2014-2015
Academic Catalog

ME Graduate Programs

The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides three graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering leading to the following degrees: (i) the "Master of Engineering - Mechanical" degree, (ii) the professional "Mechanical Engineer" degree, and (iii) the "Doctor of Philosophy" degree with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering. A major objective of the graduate program is to encourage research work at all levels so that individuals can progressively solve more challenging problems with a wider research scope as they gain confidence and competence.

In addition to the above-mentioned three graduate degree programs, the Department of Mechanical Engineering also offers the following other graduate programs: (i) “Master of Engineering in Product Architecture and Engineering” degree program, (ii) “Master of Engineering in Integrated Product Development” degree program, (iii) “Master of Engineering in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing” degree program, (iv) “Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing” degree program, and (v) various graduate certificate programs.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has active research interests in the following areas: biomedical devices, biosensors and cell/tissue-based physiological platforms, composites and structured materials, computational and experimental fluid dynamics and heat transfer, computer-aided design and manufacturing, integrated product and process design, control theory, design of thermal systems, knowledge-based engineering systems, noise control and vibration, robotics and automation, nano/micro system modeling, design and fabrication, sustainable energy and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Engineering - Mechanical degree program is intended to extend and broaden the undergraduate preparation. It can be considered as a terminal degree or as preparation for the Ph.D. program. A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering is needed for acceptance to the Master’s program. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in other engineering disciplines may be required to take appropriate undergraduate courses before being formally admitted into the program.

The Master of Engineering - Mechanical degree requires 30 credits, approved by the student’s academic advisor.

Core Courses

ME 635 Modeling and Simulation
ME 641 Engineering Analysis I
ME 636 Project Management and Organizational Design

Tracks

and two more courses from any one of the following four tracks:

Manufacturing Systems

ME 644 Computer-Integrated Design and Manufacturing
ME 645 Design of Production Systems
ME 652 Advanced Additive Manufacturing
ME 665 Advanced Product Development

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Systems

ME 535 Good Manufacturing Practices in Pharmaceutical Facilities Design
ME 540 Validation and Regulatory Affairs in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
ME 628 Pharmaceutical Finishing and Packaging Systems
ME 645 Production Systems

Product Design

ME 615 Thermal System Design
ME 644 Computer-Integrated Design and Manufacturing
ME 659 Advanced Structural Design
ME 665 Advanced Product Development

Thermal Engineering

ME 601 Engineering Thermodynamics
ME 604 Advanced Heat Transfer
ME 615 Thermal Systems Design
ME 674 Fluid Dynamics

Electives

The remaining five courses (15 credits) constitute the student’s elective field and will consist of:

at least one course of 600-level or higher given in the Mechanical Engineering Department;
a maximum of four courses of 500-level given in the Mechanical Engineering Department; and
a maximum of one courses given in other departments.

A student may substitute a project (ME 800 Special Problems in Mechanical Engineering, 3 credits) or a thesis (ME 900 Thesis in Mechanical Engineering, 6 credits) for the appropriate number of credits. The available pool of electives allows the student to specialize in one of the following areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Air Pollution Technology, Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Design and Production Management, Power Generation, Robotics and Control, Structural Analysis and Design, and Vibration and Noise Control.

In order to graduate with a Master of Engineering - Mechanical degree, a student must obtain a minimum of "B" average in the major field, as well as an overall average of "B" in all the courses needed to meet the 30-credit requirement for the degree. Please see the Office of Graduate Admissions section on Student Status.

Master's Program in Product Architecture and Engineering

The Master of Engineering in Product-Architecture and Engineering degree program is intended to integrate the study of Architecture, Sustainable Engineering and Computational Analysis with production methodologies and emerging materials. All students in the program must complete 10 courses (30 credits), comprised of six core courses and up to four elective courses. Three of the four electives must be taken from the recommended list (see below) of relevant graduate courses offered by the Mechanical Engineering department. The remaining two courses (6 credits) constitute the student's elective field and will consist of at least one course of 600-level or higher offered within the Product-Architecture and Engineering program. Students may elect to complete a Thesis (PAE 900 Thesis in Product-Architecture and Engineering) in lieu of completing the two open electives.

A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, a B.I.D. (B.F.A., B.A., or B.S.) in Industrial Design, or a B.Arch. (Bachelor in Architecture) is needed for acceptance to the program. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in other engineering or design disciplines may be required to take appropriate undergraduate courses before being formally admitted into the program.

