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The Mechanical Engineering program offers seven major areas of study from which to choose and provides both thesis and non-thesis options. You can maximize your knowledge of mechanical engineering in the areas of fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, energy systems, thermal sciences, materials and manufacturing, mechanical design and system dynamics.

If you have an engineering degree and are ready to learn more and have greater opportunities to advance in your workplace, an advanced degree in mechanical engineering can help. If you have a desire to teach in higher education, you will also find yourself well prepared by obtaining a postgraduate degree.

Program Structure

Students are required to take 42 hours of coursework beyond the B.S. degree to obtain a Ph.D. degree. Of these 42 hours, up to 6 hours of “Directed Individual Study” courses can be included. In addition, students are required to complete 20 hours of dissertation research and take 1 hour of graduate seminar. If a student already has an M.S. degree, then up to 21 hours of coursework can be used towards the Ph.D. degree. Students who have entered the ME Ph.D. program are required to take the PhD Qualifying Exams after they have completed 18 graduate course credit hours or within their first 3 years, whichever comes first.

For more information, please visit our Ph.D program page..

Course Code Course Name Credit Hours
ME 8011 Graduate Seminar 1
ME 8213 OR
MA 6313 OR
MA 6323 OR
MA 8203 OR
MA 8463
Engineering Analysis
Numerical Analysis I
Numerical Analysis II
Foundations of Applied Mathematics I
Numerical Linear Algebra
3
XX 8XXX Graduate-level Coursework May include up to 6 credit hours of DIS- ME 7000 taken since bachelor's 18
Other Graduate Coursework   21
ME 9000 Dissertation Research 20
  Total Hours 63

Admissions Requirements

Students seeking full admission into this program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the online program should apply as an Unclassified student.

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

  • Fall Semester – June 1
  • Spring Semester – November 1
  • Summer Semester – May 1

An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Mechanical Engineering program.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

Bagley College of Engineering programs may accept transfer work previously completed by the student. Transcript reviews to determine transfer or prerequisite work will be evaluated AFTER students are granted full admission. Once admitted an academic coordinator can review those transcripts for more information.

To meet admission requirements, submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended


Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

  • ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

  1. Submit online application. You will choose Mechanical Engineering as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
  2. Statement of Purpose
  3. Three letters of recommendation
    • You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
  4. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
  5. One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
  6. One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
    • Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
    • Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
      Mississippi State University
      The Office of the Graduate School
      P.O. Box G
      Mississippi State, MS 39762
    • Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
      Mississippi State University
      The Office of the Graduate School
      175 President Circle
      116 Allen Hall
      Mississippi State, MS 39762
  7. Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
    Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
  8. Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor.

Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, you must contact one of your advisors to determine the courses that are most appropriate for you to take. Approximately two months prior to the upcoming semester, your advisor will send an email to your MSU email account, making course recommendations based on your program of study.

Mississippi State University uses email as its official means of communication with all MSU students. Please check your MSU email account (NetID@msstate.edu) daily. Information on setting up your MSU email can be found at the link for student services.

Photo of Tonya W. Stone

Tonya W. Stone

Mechanical Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator

Accessing Online Courses

Accessing Course Videos

Videos recorded during our on campus class sessions are uploaded for online students to view within our online course repository.  Online students will have access to course videos within 24 hours of the on campus course completion. Students should visit Engage to access the course videos. Instructions for viewing the recordings and downloading the recordings are offered below.


View and Download Videos

Instructions for viewing classes live or downloading videos, use our video download instructions.


If you experience technical difficulties or have any questions regarding the recording or format of our lecture capture, please contact:

IT Support & Staff
Bagley College of Engineering
Mississippi State University
dist-support@engr.msstate.edu
662.325.7794


Contact Information

Photo of Mindy Wolfe

Mindy Wolfe

Online Education

  • Coordinator
Photo of Tonya W. Stone

Tonya W. Stone

Mechanical Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator
Headshot of Tamra Swann

Tamra Swann

Engineering

  • Distance Education Coordinator