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Program at a Glance

Program
Master
College(s)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department(s)
Mechanical & Aerospace Engr
2
Years
ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission logo
U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Mechanical Engineering Badge

Take Mechanical Systems and Products From Idea Through Implementation

The MS in Mechanical Engineering program at UCF is designed to advance your knowledge and skills in the areas of mechanical systems and thermofluids. Choose from a wide variety of courses that provide you with state-of-the-art research opportunities working with faculty mentions who are active in various sponsored research funded by local and national industry, as well as many federal agencies. Plus, the fully online mechanical engineering program offers you the flexibility and convenience needed to balance work, school and life.

Here, you’ll get superior academics enriched by research experiences with a number of possible exposures ranking from traditional mechanical engineering research in energy and power generation systems, mechanical systems, design and controls to innovative work in nanotechnology, miniaturization, bioengineering and interdisciplinary research. From innovative curriculum to research facilities, the mechanical engineering program provides you with an opportunity to learn and train across multiple disciplines.

UCF mechanical engineering graduates gain knowledge and expertise in mechanical engineering-specific challenges, as well as understand engineered systems for many applications. Plus, with close contact to key personnel from local industry, you’ll have a solid avenue for future employment opportunities to start or advance your career.

Mechanical Engineering – Guidance Control and Dynamics
This track is designed to prepare you for a career as an engineer in the aerospace industry. The curriculum includes courses related to guidance control and dynamics with applications in aerospace engineering.

Mechanical Engineering – Mechanical Systems
This track focuses on topics such as the mechanics of materials, computational methods and engineering design. On this track, you’ll deep-dive into mathematical models, the mechanics of materials, dynamics and continuum mechanics.

Mechanical Engineering – Thermofluids
This track includes topics such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and turbomachinery. You’ll concentrate on heat transfer, fluid mechanics, classical thermodynamics and mathematical models.

Mechanical Engineering – Accelerated BS to MSME
The accelerated BS to MSME track allows highly qualified undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering to begin taking graduate-level courses that will count toward a master’s degree while completing a baccalaureate degree program. Complete your bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years while enrolled in full-time course work.

Professor helping students with mechanical engineering project

Highlights

UCF’s mechanical engineering graduate program ranked No. 71 (No. 41 among public universities) in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
Currently, there are more than 650,000 mechanical engineers across the U.S. — a number expected to continue rising over the next decade.
Mechanical engineering graduates earn an annual average salary of $94K nationwide.

Application Deadlines

Fall
July 1
Spring
December 1

Ready to get started?

Course Overview

Intermediate Dynamics

Learn the dynamics of particles, rigid bodies and distributed mass systems. Topics include: Hamilton’s principle, Lagrange’s equations, numerical methods and mechanisms.

Get an introduction to tensors, deformation and strain, stress, balance laws, constitutive equations and applications in linear elasticity.

Explore a general postulative approach to classical macroscopic thermodynamics featuring states as fundamental constructs. Conditions of equilibrium, stability criteria and thermodynamic potentials. Maxwell relations and phase transitions.

Mechanical Engineering Skills You'll Learn

  • Use the technique, skills and modern tools necessary for mechanical engineering while acquiring and applying new knowledge as needed.
  • Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of mechanical engineering, science and mathematics.
  • Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use mechanical engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

Career Opportunities

  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Electrical Manager
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Validation Engineer
  • Combustion Engineer
  • Aircraft Engineer
  • Engine Designer
  • Engineering Research Manager

Admission Requirements

While a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or a related discipline is recommended, it is not required. However, if you do not hold a bachelor’s in one of these fields, you’ll need to complete several undergraduate articulation courses prior to admission.

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters. All required materials must be submitted prior to the application deadline. Please note that faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting an applicant into their research program.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

  • Official transcripts
  • Resume
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of educational, research and professional career objectives

Mechanical Engineering News

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The grant means more underrepresented students – who make up 48.5% of the student body at UCF – will have an opportunity to work with engineering, physics,…
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19 UCF Students Living the Dream, Working at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Students benefit from on-the-job training and soft-skills development, and some candidates are converting their internships into jobs after graduation.

University of Central Florida Colleges