Mechanical Engineering

Admission Requirements Degree Requirements

Mailing Address:
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MC 251)
842 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7022

Campus Location: 2041 ERF
Program Codes: 20FS0133MS (MS); 20FS0133PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-6122
E-mail: megrad@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.mie.uic.edu/
Head of the Department: William Worek
Director of Graduate Studies: Farzad Mashayek

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering offers graduate programs leading to degrees in Mechanical Engineering at both the master’s and doctoral levels. In addition, the department offers a program leading to the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research; consult the appropriate section of the catalog for more information. Course work and research is available in such topics as fluid mechanics, stress analysis, mechanisms, dynamics and vibration, mechanical design, computer-aided design and manufacturing, heat transfer, mass transfer, combustion, multiphase flow and heat transfer, automatic control, industrial automation, and energy conversion. Interdisciplinary and interdepartmental work is encouraged, especially in the biological, environmental, electrical engineering, and computer science areas.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy

  • Baccalaureate Field Mechanical engineering. The degree must be from an American Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) accredited college or university or equivalent.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study. A grade point average of at least 3.50 is preferred for applicants to the PhD program.
  • Tests Required International applicants are required to take the GRE. Applicants seeking a teaching or research assistantship are strongly encouraged to take the GRE General.
  • Minimum TOEFL Score 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); total score of 80 and subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL, iBT).
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required.
  • Personal Statement Required.
  • Other Requirements Admission to the PhD program is not automatic for students completing their MS degree in the department. Master’s students who desire to continue on to the PhD must see the department’s graduate coordinator for forms to apply to the PhD program.
  • Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants may be admitted for no more than 8 semester hours.
  • Deadlines The application deadlines for these programs are the same as the Graduate College deadlines.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 36.
  • Student must choose one of the following two options:
    1. Thesis Option 36 hours total
      1. 24 hours of course work
        1. 12 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
        2. Remaining 12 hours at the 400- or 500-level
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 4 hours must be in ME rubric
      2. 12 hours of ME 598—MS Thesis Research
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester
    2. Course-Work-Only Option 36 hours total
      1. 12 hours at the 500-level
        1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
        2. 12 hours must be in the ME rubric
      2. Remaining 20 hours at the 400- or 500-level
        1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
        2. 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester
  • No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
  • Students must get director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
  • All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by director of graduate studies.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options are available.

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 108 from the baccalaureate.
  • Students must complete one of the following two options:
    1. Direct PhD (108 hours total)
      1. 56 hours course work
        1. 28 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            2. ME 594—Math may be used toward this requirement.
          3. 16 hours must be in ME rubric
        2. Remaining 28 hours
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 12 hours must be in ME rubric
          3. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. These courses may be at the 400- or 500-level.
            2. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and the director of graduate studies.
            3. ME 494—Math may be used toward this requirement.
      2. 52 hours of ME 599—PhD Thesis Research
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
    2. PhD Post MS (108 hours total, 32 hours transferred from the MS). Credit for MS Degree: Those having an MS degree from an accredited institution will be awarded 32 semester hours of credit toward the PhD degree requirement, 24 hours of course work and 8 hours of ME 599.
      1. 32 hours of course work
        1. 16 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            2. ME 594—Math may be used toward this requirement.
          3. 12 hours must be in ME rubric
        2. Remaining 16 hours at the 400- and/or 500-level
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 4 hours must be in the ME rubric
          3. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. These courses may be at the 400- or 500-level.
            2. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            3. ME 494—Math may be used toward this requirement.
      2. 44 hours of ME 599—PhD Thesis Research
      3. 32 hours transferred from MS degree
      4. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
  • No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
  • Students must get the director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
  • All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by director of graduate studies.
  • Examinations Departmental Qualifying Examination: Required.
  • Preliminary Examination: Required.
  • Dissertation Required. Students must earn at least 52 semester hours in ME 599.
  • Other Requirements Students must be registered during the semester of intended graduation.

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