Graduate Degree Programs
Current graduate students are encouraged to track their progress towards graduation each semester. The following information will outline all the required steps within each respective program.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed to give students in-depth study in a particular research emphasis. Doctorate students have more say in crafting their topics and designing their research. In the workforce, doctorate graduates earn more than graduates with only a master’s. They have the flexibility to choose a career in industry, research, or education.
Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)
| Program Declaration |
|---|
| Purpose: Inform Grad Advising of their graduate program(s) and declare a Research Advisor |
| Due Date: By the start of the first semester |
| Preliminary Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the plan for courses to take during their program |
| Students should coordinate the classes they will take with their Research Advisor. |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Qualifying Exam (during student’s 3rd semester, second attempt during 4th semester) |
|---|
| Purpose: Ensure competency in key areas of the student’s research. (Additional exam info) |
| Registration: Submit the PhD Qualifying Exam Registration Form during Week 1 of the semester |
| Exam: Qualifying exams occur during the 12th week of the Fall and Spring semesters |
| Milestone MS (only for students without a prior MS in Mechanical Engineering) |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize a student’s progress towards their PhD and competency in their coursework areas |
| Due Date: After the student passes the PhD Qualifying Exam and completes at least 30 class hours |
| Supervisory Committee |
|---|
| Purpose: Guides and assists students in their research and degree milestone completion |
| Due Date: Within 1 semester of passing the PhD Qualifying Exam |
| Research Proposal |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the research aims and timeline for degree completion |
| Format of the Proposal manuscript is determined by the student’s Research Advisor |
| Due: Within 1 year of passing the PhD Qualifying Exam |
| Final Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Informs Grad Advising of the courses to be applied to the student’s degree |
| Due Date: When a student registers for their last class and has completed 14 dissertation research hours |
| Oral Dissertation Defense |
|---|
| Purpose: Demonstrate the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must have their dissertation content approved before conducting the Oral Defense |
| Due Date: Generally within 2 years of a student’s Proposal Defense |
| Dissertation Publication |
|---|
| Purpose: Publish the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must receive format approval from Grad Advising before they will receive Department Chair approval |
| Due Date: Within 8 months of the student’s Oral Defense |
| Graduation |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize the culmination of the student’s academic achievements |
| Due Date: Apply to graduate at the beginning of the semester of the student’s planned Oral Defense |
Coursework Requirements (33 class hours and a minimum of 14 dissertation hours)
| Post BS | Post MS* |
|---|---|
| 12 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX | 3-12 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX |
| 6 Credit Hours – ME EN 7XXX | 3-6 Credit Hours – ME EN 7XXX |
| 15 Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering | 6-15 Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering |
| 14 Credit Hours – ME EN 7970 | 14 Credit Hours – ME EN 7970 |
*Students with a prior MS can apply up to 21 hours of completed grad coursework towards the required 33 class hours (at the discretion of their Research Advisor)
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
The thesis-track option is a research-oriented degree. Distinguish yourself from the large number of students with bachelor’s degrees by increasing your knowledge, interests, and training with an M.S. Degree.
Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)
| Program Declaration |
|---|
| Purpose: Inform Grad Advising of their graduate program(s) and declare a Research Advisor |
| Due Date: By the start of the first semester |
| Preliminary Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the plan for courses to take during their program |
| Students should coordinate the classes they will take with their Research Advisor |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Supervisory Committee |
|---|
| Purpose: Guides and assists students in their research and degree milestone completion |
| Due Date: By the end of the student’s first year |
| Final Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Informs Grad Advising of the courses to be applied to the student’s degree |
| Due Date: When a student registers for their last class and has completed 9 thesis research hours |
| Oral Thesis Defense |
|---|
| Purpose: Demonstrate the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must have their thesis content approved before conducting the Oral Defense |
| Due Date: Generally within 2 years of a student’s start date |
| Thesis Publication |
|---|
| Purpose: Publish the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must receive format approval from Grad Advising before they will receive Department Chair approval |
| Due Date: Within 8 months of the student’s Oral Defense |
| Graduation |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize the culmination of the student’s academic achievements |
| Due Date: Apply to graduate at the beginning of the semester of the student’s planned Oral Defense |
Coursework Requirements (21 class hours and a minimum of 9 thesis hours)
| Courses |
|---|
| 12 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours – ME EN 6975 |
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
The non-thesis option is a degree based on in-depth coursework in a focus area with breadth provided from electives taken in other areas (engineering, math and science). Distinguish yourself from the large number of students with bachelor’s degrees by increasing your knowledge, interests, and training with an M.S. Degree.
Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)
| Program Declaration |
|---|
| Purpose: Inform Grad Advising of their graduate program(s) |
| Due Date: By the start of the first semester |
| Preliminary Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the plan for courses to take during their program |
| Students should coordinate the classes they will take with their Graduate Advisor or the Director of Grad Studies |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Supervisory Committee |
|---|
| Purpose: Guides and assists students in their research and degree milestone completion |
| Due Date: By the end of the student’s first year |
| Final Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Informs Grad Advising of the courses to be applied to the student’s degree |
| Due Date: When a student registers for their last class |
| Comprehensive Exam |
|---|
| Purpose: Ensure the completion of all degree milestones. Meet with your Grad Advisor for the specifics of the exam |
| Due Date: Before the end of the student’s last semester |
| Graduation |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize the culmination of the student’s academic achievements |
| Due Date: Apply to graduate at the beginning of the student’s last semester |
Coursework Requirements (30 class hours)
| Courses |
|---|
| 15 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 15 Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
For undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Master’s degree, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a combined degree program intended to foster undergraduate research (thesis option), provide an in-depth educational experience in a specific area of interest (thesis and non-thesis options), and to accelerate progress toward the M.S. degree. Read more about the BS/MS program here.
