MS in Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science offers a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering with either a Thesis Option or a Course Option.

Thesis Option

The quantitative requirement for the degree is 30-credit hours. A minimum of 24 of these units must be course credit, and a minimum of 6 units must be Masters Research, MEMS 599.

Full-time MS students in any area are required to take MEMS 501 Seminar every semester, which is a zero-unit, pass-fail course.

The overall grade-point average must be 2.70 or better.

Courses may be chosen from 400- and 500-level offerings. All must be engineering, math, or science courses with the following restrictions:

A maximum of 3 units of Independent Study, MEMS 400/500, are allowed.

A maximum of 6 units of 400-level courses are allowed, and these must be from courses not required for the BSME degree (if counted for the MSAE) or not required for the BSAE degree (if counted for the MSME degree).

Each course must be approved by the candidate’s thesis advisor.

A maximum of 6 units of transfer credit is allowed for courses taken at other graduate institutions, and these must have been taken with grade B or better.

A minimum of 15 units of the total 30 units must be in MEMS courses.

The student must also write a satisfactory thesis and successfully defend it in an oral examination before a faculty committee consisting of at least three members, at least two of which are from the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science.

Course Option

The quantitative requirement for the degree is 30-credit hours (normally 10 courses) completed with a grade-point average of 2.70 or better.

Full-time MS students in any area are required to take MEMS 501 Seminar every semester, which is a zero-unit, pass-fail course.

Course programs may be composed of one area of specialization: applied mechanics, dynamics/mechanical design, fluid dynamics/thermal sciences, or solid mechanics/materials science.

Course credits must conform to the following distribution:

Applied Mathematics 6 credits

Area of Specialization 15 credits

Electives 9 credits

• Elective courses may be chosen in any area of engineering or mathematics at 400 level or higher.
• Of the 30 units, 24 units must be in 500-level courses.
• A maximum of 3 credits of Independent Study, MEMS 400/500, may be included as an elective course.
• No more than 6 units may be 400-level courses; core requirements for the BSME are not allowed (with the exception of MEMS 4301 Modeling, Systems and Control).
• A minimum of 15 units must be in MEMS.
• Degree candidates will plan their course programs with the help of a departmental advisor.

The mission of the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is to promote independent inquiry in engineering research and education with an emphasis on scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration without boundaries.

WashU Engineers produce new knowledge that changes the world, and our faculty are educating students to explore and create in a world we cannot yet imagine. Through research and education, we are making a positive impact on the local community, the country and the world.

Academic Departments

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Electrical & Systems Engineering
• Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
• Sever Institute
• UMSL/WashU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program

What Lies Ahead

As an engineering school, we need to adapt to the changing environment and to prepare our students to explore, create, and succeed in a world we cannot yet imagine. To address these needs, we have embarked on a five-year strategic plan that draws on our existing strengths to prepare students for the challenges ahead. Among the steps we’ve taken are launching new interdisciplinary programs in highly relevant areas including imaging sciences, data sciences, materials science, cybersecurity and combined programs with math and business. With a 3,350 square-foot makerspace as well as classroom and study space under construction, we’re ensuring we provide everything our students need to succeed.