Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Applicants must meet all of the university requirements for unconditional admission. In addition, applicants must meet one of the following program specific requirements:

1. A Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with:
   • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.80 for all undergraduate work; or
   • A 3.00 average for upper-division engineering courses; or
   • A passing score on the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE).
2. A Bachelor of Science degree in another engineering field or the sciences and:
   • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.80 for all undergraduate work.
   • Completion of calculus (one year), multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, calculus-based physics (one year), chemistry (one-half year), statics, mechanics of materials, dynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. Some additional remedial undergraduate classes may be required.
3. A Bachelor of Science degree in any field, plus current registration as a professional engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering.

Applicants not meeting the unconditional admission requirements but who otherwise demonstrate the potential to benefit from graduate education may be admitted conditionally.

Further details about application requirements and the application itself can be found on the applying to Saint Martin's page.

For the research-oriented student, a thesis option is offered, which requires a research project and thesis be completed with a faculty member. For the profession-oriented student, a non-thesis option is offered, which requires more coursework.

Thesis option

The thesis option requires students complete 

1. All required MSME Core courses, 
2. A total of 24 credits (including the MSME Core) of non-thesis coursework,
3. At least six credits of thesis (MME 599), and
4. A successful thesis defense.

If a student begins a thesis but fails to complete it, up to two thesis credits can count toward the coursework of an MSME degree.

Coursework must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (‘B’). Students must complete all work within seven years from the start of the program. Directed study (MSME 596) is limited to three credits per semester and six credits in total. A maximum of nine credit hours of equivalent coursework from other institutions may be transferred into the program if approved by the program director.

Similarly, a maximum of nine credit hours of approved courses may be taken from Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), Master of Science in Computer Science (MCS), and Master of Engineering Management (MEM) programs at Saint Martin’s University. A combination of transferred, MSCE, MCS and MEM credits counting toward a MSME cannot exceed nine.

Non-thesis option

The non-thesis option requires students complete 

1. All MSME Core courses and 
2. A total of 30 credits (including the MSME Core) of non-thesis coursework.

If a student begins a thesis but fails to complete it, up to two thesis credits can count toward the coursework of an MSME degree. 

Coursework must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (‘B’). Students must complete all work within seven years from the start of the program. Directed study (MME 596) is limited to three credits per semester and six credits in total. A maximum of nine credit hours of equivalent coursework from other institutions may be transferred into the program if approved by the program director.

Similarly, a maximum of nine credit hours of approved courses may be taken from Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), Master of Science in Computer Science (MCS), and Master of Engineering Management (MEM) programs at Saint Martin’s University. A combination of transferred, MSCE, MCS, and MEM credits counting toward a MSME degree cannot exceed nine.

More details can be found in the graduate academic catalog.

• MME 567: Machine Intelligence
• MME 585: Biomechanical Engineering
• MME 504: Finite Element Analysis

Is the program accredited?

Saint Martin's University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. In addition, the undergraduate mechanical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

How will I know if I am required to complete any prerequisites?

The acceptance letter for admitted students states which, if any, prerequisite courses are required. If a course requires specific prerequisites, it will be indicated in the course description in the current catalog.

How long does the program take?

Generally, students take one to two years (full-time) to complete their degree requirements. This depends on how many courses a student takes each semester, the possible inclusion of summer courses and which extra prerequisite courses may be required.