Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2011-2012 > Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering > Mechanical Engineering > Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program

Up one level:

Mechanical Engineering

In this section:

Certificate in Mechanical Design

Certificate in Materials Engineering

Certificate in Structural Dynamics

Certificate in Finite Element Methods

Certificate in Systems Engineering

Certificate in Thermal Engineering

Certificate in Lean and Quality

Contact Information

Graduate Director: Matthew T. Siniawski

Telephone: 310.338.5849

Fax: 310.338.6028

E-mail: msiniawski@lmu.edu

Admission Requirements

Submit a completed application form and $50 application fee. Students seeking admission into the M.S. program should have completed an undergraduate curriculum in Mechanical Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited university. Students seeking admission into the Certificate in Lean and Quality program should have completed an undergraduate curriculum in any engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited university. If, in the judgment of the Program Director, a particular applicant does not have the required background, a series of "catch-up" courses will be suggested. Upon the successful completion of these courses, the applicant would then be admitted into the graduate program. Detailed information about the admission requirements for foreign students is available from the Graduate Admissions Office. The students applying for the combined B.S./M.S. degrees must apply in the Fall semester of their Senior year, indicating the "Combined B.S. and M.S." on their application form. All other application requirements remain the same. If admitted, they will take their first graduate course in the Spring semester of their Senior year.

Program Requirements

All courses listed below are 3 semester hours, unless otherwise noted. Each lecture-type course meets once a week.

Requirements for Master of Science in Engineering Degree, major in Mechanical Engineering

The candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering who majors in Mechanical Engineering is required to complete, with a 3.0 ("B") grade point average, all of the following elements (1 through 5) of the studies:

1. The following three core courses:

MECH 500	Quality
MECH 504	Engineering Mathematics
MECH 594	Project Management

Note: The course MECH 500 is also a part of several certificate programs. If this course is already taken for a certificate, then another elective course must be taken to satisfy either the core or the other certificate requirement.

2. Either six elective Mechanical Engineering courses selected in disciplinary groupings by a particular student and approved by the Program Director, or two Mechanical Engineering certificate programs selected from the seven certificate programs listed below, (for a total of six courses), or one certificate program plus three courses. The disciplinary grouping may include a maximum of two courses of Independent Studies, MECH 599. The certificate program, if chosen, must be completed prior to the M.S.E. program.

3. Either two elective engineering courses or the Thesis course MECH 686. The selection of the elective courses must be approved by the Program Director. Possible courses include Mechanical Engineering courses and non-restricted Electrical, Civil, or Systems Engineering, and Computer Science courses, or courses transferred from other institutions upon the prior approval of the Program Director.

4. All 500-level courses must have the grade of at least 3.0 ("B"). The grade for each course transferred from another institution must be at least 3.0 ("B"). The grade for any 600-level course must be at least 2.0 ("C"), provided the overall GPA in the program is at least 3.0 ("B").

5. A total of 33 semester hours of coursework (30 semester hours if the Thesis option, MECH 686, is selected).

Requirements for the Combined B.S./M.S. Degrees, major in Mechanical Engineering

Only LMU Seniors in Mechanical Engineering are eligible to apply for the combined degree program. Admission will take place in the Fall semester of the Senior year. The remaining requirements are as follows:

Complete nine 500- or 600-level courses (approximately half of each, subject to the Program Director’s approval).
One of the courses must be the Independent Studies course MECH 599 of at least three semester hours. It is highly recommended that this course be taken in the first summer session between the Senior and the Fifth year, or in the Fall of the Fifth year.
The overall GPA of all nine courses must be at least a 3.0 ("B"), the grade in each 500-level course must be at least 3.0 ("B"), and the grade in each 600-level course must be at least 2.0 ("C").

The course load should be as follows:

Spring Semester of Senior Year

Complete one 500- or 600-level course, to be credited towards the M.S. degree, increasing the normal course load from 15 semester hours to 18 semester hours. An undergraduate student who takes only 12 semester hours in the semester can take two 500- or 600-level courses towards the M.S. degree. Upon satisfactory completion of the undergraduate program after the Senior year, the student will be eligible to receive a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, and to participate in the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Summer after the Senior Year

The student must take one 500- or 600-level course during each Summer session (for a total of two courses). The student is responsible for their housing during the summer. A student can apply for on-campus housing, if available.

Fall Semester of the Fifth Year

The student must take three 500- or 600-level courses.

Spring Semester of the Fifth Year

A student must take three 500- or 600-level courses. A student who has taken two rather than one graduate course in the Senior year will need to take only two courses in the Spring of the Fifth year, for a total of nine courses. A student who has satisfactorily completed the above requirements (1, 2, 3) will be eligible to receive the Master of Science degree, major in Mechanical Engineering, in May of the Fifth year.

A student who must adjust her/his academic progress due to personal reasons may be allowed to follow an adjusted schedule with the approval of the Program Director. The requirements will remain the same.

Requirements for Certificate Programs

The candidate for any certificate program in Mechanical Engineering is required to complete the three courses listed under that certificate program. The grade in any 500-level course must be at least 3.0 (B"), the grade in a particular 600-level course must be at least 2.0 ("C"), and the grade-point average for all three courses must be at least 2.7 ("B-"). The certificate will be granted upon the completion of the three courses.

A student completing any certificate program is free to apply for admission to another certificate program in the M.S.E. program in Mechanical Engineering, or in any other engineering program at LMU if the requirements have been satisfied.