Program of Study - Mechanical Engineering (MSE)

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in engineering degree. The program has a general Mechanical Engineering concentration and a Materials Engineering concentration, with a thesis option and a coursework only option in each. Coursework is offered in areas including mechanics and design, materials, and thermal/fluid sciences. Potential research opportunities exist in combustion, nanotechnology, MEMS and NEMS, smart structures, biomechanics, robotics, mechatronics, acoustics and vibrations, materials science, solid mechanics, laser material processing, experimental heat transfer and fluid mechanics, thermal and dynamic analysis of railroad bearings, and bearing condition monitoring.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate program in mechanical engineering, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a Bachelor’s degree in another field with courses and/or experience that prepare the applicant for graduate work in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science Engineering, depending upon the track the student opts to follow.
  2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
  3. Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
  4. Letter of intent detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
  5. Resume.
  6. GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).

Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.

Applicants who do not satisfy the specific program criteria above will be considered for conditional admission. Those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than mechanical engineering may be admitted subject to completion of a set of undergraduate leveling courses prescribed by the graduate program director. Students admitted conditionally must successfully complete all leveling courses, if any, and successfully complete their first six hours of graduate work with a grade of B or higher.

Leveling Courses

Students whose undergraduate major is not mechanical engineering are required to take some or all of the leveling courses from the list given below with approval of the Graduate Program Director.

Leveling courses are determined for each student by the Graduate Program Director based on his/her course background and experience in mechanical engineering. Students must also have the prerequisites required to take the leveling courses.

Mechanical Engineering General Track

MECE 2304

MECE 3315Fluid Mechanics

3

MECE 3360Heat Transfer

3

MECE 3304System Dynamics

3

MECE 2303

MECE 3321Mechanics of Solids

3

 

MECE 2340Engineering Materials

3

And

MECE 2140Engineering Materials Laboratory

1

 

MECE 2335Thermodynamics I

3

MECE 3450Mechanical Engineering Analysis II

4

Materials Track

MECE 2303

MECE 3321Mechanics of Solids

3

 

MECE 2340Engineering Materials

3

And

MECE 2140Engineering Materials Laboratory

1

 

MECE 2335Thermodynamics I

3

MECE 3450Mechanical Engineering Analysis II

4

Program Requirements

Choose one Concentration option

General Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
MECE 6310Intermediate Engineering Analysis

3

MECE 6320Fracture Mechanics

3

MECE 6341Modeling of Physical Systems

3

MECE 6372Viscous Flow I

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option:
Designated Electives (6 hours must be in Mechanical Engineering) (6-12 Credits)
MECE 6190Engineering Seminar

1

MECE 6316Advanced Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6317Corrosion Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6319Thin Films Surface Engineering

3

MECE 6321Intermediate Composite Material Design

3

MECE 6322Ceramic Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6324Viscoelasticity Theory

3

MECE 6325Composite Structures Engineering

3

MECE 6327Intermediate Nanotechnology

3

MECE 6328Spectroscopic Techniques

3

MECE 6331Intermediate Dynamics of Mechanical Systems

3

MECE 6332Intermediate Mechanical Vibrations

3

MECE 6333Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

3

MECE 6334Modeling MEMS and NEMS

3

MECE 6335Orthopedic Biomechanics

3

MECE 6342Modern Control Systems

3

MECE 6343Digital Control Systems

3

MECE 6344Nonlinear Control Systems

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

MECE 6362Finite Element Analysis

3

MECE 6373Viscous Flow II

3

MECE 6375Engineering Acoustics

3

MECE 6379Gas Dynamics

3

MECE 6380Combustion Engineering

3

MECE 6384HVAC System Design

3

MECE 6385Thermal Systems

3

MECE 6399Topics in Mechanical Engineering

3

Free Electives (0-6 Credits)

Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments within the College of Engineering and Computer Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Requirement
Thesis (6 Credits)
MECE 7300Thesis I

3

MECE 7301Thesis II

3

Note: Students in this option MUST produce a written thesis in a relevant Mechanical Engineering topic of study and defend their thesis in front of their formed Thesis Committee.

