Department of Mechanical Engineering

Degree Requirements

Before taking upper-level courses in your major, you need to fulfill several requirements set out by the College of Engineering. These are called your basic program requirements and are usually taken your first year. They include Engineering 101, Engineering 160, English 104 and 105, and others.

After completing these requirements with at least a 2.00 grade point average and cumulative ISU 2.00 grade point average, you can start taking 200-level and above courses in your major.

• Basic Program Courses (26.5 credits)
• General Education Electives (15 credits)
• ME Core Courses (46 credits)
• Technical And Design Electives (18 credits)
  

  (Please note that there has been a change in Design Electives beginning with Fall 2007)

• M E Tech Elective Specifics

You can expect the M.S. degree with thesis to require 18-24 months of study beyond the B.S. degree. 

• COURSES: 
  • 30 semester credits at the graduate level. Your course selection is approved by your Program of Study Committee (POS).
  • All 500- and 600- level courses in engineering, physical and biological sciences, and mathematics are acceptable.
  • 300- and 400- level courses in other departments are acceptable if they are approved in the University catalog for minor graduate credit.
    
• THESIS AND NON-THESIS OPTIONS:
  • THESIS OPTION:  typically 21 course credits (approximately 7 courses) and at least 9 research (ME 699) credits 
  • NON-THESIS OPTION:  typically 27 course credits (approximately 9 courses) and a 3 credit creative component. 
  • Pass a final oral examination of your thesis or creative component.  
    
• ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Completion of the ME Graduate Seminar (ME 600) during the first semester 
• Non-native English language students must meet the Graduate English requirement during the first semester of study.
  

You can expect the Ph.D. degree to take 4-5 years beyond the B.S. engineering degree.

• COURSES: 
  • 72 semester credits (42 credits beyond the M.S. requirement). Your course selection is approved by your Program of Study Committee (POS).
  • Up to one-third of these may be research credits (approximately 24 – your POS committee may approve a number slightly higher or lower).
  • All 500- and 600- level courses in engineering, physical and biological sciences, and mathematics are acceptable.
  • 300- and 400- level courses in other departments are acceptable if they are approved in the University catalog for minor graduate credit.
• DISSERTATION:
  • Your dissertation is expected to be independent research that contributes unique knowledge to the research community.
  • Pass a final oral examination of your dissertation.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :
• QUALIFYING EXAM: Taken within the first year of graduate study at the doctoral level, the qualifying exam is used to judge your qualifications to study at the doctoral level and to note any coursework deficiencies.
• PRELIMINARY ORAL EXAM:  Taken with one year (no less than 6 months) before the expected date of graduation, this is an oral examination of your proposed dissertation topic and knowledge of relevant subject matter.
• Completion of the ME Graduate Seminar (ME 600) during the first semester
• Non-native English language students must meet the Graduate English requirement during the first semester of study.