to selected fluid mechanics and heat transfer problems developed based on Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. Application of commercial software to computational fluid dynamics problems.
This course has been particularly designed to serve as an exciting transition and advancement of ME 391: Engineering Analysis to data-driven mechanical engineering using machine learning with emphasis on Python coding. Therefore, ME 491: Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineers will be a suitable fusion of the theory and practice of machine learning for the purpose of broadening students’ capabilities in targeting data-driven engineering problems through the following two distinguished parts:
Part I: The first part provides a transition from engineering analysis to data-driven modeling by introducing computational linear algebra, data decomposition techniques, and transform methods applied to complex mechanical engineering problems where analytical solutions are limited.
Part II: The second part focuses on statistical and machine learning methods, including regression, classification, clustering, and neural networks, with hands-on applications to thermo-fluids, dynamical systems, control, and solid mechanics.
Use of analytical methods of mathematics in engineering applications. Applications of partial differential equations to thermal-fluid and vibration problems, vector calculus and tensor analysis in fluid and solid mechanics, and analytical function theory in mechanics.
Postulational treatment of the laws of thermodynamics. Equilibrium and maximum entropy postulates. Principles for general systems.
Theory of steady and unsteady heat conduction. Derivation of describing equations and boundary conditions. Numerical methods. Nonlinear problems.
Analysis of convective transfer of heat, mass and momentum in boundary layers and ducts. Thermal instability. Free convection.
Thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Multicomponent systems. Premixed and diffusion flames. Flame radiation.
Mathematical tools of continuum mechanics, stress principles, kinematics of deformation and motion, fundamental laws and equations. Applications in linear elasticity and classical fluids.
Fundamentals of isotropic linear elasticity. Solution of plane elasticity problems. St. Venant bending and torsion. Singular solutions. Basic three-dimensional solutions.
Fundamentals of isotropic linear elasticity. Brittle and ductile fracture. Elastic stress fields near cracks. Elastic-plastic analysis of crack extension. Plastic instability. Cyclic crack propagation. Models of cyclic deformation and fatigue failure. Environmental effects. Case studies. Fracture behavior of thin films.
Integral and differential conservation laws, Navier-Stokes’ equations, and exact solutions. Laminar boundary layer theory, similarity solutions, and approximate methods. Thermal effects and instability phenomena.
Statistical descriptions of turbulent flows: isotropic, free shear and wall bounded. Correlation and spectral descriptions. Conditional probabilities and coherent motions. Experimental methods. Scaling relationships.
Theory and application of finite difference and finite volume methods to selected fluid mechanics and heat transfer models including the full potential flow model, the systems of Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, and turbulence. Grid generation techniques.
State models and their stability, controllability, and observability properties. Finding minimal realizations of transfer functions. Design of state and output feedback controllers. Design of state observers. LQ regulator and the Kalman filter. Time-varying systems.
Second-order systems and fundamental properties of solutions. Lyapunov stability, input-output stability, passivity, absolute stability, and linearization. Design of feedback controllers using integral control, feedback linearization, sliding mode control, Lyapunov redesign, passivity-based control, and recursive methods. Applications to electrical and mechanical systems.
Discrete systems and continua. Analytical mechanics. Variational principles. Modal analysis. Function spaces. Eigenfunction expansions. Integral transforms. Stability. Approximations. Perturbations.
Dynamics of systems of particles and rigid bodies. Energy and momentum principles. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods. Euler angles. Applications in system dynamics and vibrations.
Theory and application of the finite element method to the solution of continuum type problems in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and stress analysis.
Review of fundamental knowledge in mechanics, materials and numerical analysis. Modeling, simulation and analysis of metal forming and manufacturing processes.
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