University Catalog

Objective - Aerospace Engineering

The overall objective of the graduate program in Aerospace Engineering is to develop in a student the ability to define a technical problem, establish an appropriate mathematical or experimental model based on a firm understanding of the physical nature of the problem, analyze the problem by theoretical, numerical, or experimental techniques, and evaluate the results. Although this ability is developed in the context of aerospace problems, it is applicable to the engineering of any physical system. The program is designed for a student with any of the following specific objectives:

1. A sound foundation in advanced mathematics, science, and engineering which will equip the student well for research and development work or for further advanced study toward a doctoral degree in engineering.
2. A program of advanced study which allows specialization in one of the following areas:
   • Fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and propulsion (theoretical and applied aerodynamics, gas dynamics, viscous fluid mechanics, turbulence, computational and experimental fluid dynamics, bio-fluidics, hypersonic flow theory, high-temperature gas dynamics, V/STOL and rotorcraft aerodynamics, air-breathing and rocket propulsion);
   • Structural mechanics and structures (solid mechanics, aerospace structures, structural dynamics, composite structures and material characterization, damage tolerance and durability, smart structures, structure optimization, sensor technology, high-temperature structures and materials, aeroelasticity);
   • Flight mechanics and controls (atmospheric and space flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, guidance, navigation and control);
   • Vehicle design (conceptual aircraft design, atmospheric flight vehicle design, spacecraft design, computer-aided engineering).
3. A balanced but non-specialized program of advanced study in aerodynamics, astronautics, flight dynamics, structural analysis, propulsion, and fluid mechanics, with emphasis on experimental techniques and modern mathematical analysis.

Objective - Mechanical Engineering

The graduate program provides opportunities for professional development in such forms as: instructional courses to enhance technical competence in areas of mechanical engineering practice; training through a variety of experiences in design, development, research, experimentation, and/or analysis in joint efforts with faculty and peers; specialized courses of study required for entry into career fields allied to the mechanical engineering discipline; guided individual study under faculty supervision; and supportive coursework for programs leading to careers that require interdisciplinary competence.

A student with aid from a faculty advisor plans a program that will be consistent with his or her technical interests and the available facilities and course offerings. Typically, programs are classified as:

• Thermal Science
• Fluid Science
• Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
• Solid Mechanics and Structures
• Controls and Systems

Admission Requirements for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

Applicants for the master’s degrees must have a baccalaureate degree in engineering or science. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a doctoral degree without completing a master’s degree may apply for admission in the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) to Ph.D. Track. The minimum admission requirements to this highly competitive track are the same as those for all doctoral applicants. All applicants must meet the general requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the section of this catalog entitled "Admission Requirements and Procedures". Applicants not meeting all criteria may be admitted on a provisional or probationary basis.

For applicants with no prior training in engineering or with insufficient undergraduate Aerospace Engineering coursework, the same minimum criteria will apply. Additionally, their records will be reviewed in relation to their mathematics, engineering, and science backgrounds, and probationary status may be a basis for acceptance of such applicants, with specific undergraduate remedial work required.

The UT Arlington Aerospace Engineering Program uses the following guidelines in the admission review process:

Unconditional Admission for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

Unconditional admission into the Aerospace Engineering Program requires the submission of items 1 through 5 below for each degree program. To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must at least meet conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work in an appropriate engineering or science discipline. (For some international applicants where GPA calculations based on a 4.0 system are not performed, a minimum performance level of 65 percentile is expected. This minimum expectation may be higher for some countries, where less stringent grading criteria are used.) Performance in core Aerospace Engineering courses is of particular importance.
2. A GRE score of at least 146 (verbal) and 155 (quantitative). For those applicants whose GRE verbal score falls below 400, high TOEFL scores may be considered to offset the GRE verbal score.
3. Three favorable recommendations, via the university’s recommendation form or via recommendation letter.
4. A Statement of Purpose detailing the applicant’s background, education, professional goals, technical interests, and research interests.
5. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: paper-based TOEFL-PBT score of 550 with a TWE of 3.5, IELTS score of 6.5, or TOEFL-iBT total score of 84 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 20 for the listening section.

Probationary Admission for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

Probationary admission into the Aerospace Engineering Program may be permitted under the following conditions for each degree program:

1. If the applicant meets any three of the items 1, 2, 3, and 4 above for the master’s program.
2. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: paper-based TOEFL score of 550 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 223, TSE-A score of 45, IELTS score of 6.5, or TOEFL iBT total score of 84 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 20 for the listening section.

Provisional Admission FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

An applicant who is unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements, may be granted provisional admission.

Deferred for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

If an applicant does not present adequate evidence of meeting admission requirements, the admission decision may be deferred until admission records are complete or the requirements are met.

Denial of Admission for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

A candidate may be denied admission if he/she has less than satisfactory performance in two out of the first three admission criteria.

Waiver of the Graduate Record Examination for Master's Program in Aerospace Engineering

A waiver of the Graduate Record Examination may be considered for a UT Arlington graduate who has completed a BSAE degree within the past 3 years. The student’s GPA must equal or exceed 3.0 in each of two calculations:

1. in the last 60 hours of study and
2. in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington.

The GRE waiver may be extended to include non-UT Arlington candidates that have undergraduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering (with GPA of 3.25 or above) from U.S. universities with an ABET accredited engineering program or other select U.S. universities subject to graduate advisor’s approval. The waiver of the GRE applies only to applicants for the masters degree programs. Interested applicants should contact the Aerospace Engineering Graduate Advisor.

