The Mechanical & Materials Engineering Department offers three masters degrees and one PhD degree. Each program is designed to help students achieve career goals, meeting industry, or research interests. Students who plan to work or who are currently working in industry have the ability to earn a master's degree by completing coursework and foregoing research. Students seeking research opportunities or advancement to a PhD program have the option to perform research with a variety of faculty members, and complete either a thesis or project.
Research areas include green buildings, sustainable water, wind energy, capillary fluids, controls, mechatronics, materials testing, nanofabrication and synthesis, and electronic packaging, among others. Information on faculty, research, and labs can be found here.
Admission requirements
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Applicants who have received a Bachelor of Science degree, and who meet University graduate admission requirements, will be considered for admission as outlined below:
Regular admission:
- Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or in a closely related engineering field
- Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in a related field such as materials science, physics, chemistry, or biology who have also completed the following undergraduate courses (or equivalents) based on focus area:
- Design & Manufacturing: ME 313 Analysis of Mechanical Components, ME 314 Analysis and Design of Machine Elements, and ME 351 Vibrations and System Dynamics
- Thermal & Fluid Science: ME 320/L Fluid Mechanics, ME 321 Engineering Thermodynamics I, and ME 323 Heat Transfer
Conditional admission:
- Applicants who have received a Bachelor of Science degree in a related field such as materials science, physics, or chemistry, but have not completed the recommended pre-admission courses listed above.
Applicants will need to provide three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume or curriculum vitae.
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE)
Applicants who have received a Bachelor of Science degree, and who meet University graduate admission requirements, will be considered for admission as outlined below:
Regular admission
- Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in Material Science & Engineering or in a closely related engineering field
- Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in a related field such as mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, or biology who have also completed the following undergraduate course (or equivalent):
- ME 213/L Properties of Materials
Conditional admission:
- Applicants who have received a Bachelor of Science degree in a related field such as mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, or biology, but have not completed the recommended pre-admission courses listed above.
Applicants will need to provide three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume or curriculum vitae.
Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
A Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, is required for students applying to the mechanical engineering PhD program. Applicants will need to provide three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume or curriculum vitae, and current GRE scores. GRE scores are not required if the master's degree was completed at PSU. Additional admission requirements and details are published on the MME department web site at www.pdx.edu/mme.