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Gain an edge in today’s competitive marketplace by developing your analytic and strategic skills and learning how to apply them in fields that are growing in our region and around the world.

The objective of the Clarkson Mechanical Engineering program is to expand your understanding and application of solid mechanics, thermal fluid systems, materials and energy systems and advance your career opportunities in power systems, emerging energy technologies and product design evolution. As a student, we encourage you to consider MBA electives and non-technical courses to integrate business skills that complement your technical expertise.

We offer an MS degree in mechanical engineering both at the Capital Region Campus and in Potsdam, N.Y. Capital Region courses take place in the evening, while courses in Potsdam are typically held during the day.

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Mechanical Engineering Graduate Degrees at the Potsdam Campus

MS in Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

The master's in mechanical engineering programs consist of a minimum of 30 credit hours. Students complete the Potsdam-based MS program in one to five years. 

Students interested in the following should explore our Main Campus MS:

  • Research Facilities
  • Research/Teaching Assistantships
  • On-site Laboratories
  • Faculty Mentor Programs
  • Full Scholarships

 

Mechanical Engineering MS Curriculum - Potsdam Campus

Main Campus Degree Requirements: MS 

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework, including at least 20 credit hours of course and seminar work.
  • Satisfactory completion of one of the research or professional experience components listed below.
    • A written thesis based on independent research
    • A comprehensive examination
    • An appropriate, professionally oriented special project
  • Those students who are not fully prepared to pursue graduate work in engineering may be required to take additional coursework for which graduate credit will not be given.

Required Courses
Minimum of 2 ME Graduate Courses:

  • Advanced Thermal Systems (ME517)
  • Advanced Fluid Mechanics (ME527)
  • Stochastic Processes in Engineering (ME529)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (ME531)
  • Fluid Mechanics of Aerosol Dis (ME537)
  • Experimental Aerosol Mechanics and Instrumentation (ME538)
  • Advanced Optimal Design (ME543)
  • Advanced CAD (ME544)
  • Continuum Mechanics (ME554)
  • Advanced Mechanical Vibrations (ME555)
  • Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials (ME557)
  • Applied Dynamical Systems (ME563)
  • Adv. Mod and Sim of Design Systems (ME580)
  • Advanced Welding Metallurgy (ME590)
  • Principles of Physical Metallurgy (ME595)
  • Plasticity (ME633)
  • Advanced Turbulence (ME639)

At least 1 mathematics course:

  • Engineering Analysis (CE556)
  • Engineering Analysis (CH561)
  • Finite Element Methods (ME515)
  • Sets and Topology (MA514)
  • Classical Complex Analysis (MA521)
  • Classical Real Analysis (MA522)
  • Initial and Boundary Value Problems (MA531)
  • Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations (MA550)
  • Numerical Methods (MA577)
  • Numerical Analysis (MA578)
  • Probability (MA581)

No more than 2 courses from:

  • Selected Topics in Materials Engineering (ME591)
  • Selected Topics in Manufacturing (ME594)
  • Selected Topics in Heat Transfer (ME618)
  • Special Topics in Fluid Mechanics (ME628)
  • Selected Topics in Solid Mechanics (ME657)
PhD in Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

We also offer a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Potsdam campus for those who wish to pursue and further their knowledge in this subject.

Mechanical Engineering PhD Curriculum

PhD

  • Ninety credit hours minimum beyond the BS
  • Minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework
    • minimum of 15 credit hours in the major field
    • minimum of nine credit hours in the minor field
    • minimum of six credit hours from a department other than the one in which the student is housed
  • Minimum of six credit hours of seminar
  • Sixty credit hours earned in residence at Clarkson
  • Two years of full‑time study in residence at Clarkson
  • Maximum of 30 hours of graduate transfer credit (B grade or better)
  • Official transcripts need to be provided before transfer credit is awarded.
  • All work must be completed within seven years after the student is identified as a PhD candidate. A minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent in part-time study is required.
  • The comprehensive examination (qualifying examination and research proposal defense examination) for admission to candidacy must be taken within two years after admission to the PhD program. A student will be dropped from the program if the exam is failed twice
  • A dissertation must be submitted and defended orally before an examining committee. The examining committee will consist of a minimum of five members, four of whom must be Clarkson faculty members. At least one of the faculty must be from a department other than the advisor’s department. With the approval of the provost, the fifth member may be any person with appropriate credentials from either inside or outside the University.
  • The program for research assistants and teaching assistants will include at least one credit hour of thesis each semester.
  • Qualifying examination
  • Research proposal defense examination
  • Examination on the dissertation

Example Courses and Concentrations

  • Engineering Analysis
  • Finite Element Methods
  • Stochastic Processes in Engineering
  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Advanced Engineering Mathematics I
  • Advanced Engineering Mathematics II
  • Initial and Boundary Value Problems
  • Finite Element Methods
  • Numerical Methods
  • Advanced Conduction Heat Transfer
  • Advanced Fluid Mechanics
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Advanced Optimal Design
  • Advanced CAD
  • Advanced Mechanical Vibration
  • Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials
  • Advanced Welding Metallurgy
  • Principles of Physical Metallurgy
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Mechanical Engineering, MS, at the Capital Region Campus

MS in Mechanical Engineering

The master's in mechanical engineering program at the Capital Region Campus consist of a minimum of 30 credit hours.  Students typically complete the MS at the Capital Region Campus in one and a half to two years, full-time, or in two and a half to three years, part-time.

