Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
A graduate program in mechanical engineering from Drexel Engineering delivers deepened skillsets and knowledge that are required of modern mechanical engineering. An MS in mechanical engineering explores the fundamentals and takes on the rapid changes in design, construction and use of machines due to advances in computing, materials, manufacturing and communications. As a student, you will explore the frontiers of the human-machine interface that seek to address challenges in the industry and to our world, as well as the daily lives of today's society.
Students gain knowledge of mechanical engineering science, with an emphasis on engineering design and scientific analysis, and with emerging subjects in areas such as robotics and automation. Learn about the advances in industry, gain a global viewpoint, build entrepreneurial and teambuilding skills needed to advance your career or graduate prepared for entry into a PhD program.
Delivery
- On-campus
- Full-time or part-time
- The 45-credit program can be completed in eighteen (18) months on a full-time basis, or on a part-time basis in typically 3-4 years
Areas of Specialization
The MS in Mechanical Engineering offers a flexible plan of study to tailor study to your interests. You may seek a broad range of knowledge in mechanical engineering or refined area of concentration. These specializations include:
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Manufacturing
Focus on the invention, design and operation of integrated systems to generate high-quality, economically competitive products. These systems may include computer networks, machine tools and their automation, materials-handling equipment, micro- and nano-fabrication and a variety of manufacturing methods including quality control, testing and lifecycle analysis.
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Mechanics and Materials
Explore the foundation of many engineering disciplines through a combination of engineering physics, mathematics and materials science for use in design, analysis, manufacturing, simulation, testing and maintenance of mechanical, biomechanical and microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems from the material to the structural scale. Theoretical, experimental and computational methods are used to support the course offerings in this area.
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Robotics, Systems and Control
Use mathematical and computational techniques and learning methods to design, simulate, and control dynamic systems. Examples of such systems include unmanned vehicles, prosthetics, remote surgical equipment, manufacturing process control instrumentation and robots.
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Thermal and Fluid Sciences
Design and analyze modern and next-generation energy systems, including advanced numerical modeling and direct experimental characterization.
Curriculum and Requirements
As of Fall of 2022, the curriculum has been updated and revised, based on faculty and industry consultation, to provide the most relevant and timely knowledge to our students. The program requires a total of 45 credits; 6 credits of applied analytical and numerical methods; 12 credits of core area course; and the remaining 27 credits of technical elective courses.
- Students may tailor their studies to their interests. At least 6 of the elective credits must be department courses and the remainder may be selected from among graduate offerings within the College of Engineering or other Drexel colleges and schools. This includes courses from CAEE, CBE, ECE, and MSE, PHYS, CHE, and BIO, as well as courses offered in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems and the College of Computing and Informatics.
- Up to two courses from EGMT are eligible to serve as technical electives for students who seek to achieve the Engineering Management Certificate, which requires 5 EGMT courses.
- NON-THESIS OPTION: 27 Elective Credits
- 6 Credits (2 courses) must be from MEM (5xx or higher).
- 21 credits (7 courses) can include up to 9 credits of independent study/research.
- THESIS OPTION: MEM 898 + Elective Credits
- A minimum of 9 and up to 15 credits of Master's Thesis (MEM 898) taken with a Faculty Advisor.
- At least 12 and up to 18 credits (two of which must be from MEM 5xx or higher).
A graduate advisor and faculty will guide your course selection and scheduling of core and elective courses. Visit the Catalog or department outline of the curriculum details. Learn more about our admissions requirements.
Graduate Co-op
This program is eligible for Graduate Co-op — a unique, optional three or six-month work full-time professional experience that alternates with study, available for domestic and international full-time master’s students.
“I did my co-op at Kinos Medical (biotech startup). I worked on the patient specific instruments for total ankle replacement. We did a complete from-scratch development of the tool. I also worked in labs -- there was a lot of opportunity for research and pulling it into a company environment. That integration has been a very good thing for me.”
Dhwanit Vispute, MS Student
About Drexel Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) aims to educate engineers and applied scientists to be innovative and imaginative in their approach to problem-solving. In combining diverse fields of study, the master’s in mechanical engineering program will empower you to contribute to finding practical solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
The Drexel MS in mechanical engineering continues with strong rankings, with the program ranked at 53 in the 2023 US News and World Report. New sponsored grants and contracts awarded to department faculty have doubled since 2020, providing new additional opportunities for on-campus research, co-op and internships for MEM students.
As a student, you will have access to Drexel University’s research computing facilities including a high-performance computing cluster to perform modeling and simulations. Students also conduct work in the college’s equipped and staffed machine shop and department labs for bio-printing, bio-fabrication and tissue engineering, electrochemical energy systems, complex fluids and multiphase transport, multiscale thermofluidics, multiscale mechanics and biomechanics, cold plasma science and technology, mechanical testing, functional mesoscale materials, devices, system and metrology and in the university’s materials characterization facility with electron microscopy and micro-analysis capabilities. Students have access to a the newest lab at the college, the digital design and manufacturing lab with equipment to learn the latest skills in Industry 4.0, the next wave in smart manufacturing.
Faculty
Drexel places a high value on industry connections and experiential learning at every level. Our faculty innovators possess significant industry and government experience are at the forefront of research and teaching.
Alexander Fridman
John A. Nyheim Chair Professor
Director, C. J. Nyheim Plasma Institute
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Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia is our campus – a diverse urban environment with a variety of social, cultural and learning opportunities that will enrich your educational experience. Philadelphia is also a draw for talented instructors and researchers, meaning you will engage with some of the best minds in engineering and other disciplines. Learn more.
Research
Students in the master’s in mechanical engineering program are welcome to engage in research as part of their degree or as extra-curricular participation through independent study credits. Full-time master’s degree candidates are encouraged to base their master’s thesis on some aspect of faculty research.
Mechanical engineering faculty-led research labs and institutes host research sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and many other notable sponsors including industry. Opportunities also exist with Drexel’s neighbors in the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, including the Quattrone Nanofabrication Facility, and with several federal laboratories.
Current research in mechanical engineering and mechanics covers areas such as:
- Aerospace
- Batteries and fuel cells
- Biomechanical engineering
- Biomaterials and biofabrication for tissue engineering
- Combustion and fuels
- Design and manufacturing
- Functional materials, devices and systems
- Mechanics and materials
- Plasma science and technology
- Systems, controls and robotics
- Thermal fluid sciences
Visit research areas for more about other research activity at the College of Engineering.
Career Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering graduate programs prepare you for a career path that could include continuing your education in a PhD program or pursuing advanced technical or management positions in industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, biotechnology, energy and power, materials and manufacturing and robotics and autonomy.
Overall, employees with graduate degrees can earn up to 28% more than bachelor’s degree holders over the course of their career. The outlook for mechanical engineering jobs is good, with demand for employment expected to grow 4% through 2028, as fast as average with the overall employment projections for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They further reported that mechanical engineers, civil engineers and architectural and engineering managers with master’s degrees reported median salaries that were 9-13% higher than only a bachelor’s degree. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers further concurs in a report that salaries continue to rise between 3.5 and 5% per year.
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