Admission
| BS/MS Requirements |
|---|
| Mechanical Engineering Undergrad Major at the University of Utah |
| Pre-Screening during third or fourth year of BS program |
| Undergraduate GPA – minimum 3.0 |
| Research advisor reference (thesis master’s only; list on screening form) |
Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)
| Pre-Screening Application (Link) |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine if the undergrad student qualifies for the combined BS/MS program |
| Due Date: First semester of BS Senior year |
| Program Declaration |
|---|
| Purpose: Inform Grad Advising of their graduate program(s) (and declare a Research Advisor if MS Thesis) |
| Due Date: By the start of the first semester |
| Preliminary Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the plan for courses to take during their program |
| Students should coordinate the classes they will take with their Research Advisor. |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| BS/MS Credit Transfer |
|---|
| Purpose: Move 6-12 credit hours of undergrad tech elective credit to the student’s graduate program |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Supervisory Committee |
|---|
| Purpose: Guides and assists students in their research and degree milestone completion |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Final Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Informs Grad Advising of the courses to be applied to the student’s degree |
| Due Date: When a student registers for their last class (and has completed 9 thesis research hours if MS Thesis) |
| Oral Thesis Defense (BS/MS Thesis option only) |
|---|
| Purpose: Demonstrate the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must have their thesis content approved before conducting the Oral Defense |
| Due Date: Generally within 2 years of a student’s start date |
| Comprehensive Exam (BS/MSNT option only) |
|---|
| Purpose: Ensure the completion of all degree milestones. Meet with your Grad Advisor for the specifics of the exam |
| Due Date: Before the end of the student’s last semester |
| Thesis Publication (BS/MS Thesis option only) |
|---|
| Purpose: Publish the results of the student’s scientific/scholarly research |
| Students must receive format approval from Grad Advising before they will receive Department Chair approval |
| Due Date: Within 8 months of the student’s Oral Defense |
| Graduation |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize the culmination of the student’s academic achievements |
| Due Date: Apply to graduate at the beginning of the semester of the student’s planned Oral Defense |
Coursework Requirements (30 credit hours)
| During BS |
|---|
| 6 Credit Hours – Approved undergrad-level technical electives for B.S. |
| 6 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX (or other graduate-level tech elective upon consultation with your faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies) |
| You may take up to an additional 6 Credit Hours of Math, Science, or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX to count towards your MS degree |
| During MS (Thesis option) |
|---|
| 6 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9* Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours – ME EN 6975 (thesis-Master’s only) |
| During MS (Non-Thesis option) |
|---|
| 15 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9* Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
*Or fewer if additional credits taken during BS program
**Courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
***Turn in Request for Graduate Credit Form form for the minimum of 6 credits (if you took 4 tech electives total) and no more than 12 credits (if you took 5-6 tech electives total) of 6XXX courses taken during your BS program. Once these courses have been flagged for graduate credit, you can no longer use them to fulfill undergraduate requirements.
The M.S./M.B.A. program combines students’ applied interests and training in Engineering with the comprehensive business sense developed in a full-time MBA program. The result is a professional comfortable moving between technical and the commercial issues. M.S./M.B.A. graduates will be, with appropriate experience, qualified to direct or manage the transition of new products, processes and systems from the laboratory to the board room. Students must be admitted to both degree programs separately.
MS/MBA Sample Degree Plan. Email ftmba@utah.edu with MBA questions and to verify admission and current degree requirements. Please also visit the M.S./M.B.A. Engineering Program page
Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)
| Program Declaration |
|---|
| Purpose: Inform Grad Advising of their graduate program(s) |
| Due Date: By the start of the first semester |
| Preliminary Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Determine the plan for courses to take during their program |
| Students should coordinate the classes they will take with their Graduate Advisor or the Director of Grad Studies |
| Due Date: By the end of the first semester |
| Supervisory Committee |
|---|
| Purpose: Guides and assists students in their research and degree milestone completion |
| Due Date: By the end of the student’s first year |
| Final Program of Study |
|---|
| Purpose: Informs Grad Advising of the courses to be applied to the student’s degree |
| Due Date: When a student registers for their last class |
| Comprehensive Exam |
|---|
| Purpose: Ensure the completion of all degree milestones. Meet with your Grad Advisor for the specifics of the exam |
| Due Date: Before the end of the student’s last semester |
| Graduation |
|---|
| Purpose: Recognize the culmination of the student’s academic achievements |
| Due Date: Apply to graduate at the beginning of the student’s last semester |
Coursework Requirements (30 class hours)
| Courses |
|---|
| 15 Credit Hours – ME EN 6XXX/7XXX |
| 6 Credit Hours – Math, Science or Engineering 6XXX/7XXX |
| 9 Credit Hours – Dual Counted Courses |
Math, Science or Engineering courses must be completed with a B- or better with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher