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  • Mechanical Engineering, M.S.M.E.
WVU Morgantown

Mechanical Engineering, M.S.M.E.

  • Overview
  • Accelerated Program
  • Learning Outcomes

Curriculum in Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

A candidate for the M.S. degree in mechanical engineering must comply with the rules and regulations as outlined in the WVU Graduate Catalog and the specific requirements of the Statler College and the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department.

Program Requirements

All M.S. degree candidates are required to perform research (except those pursuing the Coursework Option) and follow a planned program of study. The student’s research advisor, in conjunction with the student’s Advising and Examining Committee (AEC) will be responsible for determining the plan of study appropriate to the student’s needs. The underlying principle of the planned program is to provide the students with the necessary support to complete their degree and prepare them for their career.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses.
Course Requirements *
A minimum of 60% of courses must be from 500 level or above.
Plan of Study
Thesis Option (30 credit hours)
Core Area Courses (6 credit hours)
Mathematics Requirements (6 credit hours)
Additional Courses (12 credit hours) - Any BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CHEM, CPE, CS, EE, IENG, MAE, MATH, MINE, PNGE, PHYS, SENG, EXPH 583, or STAT courses 400-795, as approved by the student’s AEC
MAE 697
Research (6 credit hours)
Final Oral or Written Examination
Thesis
Problem Report Option (30 credit hours)
Core Area Courses (6 credit hours)
Mathematics Requirements (6 credit hours)
Additional Courses (15 credit hours) - Any BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CHEM, CPE, CS, EE, IENG, MAE, MATH, MINE, PNGE, PHYS, SENG, EXPH 583, or STAT courses 400-795, as approved by the student’s AEC
MAE 672
Project Report (3 credit hours)
Final Oral or Written Examination
Formal Written Report or Professional Report/Paper
Coursework Option (30 credit hours)
Core Area Courses (15 credit hours)
Mathematics Requirements (6 credit hours)
Additional Courses (6 credit hours) - Any BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CHEM, CPE, CS, EE, IENG, MAE, MATH, MINE, PNGE, PHYS, SENG, EXPH 583, or STAT courses 400-795, as approved by the student’s AEC
MAE 671
Graduate Capstone Project (3 credit hours)
Final Oral or Written Examination
Total Hours30

Mathematics Requirements for All Options (6 Credit Hours)

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select two of the following (at least one course with MATH prefix):
MATH 420
Numerical Analysis 1
MATH 441
Applied Linear Algebra
MATH 456
Complex Variables
MATH 521
Numerical Analysis
MATH 522
Numerical Solution of PDE
MATH 541
Modern Algebra 1
MATH 543
Linear Algebra
MATH 545
Number Theory 1
MATH 551
Real Variables 1
MATH 555
Complex Variables 1
MATH 560
Introduction to Dynamical Systems and Applications
MATH 563
Mathematical Modeling
MATH 564
Intermediate Differential Equations
MATH 566
Intermediate Partial Differential Equations
MATH 567
Advanced Calculus 1
MATH 568
Advanced Calculus
MATH 573
Graph Theory
STAT 513
Design of Experiments
STAT 545
Applied Regression Analysis
STAT 561
Theory of Probability and Statistics 1
STAT 562
Theory of Probability and Statistics 2
MAE 515
Analytical Methods in Engineering
MAE 623
Conduction Heat Transfer
MAE 633
Computational Fluid Dynamics
MAE 640
Continuum Mechanics
MAE 645
Energy Methods in Applied Mechanics
CHE 531
Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering
EE 463
Digital Signal Processing Fundamentals
EE 465
Introduction to Digital Image Processing
EE 515
Linear Control Systems
EE 517
Optimal Control
IENG 518
Technology Forecasting
IENG 553
Applied Linear Programming
PHYS 461
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 611
Introduction to Mathematical Physics

Core Area Courses for Thesis or Problem Report Options (6 Credit Hours)

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select two courses in a single core technical area from the following:
Area A: Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics (FMA)
MAE 532
Dynamics of Viscous Fluids
MAE 624
Convection Heat Transfer
or MAE 636
Fundamentals of Turbulent Flow
Area B: Thermal Sciences and Systems (TSS)
MAE 521
Advanced Thermodynamics 1
MAE 532
Dynamics of Viscous Fluids
MAE 624
Convection Heat Transfer
Area C: Dynamics and Controls (D&C)
MAE 642
Intermediate Dynamics
or MAE 653
Advanced Vibrations
MAE 660
Feedback Control in Mechanical Engineering
Area D: Solid Mechanics and Design (SMD)
MAE 543
Advanced Mechanics of Materials
or MAE 642
Intermediate Dynamics
MAE 640
Continuum Mechanics
or MAE 653
Advanced Vibrations
Area E: Materials Science (MS)
MSEN 580
Crystallography and Crystals
MSEN 583
Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials
MSEN 649
Microscopy of Materials

