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Mechanical Engineering M.S.M.E.

Total Semester Credit Hours = 30

Admission Requirements

Students entering the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) program are expected to have a background equivalent to that of students graduating from the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program offered at The University of Texas at Tyler, or to obtain such background through specified prerequisite coursework.

To be admitted to the MSME program a student must meet the following admission requirements.

  1. Satisfactory score on the General Test (verbal and quantitative) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 based on the student’s last four semesters of academic study and last 60 semester credit hours of upper division undergraduate or graduate courses.
  3. A bachelor’s degree from a Mechanical Engineering program accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission. Students who have not earned such a degree will be required to complete prerequisite (leveling) coursework before starting the MSME program as determined by the MSME Graduate Coordinator.
  4. A Statement of Purpose including goals of Graduate Education and Research Interests must be included with the application.
  5. A demonstrated proficiency in the use of the English language, both spoken and written.
  6. Approval of the MSME Graduate Coordinator and the Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Consideration for admission to the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program will also be given to one or more of the following: the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

Graduation Requirements

There are two tracks to earn the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME): Regular-Track and Fast-Track (4+1). Both tracks allow the student to select either the Thesis or the Non-thesis option.

Regular-track: This is the common method of starting the MSME degree after a full completion of the BSME degree without any combinations between them.

Fast-track: This is also known as the Five-year BSME/MSME (4+1) track where undergraduate students in mechanical engineering at UT Tyler can chose to receive a master’s degree in a minimum of one additional year after completing the BSME graduation requirements by combining the requirements of both degrees. This option is also available to undergraduate students in the Honors Program in mechanical engineering.

The two options to receive the MSME degree include the following:

  1. Thesis option. This degree option is intended primarily for students who wish to conduct research and expand mechanical engineering knowledge. A thesis is required. (This is the only degree option for which graduate assistantship opportunities might be available.)
  2. Non-thesis option. This degree option is intended primarily for the professional working engineer who wants advanced technical courses, including the possibility of benefiting from completing an advanced engineering project.

Regardless of the option selected, a student must complete a graduate course in advanced mathematics (MATH 5311) or equivalent approved by the Graduate Coordinator. In a total of twenty-seven hours, at least eighteen hours (including the thesis or project) must be from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and within the major areas; and at most nine hours may be from an approved list of courses taken outside the department, college, or university.   The Department of Mechanical Engineering has identified three major areas which include all the courses allowed for students pursuing the MSME degree.  These areas include:

  1. Thermo-fluids and heat
  2. Material Science and Mechanics
  3. Mechanical Systems and Control
Any combination of courses from these areas is allowed for MSME students.  However, three courses from one major area would constitute a certificate, and three certificates would fulfill the MSME degree requirements.  A project course and an internship course can be taken by permission of the Graduate Coordinator and the Department Chair and would count towards the MSME degree.

To graduate, students must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average on all coursework used for the graduate degree.

The program options and additional degree requirements are as follows:

Thesis Option (30 SCH): Students must successfully complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit coursework, including six hours of thesis credits. In addition to the required coursework and thesis, students in this option must successfully pass a final oral examination administered by the student’s graduate academic committee.

Non-Thesis option (30 SCH): Students must successfully complete at least 30 semester credit hours of graduate coursework, which may include three hours in a project course that culminates in an engineering report on a significant design or analysis project performed by the student, under the supervision of a faculty member. An internship course is also allowed, by permission of the Graduate Coordinator and the Department Chair, to be counted towards the degree.

Five-year BSME/MSME (4+1) Option:  Undergraduate students in mechanical engineering at UT Tyler can chose this option to get a master’s degree in a minimum of one additional year.  Students may choose any option and they are required to take 9 credits of graduate-level courses in their senior year, as well as one credit of senior or research seminar.  Funding opportunities will only be available for students chosing the thesis option.  Students interested in this (4+1) track must obtain department approval to enroll in this program.  Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 will be provisionally admitted to this program in the fall semester of their senior year, and will receive full admission to the graduate program under this option after they complete all BSME graduation requirements.  Students must obtain an average “B” grade in all the graduate-level courses taken during their senior year.

Five-year BSME/MSME (4+1) Track for Honors Students: Undergraduate Honors Program students in mechanical engineering at UT Tyler can also chose this option to get a master’s degree in a minimum of one additional year.  The requirements are the same as outlined above for regular students in mechanical engineering. 

Program Outcomes

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering students at the time of graduation are expected to:

  1. Apply fundamental knowledge of specialized mechanical engineering concepts in the various areas of Mechanical Engineering.
  2. Apply modern engineering tools for analysis and design of engineering problems.
  3. Demonstrate independent self-learning and research capabilities for solving engineering problems.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate results from engineering problems or other intellectual products.

Transfer of Credit

A student may transfer a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit in which a grade of "B" or better has been earned from approved institutions. Transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator and the departmental chair. Transfer credits will count towards the nine credits allowed from outside the Department of Mechanical Engineering.