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The Mechanical Engineering doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 36 credits being graduate coursework (including the MEMS curriculum requirements as outlined in the MEMS Doctoral Handbook) and a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral thesis research. To be admitted to candidacy, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and pass the qualifying examination. All students are required to enroll in the department seminar every semester.
At most, 6 units of coursework may be taken as graduate independent study, and a maximum of 6 units of 4000-level courses are allowed (these must be from courses not required for the BS degree). Please refer to the MEMS Doctoral Handbook for more guidance on course requirements. Graduate courses may be transferred in (up to 24 credits) but must be evaluated and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students enroll in two to three courses each semester and participate in a First Year Research Experience during the first two semesters of their program. They must complete their qualifying examination no later than May 31 (December 16 for Spring admissions) of their first year. During their second year, students complete their remaining courses and must complete their thesis proposal prior to the start of their fifth semester.
After a successful proposal defense, students provide their research updates through annual meetings with their thesis committee. Upon completion of their dissertation, typically in year 5, students must present their dissertation research in a public forum and successfully defend the dissertation before their thesis committee. At least one published article is required at the time of defense.
For more detailed guidelines, please refer to the MEMS Doctoral Handbook available on the MEMS PhD program webpage.
As part of their degree requirements, PhD students must complete a program-defined Mentored Experience Requirement (MER) as per these guidelines. The Mentored Experience Implementation Plan (MEIP) is the written articulation of a program-defined degree requirement for PhD students to engage in mentored teaching activities and/or mentored professional activities, collectively referred to as the MER.
Mentored Experience Requirement (MER)
Philosophy of Teaching
Over the course of their PhD program, doctoral students in MEMS are expected to make novel advances in an area or topic in mechanical engineering through innovative and impactful research. Simultaneously, our goal is to prepare MEMS PhD graduates to thrive in various careers in academia, industry, government, or other research-oriented sectors. To maximize their impact in such careers, our students must also learn to communicate both fundamental concepts and novel research findings to a variety of audiences: co-workers, clients and trainees of divergent backgrounds. These careers also require the ability to assess the accuracy and value of others’ technical work. Our MTE program seeks to instill these skills through the MTE program requirements described below.
Preparatory Engagement
Preparatory Engagement activities are those that represent an introduction to the foundational skills associated with teaching or communication. Pedagogical preparation engagement activities are normally completed before students are permitted to engage in assisting or teaching in a classroom.
Two McKelvey instructional trainings are required:
- McKelvey Teaching Orientation
- McKelvey Teaching Workshop
Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs)
Assistant in Instruction (AI)
An Assistant in Instruction (AI) is a PhD student who is directly engaged in the organization, instruction, and/or support of a semester-long course primarily taught by a faculty member. An AI receives mentorship from a faculty member related to best practices in classroom engagement, instruction in the field, interpersonal engagement, and other relevant skills. Students and mentors complete a mentorship plan prior to the start of each AI experience. To complete each AI assignment and to ensure that it applies toward their degree requirements, students must register for the appropriate course number for each semester of engagement. Refer to the "Required Pathways for Completion" section below for course numbers and details.
MEMS requires one AI assignment at 10 MER units to be completed during the student's third year of residency. Students work with their advisors and the Director of Undergraduate Studies on the timing and content of their MTE assignment.
Required Pathways for Completion
- Preparatory Engagement
| EGS 8010 | Take once |