Core Courses

PAE 610 The Creative Form and the Digital Environment
PAE 620 The Creative Form and the Production Environment
PAE 630 Introduction to Interactive Digital Media
PAE 640 Performative Environments
PAE 800 Product Architecture and Engineering Design Project
PAE 810 Special Topics in Product Architecture and Engineering

To complete the degree, requirements students can choose from the following list of courses:

ME 502 Introduction to Engineering Analysis
ME 520 Analysis and Design of Composites
ME 564 Principles of Optimum Design and Manufacture
ME 566 Design for Manufacturability
ME 635 Simulation and Modeling

In order to graduate with a Master of Engineering in Product-Architecture and Engineering, a student must obtain a minimum of "B" average in the major field, as well as an overall average of "B" in all the courses needed to meet the 30-credit requirement for the degree. Please see the Office of Graduate Admissions section on Student Status.

Master's Program in Integrated Product Development

The Integrated Product Development program is an integrated Master' of Engineering degree program. The core courses emphasize the design, manufacture, implementation, and life-cycle issues of engineering systems. The remaining courses provide a disciplinary focus. The program embraces and balances qualitative, as well as quantitative, aspects and utilizes state-of-the-art tools and methodologies. It aims to educate students in problem-solving methodologies, modeling, analysis, simulation, and technical management. The program trains engineers in relevant software applications and in productive deployment and integration in the workplace.

All students in this program must complete ten courses (30 credits), comprised of four core courses and up to six elective courses selected from one of the four engineering tracks listed below. The student, with the approval of the graduate program director, may design customized tracks. Up to six elective credits may be taken in lieu of the course credits toward a project relevant to the selected track.

Core Courses

IPD 601 Integrated Product Development I
IPD 602 Integrated Product Development II
IPD 611 Simulation and Modeling
IPD 612 Project Management and Organizational Design

Tracks

Students then choose from one of the following four engineering tracks:

Armament Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Manufacturing Technologies
Systems Reliability and Design

Armament Engineering Track

This technology track provides an interdisciplinary graduate education in Armament Engineering. The program emphasizes systems engineering of military weapons from concept through development and field use. Technical disciplines in the design and manufacture of explosives, modeling and simulation of the interior and exterior ballistics, rocket and missile design, guidance and control, modern research instrumentation, and testing procedures are emphasized.

ME 504 Interior Ballistics and Design for Projection
ME 505 Theory and Performance of Propellants and Explosives I
ME 506 Theory and Performance of Propellants and Explosives II
ME 507 Exterior Ballistics
ME 508 Terminal Ballistics
plus one free elective.

Manufacturing Technologies Track

This track integrates product design, materials processing, and manufacturing expertise with modern computer software technology. The program is specifically concerned with product design for manufacturing, manufacturing systems analysis and development, robotics and control, and the integration of the various phases and activities associated with turning a concept into a deliverable product. Different manufacturing processes are introduced, and the design and control of these processes are discussed. Of particular interest are the development and implementation of models to predict the effects of design and manufacturing choices on system performance, producibility, and economics.

ME 560 Total Quality Control
ME 564 Principles of Optimal Design and Manufacture
ME 598 Introduction to Robotics
ME 621 Introduction to Modern Control Engineering
ME 644 Computer-Integrated Design and Manufacturing or
ME 520 Analysis and Design of Composites
ME 645 Design of Production Systems

The complete description of the IPD program can be found in the Interdisciplinary Programs section of the catalog.

Master's Program in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (PME) master’s degree program is intended to integrate the study of pharmaceutical manufacturing concepts with more advanced engineering design and scientific methodologies to satisfy specialty needs within the industry. One of two degrees can be earned in this program, either a Master of Engineering degree or a Master of Science degree. The choice of degree is generally defined by the student’s background and the electives taken in the program:

a) A Master of Engineering degree can be earned if the student has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and takes engineering electives,

b) A Master of Science Degree can be earned if the student has a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, technology, or another field and takes a mix of technical and/or management-type elective courses.

All students are to take five foundation PME courses. Among the first courses taken should be PME 530, which is an introductory course and a pre-requisite for many PME electives. After that, other introductory courses including PME 540 and PME 609 should be taken. Core required courses also include PME 535 and either PME 600 (for Master of Science) or PME 639 (for Master of Engineering). Thus, the five foundation courses for all master’s degree students are PME 530, 535, 540, 609, and 600 or 639.

