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


Timeline (link to Grad Student Forms)


 

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