Criteria for Award of Fellowships and Assistantships

Applicants who demonstrate skills, experience or interests that meet the needs of the AE Graduate Program will be considered for fellowships or assistantships.

Fast Track Program for Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering

The Fast Track Program enables outstanding UT Arlington senior undergraduate students in Aerospace Engineering to satisfy degree requirements leading to a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering while completing their undergraduate studies. When senior-level students are within 15 hours of completing their undergraduate degree requirements, they may take up to 9 hours of graduate level coursework designated by the Aerospace Engineering Program to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. In the limiting case, a student completing the maximum allowable hours (9) while in undergraduate status would have to take only 24 additional hours to meet minimum requirements for graduation in a 33 hour thesis master’s degree program (M.S.) or 28 additional hours for a 37 hour non-thesis master’s degree program (M. Engr.)

Interested UT Arlington undergraduate Aerospace Engineering students should apply to the Aerospace Engineering Program when they are within 30 hours of completing their bachelor’s degrees. They must have completed at least 30 hours at UT Arlington, achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 in those courses, and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all college courses. Additionally, they must have completed at least 16 hours of specified undergraduate foundation courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in those courses. Program details are provided in the UT Arlington Undergraduate Catalog. Contact the Undergraduate Advisor or Graduate Advisor in Aerospace Engineering for more information about the program.

Master's Degree Requirements

All Graduate Degrees

• All entering students must be proficient in mathematics, engineering analysis, and computer programming. (Students not meeting these requirements may be admitted on a probationary basis and given a plan of remedial undergraduate coursework).
• No graduate credit will be granted for courses that are required in the undergraduate Aerospace Engineering curriculum.
• The Master of Science and Doctoral candidates in Aerospace Engineering shall enroll in AE 5101 GRADUATE SEMINAR a minimum of three times (see course description).

All candidates are required to select a Supervising Professor and obtain an approved program of work in the second full semester or after 12 hours are completed.

Master of Science or Master of Engineering Degrees

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers both the Master of Science and the Master of Engineering degrees in Aerospace Engineering.

Core Areas in the Aerospace Engineering Program

The four core areas in the Aerospace Engineering program along with the recommended courses in each core area are listed below:

1. Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics and Propulsion
AE 5313	FLUID DYNAMICS	3
AE 5326	AIR-BREATHING PROPULSION	3
AE 5342	GAS DYNAMICS	3
2. Solid Mechanics and Structures
AE 5310	FINITE ELEMENT METHODS	3
AE 5311	STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS	3
AE 5339	STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN	3
3. Flight Mechanics and Controls
AE 5302	ADVANCED FLIGHT MECHANICS	3
AE 5362	GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION, AND CONTROL OF AEROSPACE VEHICLES	3
4. Flight Vehicle Design
AE 5368	FLIGHT VEHICLE SYNTHESIS AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING	3
Total Hours		27

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering

The Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Aerospace Engineering is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. A minimum of 33 credit hours is required as follows:

Two Core Courses:		6
One course from either core areas one or two
One course from another of the four core areas
Two Math or Engineering Analysis courses		6
Four courses related to a specialty in Aerospace Engineering		12
Thesis:		6
The student must enroll in AE 5398 or AE 6297 every semester in which the student is actively involved in thesis preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in AE 5698 in the semester of graduation.
Graduate Seminar (minimum of three credit hours):		3
AE 5101	GRADUATE SEMINAR
Total Hours		33

Requirements for the Masters of Engineering Degree in Aerospace Engineering

The Master of Engineering (M.Engr.) Degree in Aerospace Engineering is an engineering practice-oriented program. A minimum of 37 credit hours is required as follows:

Three Core Courses:		9
One course each from core areas one and two
A third course from either areas three or four
Two Math/Engineering Analysis courses		6
Seven elective courses in Engineering, Mathematics, and/or Science relating to the student’s interest areas:		21
The elective courses must include a minimum of one hour and no more than six hours of special project courses:
AE 5191	ADVANCED STUDIES IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
AE 5291	ADVANCED STUDIES IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
AE 5391	ADVANCED STUDIES IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
AE 5101	GRADUATE SEMINAR (minimum one credit hour)
Total Hours		36

For both the M.S. and the M. Engr. degrees, the balance of the required coursework hours may be chosen in consultation with the Supervising Professor to meet the student’s needs and interests. Normally these additional elective courses should be selected from the offerings of the Program in Aerospace Engineering or the Program in Mechanical Engineering. Courses taken outside the two programs require approval of the student’s Supervising Professor as well as the Graduate Advisor.

Admission Requirements for Master's Program in Mechanical Engineering

Admission to the graduate program in ME is based on equal weighting of the following five criteria:

1. An overall GPA, as calculated by the Graduate School, of 3.0 or higher in undergraduate coursework is required for admission to the M.S. program. (For some international applicants where GPA calculations based on a 4.0 system are not performed, a minimum performance level of 65 percentile. This minimum expectation may be higher for some countries, where less stringent grading criteria are used.) Performance in core Mechanical Engineering courses is of particular importance.
2. A GRE score of at least 146 (400 in old scaling) (verbal) and 155 (700 in old scaling) (quantitative) for M.S. applicants.
3. Three satisfactory written recommendation forms from prior professors or supervisors.
4. A written essay on the student’s goals and reasons for pursuing graduate studies.
5. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. For M.S. applicants, minimum performance levels expected for each test are: TOEFL iBT total score of 84 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 20 for the listening section, paper-based TOEFL score of 550 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 223, TSE-A score of 45, or IELTS score of 6.5.

