MS in Mechanical Engineering

MS in Mechanical Engineering

The graduate program in mechanical engineering from Drexel Engineering prepares professionals for applying deepened skillsets and knowledge that will further their career.

What is a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering?

A mechanical engineering master’s degree prepares professionals to take 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 or as well as in society and our daily lives.

A mechanical engineering graduate program should provide an understanding of the forces governing industry, a global viewpoint, and the entrepreneurial, teambuilding and managerial abilities needed to advance careers in industry and research or prepare for entry into a PhD program in mechanical engineering or a related field.

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:

Dual graduate degrees are possible. Popular programs to combine with the MS in Mechanical Engineering are graduate certificates or the MS in Engineering Management.

Why choose Drexel for your MS in Mechanical Engineering?

The Drexel MS in mechanical engineering degree deepens your knowledge of the fundamentals in mechanical engineering through rigorous analysis and exploration.

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 was recently ranked #16 in the "25 Best Master's in Mechanical Engineering 2020" compiled by GradReports.com, based partially on graduates' median salary as reported by the U.S. Department of Education. New sponsored grants and contracts awarded to department faculty in 2021 have doubled since 2020, providing new additional opportunities for on-campus research co-op and internships for MSME 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 will have access to a new digital design and manufacturing lab with equipment that also relates directly to Industry 4.0, the next wave in smart manufacturing.

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.

Graduate Co-op

Graduate co-op is an optional three or six-month work experience woven into academic studies for full-time master’s students. Drexel University co-op provides the opportunity to apply theory learned in class to a work experience before graduating. The insights help to direct the vision you have for your career and provide context for the remainder of your learning. You will take advantage of resources from the Steinbright Career Development Center, including programming that enhances your professionalism and resume writing and provides resources for your job search.

For more information, visit the Steinbright Career Development Center.

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).

Your graduate advisor and faculty will guide your course selection and scheduling of core and elective courses.

Visit the Department for curriculum details. Learn more about our admissions requirements.

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.

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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Li-Hsin Han

Associate Professor

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Sorin Siegler

Professor

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