Following the foundation courses, many electives are available to the students for the remaining five courses. A certain number of electives must be 600-level PME technical courses (e.g. PME 621, 628, 643, 646, 647, 649, 653). For Master of Engineering students, these must be at least three of the five electives; for Master of Science students, these must be at least two of the five. Other electives can be 500-level courses (e.g. PME 538, 539, 541, 542, 551, 560).

In addition to the Master’s degree-level offerings, the program currently offers six Graduate Certificates (GCs). One GC is more general and the others each address specialty areas within the process and equipment engineering aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Each of the GCs currently available requires four courses and is described below.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practices (PMP), an introductory overview of the industry, touching on all basic manufacturing processes, facilities design issues, validation and regulatory compiance concepts which drive the industry, and one technical elective. This is the best sequence for individuals relatively unfamiliar with the industry.
Courses: PME 530, 535, 540; and 538 or 628 or other technical elective .

Validation & Regulatory Compliance (VRC), for individuals who work or aspire to work in the validation part of the industry, to test and confirm that equipment and processes meet all specifications. More detailed studies of the general concepts, specific applications to computerized systems, compliance issues, and quality aspects of manufacturing.
Courses: PME 540, 640 and two out of 541, 542, 560.

Design of Pharmaceutical Facilities (DPF), for individuals who work in engineering companies, or who deal with facilities issues; covers overall facilities design issues, the more detailed design of water systems and HVAC systems, and the challenges required in biopharma facility design.
Courses: PME 535, 649, 647 and 646.

Project Engineering in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (PEPM), for project engineers and project managers, and those aspiring to these positions in the pharmaceutical industry. Includes the overall discipline view of facilities design, a formal introduction to project management concepts, specific implementation concepts for sterile facilities, and the newer PAT concepts.
Courses: PME 535, 609, 643 and 551 or 653.

Bioprocess Systems in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (BSPM), for individuals who address biopharma manufacturing technical issues. Includes overall facilities issues, biotechnology processes, specific biopharma facilities design concepts, and sterile facilities approaches.
Courses: PME 535, 539, 646 and 643.

Medical Devices Design and Manufacturing (MDDM), for individuals interested in the technical challenges of this rapidly growing area. Includes the manufacturing of medical devices, specifically manufacturing processes, facilities design issues, validation and regulatory affairs concepts which drive the industry, and design of BioMEMS and electromechanical devices.
Courses: PME 580, 660 and two out of PME 547, 585 or ME 581.

Graduate Certificate Programs

The Mechanical Engineering department offers several graduate certificate programs to students meeting the regular admission requirements for the Master's program. Each graduate certificate program is self-contained and highly focused, carrying 12 or more graduate credits. All of the courses may be used toward the Master of Engineering degree, as well as for the graduate certificate. Current graduate programs include:

Advanced Manufacturing

ME 566 Design for Manufacturability
ME 621 Introduction to Modern Control Engineering
ME 645 Design of Production Systems
ME 652 Advanced Additive Manufacturing

Air Pollution Technology

ME 532 Air Pollution Principles and Control
ME 534 Industrial and Environmental Catalytic Processes
ME 590 Environmental Law for Practicing Engineers
ME 612 Selected Topics in Air Pollution Technology

Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer

ME 594 Computer Methods in Mechanical Engineering
ME 604 Advanced Heat Transfer or ME 609 Convective Heat Transfer
ME 674 Fluid Dynamics
ME 675 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

Design and Production Management

ME 566 Design for Manufacturability
ME 636 Project Management and Organizational Design
ME 644 Computer-Integrated Design and Manufacturing
ME 645 Design of Production Systems

Ordnance Engineering

ME 505 Theory and Performance of Propellants and Explosives I
ME 507 Exterior Ballistics

and any two of the following three courses:

ME 504 Interior Ballistics and Design for Projection
ME 506 Theory of Performance of Propellants and Explosives II
ME 508 Terminal Ballistics

Power Generation

ME 510 Power Plant Engineering
ME 595 Heat Exchanger Design

and two of the following:

ME 529 Modern and Advanced Combustion Engines
ME 546 Introduction to Turbomachinery
ME 625 Gas Turbines

