MS in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science (MS) degree program in Mechanical Engineering is designed to provide a solid basis for technical expertise in the student’s chosen sub-field, as well as provide a stepping-stone to the PhD in Mechanical Engineering. As opposed to the MEng program, students in the MS program are required to complete and defend a research-based thesis. The MS will typically require two years to complete.

Curriculum

Master of Science students are required to complete a minimum of 32 credit hours applicable to the degree according to the program planning sheet. A research-based master’s theses is required. All 32 credits must be at the 500 level or above. To graduate, a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) must be attained.

Credit cannot be given for two or more courses having significant overlap (including overlap with courses that had been taken to fulfill the candidate’s undergraduate degree requirements).

Structured Course Requirements for the MS in Mechanical Engineering

The 32 credits must be selected as follows:

• Three courses (12 credits) must be Mechanical Engineering Core courses.
• Two courses (8 credits) may be engineering/science electives (any 500/700-level engineering or physical science course, with no more than one course from the approved list of engineering management courses).
• One course (4 credits) must be an approved math course.
• Two courses (8 credits) must be unstructured MS thesis courses.
• A written research-based thesis must be completed.

Admission and Financial Aid

Students with undergraduate training in engineering, mathematics, physics, or other natural sciences are invited to apply for admission to the graduate programs in the Mechanical Engineering Department. International applicants who want to be considered for admission and financial aid must submit their application no later than December 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. U.S. citizens and permanent residents (domestic applicants) who want to be considered for admission and financial aid must submit their application no later than January 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. Application deadlines for admission without financial aid are April 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester for both domestic and international applicants. Applicants who do not require financial aid are encouraged to apply by the early deadline of January 15, for consideration before department slots are filled.

Ordinarily, all students who are admitted with financial aid will be supported to the completion of their degree. Financial aid consists of tuition, fees, and a cost-of-living stipend. Continuing support is contingent upon the student’s progress and performance. Students are expected to apply for all external scholarships for which they are eligible.

Applications for admission to these graduate programs may be obtained from the College of Engineering, Graduate Programs Office, 44 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215; tel: 617-353-9760; email: enggrad@bu.edu; College of Engineering Graduate Programs website. An electronic application is available.