Core Area Courses for Coursework Option (15 Credit Hours) 

Course List
Code Title Hours
Select from the following:
MAE 521
Advanced Thermodynamics 1
MAE 532
Dynamics of Viscous Fluids
MAE 543
Advanced Mechanics of Materials
MAE 653
Advanced Vibrations
MAE 660
Feedback Control in Mechanical Engineering
MSEN 580
Crystallography and Crystals
*

Students who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering will be required to take a set of undergraduate mechanical engineering courses above and beyond the minimum coursework requirements in order to overcome deficiencies in the mechanical engineering area.

Final Examination

M.S. students following the thesis or problem report option must prepare a written research proposal. The proposal must be approved by the student's AEC at least one semester prior to the final oral examination.

All students, regardless of option, are required to pass a final oral or written examination, administered by their AEC, covering the thesis or problem report and/or related course material.

The student's request for the comprehensive exam for students in the Coursework Only degree option must be filed at least four weeks in advance of the desired date of the exam. The comprehensive exam for students in the Coursework Only degree option must be passed at least 3 weeks before graduation.

Accelerated Program

  • BSME Mechanical Engineering and MSME Mechanical Engineering

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for the B.S.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering and all the requirements of the M.S.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering. Students must also meet all the requirements of the ABM. 

ABM Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Undergraduate Coursework117
Shared Bachelor's/Master's Coursework9
Graduate Coursework21
Total Hours147

Shared Coursework Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Courses completed must be at the 400 or 500 level.
See BSME and MSME for list of elective course options.
Courses:
Technical Elective3
Technical Elective3
Technical Elective3
Total Hours9

Suggested Plan of Study

It is important for students to take courses in the order specified as much as possible; all prerequisites and concurrent requirements must be observed. A typical ABM B.S.M.E. & M.S.M.E. degree program completes degree requirements in five year is as follows.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CHEM 115
& 115L (GEF 2B)
4ENGR 1023
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3MATH 156 (GEF 8)4
ENGR 1012PHYS 111
& 111L (GEF 8)
4
ENGR 1911GEF 63
MATH 155 (GEF 3)4GEF 73
GEF 53 
 17 17
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MAE 2021MAE 2423
MAE 211
& 211L
3MAE 2433
MAE 212L1MAE 3203
MAE 216L1MATH 2614
MAE 2413ENGL 1023
MATH 2514AOE Course2
PHYS 112
& 112L (GEF 8)
4 
 17 18
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
EE 221
& 221L
4ECON 2013
MAE 3163IENG 3022
MAE 3313MAE 3423
MAE 3533AOE Course3
MSEN 3503AOE Course3
 16 14
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MAE 456
& 456L
3MAE 4233
MAE 471S3MAE 472S3
Technical Electives*3Technical Electives*6
AOE Course3 
AOE Course3 
 15 12
Fifth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MAE 6973MAE 6973
Core Area Course3Core Area Course3
Mathematics Requirement Course3Additional Courses3
 Mathematics Requirement Course3
 9 12
Total credit hours: 147
*

Indicates that this course will be shared with the MS requirements.

+

See BSME degree for list of area of emphasis courses.

++

See MSME for list of core area and mathematics requirement courses.

Major Learning Outcomes

Mechanical Engineering

The MAE Department is committed to deliver high quality education and research experience to all graduate students in order to enable them to achieve success in their careers, though the following Learning Goals:

  • Expertise, depth and breadth in a chosen field of mechanical engineering.
  • Capacity to engage in original research, advanced technological discovery and innovation to advance the frontiers of knowledge in the science of the mechanical engineering discipline.
  • Capacity of effective high level communication to document, disseminate and transfer knowledge of the science of the mechanical engineering discipline in educational, research or applied workplace settings.
  • Appreciation and understanding of the role of the science of mechanical engineering discipline in a global and societal context.
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering, M.S.M.E.
    • Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.
  • Materials Science and Engineering

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