COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering requires a total of 30 units and is structured to provide advanced technical knowledge, applied engineering skills, and research or project-based experience. The program is divided into core courses, electives, and a culminating experience designed to prepare students for professional engineering practice or further academic study.The core coursework consists of 9 units. Students complete Advanced Mechanical Engineering Analysis and Finite Element Methods in Engineering, which develop strong analytical and computational skills used in solving complex engineering problems. In addition, students must complete one additional course from either Engineering Reports and Graduate Research (GWAR) or Project Planning. Students with a GWAR waiver may replace this requirement with elective coursework. These core courses strengthen technical writing, research planning, and advanced engineering analysis capabilities.The elective component accounts for 15 units and is selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Advisor. These electives allow students to specialize in areas of interest such as thermal systems, robotics, design, manufacturing, controls, or computational mechanics. This flexible structure enables students to tailor their academic experience according to their career goals and technical focus.The culminating experience is worth 6 units and can be completed through either a thesis or project pathway. Under Plan A (Thesis), students complete six units of Master’s Thesis work and defend their research orally. Under Plan B (Project), students complete Mechanical Engineering Project I and II in sequence, also culminating in an oral defense. Both options are designed to demonstrate mastery of advanced mechanical engineering concepts and applied problem-solving skills.Overall, the program is designed to produce highly skilled mechanical engineers capable of addressing complex engineering challenges in industry, research, and development environments.