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Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

SIU Mechanical Engineering Student working on street Car

Our master's program is built for students with undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering or a closely related field. Our faculty come to SIU from major universities across the nation to put their own research in your classroom, giving you practical experience and access to advanced equipment you won’t find just anywhere – we’ve got labs for thermal management, biomechanics, non-destructive evaluation, tracking by micro-robotics, materials processing for fuel cells and more.

Coursework includes advanced study in nanomaterials, composite materials, ceramics, tribology mechanical design and systems, computer-aided design and numerical simulations, thermal and fluid sciences, non-destructive evaluation, air pollution control, mass and heat transfer, coal conversion, electrochemical processes, thermal systems design, solar systems design, chemical and biochemical processes.

Program Requirements

When it comes completing your master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering we offer two options: Thesis and Non-thesis. Check out the Graduate Catalog for complete program requirements, as well as a list of all courses offered within the program

Thesis Option:

Designed for students pursuing academic and publishing opportunities, this option requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of 400-level and 500-level work beyond the B.S. level, with at least 18 hours of course work completed within the School of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processing. The research work associated with the thesis may account for 6 hours of the total. A minimum 12 hours of courses at the 500-level (excluding thesis) is required.

Non- Thesis Option

Designed for students and busy professionals looking to further knowledge through advanced coursework and classroom instruction, this option requires the completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours of formal course work at the 400-level and 500-level beyond the B.S. level, with at least 18 hours at the 500-level, excluding 3 hours of ME 592 credit for the research paper, and of which at least 21 semester hours of acceptable graduate credit must be taken within School of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processing. In addition, each candidate is required to successfully complete (a) a research paper, and (b) a written comprehensive examination. The research paper may count as the three hours of ME 592 (research paper) credit. The student must enroll for this course to be given credit.

Accelerated Master's Program

The Accelerated Master's Program offers a streamlined path for undergraduate students to jumpstart their graduate education. This unique initiative allows students to take graduate-level courses during their senior year, and even during their junior year in exceptional cases. The graduate credits earned can then be applied towards a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, enabling students to potentially complete their master's degree in a shorter timeframe.

Research

SIU is a place where ideas and research are thriving. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Research University, SIU Carbondale is among the top 4 percent of U.S. higher education institutions for research. You have broad access to advanced equipment, methods, and types of collaborative projects, many of which are funded by federal and state agencies including the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Honeywell, the Southern Illinois Power Co-operative, and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Careers

Diverse career opportunities are available to our graduates. Our colleagues work in a wide range of existing and emerging fields including aerospace science, machinery manufacturing, automotive, energy, robotics, and nanotechnology. You’ll find them in careers at Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, NASA, Boeing Corp, John Deere, GM, Cummings, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Tesla.

SIU Engineering Building

Contact Information

Rasit Koc,
Interim Program Coordinator
Engineering E-27
1230 Lincoln Dr
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-536-2396
kocr@siu.edu