Graduate Programs 
Mechanical Engineering M.S./Ph.D.
Degrees Offered
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a degree program at both the master's and doctoral levels.
The Department offers studies leading to specialization in the following areas: fluid dynamics, heat transfer, acoustics, materials science, manufacturing and design, solid mechanics, systems modeling, electromechanical design, controls, vibrations, and rigid-body dynamics. There are also many opportunities for interdisciplinary study.
The department offers the Ph.D. degree in four distinct subdisciplines: fluid and thermal science, mechanics, manufacturing and design, and systems modeling.
Admission Requirements
A bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering is normally required for admission to the graduate program in mechanical engineering
Students from other closely related disciplines may also be interested in graduate studies in Mechanical Engineering. However, in order to be properly prepared for graduate level coursework, these students must have taken the equivalent of the UNH Mechanical Engineering undergraduate core courses listed below. Students who are deficient in three or fewer courses may be admitted to the Department on a provisional basis. Students who are deficient in more than three courses must apply and enroll as an undergraduate student until they meet the core course requirement. It is Department policy that engineering courses taken as part of an Engineering Technology program are generally not considered equivalent to any of the courses listed below. The decision on equivalence for any courses taken at an institution other than UNH is at the discretion of the Graduate Committee of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Core courses required for Admission to the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering Degree Program:
- Mathematics and Physics Courses
Math 425, Calculus I; Math 426, Calculus II; Math 527, Differential Equations; Math 528, Multi-Dimensional Calculus; Physics 407, General Physics; Physics 408, General Physics II. - Mechanical Courses
ME 525, Mechanics I; ME 526, Mechanics II, ME 627, Mechanics III, ME 643, Elements of Design. - Thermal Sciences
ME 503, Thermodynamics, ME 608, Fluid Dynamics; ME 603, Heat Transfer. - Other Courses
ME 561, Materials Science; ME 670, Systems Modeling and Controls; ECE 537, Circuits and Signals.
All applicants are required to submit scores from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
M.S. Degree Requirements
A candidate for the degree of master of science shall satisfy the requirements of either a thesis plan or a project plan. The thesis plan requires 24 semester hours of coursework in addition to eight semester hours of ME 899, Master's Thesis; the project plan requires 28 semester hours of coursework in addition to four semester hours of ME 992, Master's Project. Individuals who can demonstrate accomplishments from professional engineering experience comparable to that expected from a master's project may petition the department to substitute an additional 900-level course for the project requirement.
Two 900 level courses of at least 3 credits each must be earned in addition to ME 992, Master’s Project or the 900-level course substituted for the master’s project course. A maximum of 12 credits (800 or 900 level) taken prior to admission to the Graduate School may be applied to the master’s degree. An oral examination covering the candidate’s graduate work will be given for both the thesis and project plans.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Following admission into the program, a guidance committee is appointed for the student by the dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation of the graduate coordinator. This committee assists in outlining the student's course of study and may specify individual coursework requirements.
A student entering with a B.S. degree must successfully complete at least twelve 3-4 credit courses with three at 900-level. Students entering with an M.S. degree in engineering are required to take a minimum of five 3-4 credit courses with three at a 900-level, although the committee may determine that additional coursework is necessary. The guidance committee also administers the qualifying examinations. The qualifiers consist of two-part examination: written and oral. Upon successful completion of required coursework, the qualifiers and a dissertation proposal, the student may advance to candidacy. A doctoral committee may be appointed once candidacy has been attained. The committee shall have at least five members.
Each Ph.D. candidate must conduct research of sufficient originality and significance to warrant the awarding of a Ph.D. degree. The final examination (oral defense) is the defense of the student's dissertation. This will be scheduled in accordance with the Graduate School rules. The candidate will be informed, in writing, by the dissertation chair of the results of the defense.