The Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) prepares students for advanced engineering work in industry and government, or for continued education and research in a doctoral engineering program. Academic and research emphasis can be in the areas of biomedical engineering, CAD/CAM, design, energy, manufacturing, materials and deformable solid body mechanics, robotics and rigid body mechanics, and thermo-fluids. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.

The basic requirement for admission is a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Applicants holding degrees in closely related fields or from non-accredited engineering institutions may be required to compensate for deficiencies with additional coursework prescribed by the department. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for applicants whose native language is not English. Three letters of recommendation are required from persons who can attest to the applicant’s academic and research aptitude.  Undergraduate grade point average (GPA), GRE and TOEFL scores, and engineering accomplishments are considered for admission and awards of tuition scholarships and stipends.

The minimum requirements for the thesis program are 23 semester-hours of graduate coursework and 9 semester-hours of thesis work.  For the non-thesis option, the minimum requirements are 29 semester-hours of graduate coursework and 3 semester-hours of research project work. During the first semester in the program, each student will develop a specific plan of study in consultation with his/her advisor. The program of study must include fundamental courses in mechanical systems and thermo-fluids systems. Required coursework also includes ME 6970 (Engineering Analysis and Numerical Methods), ME 6020 (Technical Writing) and ME 5800 (Graduate Colloquium). 

Financial assistance is available in the form of graduate fellowships, research assistantships, and graduate assistantships.  It is recommended that students enter the program in the fall semester.  International students whose pro­ficiency in English is inadequate are encouraged to enroll in the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) at Ohio University in the summer semester preceding their first semester of study in the MSME program.