Admission Status FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN Mechanical ENGINEERING

1. Unconditional Admission: To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must at least meet conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4.
2. Probationary Admission: M.S. applicants who fail to meet the conditions for unconditional admission, but satisfy any three of items 1, 2, 3 and 4, will be considered for probationary admission.
3. Provisionary Admission: Applicants who are unable to supply all of the required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appear to meet the admission criteria, may be granted provisional admission.
4. Denial: Applicants who fail to meet at least two of the first four admission criteria will normally be denied admission.
5. Deferral: A deferred decision may be granted when an application file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Probationary Admission FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Probationary admission into the Mechanical Engineering Program may be permitted under the following conditions for each degree program:

Provisional Admission FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

An applicant who is unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements, may be granted provisional admission.

Waiver of the Graduate Record Exam FOR MASTER'S PROGRAM IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

A waiver of the Graduate Record Examination may be considered for a UT Arlington graduate who has completed a BSME degree within the past 3 years. The student’s GPA must equal or exceed 3.0 in each of two calculations: (a) in the last 60 hours of study and (b) in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington. The GRE waiver may be extended to include non-UT Arlington candidates that have undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering (with GPA of 3.25 or above) from U.S. universities with an ABET accredited engineering program or other select U.S. universities subject to graduate advisor’s approval. The waiver of the GRE applies only to applicants for the master’s degree programs. Interested applicants should contact the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Advisor.

CORE COURSES

Thermal Science
ME 5316	THERMAL CONDUCTION	3
ME 5317	CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER	3
ME 5318	RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER	3
ME 5321	ADVANCED CLASSICAL THERMODYNAMICS	3
Fluid Science
ME 5313	FLUID DYNAMICS	3
ME 5342	GAS DYNAMICS	3
ME 5344	VISCOUS FLOWS	3
Design, Mechanics and Manufacturing
ME 5310	FINITE ELEMENT METHODS	3
ME 5337	INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS	3
ME 5339	STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN	3
ME 5311	STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS	3
Controls and Systems
ME 5303	CLASSICAL METHODS OF CONTROL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS	3
ME 5305	DYNAMIC SYSTEMS MODELING	3
ME 5341	CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS	3
Analysis Courses
ME 5331	ANALYTIC METHODS ENGINEERING	3
ME 5332	ENGINEERING ANALYSIS	3
Approved Mathematics courses

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science degree is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required as follows: three core courses (one course each in three of the four areas) and the two analysis courses listed above; three graduate courses (nine credit hours) related to a specialty in mechanical engineering (registration in elective courses outside the ME department requires prior approval of the ME graduate advisor and the students committee chair otherwise they will not count towards graduation requirements); and six credit hours of thesis. In addition, all GTA/GRA Master of Science students are required to enroll in ME 5101 GRADUATE SEMINAR course. The student must enroll in ME 5398 THESIS or ME 6397 RESEARCH IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING every semester in which the student is actively involved in thesis preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in ME 5698 THESIS in the semester of graduation.

Requirements for the Master of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Engineering degree is an engineering practice-oriented program. A minimum of 36 credit hours is required as follows: four core courses (one in each area) and the two analysis courses listed above; six courses (18 credit hours) of elective graduate courses in engineering, mathematics, and/or science relating to the student’s interest areas. The elective courses may include as many as three hours of special project courses (ME 5391 ADVANCED STUDIES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING). Registration in elective courses outside the ME department requires prior approval of the ME graduate advisor and student’s committee chair otherwise they will not count towards graduation requirements.

Admission Requirements for Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering

Applicants for the doctoral degree must have either a baccalaureate or master’s degree in engineering or science. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a doctoral degree without completing a master’s degree may apply for admission in the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) to Ph.D. Track. The minimum admission requirements to this highly competitive track are the same as those for all doctoral applicants. Doctoral candidates shall also demonstrate through previous academic preparation the potential to carry out independent research in Aerospace Engineering. All applicants must meet the general requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the section of this catalog entitled "Admission Requirements and Procedures". Applicants not meeting all criteria may be admitted on a provisional or probationary basis.

For applicants with no prior training in engineering or with insufficient undergraduate Aerospace Engineering coursework, the same minimum criteria will apply. Additionally, their records will be reviewed in relation to their mathematics, engineering, and science backgrounds, and probationary status may be a basis for acceptance of such applicants, with specific undergraduate remedial work required.

The UT Arlington Aerospace Engineering Program uses the following guidelines in the admission review process:

Unconditional Admission for Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering

Unconditional admission into the Aerospace Engineering Program requires the submission of items 1 through 5 below for each degree program. To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must at least meet conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1. Minimum GPA of 3.3 in the last 60 hours taken in the major field of study in an appropriate engineering or science discipline. (For some international applicants where GPA calculations based on a 4.0 system are not performed, a minimum performance level of 70 percentile is expected. This minimum expectation may be higher for some countries, where less stringent grading criteria are used.) Performance in core Aerospace Engineering courses is of particular importance.
2. A GRE score of at least 150 (verbal) and 159 (quantitative). For those applicants whose GRE verbal score falls below 150, high TOEFL scores may be considered to offset the GRE verbal score.
3. Three favorable recommendations via the university’s recommendation form or via recommendation letter.
4. A Statement of Purpose detailing the applicant’s background, education, professional goals, technical interests, and research interests.
5. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: TOEFL-PBT score of 560 with a TWE of 3.5, IELTS score of 7.0, or TOEFL-iBT total score of 89 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 24 for the reading section, and 21 for the listening section.

