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The Mechanical Engineering doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 36 credits being graduate coursework (including the MEMS curriculum requirements as outlined in the MEMS Doctoral Handbook) and a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral thesis research.  To be admitted to candidacy, students must have an overall GAP greater than 3.0 and pass the qualifying examination.  All students are required to enroll in the department seminar every semester.

At most, three units of coursework may be taken as graduate independent study, and a maximum of six units of 4000-level courses are allowed (these must be from courses not required for the BS degree).  Graduate courses may be transferred in (up to 24 credits) but must be evaluated and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Students enroll in two to three courses each semester and participate in two laboratory rotations during the first year.  They must complete their qualifying examination no later than June 30th of their first academic year.  During their second and third years, students complete their remaining courses and must complete their thesis proposal by the end of their third year.

After a successful proposal defense, students provide their research updates through annual meetings with their thesis committee.  Upon completion of their dissertation, students must present their dissertation research in a public forum and successfully defend the dissertation before their thesis committee.  At least one published article is required at the time of defense.

For more detailed guidelines, please refer to the MEMS Doctoral Handbook available on the MEMS PhD program webpage.

As part of their degree requirements, PhD students must complete a program-defined Mentored Experience Requirement (MER) as per these guidelines. The Mentored Experience Implementation Plan (MEIP) is the written articulation of a program-defined degree requirement for PhD students to engage in mentored teaching activities and/or mentored professional activities, collectively referred to as MERs.

Mentored Experience Requirements (MERs)

Philosophy of Teaching

Over the course of their PhD program, doctoral students in MEMS are expected to make novel advances in an area or topic in mechanical engineering through innovative and impactful research. Simultaneously, our goal is to prepare MEMS PhD graduates to thrive in various careers in academia, industry, government, or other research-oriented sectors. To maximize their impact in such careers, our students must also learn to communicate both fundamental concepts and novel research findings to a variety of audiences: co-workers, clients and trainees of divergent backgrounds. These careers also require the ability to assess the accuracy and value of others’ technical work. Our MTE program seeks to instill these skills through the MTE program requirements described below.

Preparatory Engagement

Preparatory Engagement activities are those that represent an introduction to the foundational skills associated with teaching or communication. Pedagogical preparation engagement activities are normally completed before students are permitted to engage in assisting or teaching in a classroom.

Two McKelvey instructional trainings are required:

1. McKelvey Teaching Orientation
2. McKelvey Teaching Workshop

Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs)

Assistant in Instruction (AI)

An Assistant in Instruction (AI) is a PhD student who is directly engaged in the organization, instruction, and/or support of a semester-long course primarily taught by a faculty member. An AI receives mentorship from a faculty member related to best practices in classroom engagement, instruction in the field, interpersonal engagement, and other relevant skills. Students and mentors complete a mentorship plan prior to the start of each AI experience. To complete each AI assignment and to ensure that it applies toward their degree requirements, students must register for the appropriate course number for each semester of engagement. Refer to the "Required Pathways for Completion" section below for course numbers and details.

MEMS requires two AI assignments at 10 MER units each. Students work with their graduate supervisor on the timing and content of those assignments.

Required Pathways for Completion

• Preparatory Engagement

UG Spanish Seminar

EGS 8010	Take two times