Mechanical Engineering (PhD)

The Mechanical Engineering PhD program prepares students with an in-depth study and emphasis on research in Aerospace Systems, Mechanical Systems, or Thermofluids.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mechanical Engineering is intended for students with a master's or a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering or a closely related discipline. The doctoral program is intended to allow students to study in-depth, with an emphasis on research in Aerospace Systems, Mechanical Systems, or Thermofluids.

The Mechanical Engineering PhD program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond a bachelor's degree. This program requires 15 dissertation credit hours minimum and may include up to a total of 12 credit hours combined of directed (XXX 6918) or doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or of independent study (6908) with an approved Program of Study. At least 39 hours of the program of study must consist of formal coursework, exclusive of directed research (XXX 6918), doctoral research (XXX 7919) and independent study (XXX 6908). The rest of the hours can be chosen by the student in consultation with the adviser and the dissertation committee and with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Details about this program are located in the Mechanical Engineering PhD Handbook.

Total Credit Hours Required: 72 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree 42 Credit hours minimum beyond the master's degree.

This program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please visit https://apq.ucf.edu/files/Licensure-Disclosure-CECS-Mechanical-Engineering-PhD.pdf.

Program Prerequisites

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a closely related discipline.

Degree Requirements

Seminar

• Complete all of the following
  • Earn at least 0 credits from the following:
    • EML5090 - Mechanical and Aerospace Seminar (99)
  • The MAE Graduate Seminar is a zero credit hour (S/U) course that is offered each fall and spring academic semesters. Prior to graduation, all MAE graduate students who are pursuing PhD dissertation required to register, participate, and receive a satisfactory (S) for four semesters of MAE Graduate seminar, with at least two of these taken prior to candidacy.

Elective Courses

• Earn at least 57 credits from the following types of courses: May include up to a total of 12 credit hours combined of Directed (XXX 6918) or Doctoral Research (XXX 7919) and/or of Independent Study (6908) At least 45 credit hours must be formal coursework, exclusive of independent study, doctoral research and/or directed research.

Dissertation

• Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: EML 7980 15 Credit Hours minimum

Examinations

• In addition to the Qualifying Examination discussed above, the student must pass a Candidacy Examination and a Dissertation Defense Examination. The Candidacy Examination is taken near the end of the course work and consists of a written and oral presentation of a research proposal. The MMAE department requires that a PhD student submits his/her candidacy exam the academic semester immediately following his/her successfully passing the PhD Qualifying Exam. The Dissertation Defense Examination is an oral examination taken in defense of the written dissertation. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all dissertation defense announcements are approved by the student's advisor and posted on the college's website and on the Events Calendar of the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date. More information on these examinations and other requirements of the PhD program are contained in the Mechanical Engineering PhD Handbook.

Dissertation Committee

• The doctoral committee must consist of a minimum of five members: three must be graduate faculty members from within the student's department, and one must be at large from outside the Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering Department. The committee Chair must be a member of the graduate faculty approved to direct dissertations. Joint faculty members serve as department-faculty committee members as well as chairs of dissertation committees. Adjunct faculty and off-campus experts, if approved graduate faculty scholars, may serve as the outside-the-college person in the committee. Program areas may further specify additional committee membership. The UCF College of Graduate Studies reserves the right to review appointments to advisory committees, place a representative on any advisory committee, or appoint a co-adviser. All members vote on acceptance or rejection of the dissertation proposal and the final dissertation. The dissertation proposal and final dissertation must be approved by a majority of the advisory committee.

Admission to Candidacy

• The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours (enrollment in dissertation hours begins the semester following the completion of these requirements). Evidence of meeting these requirements must be received by the College of Graduate Studies by the day before the first day of classes for the semester in which a student wishes to enroll in dissertation hours. Completion of all course work, except for dissertation hours. Successful completion of the candidacy examination. Successful defense of the written dissertation proposal. The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved Graduate Faculty and Graduate Faculty Scholars. Submission of an approved program of study.

Grand Total Credits: 72

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.