Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.

This Ph.D. program is one of the most successful programs in the nation. The majority of students are supported by their own companies, by faculty research grants or by the department through teaching assistant fellowships. The latter option is specifically tailored to students interested in obtaining a faculty position after graduation.

Admission Requirements

1. An M.S. degree in mechanical engineering or in a closely related discipline from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association or completion of an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing.
2. Excellent academic performance in all completed coursework, with a GPA of at least 3.500 on a 4.000 scale.
3. Submission of a complete application, including a statement of purpose, official transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate studies, and payment of appropriate application fee.
4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can judge the applicant’s potential success as a doctoral student.
5. All international students whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from an American university must comply with the university’s English Language Proficiency requirements.

Direct Admission into the Ph.D. Program

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers direct admission into its doctoral program for outstanding students with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. This special “fast-track” program allows a student to apply up to 18 credit hours from the coursework hours requirement to the dissertation hours requirement, while retaining the 78 credit hours required past the Bachelor’s degree. The minimum number of dissertation hours remains at 24 credit hours. A student admitted into this “fast-track” program must successfully complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework and a minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation with the total coursework and dissertation hours reaching a minimum of 78 credit hours. The expected program of study for most students in this track is 36 credit hours of coursework and 42 credit hours of dissertation. A minimum of 36 credit hours of the coursework must be from regularly scheduled, graduate-level courses, and cannot be one-on-one, directed study type courses. Additionally, students must satisfy the core course requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

Admission Requirements

This fast-track program is open only to outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in their undergraduate (UG) career and who are well prepared to excel in their graduate coursework and research. Therefore, admission into this program shall be considered on an exceptional basis.

To be considered for admission to this program, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. An undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from a reputable program,
2. An UG GPA of 3.5 or higher,
3. A GRE quantitative score of 85% or higher,
4. Strong letters of recommendation supporting the student’s direct admission into a fast-track program, and
5. A written statement of purpose that projects maturity, purpose, commitment, and a demonstrated standard of excellence.

The Lyle School will consider outstanding applicants who have specifically applied to the fast-track program and will determine their admission into this program. A direct admission student who earns a cumulative GPA of less than 3.5 on their core courses or fails to complete the core requirement in two successive regular semesters is suspended from the fast-track doctoral program and switched to the regular Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program. No readmission into the fast track program is allowed.