Probationary Admission FOR PH.D. IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Probationary admission into the Aerospace Engineering Program may be permitted under the following conditions for each degree program:

1. If an applicant meets any three of the items 1, 2, 3, and 4 above for the doctoral program.
2. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: paper-based TOEFL score of 560 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 230, TSE-A score of 45, IELTS score of 7.0, or TOEFL iBT total score of 89 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 24 for the reading section, and 21 for the listening section.

Provisional Admission FOR PH.D. IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

An applicant who is unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements, may be granted provisional admission.

Deferred FOR PH.D. IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

If an applicant does not present adequate evidence of meeting admission requirements, the admission decision may be deferred until admission records are complete or the requirements are met.

Denial of Admission FOR PH.D. IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

A candidate may be denied admission if he/she has less than satisfactory performance in two out of the first three admission criteria.

Waiver of the Graduate Record Examination FOR PH.D. IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

A waiver of the Graduate Record Examination may be considered for a UT Arlington graduate who has completed a BSAE degree within the past 3 years. The student’s GPA must equal or exceed 3.0 in each of two calculations:

1. in the last 60 hours of study and
2. in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington.

The GRE waiver may be extended to include non-UT Arlington candidates that have undergraduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering (with GPA of 3.25 or above) from U.S. universities with an ABET accredited engineering program or other select U.S. universities subject to graduate advisor’s approval. The waiver of the GRE applies only to applicants for the masters degree programs. Interested applicants should contact the Aerospace Engineering Graduate Advisor.

Criteria for Award of Fellowships and Assistantships

Applicants who demonstrate skills, experience or interests that meet the needs of the AE Graduate Program will be considered for fellowships or assistantships.

B.S. to Ph.D. Program

The B.S. to Ph.D. Program is an accelerated program in which the student bypasses the M.S. thesis and proceeds directly to the Ph.D. dissertation research. Requirements for unconditional admission to the B.S. to Ph.D. Degree Program include:

• An overall GPA, as calculated by the Graduate School, of 3.3 or higher in undergraduate coursework.
• Relevance of the student’s previous degrees to the AE curriculum.
• Reputation of the universities or colleges the student has attended.
• A GRE score of at least 153 (verbal) and 159 (quantitative).
• Three satisfactory written recommendation forms from prior professors or supervisors.
• A written essay on the student’s goals and reasons for pursuing graduate studies.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

All Graduate Degrees

• All entering students must be proficient in mathematics, engineering analysis, and computer programming. (Students not meeting these requirements may be admitted on a probationary basis and given a plan of remedial undergraduate coursework).
• No graduate credit will be granted for courses that are required in the undergraduate Aerospace Engineering curriculum.
• The Master of Science and Doctoral candidates in Aerospace Engineering shall enroll in AE 5101 GRADUATE SEMINAR a minimum of three times (see course description).

All candidates are required to select a Supervising Professor and obtain an approved program of work in the second full semester or after 12 hours are completed.

Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy

• The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level course work beyond the Master’s degree, and will include a scholarly dissertation that provides a significant original contribution to Aerospace Engineering.
• The Ph.D. degree course requirement can be tailored to satisfy the individual student’s aspirations in choice of the area of specialization. However, to meet the educational goals of a broad-based technical background in Aerospace Engineering, it is expected that each student will take sufficient course work to obtain in-depth knowledge in at least two core areas of Aerospace Engineering.
• Students whose background is in a field other than Aerospace Engineering must satisfy the Master’s degree core requirements.
• There is no foreign langurage requirement for the Ph.D.
• Diagnostic Exam: All students entering the Ph.D. program are required to take the Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam. Students admitted into AE Ph.D. program with MS degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent must take the diagnostic exam at the end of the 1st semester. This exam is offered twice per year, during the week preceding the start of classes for the fall and spring semesters. Possible outcomes of this evaluation are:
  1. continuation in the doctoral program,
  2. approval to continue with certain specified remedial work,
  3. failure with approval to retake,
  4. termination in the program.
• Comprehensive Exam: Students are eligible to take the comprehensive examination after satisfying all requirements stipulated by the Diagnostic Exam Committee and giving evidence to their doctoral committee of adequate academic achievement by having completed all or most coursework requirements. The comprehensive examination is used to determine if the student has the necessary background and specialization required for the dissertation research and if the student can organize and conduct the research. An applicant must pass this examination to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

B.S. to Ph.D. Track

• In addition to the requirements listed above for the Ph.D. degree, a B.S.-Ph.D. Track student will be required to enroll in at least three hours of research each semester during the student’s first two years, receiving a pass/fail grade (no R grade) in these hours.
• A student may be exempted from enrolling in research hours in the student’s initial semester.
• A B.S.-Ph.D. Track student must have a faculty research (dissertation) advisor prior to the start of the student’s second full semester.
• Students in the BS-Ph.D. program must take the Ph.D diagnostic exam within the first year from the start of their Ph.D.

