Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

MSME Program Educational Objectives

The overall Program Educational Objective of the Mechanical Engineering Program is to support the NPS Mission by producing graduates who have knowledge and technical competence at the advanced level in Mechanical Engineering in support of national security. In order to achieve this goal, the specific objectives are to produce graduates who are expected to achieve the following within a few years of graduation:

1. Have become technical experts who are able to formulate and solve important engineering problems associated with national security in Mechanical Engineering and related disciplines using the techniques, skills and tools of modern practice, including experiments, and modeling and simulation. These problems may include issues of research, design, development, procurement, operation, maintenance or disposal of engineering components and systems for military applications.
2. Have assumed positions of leadership in the specification of military requirements in the organization and performance of research, design, testing, procurement and operation of technically advanced, militarily effective systems. The graduate must be able to interact with personnel from other services, industry, laboratories and academic institutions, and be able to understand the role that engineering and technology have in military operations, and in the broader national and global environment.
3. Can communicate advanced technical information effectively in both oral and written form.

Student Outcomes

1. Graduating students will meet the ABET 1 through 7 outcomes either by previous attainment of an ABET BSME Degree, or by having the knowledge and skills equivalent to an ABET-accredited BSME.
2. Graduating students will have a minimum of one (1) year of advanced study beyond the bachelor’s level and have advanced level knowledge in Mechanical Engineering as demonstrated by the ability to apply master’s level knowledge in one of the available specialized disciplines of Mechanical Engineering. 
3. Graduating students will have the ability to apply technical knowledge in a leadership role related to national security.

The ABET (1) though (7) outcomes are:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives 
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Overview

A candidate shall have completed work equivalent to the requirements of this department for the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Candidates who have not majored in mechanical engineering, or who have experienced significant lapses in continuity with previous academic work, will initially take undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering and mathematics to fulfill these requirements in preparation for their graduate program.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering requires a minimum of 48 quarter-hours of graduate level work. The candidate must take all courses in an approved study program, which must satisfy the following requirements: There must be a minimum of 32 quarter hours of credits in 3000 and 4000 level courses, including a minimum of 12 quarter hours at the 4000 level. Of the 32 quarter hours at least 24 quarter-hours must be in courses offered by the MAE Department.

A student seeking the Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering must also demonstrate competence at the advanced level in at least one of the available disciplines of Mechanical Engineering. These disciplines are the thermal-fluid sciences; solid mechanics, shock and vibration; dynamic systems and control; system design; and materials science. This may be accomplished by completing at least eight quarter-hours of the 4000 level credits by courses in this department and a thesis in one of these discipline areas.

Thesis Requirements

An acceptable thesis for a minimum of 16 credits is also required for the Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. An acceptable thesis for the degree of Mechanical Engineer may also meet the thesis requirement of the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. The student's thesis advisor, the Academic Associate, the Program Officer and the Department Chairman must approve the study program and the thesis topic.

Student Numbers

In Academic Year 2018, the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) Degree Program graduated 28 students and there were 47 students on board at the end of the year.