MS in Mechanical Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
Key Information
Campus location
Melbourne, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,241 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* per credit hour
Introduction
The mechanical engineering graduate program at Florida Tech provides a course of study that advances engineers in their professional careers or prepares them for further study in a doctoral program.
Offered with both a thesis and a non-thesis option, a master’s in mechanical engineering gives graduates advanced knowledge in the analysis, design, and fabrication of machines, engines, products, and technologies. This multidisciplinary approach mimics the expertise and problem-solving capabilities that graduates are expected to have once in the workplace.
The mechanical engineering master’s program can be earned on either a full-time or part-time basis. Students in the master’s in mechanical engineering program must choose one of the following areas of specialization:
- Automotive Engineering
- Dynamic Systems—Robotics and Controls
- Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology
- Structures: Solid Mechanics and Materials
- Thermal Fluid Sciences
Why Pursue a Master's in Mechanical Engineering at Florida Tech?
The university’s reputation is built on a solid record of graduate education and faculty and student research. Graduate students at Florida Tech benefit from a wide range of advanced courses to learn the latest body of knowledge in the field. Excellent research facilities and infrastructure where students conduct state-of-the-art research include the National Center for Hydrogen Research, the Florida Center for Automotive Research, and the Institute for Energy Systems.
Dedicated, Experienced Faculty
Florida Tech’s highly distinguished faculty holds a wide range of research interests in instrumentation and control, mechatronics, robotics, biomechanics, computer-aided design, alternative energy, and more. A low student-to-faculty ratio allows professors a chance to mentor students in the mechanical engineering master’s program. NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation, the State of Florida and the Department of Energy have recently funded faculty research projects.
Faculty members are professional engineers who also conduct research in which graduate students can participate and contribute including such projects as:
- Design of robotic mechanical systems
- Theoretical kinematics
- Laser material processing
- Bio-heat transfer
- Automobile aerodynamics
- Thermodynamic power cycles
The faculty members offer a rich and varied background including professional consulting and military experience.
Great Florida Location
While many graduate students are already working professionals in the local area, other master’s candidates choose the mechanical engineering master’s program at Florida Tech for its prime location in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast near one of the nation’s largest high-tech workforces.
Curriculum
Gain Practical Experience
Because Florida Tech is a top-tier research institution, students in the master’s in mechanical engineering program participate in rigorous scientific research—both faculty-led research and projects of their own choosing.
In addition, mechanical engineering majors build leadership and professional experience through internships, graduate research/student assistantships, and research scholarships from organizations such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, Boeing, the University Graduate Scholarship, and the Society of Women Engineers.
The learning experience includes system/system design, manufacturing and testing, computational fluid dynamics and simulation, and research and development of complex systems. The university is surrounded by thriving organizations such as NASA/Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Embraer, GE, Harris, and Piper Aircraft, which provide internship and employment opportunities.
Curriculum
Regardless of which degree path the student chooses, the degree candidate must choose one of the following areas of specialization. Listed below are required and elective courses for the master of science specializations.
Automotive Engineering
Specialization in this area is concerned with the application of fundamental engineering science concepts and basic mechanical and aerospace engineering methodologies to the design and analysis of modern vehicles for land, sea, and air transportation, and their components and systems. Three courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor from the list below:
- AEE 5130 Viscous Flows
- AEE 5486 Crashworthiness
- MEE 5220 Convection Heat Transfer
- MEE 5310 Combustion Fundamentals
- MEE 5316 Mechatronics
- MEE 5320 Internal Combustion Engines
- MEE 5460 Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Materials
- MEE 5610 Advanced Dynamics
- MEE 5630 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
- MEE 5810 Road Vehicle Dynamics
- MEE 5820 Automotive Powertrains
- MEE 5850 Automotive Manufacturing Processes
Design and Manufacturing
This specialization focuses on advanced and emerging design and manufacturing developments. Presents engineering design as an interdisciplinary area between engineering, the social sciences, behavioral science, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Applies advanced design theories and methods, and design automation concepts to practical engineering problems. Three courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor from the list below:
- AEE 5050 Finite Element Fundamentals
- MEE 5551 Advanced Design Theory and Methods
- MEE 5552 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
- MEE 5553 Advanced CAD and Design Automation
- MEE 5650 Robotics
- MEE 5680 Advanced Manufacturing Processes
- MEE 5850 Automotive Manufacturing Processes
Dynamic Systems, Robotics and Controls
The student’s program of study in this area will be tailored to provide the background and training to pursue a career in a desired and related area of interest. Examples of related areas include the design and control of dynamic systems, robotics, vibration, automotive engineering, energy and power systems, etc. Three courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor from the list below:
- AEE 5480 Structural Dynamics
- MEE 5316 Mechatronics
- MEE 5318 Instrumentation and Measurement Systems
- MEE 5610 Advanced Dynamics
- MEE 5630 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
- MEE 5650 Robotics
- MEE 5660 Robot Control
Structures, Solid Mechanics and Materials
Specialization in this area focuses on analytical and computational techniques as they apply to design. Each student plans a program of study in consultation with a member of the faculty whose professional field is related to the student’s interests. Three courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor from the list below:
- AEE 5050 Finite Element Fundamentals
- AEE 5060 Applications in Finite Element Methods
- AEE 5470 Principles of Composite Materials
- MEE 5410 Elasticity
- MEE 5420 Advanced Mechanical Design
- MEE 5460 Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Materials
- MEE 5491 Computational Materials Science and Engineering
- MEE 5553 Advanced CAD and Design Automation
Thermal-Fluid Sciences
Specialization in this area focuses on heat transfer, combustion, and energy systems. Analytical, computational, and experimental techniques are emphasized. Three courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor from the list below:
- AEE 5130 Viscous Flows
- AEE 5140 Experimental Fluid Dynamics
- MEE 5177 Energy Conversion
- MEE 5210 Conduction Heat Transfer
- MEE 5220 Convection Heat Transfer
- MEE 5230 Radiation Heat Transfer
- MEE 5310 Combustion Fundamentals
Total Credits Required: 30
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Excellent Career Potential
Graduates find a wide range of career options with a degree from Florida Tech’s mechanical engineering master’s program. Mechanical engineers work in industries such as aerospace, electronics, railway, government and defense, materials and metals, and construction and automotive, to name a few. Demand for mechanical engineers is growing through 2022 with new job opportunities in alternative energy, nanotechnology, and automotive. Employers such as Harris Corp., GE, the US Air Force, and Pratt & Whitney have hired Florida graduates.
From faculty-led research opportunities, internships, and assistantships to peer networking, one-on-one mentorship, and more, this diversified learning environment makes Florida Tech one of the top mechanical engineering programs in the country.
Career Options
- Materials engineer
- Mechanical engineering technician
- Design engineer
- Project engineer
- Petroleum engineer
- Aerospace engineer
- Chemical engineer
- Electrical and electronic engineering technician
- Electrical and electronics engineer
English Language Requirements
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