Graduate

The graduate programs of study in the Department of Mechanical Engineering lead to the degrees of Master of Science in Engineering, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy. Master of Science and Master of Engineering Degree Programs in Mechanical Engineering Graduate programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Engineering and Master of Engineering are offered. The objective of these programs is to enhance the student's professional skills through a deeper understanding of the principles of mechanical engineering and their applications. The Master of Science in Engineering degree requires a thesis and offers the opportunity for independent investigation and creative research. The Master of Engineering degree does not require a thesis, but requires nine more hours of course work than the Master of Science in Engineering program. Admission An applicant must have a baccalaureate degree in engineering from an accredited institution and a minimum score of 600 on the Quantitative Section of the GRE General (aptitude) Test. Applicants must also satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. All applicants from non-English speaking countries who have not received B.S. degrees from U.S. universities must demonstrate English proficiency by scoring at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 550 on the paper exam. An undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 is normally required. However, a student who does not satisfy this requirement but has at least a 3.0 grade-point average in his or her major field may be admitted on probation at the discretion of the Graduate School. Probationary status is removed by completing nine hours of approved graduate study with a 3.0 grade-point average within a specified time period. General Requirements All courses taken for graduate credit in these programs shall be selected from those listed in this bulletin and the choices are subject to the approval of the advisors. Curriculum Requirements *Master of Science in Engineering Thesis Program* Minimum semester hours in Mechanical Engineering, excluding thesis: 12 hours Minimum semester hours outside Mechanical Engineering: 6 hours Semester hours of thesis: 6 hours Minimum semester hours of at least 7000-level courses (excluding thesis), including one graduate-level Thermal/Fluids course and one Solid Mechanics course: 15 hours Minimum semester hours of 6000-level or 7000-level Mathematics: 3 hours Maximum semester hours of approved 6000-level courses: 9 hours Maximum semester hours of independent study: 3 hours Minimum total hours: 30 hours Upon completion of the thesis, the student must pass a comprehensive oral examination. After consulting with the student, the advisor recommends, for the Graduate Dean's approval, an oral examination committee consisting of the advisor and two other graduate faculty members. At least one member of this committee must be from outside the Mechanical Engineering faculty and may be a qualified expert in the research area from outside the University. The comprehensive oral examination covers the student's entire graduate program with emphasis on the research work and content of the thesis. *Master of Engineering Non-Thesis Program* Minimum semester hours in Mechanical Engineering: 18 hours Minimum semester hours outside Mechanical Engineering: 9 hours Minimum semester hours of at least 7000 level including one graduate-level Thermal/Fluids course and one Solid Mechanics course: 21 hours Minimum semester hours of 6000-level or 7000-level Mathematics: 3 hours Maximum semester hours of approved 6000-level courses: 12 hours Maximum semester hours of independent study: 3 hours Maximum semester hours of project and report: 6 hours Minimum total hours: 33 hours Ph.D. Program The principal objectives of the Ph.D. program are to provide students an opportunity to reach a thorough understanding of the scientific and engineering principles underlying their fields of interest, to develop the ability to apply these principles creatively to engineering problems, and to develop research skills. Admission Applicants are selected for admission to the Ph.D. program on a competitive basis. The number of qualified applicants selected each year depends on the number of students already in the program. Qualified applicants must meet the minimum requirements: An applicant must have a baccalaureate or master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution. A student without a master's degree must meet the requirements for admission to the master's program. Qualification for the Ph.D. program requires at least a 3.5 grade-point average in the first 30 hours of graduate work and approval of the graduate faculty in the department and the Graduate Dean. All applicants must take the General Tests of the Graduate Record Examination prior to admission. Applicants must make a minimum combined (quantitative and verbal) score of 1100, with a minimum quantitative score of 700. All applicants from non-English speaking countries who have not received B.S. degrees from U.S. universities must demonstrate English proficiency by scoring at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 550 on the paper exam. Applicants are selected for admission on March 1 and November 1. Curriculum Requirements Minimum total semester hours of graduate credit above the baccalaureate level including at least one Thermal/Fluid course at 7000 level or above and one Solid Mechanics course at 7000 level or above: 72 hours Minimum semester hours of research and dissertation (including master's degree thesis): 24 hours Minimum semester hours of graduate course work and independent study distributed as follows: 42 hours Minimum semester hours in Mechanical Engineering: 24 hours Minimum semester hours outside Mechanical Engineering including 6 semester hours of 6000-level or 7000-level Mathematics: 12 hours Maximum semester hours of independent study: 6 hours Maximum semester hours of 6000-level courses: 15 hours Students may be required to complete prerequisite undergraduate courses without graduate credit, resulting in a program of more than 72 semester hours. Not more than 12 hours of transfer credit beyond the master's degree from an accredited institution may be counted toward the course requirements and must be approved by the mechanical engineering graduate coordinator. Other Requirements Language and Residence. There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. At least two consecutive semesters in residence at The University of Tulsa as a full-time student are required. Advisory Committee. Students in the Ph.D. program will be advised initially by the mechanical engineering graduate coordinator. The student should select a general research area and a research advisor or co-advisors for the dissertation within two semesters following enrollment in the program. The advisor or co-advisors, after consultation with the student, recommend the other members of the advisory committee to the Graduate Dean. The advisory committee must have at least four graduate faculty members, two of whom must be from outside the discipline of concentration, and one of whom may be a qualified expert in the research area from outside the university. The student must present a research proposal for approval by the advisory committee before completion of the second year of study. The advisory committee approves the rest of the student's course work, reviews progress, approves program changes and the dissertation topic, recommends the student for candidacy upon completion of requirements, and administers the final dissertation oral examination. *Qualifying Examinations.* A student must take a qualifying examination during the semester after completing nine hours toward the Ph.D. degree. If the student fails the examination, it can be taken a second time in the following semester. Examinations are given each year during the fall and spring semesters and are administered by the mechanical engineering graduate program advisor. The Mechanical Engineering graduate faculty determine whether a student passes or fails the qualifying examinations. *Candidacy. A student must apply for candidacy after a minimum of 45 hours of course work have been successfully completed, the qualifying examination has been passed, and the research proposal has been approved. Dissertation. Each candidate must write a dissertation on the results of his/her research. The dissertation must demonstrate the candidate's abilities to independently investigate the area of interest and must contribute to some field of science or engineering. The dissertation must follow the Graduate School's recommended procedures for submission to the student's advisory committee, and before final typing or reproduction must be presented to the full advisory committee for examination and review. The dissertation must be microfilmed and published in Dissertation Abstracts. The dissertation is graded on a pass-fail basis. Final Oral Examination*. Each candidate must pass a final oral examination before the advisory committee. The examination will consist of a public defense of the dissertation, the general field of the dissertation, and other parts of the program selected by the committee. The advisory committee recommends the candidate to the Graduate Dean for the Ph.D. degree upon successful completion of the final oral examination and acceptance of the dissertation. Passing grades must be obtained in all the dissertation hours to fulfill degree requirements. Graduate School ME Graduate Program Summary (pdf) Program of Study Work Sheet for MS Program (pdf) Program of Study Work Sheet for PhD Program (pdf) TU University Policies Description of ME courses and TU Bulletins Schedule of courses and Academic calendar Web advisor and WebCT Office of Student Affairs TU Career Services (Golden OpporTUnities) More Links ...