The master's degree program requires 45 units of course work taken as a graduate student. At least 36 of the units must be taken at Stanford; any units transferred from other universities (up to 9 are allowed) must be graduate-level courses taken while registered as a graduate student (no exceptions), and may not be applied toward fulfillment of item 2 below.Ê In addition, the University requires a minimum of 3 quarters of full-time graduate registration.
The faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department have determined that the following requirements must be met for the MS in Mechanical Engineering Degree:
1. Mathematical Competence (6 units) in two of the following areas: partial differential equations, linear algebra, complex variables, or numerical analysis, as demonstrated by completion of two appropriate courses from the following list: ME200-206; Math106, 109, 113, 131, 132; Statistics 110, 161; CS137, 237AB.
Students who have completed comparable graduate-level courses as an undergraduate, and who can demonstrate their competence to the satisfaction of the instructors of the Stanford courses, may be exempted from this requirement by their advisor and the ME Student Services Office, and place the units in the General Approved Elective category.
2. Specialty in Mechanical Engineering (3-4 courses): A set of three or four graduate level courses in Mechanical Engineering to provide depth in one area. Such sets have been approved by the Mechanical Engineering faculty. Comparable specialty sets composed of graduate engineering courses within or outside the Mechanical Engineering Department can be used with the approval of the student's advisor.
3. Breadth in Mechanical Engineering (to bring ME units to 18): At least two additional inter-related graduate level courses in Mechanical Engineering outside the depth area (subject to the approval of the Graduate Curriculum Committee) to bring the total number of ME units to at least 18. These courses should satisfy the spirit of the breadth requirement by being in sufficiently different area that the general area of the depth courses chosen by the student. The breadth courses should provide the student with a reasonable familiarity to an area of Mechanical Engineering used in engineering practice. An example that always satisfies this requirement is when the depth and breadth courses are taken from core courses offered by different divisions of ME, however, it is also possible to find sufficient breadth in a single division which meets the desired spirit. The breadth courses are expected to be 200 level ME courses excluding courses in computational mathematics, seminars and independent study courses.
4. Approved Electives (to bring the total number of units to 39): All of these units must be approved by the student's advisor. Graduate engineering, math and science courses are normally approved. The advisor may approve upper-level undergraduate courses if consistent with the student's program objectives. Of these 39 units, no more than 6 units may come from ME291, 292 and no more than 3 units may come from seminars. A student planning to continue for a PhD should discuss with his/her academic advisor the desirability of taking 291 or 292 during the master's year.
5. Unrestricted Electives (to bring the total number of units submitted for the M.S. Degree to 45): Students are strongly encouraged to use these units OUTSIDE of engineering, mathematics or the sciences. Students should consult their advisor for recommendations on course loads and on ways to use the unrestricted electives to make a manageable program.
6. Laboratory Requirement (1 course): Within the courses satisfying the requirements above, there must be at least one graduate-level course dealing with laboratory course. Courses which satisfy this requirement are ME207AB, 217B, 218A, 224, 226B, 225A, 248, 254, 267, 282A, 282B, 303, 310ABC, 319. ME292 will satisfy this requirement if 3 units are taken for work involving laboratory experiments. A student who has had substantial laboratory experienceÊ (hands on) in industry or a government researchÊ institute may be exempt from this requirement by his or her advisor and the Associate Chairman of Graduate Curriculum (via the ME Student Services Office).
Deviations from the requirements as listed must be addressed in the form of a petition, signed by the academic advisor and subject to the approval of the Student Services Office. Such deviations MUST be requested PRIOR to enrollment in the course(s).
Candidates for the MSME degree will be expected to have the approval of the faculty, a minimum letter grade indicator of 2.75 in the 45 units presented in all courses used in fulfillment of requirements 1,2,3,4, and 6 which must be graded courses excluding courses for which a pass/no credit is given to all students.
Students falling below an overall average of 2.50 at the end 20 units may be disqualified from further registration. Students failing to meet the complete degree requirements at the end of 60 units of graduate registration will be disqualified from further registration. An exception to the 60 unit rule will be units used to fill deficiencies arising from inadequate undergraduate preparation for mechanical engineering graduate work.