The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers courses of study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The department offers an Accelerated Program for students who wish to combine their undergraduate studies with a master’s degree and thesis. Graduate certificates in Mechatronics and in Computational Thermal/Fluid Dynamics consist of a sequence of four graduate courses in a specific technical area. Credits from a graduate certificate apply to the M.S. degree program.

The M.S. program focuses on providing students advanced training in the fundamental sciences and technology of Mechanical Engineering to enable them to pursue careers in applied research and development in government laboratories or advanced technology firms.  The M.S. degree can also be a stepping-stone to the Ph.D. degree.  Generally, the M.S. degree can be earned in three to four semesters full-time, or pursued on a part-time basis.

The M.S. program has a thesis and a non-thesis option.  All full-time students are encouraged to take the thesis option.  This is the preferred program of study for those interested in careers in advanced research or plan to continue for a doctoral degree.  The non-thesis option may be more appropriate for part-time students or those pursuing careers in industry.

The program requirements are intended to provide students with both depth and breadth of knowledge in Mechanical Engineering while being flexible enough to allow students the opportunity to explore non-traditional and emerging areas in which Mechanical Engineering plays a central role.  Course work plans must be prepared in consultation with the student’s academic advisor and should be submitted to the Graduate Program Director (GPD) for approval during the first semester of study.  Changes in the plan are permitted, but must be approved prior to implementation.

Tracks/Concentrations: 

Biomechanical Engineering
Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Systems
Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering
Thermal/Fluid Sciences

Program Requirements

The M.S. thesis option requires a combination of coursework and research, culminating in the defense of a thesis based on original research.  The non-thesis option requires additional coursework plus a scholarly report and a comprehensive examination demonstrating academic competence across the field of Mechanical Engineering.

Thesis Option

Course Work – A minimum of 24 credits of graduate course work is required, made up of core courses (12 credits) and supplementary courses (12 credits). [1]  The course work plan may also include a maximum of 6 approved transfer credits for graduate work undertaken at other accredited U.S. or foreign institutions.

Research Work – A minimum of six (6) credits of Masters Thesis Research (ENME 799) is required.  After the student has completed the research work, he/she must defend his/her thesis in public and stand for an oral examination by a thesis committee.

The thesis committee is comprised of the advisor and at least two other members of the Graduate Faculty of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School. After evaluating the student’s written dissertation, presentation and performance in the oral examination, the examination committee will recommend one of four options:

• Unconditional pass
• Conditional pass with minor revisions to the thesis
• Conditional pass with major revisions (which may require a second oral examination at the discretion of the committee)
• Failure (requires major revisions to the thesis and a second oral examination)

Non-Thesis Option

Course Work – A minimum of 30 credits of graduate course work is required, made up of core courses (12 credits) and supplementary courses (18 credits). [2] The course work plan may also include a maximum of 6 approved transfer credits for graduate work undertaken at other accredited U.S. or foreign institutions.  The 2 credits of ENME799 Thesis Research (minimum) is intended to be used to prepare the written scholarly report.  The student should consult with his/her advisor for the specific format for the report.

Comprehensive Examination – The M.S. comprehensive examination is a written, closed book examination comprising a selection of questions based on the four (4) required courses in the core curriculum and additional courses in an area of specialization recommended by the student’s academic advisor, subject to approval by the Graduate Committee. The questions will seek brief answers to assess the student’s understanding of the fundamental concepts in each of the named subject areas.  The student will be required to select and answer any 15 questions in a 90-minute time period.  A minimum grade of 70% based on the 15 questions answered is required to pass the exam.

Admission to the Master's Program
Overall GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale). International students whose universities do not mark on this grade point system should either rank in the top 20 percent of their class or graduate in at least the first division. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 who have a baccalaureate degree from ABET-accredited school in the United States may be admitted into the graduate program on a provisional status, provided their overall GPA is at least 2.5 and their GPA in the technical and mathematical courses is at least 2.75. Conditions for removal of this provisional status and transfer to the regular graduate student status will be determined and clearly specified upon admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE)(quantitative) must be >148 (>600 if taken prior to August 2011). The GRE is mandatory for international students and can be waived only in exceptional circumstances. The GRE is optional but highly recommended for students from ABET-accredited schools in the United States. All international students are required by the university to have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper) or 80 (IBT). In addition, international students must take and pass an English oral examination upon arrival at UMBC to determine whether they should take remedial English.

Financial Assistance

Graduate teaching assistantships (GTA), graduate research assistantships (GRA) and graduate fellowships are available in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Graduate fellowships may include Northrop Grumman Fellowships, GAANN Fellowships and the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellowships. It is departmental policy to give priority for financial aid to students committed to pursuing the doctorate at UMBC. Exceptional master's students also may be considered for financial aid. However, it must be emphasized that graduate teaching assistantships are awarded only to the best applicants, as judged by the departmental graduate committee. Graduate research assistantships are awarded by the professor in charge of the research project, although admission into the graduate program still goes through the department's graduate committee. See the Mechanical Engineering website (me.umbc.edu) for details on departmental financial assistance opportunities.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Several GTA positions are available in the state-supported budget of the department. These are awarded to qualified and deserving students to assist the faculty in its teaching responsibilities. The UMBC Graduate School establishes the policies on the qualifications for level of support, the amount to be paid and the benefits that accompany the appointment. The department assigns the responsibilities the GTA must assume. A doctoral student awarded a GTA will receive a stipend, remission of tuition for a maximum of 10 credits each semester, fall and spring, plus health benefits. In return for this assistantship, the GTA is expected to provide the equivalent of 20 hours per week of curriculum- related services to the department. The GTA may be assigned to lead in recitation and discussion periods, assist in laboratory courses, grade papers and reports for courses and other services required by the department to accomplish its teaching responsibilities. GTA's are expected to participate in at least one credit hour of dissertation research each semester (ENME 799 or ENME 899) under the supervision of their advisor.

The Mechanical Engineering graduate committee evaluates all applications for admission to the Mechanical Engineering graduate program and makes the selection for awarding these assistantships in a competitive manner on the basis of the following criteria: (a) potential for completion of the doctorate; (b) faculty needs for teaching and other tasks; and (c) ability of the student to undertake the needed tasks for a teaching assistant, e.g. skill and experience in laboratory work, design and computers. Assignment of teaching duties will depend on the GTA. To receive a GTA, international students must possess a required level of proficiency in verbal English.

Graduate Research Assistantships
GRA appointments are made to support research grants/contracts developed by faculty members. In a research project, the GRA becomes a team member dedicated to accomplishing and attaining certain research objectives. Therefore, the appointment of the GRAs is left entirely to the discretion of the faculty in charge of the research grant/contract. The remuneration for the GRA, stipend, tuition remission and health benefits are comparable to that of the GTA. The amount of work expected of the full GRA is also 20 hours per week. It must be emphasized that this appointment to work on a research contract or grant is principally to undertake contracted tasks that may coincide with the doctoral dissertation or master's thesis work of the student. It is also important to note that if students abrogate their commitments to the GRA or GTA appointments that they have accepted, further financial aid is not guaranteed.

Tuition fee-2 years$50,000

Total fee-2 years$80,000