Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering (MEM, MSME, PhD, 4+1 BME/MEM)

Telephone: (302) 831-2421
http://www.me.udel.edu/academics/grad/index.html
Faculty Listing: http://www.me.udel.edu/People/people.html

Program Overview

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME), which can be pursued along two tracks - thesis or non-thesis, and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering.

The graduate programs are designed to provide considerable flexibility in the selection of course work and specialization. Independent research is required for both the MSME (thesis track) and PhD degrees, while the MSME non-thesis degree program is appropriate for full-time and part-time students. The option of enrollment into the PhD program directly after the Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is available. The Department also offers a 4+1 BME/MSME program that allows the student to complete both the BME and MSME degrees in five years of full-time study.

Research Facilities And Opportunities

The research opportunities in the Department cover essentially all fundamental fields of mechanical engineering including solid and fluid mechanics, materials, dynamics and control, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. Applied and interdisciplinary research in the Department is focused in five areas: biomechanical engineering, clean energy, composites and nanotechnology, robotics and control, and atmospheric and environmental fluid mechanics.

Students benefit from the cross-disciplinary research conducted through several centers affiliated with Department faculty. Founded in 1974, the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary center of excellence for composites research and education. CCM’s Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory houses state-of-the-art composites manufacturing, characterization, testing, and computational research equipment.

The Center for Biomechanical Engineering Research provides a framework for interdisciplinary research and development in the general area of biomedical engineering. Topics include the generation of force and motion in the human body; design and testing of biomedical devices; orthopedic and rehabilitation engineering; injury and healing of the body; joint, tissue and cellular biomechanics; and tissue engineering.

The Center for Fuel Cells and Batteries supports research to improve an understanding of fuel cell and battery materials and processes by facilitating coordination among the approximately 20 UD faculty members working in this area. The CFCB also encourages interactions and collaborations with industries involved in fuel cells and batteries.

Other topics in clean energy research include wind and ocean-current energy, and vehicle-to-grid technology.

Composites and nanotechnology research involves characterization, modeling and processing of heterogeneous and nanostructured materials. Composites research is focused on process modeling and manufacturing, mechanics and multiscale modeling, durability, and temperature dependent behavior. Nanotechnology research encompasses nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoclays and their composites.

Current research areas in robotics and control include the design of novel robotic systems, coordination and control of multi-degree-of-freedom robot systems, intelligent small machines, and control of dynamic systems.

Atmospheric and environmental fluid mechanics deal with naturally occurring flow systems and their impact on contaminant transport in air and groundwater at all scales as well as weather, climate, and the water cycle.

The Department is housed in the Robert L. Spencer Laboratory, containing modern facilities for a wide range of experimental and computational research in cartilage biomechanics, cell mechanobiology, and musculoskeletal modeling and simulation; fuel cells, batteries, ultracapacitors, and thermoelectrics; multi-scale modeling of composites and multifunctional composites for damage detection; synthesis and characterization of nanoscale materials (nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene); and robotic systems for human-assistive technologies, robotic networks for cooperative active sensing, and connected and autonomous vehicles. An array of Stratasys and MakerBot FDM and resin 3D printers and a fully-staffed and equipped machine shop with a CNC lathe, five two-axis CNC milling machines, and a Mazak three-axis CNC milling machine support the research programs.

A wide variety of other research facilities and mechanical engineering laboratories are available throughout the College and University including scanning and transmission electron microscopes, fuel cell test stands, a fully equipped six-camera gait analysis laboratory, telemetered, and wired EM6 amplifiers.

Requirements for Admission

The following minimum criteria apply:

A baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering or in a closely allied field of engineering, science, or mathematics.
An undergraduate grade point average in engineering, science, and mathematics courses of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
A minimum of at least three letters of strong support from former professors or supervisors.
A minimum combined Quantitative and Verbal score of 308 (1200) on the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test.
A minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or at least 100 on the IBT with a speaking score of 20. This test is not required of students whose first language is English or who have received an undergraduate or post-graduate degree from a college or university in which English is the sole language of instruction.

Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the research opportunities available with the faculty. Meeting the stated minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Financial Aid

Awards of financial assistance are made on the basis of merit and students who complete applications by January 15 are given preference. Please refer to Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships for more information.

4+1 Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BME/MSME)

http://www.me.udel.edu/academics/4plus1.html

The 4+1 BME/MSME degree program is for highly-qualified undergraduate students who wish to earn both the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (BME) and the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree in five years of full-time study in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. Through the 4+1 program, both degrees can be completed in less time, and at a reduced cost, than the two degrees earned sequentially.

Graduate Certificate in Composite Manufacturing and Engineering (CM-CERT)

Program Overview

Program Description: This certificate program is offered by the University of Delaware’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and is administered through the Professional Engineering Outreach Program. The certificate may be earned by completing nine (9) credits (three 3-credit graduate courses) with passing grades (C or better) and an overall GPA of 3.0. Courses in which a student earns a grade of B or better would be transferable as electives into a graduate mechanical engineering degree program.

For more information, please contact enggoutreach@udel.edu.

Programs

Master’s

Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Doctorate

Mechanical Engineering (PhD)

Certificate

4+1