Admission Requirements for Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Admission Status

1. Unconditional Admission: To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must at least meet conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4.
2. Probationary Admission: Ph.D. applicants who fail to meet the conditions for unconditional admission, but satisfy any three of items 1, 2, 3 and 4, will be considered for probationary admission.
3. Provisional Admission: Applicants who are unable to supply all of the required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appear to meet the admission criteria, may be granted provisional admission.
4. Denial: Applicants who fail to meet at least two of the first four admission criteria will normally be denied admission.
5. Deferral: A deferred decision may be granted when an application file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Admission Requirements for B.S. to Ph.D. Track

1. An overall GPA, as calculated by the Graduate School, of 3.3 or higher in undergraduate coursework.
2. A GRE score of at least 150 (450 in old scaling) (verbal) and 159 (750 in old scaling) (quantitative).
3. Three satisfactory written recommendation forms from prior professors or supervisors.
4. A written essay on the student’s goals and reasons for pursuing graduate studies.
5. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: TOEFL iBT total score of 89 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking seciton, 24 for the reading section and 21 for the listening section, paper-based TOEFL score of 560 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 230, TSE-A score of 45, or IELTS score of 7.0.

Probationary Admission

Probationary admission into the Mechanical Engineering Program may be permitted under the following conditions for each degree program:

Doctoral Program and BS to PhD track

1. If an applicant meets any three of the items 1, 2, 3, and 4 above for the doctoral program or BS to PhD track.
2. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: TOEFL iBT total score of 89 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 24 for the reading section and 21 for the listening section, paper-based TOEFL score of 560 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 230, TSE-A score of 45, or IELTS score of 7.0.

Provisional Admission

An applicant who is unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements, may be granted provisional admission.

Deferred Admission

If an applicant does not present adequate evidence of meeting admission requirements, the admission decision may be deferred until admission records are complete or the requirements are met.

Denial of Admission

A candidate may be denied admission if he/she has less than satisfactory performance in two out of the first three admission criteria.

Admission Requirements for B.S. to Ph.D. Track

The B.S. to Ph.D. program is an accelerated program in which a student proceeds directly to the Ph.D. dissertation research and bypasses the M.S. thesis. Requirements for unconditional admission to this program include the following:

1. Minimum GPA of 3.3 in the last 60 hours taken in the major field of study in an appropriate engineering or science discipline. (For some international applicants where GPA calculations based on a 4.0 system is not performed, a minimum performance level of 70 percentile is expected. This minimum expectation may be higher for some countries, where less stringent grading criteria are used.) Performance in core mechanical engineering courses is of particular importance.
2. A GRE score of at least 150 (450 in old scaling) (verbal) and 159 (750 in old scaling) (quantitative).
3. Three favorable, veracious recommendations, via the university’s recommendation form or via recommendation letter.
4. A Statement of Purpose detailing the applicant’s background, education, professional goals, technical interests, and research interests.
5. An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS English proficiency test scores. Minimum performance levels expected for each test are: TOEFL iBT total score of 89 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 24 for the reading section and 21 for the listening section, paper-based TOEFL score of 560 with a TWE of 3.5, computer-based TOEFL score of 230, TSE-A score of 45, or IELTS score of 7.0.

Waiver of the Graduate Record Exam

There is no GRE waiver for Ph.D. applicants. 

Criteria for Award of Fellowships and Assistantships

Applicants who demonstrate skills, experience or interests that meet the needs of the ME Graduate Program will be considered for fellowships or assistantships.

Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy

There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

B.S.-Ph.D. Track Students

To meet the educational goal of a broad-based technical background in Mechanical Engineering, it is expected that each student will take sufficient graduate coursework to obtain in-depth knowledge in at least two areas of Mechanical Engineering. Students whose background is in a field other than Mechanical Engineering must satisfy the BS core requirements. Note that registration in elective courses outside the ME department requires prior approval of the ME graduate advisor and student’s committee chair. Otherwise they will not count towards the graduation requirements. The doctoral degree program consists of a minimum of 42 credit hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree level plus 9 hours of dissertation and 2 hours of seminar and requires the successful completion of the following requirements:

ME 5331	ANALYTIC METHODS ENGINEERING	3
ME 5332	ENGINEERING ANALYSIS	3
Or other approved mathematics courses

1. Three core courses (9 credit hours) from at least two different areas, as listed below:

   ME 5316	THERMAL CONDUCTION	3
   ME 5317	CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER	3
   ME 5318	RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER	3
   ME 5321	ADVANCED CLASSICAL THERMODYNAMICS	3

   ME 5313	FLUID DYNAMICS	3
   ME 5342	GAS DYNAMICS	3
   ME 5344	VISCOUS FLOWS	3

   ME 5310	FINITE ELEMENT METHODS	3
   ME 5337	INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS	3
   ME 5339	STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN	3
   ME 5311	STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS	3

   ME 5303	CLASSICAL METHODS OF CONTROL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS	3
   ME 5305	DYNAMIC SYSTEMS MODELING	3
   ME 5341	CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS	3

   1. Thermal Science:
   2. Fluid Science:
   3. Design, Mechanics and Manufacturing:
   4. Controls and Systems:
2. One additional course (3 credit hours) at the graduate level in one of the broad areas of Mechanical Engineering outside the student’s major area of specialization. A core course is also acceptable for meeting this requirement.
3. Eight additional courses (24 credit hours) in the student’s major area of research
4. Two courses (6 credit hours) of engineering analysis:
5. Two credit hours of seminar
6. Nine credit hours for Dissertation

