Doctoral Program in Mechanical Engineering
Admission to the doctoral program is made through the Department Chair in conjunction with the Graduate Committee, and it is based on an assessment of the applicant’s academic background, competence and aptitude for advanced study and research. Applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or better in a master’s program in mechanical engineering or a related field as well as with excellent TOEFL and GRE scores are encouraged to apply for the Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering. Exceptionally well qualified applicants who obtained only a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field will also be considered for direct admission into the Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering. If deemed acceptable, the student will be assigned an Advisor. Then, the student, in conjunction with the Advisor, will select a thesis topic and complete a study plan within three months in the program.
Courses are selected to develop knowledge and skills in a particular area of interest. While this coursework is necessary to develop the knowledge and skills of the student’s profession, the most important aspect of the doctoral program is the student’s original research in a selected topic of interest.
The subject of the doctoral dissertation (ME 960) is open to a wide range of particular choices. The selection of a topic by the doctoral aspirant provides for a sub-specialization within the broad range of mechanical engineering disciplines. The courses selected for the study plan should complement the student’s dissertation subject.
The required milestones for the PhD degree are: 1) PhD Qualifying Examination, 2) PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense (Preliminary Examination) and 3) PhD Dissertation Defense (Final Examination). The PhD Qualifying Examination consist of two individual parts: a written Core Competency Test (CCT) and an oral Research Competency Test (RCT). The qualifying exam is to be taken at the end of the third semester (if student enters with a BS degree) or the second semester (if student enters with an MS degree) of arriving at Stevens. The PhD Dissertation Proposal is required to be held two (2) semesters after the student passes the PhD Qualifying Exam (i.e. after 4 semesters with MS degree and after 5 semesters with BS degree). In order to schedule the PhD Dissertation Proposal, the student will be required to work in conjunction with the PhD advisor to form a Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC). At the completion of the doctoral research, the candidate must defend their dissertation in a public presentation or PhD Dissertation Defense. The dissertation must be based upon original investigation in the field of mechanical engineering and must be a contribution worthy of publication in the current professional literature. For all required milestones towards the PhD degree, upon failing an examination, the student may take the examination for a second time. Upon failing the same examination for a second time, the student will be asked to leave the program.
Nanotechnology Concentration
The mechanical engineering doctoral program is an integral part of the institute-wide nanotechnology graduate program. A Ph.D. degree option in mechanical engineering with concentration in nanotechnology is available to students who satisfy the conditions and requirements of the nanotechnology area which are outlined in a separate section of the catalog.
Ph.D. Credit Requirements
The Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering requires a total of 84 graduate credits beyond the Bachelor's degree or 54 graduate credits beyond the Master’s degree. Up to 30 credits previously obtained in a Master’s degree program in mechanical engineering or a related field may be applied towards this requirement. Beyond a Master's degree, 24 course credits, 27 research credits, along with a 3 credit PRV 961 course are required.