University of Delaware
Department of Mechanical Engineering
About ME
People
Research
Academics
Admissions
Resources
Alumni
News & Events
UD Home
College Home
Map & Directions
webmail
126 Spencer Lab, U. of D., Newark, DE 19716-3140 ph: 302-831-3140 fax: 302-831-3619
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

PH.D. in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering consists of the Ph.D. Qualifier Examination as specified in Section III below, 24 credits of graduate level course work plus 9 credits of Doctoral Dissertation. The Ph.D. program is designed to allow for considerable flexibility in course selection and specialization of study. Course work must be completed with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (see Graduate Catalog for relevant details). In addition, the student must pass a Candidacy Examination prior to completing the dissertation requirements. The Ph.D. should be obtainable in four years of full-time study after entering the program. There is no foreign language or teaching requirement for the Ph.D.

I. Course Requirements

    A. At least four courses (12 credits) at the 600 or higher level in Mechanical Engineering (MEEG)
    B. At least three courses (9 credits) at the 800 level.
    C. At least one course (3 credits) in mathematics (other than MEEG690).
    D. 9 credits of MEEG 969 Doctoral Dissertation .

    An individual course can be used to meet more than one of the requirements A, B or C provided the total number of credits is at least 24. MEEG 868 cannot be used toward these requirements. The Ph.D. qualifying exam is based on a 'template' that includes ‘traditional’ mechanical engineering courses MEEG 610, 620, 630, 640, and 690 as well as ‘non-traditional’ courses in particular areas of faculty expertise, as defined under Section III, Qualifying Examinations.

    Individuals admitted to the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering may be offered admission with the conditional requirement to complete the 9 credits of courses that are specified for MSME students in I.A above, in addition to the normal requirements for the degree.  These courses are needed for preparation for the Ph.D. qualifier examination and cannot be counted towards the Ph.D. degree requirement.

    Students will submit a proposed course plan to the Dissertation Committee at the time of their candidacy exam. Upon approval, it will enter into the candidate's file. Deviations from the proposed plan must be approved by the Dissertation Committee. A copy of the course plan must be sent to the University Office of Graduate Studies.


II. Dissertation Requirements

A dissertation is required which demonstrates the student's ability to conduct independent research. A Dissertation Committee is selected by the advisor and approved by the Department Chairperson. This committee will also serve as the student's Candidacy Examination Committee. At least three Mechanical Engineering Department faculty members and at least one faculty member from another department will serve on the Dissertation Committee. The Committee will be chaired by the research advisor, who must be a regular full-time member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty. During the course of the research, the student will periodically review progress with the Committee.

The student must orally present the dissertation before the Dissertation Committee at an open defense. The student shall supply final draft copies of the dissertation to members of the Committee at least two weeks before the oral defense. The dissertation must meet the academic and professional standards set forth by the University.

III. Qualifying Examination

The purpose of the Ph.D. qualifying examination is to assess the aptitude of a doctoral student in the early stages of the program. Accordingly, upon completion of two semesters of study toward the doctoral degree, doctoral students must pass the next available Qualifying Examination (QE). The examination will be offered in early June. In judging student performance at this examination, the faculty has three options: (i) outright passing, (ii) giving a second chance, and (iii) outright failing. Students who have been given a second chance for the QE are examined orally in the subjects in which their performance was judged unsatisfactory. This shall be done in the September immediately following the QE. At least two faculty members, other than the student's advisor if already selected, must administer each oral examination. There will be no third chance given. A student who ultimately fails the Qualifying Examination is not eligible to continue in the Ph.D. program, but may apply to change his/her matriculation to the Master's program. The QE is based on a template that is flexible, yet assures uniformity of quality across examinations. The template is a set of courses not unlike the 'core courses' currently in effect, but in addition it mirrors the diversity of faculty research. It thus includes MEEG 690 Intermediate Mathematics; ‘traditional’ mechanical engineering subjects (MEEG 610 Intermediate Solid Mechanics, MEEG 620 Intermediate Dynamics, MEEG 630 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics, and MEEG 640 Intermediate Heat Transfer); and ‘non-traditional’ mechanical engineering subjects in particular areas of faculty expertise (biomedical engineering, nanomechanics, robotics, alternative energy, composite materials, etc.). This examination consists of separate written or oral exams in three areas: (1) Mathematics; (2) one traditional mechanical engineering subject (defined above); and (3) the non-traditional mechanical engineering subject of the student’s choice, or a second traditional mechanical engineering subject.

Currently approved templates include:

  • Biomedical engineering: Qualifying exam is based on content covered in MEEG 683.

The template is updated/enlarged periodically, subject to full faculty approval by vote, to reflect changing faculty interests yet maintain the high quality of the program. It will be the very grave responsibility of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering to police the contents of the template. The Department Chair will be responsible that template courses are offered with the required frequency. The template will be posted on the Department’s web site, making it available to all current and prospective students.

IV. Candidacy Examination

The Ph.D. Candidacy Examination must be taken within one and a half years of successful completion of the Qualifying Examination and at least one year prior to the dissertation defense. The student will prepare a comprehensive, written research proposal and defend it orally before the Candidacy Examination Committee (the composition of which is specified in II). The Candidacy Examination is intended to test the student's ability to synthesize knowledge in the formulation of an independent research proposal. Performance is judged by the Candidacy Examination Committee, and any additional requirements they wish to impose must be satisfied before the student is admitted to candidacy. Additional requirements could include, but are not limited to: taking additional course work, modifying the written research proposal, and defending the revised proposal before the Candidacy Examination Committee. Satisfactory completion of any additional requirements must be approved by the student's Candidacy Examination Committee.

NOTE: Students already enrolled in the Ph.D. program can choose to switch to the new guidelines, or continue under the current guidelines.