Grad student works with CNC machine in the TN-MADE facility

Mechanical Engineering, MS

Mechanical Engineering is one of the more general engineering disciplines with mechanical engineers found in nearly every industry, from electric power generation to computer manufacturing, and all levels of engineering and management. With an MS in mechanical engineering, your academic and career opportunities expand within the already far-reaching impacts of this field of study.

Program overview

Our mechanical engineering master’s program offers research opportunities to students, enabling them to develop expertise in their field of study.  Students can choose one of three routes: a traditional thesis option, a project option consisting of independent research experience with a written report, or a coursework-only option with examination.

Concentrations

Students pursuing their graduate degree in biomedical engineering have several concentrations to choose from including:

Our master’s program in mechanical engineering collaborates with national organizations like ORNL and university partners like the world class Reliability and Maintainability Center which is dedicated to improving industrial productivity, efficiency, safety, and profitability. Our program has a long track record in various robotics and automation aspects from remote operations in hazardous environments to brick manufacturing automation. It’s through hands-on research opportunities like this that make us a leading mechanical research graduate program among other public universities.

What can you do with a MS in Mechanical Engineering after graduation?

An MS in mechanical engineering opens the doors to careers in a variety of industries like aerospace, automative, manufacturing and more. Mechanical engineers with an advanced degree can work in project management, technical consulting, or in quality assurance and control. Some students chose to further their education by pursuing a PhD and/or obtaining professional certifications to enhance career prospects.

Featured Courses

Below are some of the courses that students in our program can choose to take. For a list of all courses, visit the Graduate Catalog.

ME 452 Finite Element Analysis

Conversion of fundamental conservation principles in mechanics to simulation form via finite element implementation. Applications in heat transfer, solid mechanics, mechanical vibrations, fluid mechanics and heat/mass transport. Extensive computer lab experiments using Matlab-based and commercial software systems.

ME 476 Fuel Cell Engines 

Introduction to fundamentals of fuel cells with an emphasis on polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Includes fundamentals of electrochemistry, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials, and manufacturing issues of PEFCs. A brief survey of other fuel cell types is also included.

ME 514 Nanoscale Heat Transfer   

Fundamentals in thermal energy storage, transport, and conversion from atomic-scale perspectives. Physics of thermal energy carriers (phonon, electron, fluid particle, and photon). Introduction to atomic-scale simulations (molecular dynamics, density functional theory, etc.) for nanoscale heat transfer.

ME 523 Fracture Mechanics for Analysis and Design   

Designed for students to gain hands-on experience with real world analysis. Students will learn to apply basic principles to solve practical problems. Intended as an introductory class for students prior to taking a theory-based class and for students wanting to obtain a practical knowledge of fracture mechanics for industry applications.

Related Programs

Check out a list of related programs to look into based on your interest in aerospace engineering:

Admissions and Aid

Choosing the right university to pursue an engineering degree is an important decision—and a significant investment. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to both apply and make attending UT affordable.