Mechanical Engineering

Admission Requirements Degree Requirements

Mailing Address:
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MC 251)
842 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7022

Campus Location: 2041 ERF
Program Codes: 20FS0133MS (MS); 20FS0133PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-6122
E-mail: megrad@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.mie.uic.edu/

Head of the Department:  Farzad Mashayek
Director of Graduate Studies:  Laxman Saggere

 

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering offers graduate programs leading to degrees in Mechanical Engineering at both the master’s and doctoral levels. In addition, the department offers a program leading to the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research; consult the appropriate section of the catalog for more information. The department offers a broad range of courses in the field of mechanical engineering. A rich array of research topics of contemporary interest are structured into four major interdisciplinary research areas of emphasis: Biomedical and Biotechnology, Microsystems and Nanotechnology, Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Environment. Some examples of specific research focus areas within these emphasis areas include micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), micro/nanomanipulation, nanoparticle, nanofluidics, microtransducers and micromechanisms, electrospinning, acoustics, dynamics and vibration, medical imaging and diagnostics, biomechanics and computational mechanics, product design, mechatronics and automatic control, multi-body systems and vehicle dynamics, IC engines, combustors, plasma, combustion, heat transfer, turbulence, multi-phase flows, molecular dynamics and air pollution control. Interdisciplinary and interdepartmental work is encouraged in other engineering departments such as, bioengineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science as well as various departments in the college of medicine.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy

  • Baccalaureate Field Mechanical engineering. The degree must be from an American Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) accredited college or university or equivalent.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study. A grade point average of at least 3.50 is preferred for applicants to the PhD program.
  • Tests Required International applicants are required to take the GRE. Applicants seeking a teaching or research assistantship are strongly encouraged to take the GRE General.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
    • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required.
  • Personal Statement Required.
  • Other Requirements Admission to the PhD program is not automatic for students completing their MS degree in the department. Master’s students who desire to continue on to the PhD must see the department’s graduate coordinator for forms to apply to the PhD program.
  • Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants may be admitted for no more than 8 semester hours.
  • Deadlines The application deadlines for these programs are the same as the Graduate College deadlines. For full consideration for all forms of financial aid including the University Fellowship, all application materials must be submitted by January 1 for admission in fall semester of that year.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 36.
  • Student must choose one of the following two options:
    1. Thesis Option 36 hours total
      1. 24 hours of course work
        1. 12 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
        2. Remaining 12 hours at the 400- or 500-level
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 4 hours must be in ME rubric
      2. 12 hours of ME 598—MS Thesis Research
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester
    2. Course-Work-Only Option 36 hours total
      1. 16 hours at the 500-level
        1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
        2. 12 hours must be in the ME rubric
      2. Remaining 20 hours at the 400- or 500-level
        1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
        2. 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester
  • No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
  • Students must get director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
  • All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by director of graduate studies.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options are available.

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 108 from the baccalaureate.
  • Students must complete one of the following two options:
    1. Direct PhD (108 hours total from the baccalaureate)
      1. 56 hours course work
        1. 28 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            2. ME 594—Math may be used toward this requirement.
          3. 16 hours must be in ME rubric
        2. Remaining 28 hours
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 12 hours must be in ME rubric
          3. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. These courses may be at the 400- or 500-level.
            2. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and the director of graduate studies.
            3. ME 494—Math may be used toward this requirement.
      2. 52 hours of ME 599—PhD Thesis Research
      3. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
    2. PhD Post MS (108 hours total, including 32 hours transferred from the MS). Credit for MS Degree: Those having an MS degree from an accredited institution will be awarded 32 semester hours of credit toward the PhD degree requirement, which includes 24 hours of course work and 8 hours of ME 599.
      1. 32 hours of course work
        1. 16 hours at the 500-level
          1. Excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
          2. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            2. ME 594—Math may be used toward this requirement.
          3. 12 hours must be in ME rubric
        2. Remaining 16 hours at the 400- and/or 500-level
          1. Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
          2. 4 hours must be in the ME rubric
          3. 4 hours of mathematics and statistics
            1. These courses may be at the 400- or 500-level.
            2. Rubrics MATH and STAT are allowed with approval of the advisor and director of graduate studies.
            3. ME 494—Math may be used toward this requirement.
      2. 44 hours of ME 599—PhD Thesis Research
      3. 32 hours transferred from MS degree
      4. All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
  • No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
  • Students must get the director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
  • All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by director of graduate studies.
  • Examinations Departmental Qualifying Examination: Required.
  • Preliminary Examination: Required.
  • Dissertation Required. Students must earn at least 52 semester hours in ME 599.
  • Other Requirements Students must be registered during the semester of intended graduation.

Financial Aid

There are several different forms of financial aid available to incoming graduate students: University Fellowship, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Tuition and Fee Waivers. Applicants may seek financial aid by completing the downloadable Application for Graduate Appointment and mailing it to the MIE Department at UIC. They will automatically be considered for all four forms of financial aid listed above. Additional information and the procedure to apply for financial aid can be found on the MIE website at http://www.mie.uic.edu.

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