MIME Home | degree | graduate

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering program at Oregon State University offers Master of Science (MSME) degrees in a variety of specialty areas, including thermal–fluid sciences, dynamics, controls, design, mechanics, and materials engineering. MSME studies at OSU can be tailored to meet both broad and highly specialized interests, can involve applied or fundamental research, and can prepare students for employment in an industrial environment or for higher levels of academic study. In addition to formal course work, individual projects and/or research may constitute a significant part of an MSME candidate’s graduate program.

University-wide requirements for earning a Master's degree at Oregon State are detailed on the Graduate School Web site and in the Graduate Student Information section of the OSU Catalog. Procedures specific to the MSME graduate program are described below.

  1. Program of Study. Before the end of their second term, MSME students must file an official program of study with the OSU Graduate School. This document must be approved by the student's major professor, the MIME school head, and the dean of the Graduate School. In addition to meeting the requirements listed below, the various components of the proposed plan of study must form a coherent program. All entering MSME students are assigned an advisor who assists them in designing their program of study.


  2. Undergraduate Background. MSME candidates are expected to have completed formal undergraduate course work in each of the following areas:


    • technical communications
    • engineering mechanics
    • electrical fundamentals
    • thermodynamics
    • metallurgy and materials
    • fluid mechanics
    • heat transfer
    • mechanical laboratory
    • design engineering
    MSME candidates who have not taken undergraduate courses in these areas through an accredited U.S. Mechanical Engineering program may be required to complete undergraduate coursework here at OSU in addition to their graduate-level coursework.
  3. Minimum Number of Credits. MSME degree candidates must complete a minimum of 45 hours of graduate credit. For an MSME thesis, these include 12 credits of Thesis (ME 503) and a minimum of 30 credits of coursework. For an MSME project, these include 6 credits of Projects (ME 506) and a minimum of 39 credits of coursework. Effective Fall 2005, at least 50% of the coursework in all programs of graduate study must comprise stand-alone graduate courses (500 level or above). The remaining credits may include the 500 component of 400/500-level courses.

  4. Core Course Requirements. Students should follow the core curriculum from one of the specializations listed below.
  5. DESIGN

    Three courses from:

    ME 511
    CAD/CAM III

    ME 512
    Kinematic Design of Linkages

    ME 515
    Risk and Reliability in Design

    ME 516
    Complex System Design

    ME 517
    Optimization in Design

    ME 518
    Concurrent Design


    IE 536 Lean Systems Engineering

    MECHANICS

    18 total credits from:

    ME 520
    Applied Stress Analysis

    ME 522
    Mechanical Vibrations

    ME 523
    Advanced Stress Analysis

    ME 524
    Finite Element Modeling Of Mechanical Engineering Systems

    ME 529
    Selected Topics In Mechanics

    ME 533
    Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis

    ME 535,536
    Advanced Dynamics

    ME 553
    Structure and Mechanics Laboratory

    ME 560
    Intermediate Fluid Mechanics

    ME 584
    Fracture of Materials

    BioE 550
    Biomechanics

    CE 532
    Finite Element Analysis

    CE 533
    Structural Stability

    CE 534
    Structural Dynamics

    CE 535
    Introduction To Random Vibrations

    CE 585
    Matrix Structural Analysis

    DYNAMICS AND CONTROL

    Four courses from:

    ME 531
    Linear Control Systems I

    ME 532
    Linear Control Systems II

    ME 533
    Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis

    ME 534
    Nonlinear Control Systems

    ME 535
    Advanced Dynamics

    ME 537
    Learning-Based Control

    ME 538
    Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems


    ME 575
    Numerical Methods For Engineering Analysis

    THERMAL FLUID SCIENCES

    Required Courses:

    ME 560
    Intermediate Fluid Mechanics

    ME 546
    Convection Heat Transfer

    ME 575
    Numerical Methods For Engineering Analysis

    ME 552
    Instrumentation


    EITHER

    ME 565 Incompressible Fluid Mechanics

    OR

    ME 566
    Viscous Flow


    EITHER

    ME 547 Conduction

    OR

    ME 548
    Radiation

    PLUS

    ME 508
    TFS Seminar

    MATERIALS

    Required Courses:

    ME 581
    Thermodynamics Of Solids

    ME 582
    Rate Processes In Materials

    ME 584
    Fracture Of Materials

    ME 520
    Applied Stress Analysis

    ME 553
    Structure and Mechanics Laboratory


  6. MSME Degree Options. When formulating their program of study, MSME students must select one of three degree options: thesis, project, or independent study.
    • With the thesis option, students may apply up to 12 hours of ME 503 (Thesis) toward their MSME credit requirement.  Students may pursue this option only after reaching mutual agreement with a faculty member on a suitable thesis topic.


    • With the project option, students may include up to 6 credits of ME 506 (Projects). As with the thesis option, mutual agreement must be reached with a faculty member who will direct the work.


    • Students who choose the independent study option must complete 9 months of engineering practice beyond their BS degree, and get approval from the ME graduate program committee when submitting their program of study form. Three credits of ME 502 (Independent Study) must also be included in the program, and a written report must be submitted to the directing faculty member by the end of the program of study.  Note: Students who choose the Independent Study option are not eligible for a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) appointment.

  1. Final Oral Examination. A final oral examination is required of every MSME candidate. The examining committee consists of at least four faculty members: the student’s major professor, another ME faculty member, a faculty representative from a field not directly connected with the candidate's studies, and a non-ME OSU faculty member who serves as the Graduate Council representative.

Additional information may be found in the MS Degree Checklist.