Non-Thesis Option:
Designated Electives (18 hours must be in Mechanical Engineering) (18-24 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
MECE 6190Engineering Seminar

1

MECE 6316Advanced Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6317Corrosion Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6319Thin Films Surface Engineering

3

MECE 6321Intermediate Composite Material Design

3

MECE 6322Ceramic Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6324Viscoelasticity Theory

3

MECE 6325Composite Structures Engineering

3

MECE 6327Intermediate Nanotechnology

3

MECE 6328Spectroscopic Techniques

3

MECE 6331Intermediate Dynamics of Mechanical Systems

3

MECE 6332Intermediate Mechanical Vibrations

3

MECE 6333Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

3

MECE 6334Modeling MEMS and NEMS

3

MECE 6335Orthopedic Biomechanics

3

MECE 6342Modern Control Systems

3

MECE 6343Digital Control Systems

3

MECE 6344Nonlinear Control Systems

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

MECE 6362Finite Element Analysis

3

MECE 6373Viscous Flow II

3

MECE 6375Engineering Acoustics

3

MECE 6379Gas Dynamics

3

MECE 6380Combustion Engineering

3

MECE 6384HVAC System Design

3

MECE 6385Thermal Systems

3

MECE 6399Topics in Mechanical Engineering

3

Free Electives (0-6 Credits)

Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments within the College of Engineering and Computer Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Requirement

Oral Comprehensive Exam (administered as part of MECE 6190 Engineering Seminar Course)

Written Comprehensive Exam (students MUST successfully pass a written exam in each one of the four required (core) courses with a grade of >70%.

Materials Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
MECE 6310Intermediate Engineering Analysis

3

MECE 6316Advanced Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6320Fracture Mechanics

3

MECE 6327Intermediate Nanotechnology

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option:
Designated Electives 18 hours must be in Mechanical Engineering 18-24 Credits
Chosen from the following:
MECE 6190Engineering Seminar

1

MECE 6317Corrosion Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6319Thin Films Surface Engineering

3

MECE 6321Intermediate Composite Material Design

3

MECE 6322Ceramic Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6324Viscoelasticity Theory

3

MECE 6325Composite Structures Engineering

3

MECE 6326Polymer Engineering

3

MECE 6328Spectroscopic Techniques

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

MECE 6362Finite Element Analysis

3

MECE 6399Topics in Mechanical Engineering

3

Free Electives (0-6 Credits)

Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments

within the College of Engineering and Computer Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Requirement
Thesis (6 Credits)
MECE 7300Thesis I

3

MECE 7301Thesis II

3

Note: Students in this option MUST produce a written thesis in a relevant Mechanical Engineering topic of study and defend their thesis in front of their formed Thesis Committee.

Non-Thesis Option:
Designated Electives (18 hours must be in Mechanical Engineering) (18-24 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
MECE 6190Engineering Seminar

1

MECE 6317Corrosion Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6319Thin Films Surface Engineering

3

MECE 6321Intermediate Composite Material Design

3

MECE 6322Ceramic Materials Engineering

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6324Viscoelasticity Theory

3

MECE 6325Composite Structures Engineering

3

MECE 6326Polymer Engineering

3

MECE 6328Spectroscopic Techniques

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

MECE 6362Finite Element Analysis

3

MECE 6399Topics in Mechanical Engineering

3

Free Electives (0-6 Credits)

Students can select up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework from any of the other departments within the College of Engineering and Computer Science but MUST have the written consent of the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Requirement

Oral Comprehensive Exam (administered as part of MECE 6190 Engineering Seminar Course)

Written Comprehensive Exam (students MUST successfully pass a written exam in each one of the four required (core) courses with a grade of >70%.

Total Credit Hours: 30-36