Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
The doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering with emphases in energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
The program will provide a broad-based, integrative education for doctoral students, including design thinking for complex engineered systems, research training in a creative knowledge environment, and research training in a national laboratory or industry setting.
The program's long-term vision is to create a new generation of doctoral graduates to lead industry innovation, to create new technology businesses, and to bring jobs to the economically disadvantaged southwest border region as well as to our state and nation. The program will complement Texas's conventional Mechanical Engineering doctoral programs, which focus on developing future educators. Instead, UTEP's program will focus on training future technology leaders for industry, which will strengthen the innovation ecosystem for regional, state, and national economic growth. Students in the program, trained in technology entrepreneurship and leadership, will partner with industry to create new jobs.
Each student must complete at least 60 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, of which at least 30 hours is coursework. Students entering with a Masters degree may be approved for up to 24 credit hours of non-research courses, with program approval. Overall, the coursework requirements are flexible, so that the program may meet the changing needs of its stakeholders and students. In addition to conventional graduate classes in mechanical engineering, the program provides students with diverse perspectives by offering novel classes with content in technology entrepreneurship, leadership, and applied research project management.
Through integration into the program's doctoral curriculum, the UTEP energy, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing research programs will train the next generation of Mechanical Engineers with unique design skills and capabilities. Graduates' expertise in advanced technologies aligned with national interests will help the U.S. meet the demand for highly skilled Mechanical Engineering professionals and ensure a Mechanical Engineering workforce representative of the nation's 21st-century demographics.
The design of the doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering reflects the department's vision, mission, and educational objectives, particularly in emphasizing both technical excellence in the discipline and broader skills that promote student success in industry.
Admissions Requirements
- An official transcript, with the four-year baccalaureate degree posted, from the degree-granting institution and copies of transcripts for all other relevant upper-division and graduate work at accredited U.S. institutions or equivalent work and degrees at foreign institutions.
- Bachelors or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field in Engineering or Science.
- Statement of Purpose.
- 3 Letters of recommendation.
- 2 Page CV.
Applicants whose degrees are from non-English speaking institutions are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the Graduate School website for required scores.
Educational Objectives
- Our graduates excel as engineers with solid technical skills, strength in design, and an ability to work with complex engineering systems.
- Our graduates recognize the importance of and participate in continuous learning activities to advance their careers, personal interests and life goals.
- Our graduates become industrial and civic leaders and demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit.
Degree Plan
Required Credits: 60
Students entering with a Masters degree may be approved for up to 24 credit hours of non-research courses, with program approval.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MECH 6301 | Mathl Methods for Mech Eng | 3 |
| Prescribed Elective Courses | ||
| Select 18 hours from the list below | ||
| MECH 6302 | Solid Mechanics I | 3 |
| MECH 6303 | Heat Transfer I | 3 |
| MECH 6305 | Comp. Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 6306 | Princ of Experiment & Eng Dev | 3 |
| MECH 6307 | Eng Regulation and Policy | 3 |
| MECH 6308 | Prod Dev in Entrepren Ventures | 3 |
| MECH 6310 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MECH 6311 | Adv Finite Element Analysis | 3 |
| MECH 6312 | Solid Mechanics II | 3 |
| MECH 6313 | Mech of Composite Materials | 3 |
| MECH 6318 | Analytical Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 6334 | Space Systems Design | 3 |
| MECH 6335 | Aerospace Propulsion | 3 |
| MECH 6336 | Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| MECH 6337 | Aero Dynamics and Controls | 3 |
| MECH 6390 | Spec Topics in Mechanical Eng | 3 |
| Free Elective Course | ||
| Select 9 hours from the list below | ||
| CE 6304 | Adv Design of Struct Systms | 3 |
| CE 6305 | Advanced Structural Analysis | 3 |
| CE 6307 | Finite Element Method | 3 |
| CE 6320 | Advanced Geotechnical Eng. | 3 |
| CE 6325 | Design for Dynamic Loads | 3 |
| CE 6409 | Environmental Eng Chemistry | 4 |
| ESE 6301 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| ESE 6307 | Interdisciplin Envir Prob Solv | 3 |
| ESE 6320 | Adv Topics in Energy Engr | 3 |
| IE 5351 | Linear and Combin Optimiz Meth | 3 |
| IE 5352 | Design/Analysis Indust Exprmnt | 3 |
| IE 5357 | Computer Simulation Appli | 3 |
| IE 5385 | Advanced Quality Control | 3 |
| IE 5390 | Special Topics Industrial Engr | 3 |
| MECH 6323 | Micromechanics | 3 |
| MECH 6343 | Advanced Manufacturing(3DPrin) | 3 |
| MECH 6363 | Turbomachinery | 3 |
| MECH 6364 | Turbulence I | 3 |
| MECH 6328 | Fracture Mechanics | 3 |
| MFG 5311 | Design for Manufacturability | 3 |
| MFG 5312 | Strategic Design-Mfg Processes | 3 |
| MFG 5321 | Modeling/Analysis-Mfg Process | 3 |
| MFG 5350 | Reliability & Maintainability | 3 |
| MFG 5359 | Computer-Aided Manufacturing | 3 |
| MME 6304 | Phase Transformations & Micros | 3 |
| MME 6308 | Mechanical Behavior of Matls | 3 |
| MME 6401 | Microstruc & Microchem Charac | 4 |
| MME 6403 | Adv Concepts in Matls Sci Engr | 4 |
| Research Courses | 24 | |
| MECH 6396 | Doctoral Research | 3 |
| MECH 6391 | Individual Studies | 3 |
| MECH 6397 | Graduate Projects | 3 |
| The excess hours of 6399 and 6398 can be used for the Research Courses. Note that MECH 6396 can be taken up to eight times, MECH 6391 one time, and MECH 6397 one time. The maximum credit hours for MECH 6396, 6391, and 6397 combined will not exceed 24. | ||
| Required Dissertation Courses | ||
| MECH 6399 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| MECH 6398 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
For entering students with a Master's degree or equivalent
Students with a Master's degree can transfer up to 24 non-research credits upon program approval