Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will have a solid education based on the fundamentals of engineering science. Graduates are well prepared for practical applications of engineering design, analysis, and research, and for employment in industry and research laboratories.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates there were 293,100 mechanical engineers employed across the United States in 2024. On average, about 18,100 openings for mechanical engineers are projected each year. There is great demand for mechanical engineers, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 9% increase from 2024-2034, much faster than average for all occupations.

The department maintains excellent instructional and research facilities, including one of the state’s largest anechoic chambers and the unique Center for Rotating Machinery Dynamics and Control. The department maintains state-of-the-art facilities in energy and power systems, control and mechatronics and machine design, including Stirling engines, a wind tunnel, the machine vision and system monitoring lab, the rapid prototyping lab, and the rotating machinery dynamics and control lab. The Washkewicz College of Engineering’s computer network, workstations, PC laboratory, and associated software such as Matlab, and SolidWorks, are available for research and academic activity.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements:

1. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or better
2. Four-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, in any discipline from an accredited university. Students without a bachelor’s degree in engineering may be considered for admission and may be assigned preparatory courses as part of their study plan. No preparatory course may count toward the fulfillment of the graduate degree program.
    

Degree Requirements

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers two program options: a thesis option and a non-thesis option. The Department of Mechanical Engineering restricts the content of each student’s master’s program to contain:

1. A minimum of twenty credit hours of course work in the department’s 500- or 600-level courses, which includes a minimum of four credit hours of advanced engineering analysis or applied mathematics. (Completion of one course from among required course below meets this requirement.)
2. A maximum of nine credit hours of graduate course work transferred from other universities.

The topic of thesis or project work must be on a topic approved by the student’s graduate advisor and thesis/project committee. The project or thesis work typically should start only after the student completes sixteen credit hours or more of approved course work at the master’s level. A thesis proposal approval form must be completed and approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies before registering for MCE 699 - Master’s Thesis.

At least one semester prior to graduation, an application-for-graduation form must be submitted to the department and the Office of the University Registrar.
 

Thesis Option

With the thesis option, a student plans and carries out a research project. It is expected that the project will yield a refereed journal article. The requirements are:

1. A minimum of thirty credit hours with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better. This includes a minimum of twenty-four credit hours of course work and at least six credit hours for the master’s thesis.
2. Selection of a major advisor and an advisory committee and approval of a program of study and the research project by the major advisor and advisory committee.
3. Completion of all requirements noted above under Degree Requirements.
4. Continuous thesis enrollment from the time the research plan is approved until completed.
5. Defense of the thesis before the advisory committee.
    

Non-Thesis Option

Students following this option earn the MS degree by completing the following requirements:

1. A minimum of thirty-three credit hours with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better. The thirty-three credit hours may include an optional master’s project (0-5 credits, may be taken over multiple semesters).
2. Selection of a major advisor to supervise and approve the student’s program of study.
3. Fulfillment of all requirements noted above under Degree Requirements.
4. If completing a master’s project, approval of master’s project report by the major advisor and two additional faculty members in the department.
    

Accelerated Master's Program

The Department of Mechanical Engineering also offers an Accelerated Program that would enable students to a earn a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
 

Learn more about the Accelerated Master's Program Here

Learn more about the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering admission and requirements

Tushar Borkar

Title: Graduate Program Director
Email: t.borkar@csuohio.edu

The department offers a limited number of graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships. Additional opportunities for assistantships exist through various government agencies. Information about assistantships is available from the Department of Mechanical Engineering by calling (216) 687-2567, emailing mce@csuohio.edu, or by visiting the link below.

Learn more about Graduate Assistantships

Learn more by requesting information or contacting a program staff member directly.

Apply here!

Program Director

Tushar Borkar

Title: Graduate Program Director
Email: t.borkar@csuohio.edu