University of Texas at El Paso Academic Catalog

Academic Catalog

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 84 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, of which at least 54 hours is coursework. 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.

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

For entering students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent

Required Credits: 84

Required Courses
MECH 6396Doctoral Research24
MECH 6301Mathl Methods for Mech Eng3
Prescribed Elective Courses
Select 33 hours from the list below 33
MECH 6302Solid Mechanics I3
MECH 6303Heat Transfer I3
MECH 6305Comp. Fluid Dynamics3
MECH 6306Princ of Experiment & Eng Dev3
MECH 6307Eng Regulation and Policy3
MECH 6308Prod Dev in Entrepren Ventures3
MECH 6310Thermodynamics3
MECH 6311Adv Finite Element Analysis3
MECH 6312Solid Mechanics II3
MECH 6313Mech of Composite Materials3
MECH 6318Analytical Dynamics3
MECH 6334Space Systems Design3
MECH 6335Aerospace Propulsion3
MECH 6336Aerospace Structures3
MECH 6337Aero Dynamics and Controls3
MECH 6390Spec Topics in Mechanical Eng3
MECH 6396Doctoral Research3
MECH 6391Individual Studies3
MECH 6397Graduate Projects3
Free Elective Course
Select 18 hours from the list below18
ESE 6301Environmental Law and Policy3
ESE 6307Interdisciplin Envir Prob Solv3
ESE 6320Adv Topics in Energy Engr3
MECH 6323Micromechanics3
MECH 6343Advanced Manufacturing(3DPrin)3
MECH 6363Turbomachinery3
MECH 6364Turbulence I3
CE 6304Adv Design of Struct Systms3
CE 6305Advanced Structural Analysis3
CE 6307Finite Element Method3
CE 6320Advanced Geotechnical Eng.3
CE 6325Design for Dynamic Loads3
CE 6409Environmental Eng Chemistry4
IE 5351Linear and Combin Optimiz Meth3
IE 5352Design/Analysis Indust Exprmnt3
IE 5357Computer Simulation Appli3
IE 5385Advanced Quality Control3
IE 5390Special Topics Industrial Engr3
MECH 6328Fracture Mechanics3
MFG 5390Special Topics3
MFG 5311Design for Manufacturability3
MFG 5312Strategic Design-Mfg Processes3
MFG 5321Modeling/Analysis-Mfg Process3
MFG 5350Reliability & Maintainability3
MFG 5359Computer-Aided Manufacturing3
MME 6304Phase Transformations & Micros3
MME 6308Mechanical Behavior of Matls3
MME 6401Microstruc & Microchem Charac4
MME 6403Adv Concepts in Matls Sci Engr4
Required Dissertation Courses
MECH 6399Dissertation II3
MECH 6398Dissertation I3
Total Hours84

For entering students with a master's degree or equivalent

Required Credits: 60

Required Courses
MECH 6396Doctoral Research24
MECH 6301Mathl Methods for Mech Eng3
Prescribed Elective Courses
Select 15 hours from the list below 15
MECH 6306Princ of Experiment & Eng Dev3
MECH 6307Eng Regulation and Policy3
MECH 6308Prod Dev in Entrepren Ventures3
MECH 6302Solid Mechanics I3
MECH 6303Heat Transfer I3
MECH 6305Comp. Fluid Dynamics3
MECH 6306Princ of Experiment & Eng Dev3
MECH 6310Thermodynamics3
MECH 6311Adv Finite Element Analysis3
MECH 6312Solid Mechanics II3
MECH 6313Mech of Composite Materials3
MECH 6318Analytical Dynamics3
MECH 6334Space Systems Design3
MECH 6335Aerospace Propulsion3
MECH 6336Aerospace Structures3
MECH 6337Aero Dynamics and Controls3
MECH 6390Spec Topics in Mechanical Eng3
MECH 6391Individual Studies3
MECH 6396Doctoral Research3
MECH 6397Graduate Projects3
Free Elective Course
Select 12 hours from the list below12
ESE 6301Environmental Law and Policy3
ESE 6307Interdisciplin Envir Prob Solv3
ESE 6320Adv Topics in Energy Engr3
MECH 6323Micromechanics3
MECH 6343Advanced Manufacturing(3DPrin)3
MECH 6363Turbomachinery3
MECH 6364Turbulence I3
CE 6304Adv Design of Struct Systms3
CE 6305Advanced Structural Analysis3
CE 6307Finite Element Method3
CE 6320Advanced Geotechnical Eng.3
CE 6325Design for Dynamic Loads3
CE 6409Environmental Eng Chemistry4
IE 5351Linear and Combin Optimiz Meth3
IE 5352Design/Analysis Indust Exprmnt3
IE 5357Computer Simulation Appli3
IE 5385Advanced Quality Control3
IE 5390Special Topics Industrial Engr3
MECH 6328Fracture Mechanics3
MFG 5390Special Topics3
MFG 5311Design for Manufacturability3
MFG 5312Strategic Design-Mfg Processes3
MFG 5321Modeling/Analysis-Mfg Process3
MFG 5350Reliability & Maintainability3
MFG 5359Computer-Aided Manufacturing3
MME 6304Phase Transformations & Micros3
MME 6308Mechanical Behavior of Matls3
MME 6401Microstruc & Microchem Charac4
MME 6403Adv Concepts in Matls Sci Engr4
Required Dissertation Courses
MECH 6399Dissertation II3
MECH 6398Dissertation I3
Total Hours60