College of Engineering and Technology
MS Mechanical Engineering
The masters of science in mechanical engineering (MSME)is a research oriented degree program that is administered by the Department of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Technology. The program has two focus areas of research – i) advanced energy systems: research includes sustainable and efficient energy systems, wind-energy, ocean wave energy generation and storage, energy harvesting, and energy transport and conversion processes, and ii) mechanics of biomaterials: research includes mechanical behavior of structural tissues, cellular materials, metals for medical implants and biological tissues. Students are prepared for employment in a variety of areas of industry and the program provides training and research experience for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD degree in mechanical engineering or related fields.
ECU MSME is a two-year program with a minimum of 32 semester hours of coursework and thesis. At least fourteen (14) semester hours of the coursework will come from the Department of Engineering, with an additional 6 semester hours of thesis credit and additional courses from the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Biostatistics and other disciplines as required to support the interests and research of individual students and faculty.
Required mechanical engineering courses include MENG 6000, MENG 6100, MENG 6220, MENG 6310, four MENG electives, and MENG 7000. One graduate level technical elective, approved by the program director, may be substituted for a MENG elective. In addition to the courses offered in the Department of Engineering, all students must complete one graduate level course in advanced mathematics. Contact program director for approved list of graduate courses offered outside of the Department of Engineering.
Application for admission to the graduate program in mechanical engineering must meet the general requirements of admission set forth by the Graduate School. Advanced, highly motivated undergraduate students, may apply to the integrated bachelor’s/master’s in mechanical engineering.
Applicants for study in mechanical engineering are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a minimum 3.0/4.0 grade point average in the last two years of undergraduate study. The following preparatory courses are recommended:
Applicants may be granted conditional admission if they do not qualify for regular admission. Students entering from disciplines other than engineering may find it necessary to take preparatory undergraduate and/or graduate level courses that serve as prerequisites. Preparatory courses that are for undergraduate credit only may not be applied toward credit hours required for a graduate degree.
This program will be initiated while undergraduates are completing the BS degree in engineering and is intended for outstanding engineering undergraduates who have worked with a thesis advisor during their undergraduate studies. For this program, graduate student course work will begin in the students’ fourth year of undergraduate study and be completed with one academic year of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. It is anticipated that a full year of study beyond completion of undergraduate engineering requirements will be required to complete this program. Engineering students may apply to the program after completion of a minimum of 80 eligible undergraduate credit hours, and can enter the program after completion of a minimum of 95 eligible undergraduate credit hours (a minimum of 128 credit hours is required for the bachelor of science in engineering degree). The minimum GPA at the time of admission and entry to the program is 3.5.
Students applying to the integrated bachelor’s/master’s in mechanical engineering program will go through the regular graduate application process with the following exceptions:
For additional information please contact:
Dr. Barbara Muller-Borer E-mail: mullerborerb@ecu.edu Phone: (252) 737-1034