Academic Year:
Mechanical Engineering
Telephone: (302) 831-2421
http://www.me.udel.edu
Faculty Listing: http://www.me.udel.edu/People/people.html
Program Overview
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME), Master of Engineering: Mechanical (MEM) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in mechanical engineering.
The graduate programs are designed to provide a broad based extension of the undergraduate experience through a combination of formal course work and research in the student's selected area of specialization. Independent research is required for both the MSME and PhD degrees, while the MEM is a non-thesis degree program designed for part-time students. The Department also offers a 4+1 BME/MEM program that allows the student to complete both the BME and MEM degrees in five years of full-time study. The Department also offers enrollment into the PhD program directly after the Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Research Facilities And Opportunities
The research opportunities in the department cover essentially all fundamental fields of mechanical engineering including solid and fluid mechanics, materials, dynamics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. Applied and interdisciplinary research in the department is focused in five areas: biomedical engineering, clean energy, composites and nanotechnology, robotics and control, and atmospheric and environmental fluid mechanics.
Students benefit from the cross-disciplinary research conducted through several centers affiliated with department faculty. Founded in 1974 within the University of Delaware's College of Engineering, the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary center of excellence for composites research and education. CCM's Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory houses state-of-the-art composites manufacturing, characterization, testing, and computational research equipment.
The Center for Biomedical Engineering Research provides a framework for interdisciplinary research in the general area of biomedical engineering. Topics include the generation of force and motion in the human body, orthopedic and rehabilitation engineering, joint lubrication, tissue engineering, sports medicine, and biofluid mechanics.
The Center for Fuel Cell Research supports research to improve the understanding of fuel cell materials and processes by facilitating coordination amongst the approximately 20 UD faculty members working in this area. The CFCR also encourages interactions and collaborations with industries involved in fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure activities.
While the major focus of clean energy research is on the improvement of performance and durability of fuel cells, other topics include wind and ocean-current energy, and vehicle-to-grid technology.
Composites and nanotechnology research involves characterization, modeling and processing of heterogeneous and nanostructured materials. Composites research is focused on process modeling and manufacturing, mechanics and multiscale modeling, durability, and temperature dependent behavior. Nanotechnology research encompasses nanotubes, nanofibers, nanoclays and their composites.
Current research areas in robotics and control are design of novel robotic systems, coordination and control of multi-degree-of-freedom robot systems, intelligent small machines, and control of dynamic systems.
Atmospheric and environmental fluid mechanics deal with naturally occurring flow systems and their impact on contaminant transport in air and groundwater at all scales as well as weather, climate, and the water cycle.
The department is housed in the Robert L. Spencer Laboratory, containing modern facilities for a wide range of computational and experimental projects. Among the facilities are particle image velocimeters, scanning and transmission electron microscopes, high-vacuum chambers, mechanical- and ballistic-impact-testing systems, robots, fuel cell test stands, high speed infrared thermographic camera, tension and compression split Hopkinson bars, 3-D printer, fully equipped 6-camera gait analysis laboratory, telemetered and wired EM6 amplifiers, ultrasound, and extensive research-grade electronic instrumentation. A fully staffed and equipped machine shop with a CNC lathe and miller support the research programs.
A wide variety of other research facilities are available throughout the college and university.
Requirements for Admission
The following minimum criteria apply:
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A baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering or in a closely allied field of science or mathematics.
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An undergraduate grade point average in engineering, science and mathematics courses of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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A minimum of at least three letters of strong support from former teachers or supervisors.
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A minimum combined Quantitative and Verbal score of 308 (1200) on the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test.
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A minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or at least 100 on the IBT with a speaking score of 20. This test is not required of students whose first language is English and who have received an undergraduate or post-graduate degree from a College or University in which English is the sole language of instruction.
Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well qualified applicants and the research opportunities available with the faculty. Meeting the stated minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Financial Aid
Awards of financial assistance are made on the basis of merit and students who complete applications by January 15 are given preference. Please refer to Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships for more information.
Requirements For The Degrees
The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree and a thesis equivalent to 6 credit hours. Courses for this degree may be selected from a range of fundamental and applied topics in mechanical engineering.
The Master of Engineering: Mechanical degree requires the completion of 30 credit hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree and does not require a thesis. Courses for this degree may be selected from a range of fundamental and applied topics in mechanical engineering.
The Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Master of Engineering Mechanical (4+1 BME/MEM degree program) for highly-qualified undergraduate students. This program allows the student to earn both the BME and the MEM degree in 5 years of full-time study in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. Students would normally apply in the spring of their junior year.
The doctoral program in mechanical engineering allows considerable flexibility in setting up a plan of study that best suits the student's individual needs and interests. It is possible to pursue the PhD degree directly after a bachelor's degree. Students must pass the Qualifying Exam within one year of starting the doctoral program.
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students and others who use the Catalog should note that the policies, rules, regulations,
requirements for graduation, course offerings, and other materials reproduced in the Catalog change
from time-to-time and that these changes may alter the information contained in this Catalog.
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