   ME 6299	DISSERTATION	2
   ME 6399	DISSERTATION	3
   ME 6699	DISSERTATION	6
   ME 6999	DISSERTATION	9

   1. Doctoral students must register for a minimum total of 9 hours of dissertation research over the course of their programs of work. These hours may be accumulated over several terms or completed in a single term. The course hours of ME 6299 DISSERTATION, ME 6399 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION, and/or ME 7399 DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION are all counted towards this nine-hour requirement.
   2. Doctoral students must be enrolled in 9 hours while completing organized coursework and 6 hours while exclusively enrolled in dissertation research in order to be considered full time except in the term they designate as their "completion term." The completion term is typically the term in which a student successfully defends his or her dissertation, fully completes all degree requirements and graduates. Students may designate only one term as the completion term.
   3. Doctoral students must enroll in a minimum of 3 dissertation hours (ME 7399 DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION) in the term designated as their completion term. Alternatively, students may complete and defend their dissertation while enrolled in 6 or 9-hour dissertation courses:
   4. Doctoral students who do not graduate at the end of their completion term will receive a grade of R, W, or F and must enroll in a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation research (ME 6299 DISSERTATION, ME 6399 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION or ME 6999 DISSERTATION) every term until graduation.
   5. Students enrolled in the completion term meet enrollment requirements for holding fellowships awarded by the Office of Graduate Studies and GTA or GRA positions by enrolling in the required 3-hour completion term dissertation course.
   6. Students who wish to remain eligible in their final semester of study for grants, loans or other forms of financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office must enroll in a minimum of 5 hours each term as required by the Office of Financial Aid. Other funding sources may also require more than 3-hours of enrollment. Students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid and other funding agencies to be certain they enroll in sufficient hours to retain support.

Final course requirements are determined by the student’s supervising committee.

M.S.-Ph.D. Track Mechanical Students

To meet the educational goal of a broad-based technical background in Mechanical Engineering, it is expected that each student will take sufficient graduate coursework to obtain in-depth knowledge in at least two areas of Mechanical Engineering. Students whose background is in a field other than Mechanical Engineering must satisfy the Masters of Science core requirements. Note that registration in elective courses outside the ME department requires prior approval of the ME graduate advisor and student’s committee chair. Otherwise they will not count towards the graduation requirements. The doctoral degree program consists of a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework beyond the Master’s degree level plus 9 hours of dissertation and 2 hours of seminar and requires the successful completion of the following requirements:

ME 5331	ANALYTIC METHODS ENGINEERING	3
ME 5332	ENGINEERING ANALYSIS	3
Or other approved mathematics courses

1. Three core courses (9 credit hours) from at least two different areas, as listed below:

   ME 5316	THERMAL CONDUCTION	3
   ME 5317	CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER	3
   ME 5318	RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER	3
   ME 5321	ADVANCED CLASSICAL THERMODYNAMICS	3

   ME 5313	FLUID DYNAMICS	3
   ME 5342	GAS DYNAMICS	3
   ME 5344	VISCOUS FLOWS	3

   ME 5310	FINITE ELEMENT METHODS	3
   ME 5337	INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS	3
   ME 5339	STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF DESIGN	3
   ME 5311	STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS	3

   ME 5303	CLASSICAL METHODS OF CONTROL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS	3
   ME 5305	DYNAMIC SYSTEMS MODELING	3
   ME 5341	CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS	3

   1. Thermal Science:
   2. Fluid Science:
   3. Design, Mechanics and Manufacturing:
   4. Controls and Systems:
2. One additional course (3 credit hours) at the graduate level in one of the broad areas of Mechanical Engineering outside the student’s major area of specialization. A core course is also acceptable for meeting this requirement.
3. Three additional courses (9 credit hours) in the student’s major area of research
4. One course (3 credit hours) of engineering analysis:
5. Two credit hours of seminar
6. Nine credit hours (ME 6999 DISSERTATION) for Dissertation.

   ME 6299	DISSERTATION	2
   ME 6399	DISSERTATION	3
   ME 6699	DISSERTATION	6
   ME 6999	DISSERTATION	9

   1. Doctoral students must register for a minimum total of 9 hours of dissertation research over the course of their programs of work. These hours may be accumulated over several terms or completed in a single term. The course hours of ME 6299 DISSERTATION, ME 6399 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION, and/or ME 7399 DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION are all counted towards this nine-hour requirement.
   2. Doctoral students must be enrolled in 9 hours while completing organized coursework and 6 hours while exclusively enrolled in dissertation research in order to be considered full time except in the term they designate as their "completion term." The completion term is typically the term in which a student successfully defends his or her dissertation, fully completes all degree requirements and graduates. Students may designate only one term as the completion term.
   3. Doctoral students must enroll in a minimum of 3 dissertation hours (ME 7399 DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION) in the term designated as their completion term. Alternatively, students may complete and defend their dissertation while enrolled in 6 or 9-hour dissertation courses:
   4. Doctoral students who do not graduate at the end of their completion term will receive a grade of R, W, or F and must enroll in a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation research (ME 6299 DISSERTATION, ME 6399 DISSERTATION, ME 6699 DISSERTATION or ME 6999 DISSERTATION) every term until graduation.
   5. Students enrolled in the completion term meet enrollment requirements for holding fellowships awarded by the Office of Graduate Studies and GTA or GRA positions by enrolling in the required 3-hour completion term dissertation course.
   6. Students who wish to remain eligible in their final semester of study for grants, loans or other forms of financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office must enroll in a minimum of 5 hours each term as required by the Office of Financial Aid. Other funding sources may also require more than 3-hours of enrollment. Students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid and other funding agencies to be certain they enroll in sufficient hours to retain support

Final course requirements are determined by the student’s supervising committee. In addition, a student must pass three examinations before being awarded the Ph.D. degree: the Diagnostic Exam, the Comprehensive Exam, and the Final Exam (or Dissertation Examination).