Product Architecture and Engineering

PAE 610 The Creative Form and the Digital Environment
PAE 620 The Creative Form and the Production Environment
PAE 630 Introduction to Interactive Digital Media
PAE 640 Performative Environments

Robotics and Control

ME 598 Introduction to Robotics
ME 621 Introduction to Modern Control Engineering
ME 654 Advanced Robotics

and one of the following:

ME 622 Optimal Control and Estimation of Dynamical Systems
ME 623 Design of Control Systems

Structural Analysis and Design

ME 658 Advanced Mechanics of Solids
ME 659 Advanced Structural Design
ME 661 Advanced Stress Analysis
ME 663 Finite-Element Methods

Vibration and Noise Control

ME 584 Vibration and Acoustics in Product Design
ME 611 Engineering Acoustics
ME 631 Mechanical Vibrations I
ME 651 Analytic Dynamics

Doctoral Program in Mechanical Engineering

Admission to the doctoral program will be made through the Department Director in conjunction with the Graduate Committee, and it will be based on an assessment of the applicant's academic background, competence and aptitude for advanced study and research. Normally, an appropriate Master of Engineering degree or its equivalent is required, but exceptionally well qualified applicants will be considered for admission even without a completed Master’s degree. If deemed acceptable, the student will be assigned an Advisor. Then, the student, in conjunction with the Advisor, will select a thesis topic and complete a study plan within three months in the program.

Courses are selected to develop skills in a particular area of interest. While this coursework is necessary to develop the tools and skills of the student's profession, the most important aspect of the doctoral program is the student's original research topic.

The subject of the doctoral dissertation (ME 960) is open to a wide range of particular choices. The selection of a topic by the doctoral aspirant provides for a sub-specialization within the broad range of mechanical engineering disciplines. The courses selected for the study plan should complement the student's dissertation subject.

Upon submission of an approved study plan by the student and no later than after one year of enrollment in the program, a Doctoral Committee is appointed for each student by the Department Director in conjunction with the Graduate Committee, with the Advisor as the chairperson. All doctoral students are required to take a qualifying examination (consisting of a Core Competency Test (CCT) and a Research Competency Test (RCT)) at the first offering after one year in the program. Upon failing the qualifying examination, the student may take the examination for a second time at the next offering. Upon failing the examination for the second time, the student will be asked to leave the program. In addition to the qualifying examination, all doctoral students are required to present a research proposal (including a written report and an oral presentation) to the Doctoral Committee for its approval. The candidate must present the proposal within 24 months of enrollment into the program. The Doctoral Committee, at its discretion, may decide on additional oral/written examinations before accepting the proposed dissertation plan. In the case where the committee rejects the research proposal, the candidate may submit a request for a second and final chance for presenting a revised research proposal during the following academic semester.

Upon satisfactory completion of theresearch proposal and all coursework, the student will be considered a doctoral candidate and continue the research which will form the basis of the student's dissertation. The dissertation must be based upon original investigation in the field of mechanical engineering, approved by the Department Director and Graduate Committee, and must be a contribution worthy of publication in the current professional literature. Before receiving the doctoral degree, the student must also satisfy the requirements for residence and publication of the dissertation.

Nanotechnology Concentration

The Mechanical Engineering doctoral program is an integral part of the institute-wide Nanotechnology Graduate Program. A Ph.D. degree option in Mechanical Engineering with concentration on Nanotechnology is available to students who satisfy the conditions and requirements of the Nanotechnology area which are outlined in a separate section of the catalog.

Ph.D. Requirements

Applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or better in a Master's Program in Mechanical Engineering or a related field as well as with excellent TOEFL and GRE scores are encouraged to apply for the Ph.D. Program in Mechanical Engineering. Exceptionally well qualified applicants who obtained only a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field will also be considered for direct admission into the Ph.D. Program in Mechanical Engineering. The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination consists of a Core Competency Test and a Research Competency Test to be taken after one year in the Ph.D. program.

The Ph.D. Program in Mechanical Engineering requires a total of 84 credits beyond the Bachelor's Degree in an approved program of study. Up to 30 credits previously obtained in a Master's Degree program in Mechanical Engineering or a related field may be applied towards this requirement. In addition, the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering culminates in a Ph.D. Dissertation based on the results of original research carried out under the guidance of a faculty member and defended in a public examination.