Mechanical Engineering - Graduate Program
The Mechanical Engineering department offers a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The master's degree program in Mechanical Engineering is designed to provide advanced study, (analytically, computationally, and experimentally) in thermodynamics, fluids, heat transfer, energy systems, vibrations, engineering mechanics, and their associated measurement systems. This program prepares the student for advanced placement in the mechanical engineering field in industry, research, or development areas. Additionally, this program provides a suitable base for entrance into a Ph.D. program in a field related to Mechanical Engineering. The program is offered both at the Pocatello and Idaho Falls campuses, primarily through the use of telecommunications/distance learning, which includes partial in-class instruction.
Program Objectives
- Enhance the knowledge of graduates in advanced concepts of thermodynamics, fluids, heat transfer, energy systems, vibrations, engineering mechanics, measurements, and engineering mathematics.
- Increase the ability of graduates to synthesize and apply these advanced concepts to develop realistic mechanical engineering designs implementing them safely, ethically, and effectively.
- Enhance the ability of graduates to communicate these concepts effectively both in oral and written form.
Required Courses
There are 32 credit hours required. Approximately half of the credits are engineering and technical electives, which should generally follow the guidelines specified in the College of Engineering Graduate Studies Handbook, subject to the approval of the student's advisory committee. The thesis project, which is required, should consist of study and research that complements the course work selected. Each student must also complete two semesters of seminar, an important component in developing research and communication skills.
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Applied Sciences
This program prepares graduates to conduct and disseminate independent scholarly research and prepares graduates for careers in academia or industry.
Program Objectives
- Increase the knowledge of graduates in Mechanical Engineering.
- Enhance the ability of graduates to contribute to their chosen field.
- Enhance effective written and oral communication skills of graduates.
The Ph.D. program in Engineering and Applied Science is an interdisciplinary program administered by the College of Engineering. Research areas include those in Mechanical Engineering. To attain a degree in this program, a student must demonstrate scholarly achievement and an ability for independent investigation. The program will normally require three years of full-time study beyond the master's degree, including research and preparation of the dissertation.
Admission
All applicants must meet ISU Graduate School admission requirements for doctoral programs. Additionally, applicants must have attained a master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a closely related field. Applicants must submit a one-page (only) statement of research interests, a one-page (only) statement of career interests, a resume, and at least 3 letters of reference along with their applications. In some special cases, a student with exceptional undergraduate academic record and aptitude for research but without an M.S. degree may be directly admitted to the Ph.D. Program with the approval of the Ph.D. Program committee.
Requirements
The Ph.D. degree requires completion of at least 84 credits consisting of 30 credits for the M.S. degree, 18 credits of course work, 4 credits of graduate seminar and 32 credits of dissertation research. Six credits of core courses are required for each emphasis area. The 30 credits for the M.S. degree is the maximum allowed. At least 9 of the 18 credits of course work must be in collateral areas as designated by the student's advisory committee. Additional dissertation research credits may be required by the student's dissertation committee.
Program of Study
An advisory committee consisting of Idaho State University graduate faculty from the four academic units will be established for each student upon entry into the program. The committee will guide the student in establishing his or her program of course work and laboratory study based upon the student's background and research interest. The advisory committee has the responsibility of ensuring that the student has adequate knowledge to support research in his or her area of interest.
At the end of the first year, the student will sit for a written, comprehensive qualifying examination over the relevant information within the scope of the research area. A student taking the comprehensive qualifying exam needs to be prepared to take an oral examination conducted by the student's Advisory Committee. The oral exam needs to focus primarily on material in the written exam that was not adequately answered. However, the Advisory Committee, at its discretion, may excuse a student from taking the oral examination if the student excels in the written examination. The student will be allowed two attempts to pass this examination, and the second attempt must be within one-half year after the first attempt. The student will be admitted to candidacy upon passing the comprehensive qualifying examination.
A dissertation committee, chaired by the candidate's major professor, will be appointed. Within six months of passing the comprehensive qualifying examination, the candidate, with guidance from the major professor, will satisfactorily complete an oral presentation and defense of a proposal for dissertation research to the committee.
The research and dissertation preparation must be done under the close supervision of the committee and must include at least one full year of work performed under Idaho State University graduate faculty. The candidate can submit the final dissertation anytime after six months from the date of acceptance of the research proposal.
Dissertation approval requires a public presentation of the dissertation and a satisfactory oral defense to the Dissertation Committee. Doctoral oral examinations are open to all regular members of the faculty as observers. Further, oral presentations are open to the public until questioning by the Dissertation Committee begins.