Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs
Contact Person: Dr. Saeed Niku
The Mechanical Engineering department offers both a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) as well as a blended 4+1 program leading to MSME degree. The only difference between the two programs is that up to 8 units of undergraduate technical electives may be double-counted towards the masters requirements. Other differences between the two programs are only internal and relate to the process of application and financial aid. In 4+1 program the undergraduate degree is not awarded until requirements for both BSc and MSC are satisfied.
Cal Poly's masters program includes 45 units of course work and/or a thesis. The same philosophy and emphasis on best teaching practices, hands-on education, with classes and labs taught by faculty apply to the masters program as well. Our program is still more hands-on than most other schools, especially when a thesis is involved.
We offer both a thesis oriented program as well as coursework oriented program. The thesis (9 units) is conducted by the student under the advice of a committee of three faculty members. Alternately, 9 units of ME-500 level courses and a comprehensive exam may be taken in lieu of the thesis.
It is required that you have a GPA of at least 3 in your formal study plan to receive your masters degree.
We also offer a 4+1 "blended" program applicable only to Cal Poly continuing students. We suggest that the applicant apply two quarters before graduation to be admitted into the program. 4+1 is accomplished by changing the objective of the student from Bsc degree to MSc degree. This requires that the student have between 180 to 201 units towards graduation. This also means that you may not change your objective before 180 units, and you may not do so after graduation. Please print a graduate application, fill out, and bring it to the graduate advisor. Please also request 2-3 letters of recommendation be sent to the graduate advisor. After the submission of the Change of Objective form, your status changes to a grad student with its new fee requirement, changes in financial aid, as well as priority registration. You will not get your undergraduate degree until all requirements for both degrees are satisfied. Thus, both degrees will be conferred simultaneously. You may change your objective back to Bsc if you change your mind. In 4+1, up to 8 units of ME-400 level senior electives may be double-counted towards your masters degree. The graduate advisor must approve all courses.
Students who have studied under other majors may be admitted into the mechanical engineering program conditionally. This means that they will be required to take all required undergraduate mechanical engineering courses, as determined by the graduate advisor, before taking graduate courses. In most cases, the same applies to students who wish to be admitted under 4+1 program with a major other than mechanical engineering.
The following categories of courses are required for your degree.
Core Courses
A combination of 17 Units
- ME 599 Design Project (Thesis) or courses from Recommended Restricted Units (See below) AND a comprehensive examination, 9 units total.
- Approved courses chosen from MATH, STAT, or CSC courses (such as ME 501, ME 540, Math 501, 502, 408, 417, 418,..) 8 units total.
Recommended Restricted Units
A minimum of 12 units
- ME 501 Linear Elasticity (4)
- ME 502 Stress Analysis (4)
- ME 503 Inelastic Stress Analysis (4)
- ME 506 System Dynamics (4)
- ME 507 Mechanical Control System Design (4)
- ME 517 Advanced Vibrations (4)
- ME 518 Rotor Dynamics (4)
- ME 531 Acoustics and Noise Control (3)
- ME 540 Viscous Flow (4)
- ME 541 Advanced Thermodynamics (4)
- ME 542 Dynamics of Compressible Flow (4)
- ME 551 Mechanical Systems Analysis (4)
- ME 552 Conductive Heat Transfer (4)
- ME 553 Convective Heat Transfer (4)
- ME 554 Computational Heat Transfer (4)
- ME 579 Fluid Power Control (4)
Approved Technical Electives
A minimum of 16 units
- (400-500-level ME or non-ME courses; maximum of 12 units of 400-level courses allowed. Up to 8 units in this category may be double counted in the 4+1 program).
Total Units Required for the M.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering: 45 Units
Administrative Progression for MS in ME at Cal Poly
Admission to MS Program in ME
- Eligibility determined by admissions office
- Acceptance determined by ME Department
- Graduate classified (regular or full admission)
- Graduate conditionally classified (admission contingent upon satisfying certain deficiencies or conditions established by the Department)