A Diagnostic Examination will be administered to the student prior to the start of the student's second long semester. The Diagnostic Exam is a written test of the student’s capability to pursue successfully the doctorate degree, and it aids in developing the program of study for the student. The Diagnostic Examination tests fundamental knowledge in two technical areas of mechanical engineering. The student and the student’s research advisor jointly choose the technical areas from the following five:

1. thermal science,
2. fluid science,
3. mechanical design and manufacturing,
4. solid mechanics and structures, and
5. controls and systems.

The exam topics for the technical areas are given in the ME Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam handout. The diagnostic examination is normally offered twice a year the week prior to the beginning of the Fall and/or Spring semesters. A student should inform the ME graduate advisor in advance and no later than the middle of the long semester prior to the planned time of taking the exam and consult with the ME graduate advisor for the time and place of the diagnostic examination.

A comprehensive examination will be administered to the student after the successful completion of all phases of the diagnostic examination and before the student’s research work for the dissertation. The comprehensive examination is used to determine if the student has the necessary background and specialization required for the dissertation research and if the student can organize and conduct the research. An applicant must pass this examination to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

The student must enroll in at least three hours of dissertation courses (ME 6399 DISSERTATION - ME 6999 DISSERTATION) or research courses (ME 6397 RESEARCH IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - ME 6999 DISSERTATION) every semester in which the student is actively involved in dissertation preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in ME 6999 DISSERTATION in the semester of graduation.

The student must submit the Application for Candidacy and Final Program of Work to the Mechanical Engineering Committee on Graduate Studies immediately after completion of the Comprehensive Examination. Coursework taken for the Master’s degree at this institution may be used to meet these requirements; however, courses listed for the Master’s degree or any other degree cannot be listed as the actual course requirement on the Final Program of Work. Transfer work is not accepted in doctoral programs; however, such courses may provide a basis for waiving some course requirements.

The student must file the Request for Dissertation Defense form with the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the defense. At the same time of requesting the exam, the student must also announce the exam to the members of the university community by posting fliers on the departmental bulletin boards and by providing an electronic statement to the ME graduate advisor to be posted on the departmental web page indicating details (title, abstract, advisor, time and place) of the exam. Approval of the dissertation by the members of the Dissertation Committee is required.

Please see the section entitled General Graduate School Regulations and Information in this Catalog for further details.

The grade of R (research in progress) is a permanent grade; completing course requirements in a later semester cannot change it. To receive credit for an R-graded course, the student must continue to enroll in the course until a passing grade is received.

An incomplete grade (the grade of I) cannot be given in a course that is graded R, nor can the grade of R be given in a course that is graded I. To receive credit for a course in which the student earned an I, the student must complete the course requirements. Enrolling again in the course in which an I was earned cannot change a grade of I. At the discretion of the instructor, a final grade can be assigned through a change of grade form.

Three-hour thesis courses and three- and six-hour dissertation courses are graded R/F/W only. The grade of P (required for degree completion for students enrolled in thesis or dissertation programs) can be earned only in six-hour thesis or nine-hour dissertation courses. In the course listings below, R-graded courses are designated either "Graded P/F/R" or "Graded R." Occasionally, the valid grades for a course change. Students should consult the appropriate Graduate Advisor or instructor for valid grade information for particular courses. (See also the sections titled "R" Grade, Credit for Research, Internship, Thesis or Dissertation Courses and Incomplete Grade in this catalog.)

B.S. to Ph.D. Track

In addition to the requirements listed below for the Ph.D. degree, a B.S.-Ph.D. Track student will be required to enroll in at least three hours of research each semester during the student’s first two years, receiving a pass/fail grade (no R grade) in these hours. A B.S.-Ph.D. student must have a faculty research (dissertation) advisor prior to the start of the student’s second full semester. A B.S.-Ph.D. student must take the Ph.D. diagnostic examination prior to the start of the student's third long semester.

Fast Track Program for Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering

The Fast Track Program enables outstanding UT Arlington senior undergraduate students in Aerospace Engineering to satisfy degree requirements leading to a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering while completing their undergraduate studies. When senior-level students are within 15 hours of completing their undergraduate degree requirements, they may take up to 9 hours of graduate level coursework designated by the Aerospace Engineering Program to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. In the limiting case, a student completing the maximum allowable hours (9) while in undergraduate status would have to take only 24 additional hours to meet minimum requirements for graduation in a 33 hour thesis master’s degree program (M.S.) or 28 additional hours for a 37 hour non-thesis master’s degree program (M. Engr.)

Interested UT Arlington undergraduate Aerospace Engineering students should apply to the Aerospace Engineering Program when they are within 30 hours of completing their bachelor’s degrees. They must have completed at least 30 hours at UT Arlington, achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 in those courses, and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all college courses. Additionally, they must have completed at least 16 hours of specified undergraduate foundation courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in those courses. Program details are provided in the UT Arlington Undergraduate Catalog. Contact the Undergraduate Advisor or Graduate Advisor in Aerospace Engineering for more information about the program.

