COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University is a flexible, research-oriented graduate program designed to prepare students for advanced technical careers in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing, as well as for further doctoral study. The program offers three completion pathways: a thesis option requiring 30 credit hours with at least 24 credit hours of coursework plus 6 credit hours of thesis research, a directed project option requiring 33 credit hours including a 3-credit directed project, and an all-coursework option requiring 33 credit hours along with a departmental terminal requirement such as a comprehensive exam. All students complete core courses including ME 730 Modeling of Engineering Systems, ME 749 Applications of Finite Element Methods in Mechanical Engineering, and ME 777 Mechanical Engineering Seminar, which provide a foundation in modeling, simulation, and professional development. Beyond the core, students take a combination of ME graduate courses and technical electives that can be selected from areas such as design, advanced materials, and energy and environment. These concentrations allow students to specialize in fields like robotics and control, computational fluid dynamics, nanotechnology, composites, HVAC systems, and fracture mechanics, depending on their career goals. Technical electives may also include approved 600-level or higher courses from related engineering or science departments, allowing interdisciplinary customization. The program emphasizes applied learning through research, thesis work, project development, or industry-relevant coursework, ensuring students gain hands-on experience with real engineering problems. Students may also choose a concentration to deepen expertise in areas like advanced materials (biomaterials, nanotechnology, polymers), design (vibrations, robotics, computer-aided engineering), or energy and environment (thermal systems, combustion, heat transfer). Overall, the MS in Mechanical Engineering is structured to balance strong theoretical foundations with applied engineering practice, enabling graduates to enter high-demand technical roles or continue into PhD-level research.