The Clarkson University Capital Region Campus (CRC) in Schenectady, NY is a satellite campus for Clarkson University.  The CRC caters to the working engineering professional, offering:

  • Evening On-site Courses
  • A Professional Setting
  • Outstanding Faculty who are adjuncts and professionals from within industry
  • Merit Scholarships

 

 

MS in Mechanical Engineering - Capital Region Campus

Capital Region Campus Degree Requirements:

MS (Professional)
With evening courses and part-time study, our Capital Region Campus offers the only engineering program in the capital region designed to meet the needs of working professionals. You’ll learn and network with other professionals who are seeking to advance their knowledge and become leaders in their fields. Coursework is also well-matched to recent graduates who want to benefit from learning alongside experienced professionals. The GRE is not required for acceptance into this program.

Our advisors work closely with students to understand their career goals and develop study plans that enable them to advance. Each student program will include a minimum of 10 graduate courses and an MS graduate project in mechanical engineering (total 30 credits).

Please view the course catalog for details and course summaries for both Potsdam and Capital Region campuses.

Required Courses

  • Elasticity (ME500)
  • Transport Phenomena (ME501)
  • Engineering Analysis (ME502)
  • Mechanical Behavior of Materials (ME506)
  • Fracture Mechanics (ME508)
  • Processing and Selection of Engineering Materials (ME513)
  • Current Approach to Fatigue in Design (ME509)
  • Finite Element Methods in Engineering (ME516)
  • Advanced Dynamics (ME510)
  • Vibrations of Discrete Systems (ME512)
  • Engineering Optimization (ME561)
  • Composites (ME562)
  • Dynamics of a Viscous Fluid (ME563)
  • Compressible Fluid Flow (ME564)
  • Combustion Fundamentals (ME565)
  • Fluid Dynamics of Turbo Machinery (ME566)
  • Advanced Fluid Dynamics (ME572)
  • Flow and Heat Transfer in Multiphase Systems (ME573)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (ME574)
  • Thermodynamic Analysis (ME567)
  • Thermal Energy Processes (ME568)
  • Conduction Heat Transfer (ME569)
  • Superconductivity (ME570)
  • Convection Heat Transfer (ME571)
  • Principles of Thermal Systems (ME584)
  • Linear Control Systems (ME560)
  • Engineering Statistics (ME577)
  • Motor Acoustics (ME579)
  • Welding (ME586)
  • Nuclear Engineering and Technology (ME575)
  • Fuel Cell Science and Hydrogen Engineering (ME581)
  • Photovoltaic Engineering (ME582)
  • Turbine Engineering (ME583)
  • Solar Energy Engineering (ME587)
  • Wind Energy Engineering (ME588)
  • Synchronous Generator Engineering (ME589)
  • Disruptive Technology (ME600, elective only)
  • Sustainability (ME601, elective only)
  • Sample Electives:
    • BOE 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615
    • Global Supply Chain Management (OM607)
    • Leadership and Organizational Behavior (OS603)
Hear from an Alumni of the CRC-Based Program
"The more abstract problem-solving processes have made me a better engineer. Thinking through problems logically and applying thoughts rationally affords me more confidence when identifying paths forward for difficulties I face in my day-to-day work."

Alicia Stanton ’19, MS in Mechanical Engineering, Drug Product Engineer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Admission

MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering Main Campus

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Online Application Form
  • Resume.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation.
  • Official Transcripts.
  • GRE Test Scores.
    • Required.
  • For International Applicants, an English Proficiency Test is required.
    • Minimum Test Score Requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) and Duolingo English Test (115).

Prerequisites: For the MS program, students must have a BS in engineering or an equivalent field. For the PhD program, students must have a MS degree in engineering or an equivalent field.  Applications from other disciplines will be handled on a case-by-case basis. These students may be required to take additional mechanical engineering courses for which graduate credit will not be given.

MS in Mechanical Engineering Capital Region Campus

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Online Application Form
  • Resume.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation.
  • Official Transcripts.
  • GRE Test Scores.
    • Not required.
  • For International Applicants, an English Proficiency Test is required.
    • Minimum Test Score Requirements: TOEFL (80) and TOEFL Essentials (8.5), IELTS (6.5), PTE (56) and Duolingo English Test (115).
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Scholarships

A limited number of one-year and/or partial year tuition scholarships are available for qualified full-time students. A limited number of stipends are also available. Most scholarships and/or stipends are associated with department assistantships or completion of a master’s thesis as part of the qualified applicant’s plan of study to complete his/her degree program.

Learn more about all of our scholarships and how to apply by contacting the Engineering Department via email enggrad@clarkson.edu.

Contact Us

To learn more or apply, contact:

Graduate Admissions
graduate@clarkson.edu
518-631-9831

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