Fast Track Program for Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

The Fast Track Program enables outstanding UT Arlington senior undergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering to satisfy degree requirements leading to a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering while completing their undergraduate studies. When senior-level students are within 15 hours of completing their undergraduate degree requirements, they may take up to 9 hours of graduate level coursework designated by the Mechanical Engineering Program to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. In the limiting case, a student completing the maximum allowable hours (9) while in undergraduate status would have to take only 21 additional hours to meet minimum requirements for graduation in a 30 hour thesis master’s degree program (M.S.) or 27 additional hours for a non-thesis master’s degree program (M. Engr.)

Interested UT Arlington undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students should apply to the Mechanical Engineering Program when they are within 30 hours of completing their bachelor’s degrees. They must have completed at least 30 hours at UT Arlington, achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 in those courses, and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all college courses. Additionally, they must have completed at least 11 hours of specified undergraduate foundation courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in those courses. Fast Track Program details are provided in the UT Arlington Undergraduate Catalog. Contact the Undergraduate Advisor or Graduate Advisor in Mechanical Engineering for more information about the program.

Graduate Certificate in Automotive Engineering

Program Objective

The University of Texas at Arlington is pleased to offer a Graduate Certificate in Automotive Engineering through the Arnold E. Petsche Center for Automotive Engineering. This certificate comfirms the student’s commitment to automotive engineering and the learning experience gained from being a contributing team member of a student design competition. Students shall be awarded the Graduate Certificate for Automotive Engineering by the College of Engineering and the Graduate School upon satisfactory completion of the certificate requirements with an overall grade point average of 3.0.

Admission Requirements

Students wishing to enroll only in the Graduate Certificate in Automotive Engineering but NOT a graduate degree program may apply for admission to UT Arlington as a non-degree seeking student. The GRE is not necessary. Admission to the certificate program allows participants to take the specific courses approved for the certificate program. Student are not allowed to take courses in excess of those required for the certificate. A Bachelor’s degree in engineering with a GPA of 2.8 is required for admission through the Graduate School. Students with GPAs lower than 2.8 may be recommended for admission as special student by the Director of the Arnold E. Petsche Center for Automotive Engineering, based on the following admission enhancing factors:

1.  the applicant’s work experience and level of responsibility;
2. two letters of recommendation.

Students already enrolled in a Master’s degree program at TU Arlington may enroll by submitting the appropriate application form to the certificate program director and his or her academic graduate advisor. Students who have completed a Master’s degree may apply for admission to UT Arlington as a non-degree seeking student. In either case, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Master’s degree work is required.

Academic Requirements

Participants must satisfactorily complete 12 hours of required courses according to the following criteria:

9 hours from the following list:		9
ME 5340	AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
ME 5358	Racecar Engineering
ME 5359	Applied Automotive Engineering 1
No more than 3 hours from the following list: 2		3
ME 5341	CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS
EE 5313	MICROPROCESSOR SYSTEMS
Total Hours		12

1	May be taken twice for credit toward the certificate.
2	Or other graduate level engineering course approved by the Director of the Arnold E. Petsche Center for Automotive Engineering.

Students can take ME 5010 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING PRACTICUM (no credit hours) to be recognized as full team members on a competition team such as Formula SAE.

Graduate Certificate in Electronic Packaging

Program Objective and Requirements

The Certificate in Electronic Packaging program provides graduate-level knowledge in the field of electronic packaging, with a concentration on numerical and experimental characterization of thermo/mechanical issues. Courses are taught by faculty of the departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, plus other UT Arlington faculty and adjunct faculty as needed. Technical material covered in the classroom will be complemented by a number of seminars by industry leaders in the packaging field. Completion of the certificate program will provide a head start for UT Arlington students when joining industry and skills-enhancement opportunities for current industry employees.

There are two enrollment options: as a student pursuing a graduate degree or as a non-degree-seeking special student. The special student avenue is tailored for individuals currently employed in an electronics-related industry. Students will receive the certificate after completing 12 credit hours of packaging courses, as advised by the certificate program director, and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the four selected courses. The time limit for completion of the Certificate in Electronic Packaging program is six years.

Applicants on a degree track must be admitted to the Master’s degree program. Non-degree students must have a BS degree and a minimum GPA of 2.5. Special students who decide that they want to pursue a graduate degree after starting as a special student may transfer up to 12 credit hours of graduate level courses.

ME 5314	FRACTURE MECHANICS IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN	3
ME 5317	CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER	3
ME 5346	COOLING OF ELECTRONIC PACKAGES	3
ME 5352	FUNDAMENTALS IN ELECTRONIC PACKAGING	3
ME 5353	APPLICATION OF COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES TO ELECTRONIC PACKAGING	3
ME 5354	FAILURES AND THEIR PREVENTION IN ELECTRONIC PACKAGES	3
ME 5355	MECHANICAL FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC PACKAGES	3
ME 5356	CHIPSCALE PACKAGING	3
ME 5390	SPECIAL TOPICS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING	3
MSE 5336	ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS	3
EE 5343	SILICON INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY	3
EE 5344	INTRODUCTION TO MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS (MEMS) AND DEVICES	3