Mechanical Engineering Master of Engineering Degree
Overview for Mechanical Engineering ME
Why Pursue a Mechanical Engineering ME at RIT?
STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
Wide Range of Focus Areas: Choose from a wide array of focus area courses and electives to align your degree with your professional goals and interests.
Optional Cooperative Education: Gain valuable employment experience in your field by participating in a co-op.
Flexible Capstone Experience: Choose from a design project leadership course or an industrial internship to complete your degree.
The graduate program for mechanical engineering prepares graduates to support the design of engineered systems through the application of the fundamental knowledge, skills, and tools of mechanical engineering. Students will work independently as well as collaboratively with leaders in industry, while demonstrating the professional and ethical responsibilities of the engineering profession. Ultimately, graduates of the master's in mechanical engineering will enhance their skills through formal education and training, independent inquiry, and professional development.
RIT’s Mechanical Engineering ME
The master's in mechanical engineering is intended to be a terminal degree program designed for those who do not expect to pursue a doctoral degree, but who wish to become a leader within the mechanical engineering field. This graduate program for mechanical engineering is particularly well-suited for students who wish to study part time, for those interested in updating their technical skills, or for those who are not focused on a research-oriented master of science degree, which requires a thesis. A conventional thesis is not required for the program. In its place, students complete a capstone experience, which may be a design project leadership course or a well-organized and carefully chosen industrial internship. A research methods course may also fulfill the capstone experience; however, this option is primarily intended for students who are considering transitioning to the MS program in mechanical engineering. Courses taken within the ME program are transferable to the mechanical engineering MS program.
Mechanical Engineering ME Courses
The mechanical engineering ME prepares graduates to:
- Practice mechanical engineering in support of the design of engineered systems through the application of the fundamental knowledge, skills, and tools of mechanical engineering.
- Enhance their skills through formal education and training, independent inquiry, and professional development.
- Work independently as well as collaboratively with others while demonstrating the professional and ethical responsibilities of the engineering profession.
In addition to required courses, students choose focus area courses and electives that customize the master's in mechanical engineering around their professional goals and interests. Focus areas include automotive systems, business, controls, manufacturing, mechanics-design/materials, product development, sustainability, thermo/fluids engineering, and vibrations engineering.
All full-time students attend a weekly graduate seminar each semester they are on campus. Up to three courses may be taken outside the mechanical engineering department. Students may complete the mechanical engineering ME requirements within one calendar year with summer study. Students may also augment their education through cooperative education employment opportunities. Although co-op is not a requirement of the program, it provides students an opportunity to gain valuable employment experience within the field.
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Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Process Engineer | Propulsion Engineer | Structural Engineer |
| Vehicle Verification Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | Research and Development Engineer |
| Test Engineer | Weapons and Complex Integration Researcher |
Cooperative Education and Internships
What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the opportunity to complete relevant, hands-on engineering co-ops and internships with top companies in every single industry. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.
Cooperative education is strongly encouraged for graduate students in the ME in mechanical engineering.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Mistysyn Earns Outstanding Graduate Woman Award
RIT engineering student Morgan Mistysyn received the Outstanding Graduate Woman Award for her leadership in Engineers for a Sustainable World and contributions to her field.
Read More about Mistysyn Earns Outstanding Graduate Woman Award -
Professor Leads Development of Seal-Inspired Underwater Sensors
RIT's Xudong Zhang and his team have received a grant to develop innovative underwater sensors modeled after seal whiskers to enhance detection and tracking capabilities.
Read More about Professor Leads Development of Seal-Inspired Underwater Sensors
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Mechanical Engineering ME
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Mechanical Engineering, ME degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| MECE-707 | Engineering Analysis This course trains students to utilize mathematical techniques from an engineering perspective, and provides essential background for success in graduate level studies. An intensive review of linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations and Laplace transforms is provided. Laplace transform methods are extended to boundary-value problems and applications to control theory are discussed. Problem solving efficiency is stressed, and to this end, the utility of various available techniques are contrasted. The frequency response of ordinary differential equations is discussed extensively. Applications of linear algebra are examined, including the use of eigenvalue analysis in the solution of linear systems and in multivariate optimization. An introduction to Fourier analysis is also provided. (Prerequisites: (MATH-241 and MATH-326) or graduate student standing in the MECE-MS or MECE-ME programs.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MECE-709 | Advanced Engineering Mathematics Advanced Engineering Mathematics provides the foundations for complex functions, vector calculus and advanced linear algebra and its applications in analyzing and solving a variety of mechanical engineering problems especially in the areas of mechanics, continuum mechanics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and vibrations. Topics include: vector algebra, vector calculus, functions of complex variables, ordinary differential equations and local stability, advanced matrix algebra, and partial differential equations. Mechanical engineering applications will be discussed throughout the course. (Prerequisites: MECE-707 or equivalent course or graduate student standing in MECE-MS or MECE-ME.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MECE-795 | Graduate Seminar* This seminar course presents topics of contemporary interest to graduate students enrolled in the program. Presentations include off campus speakers, and assistance with progressing on your research. Selected students and faculty may make presentations on current research under way in the department. All graduate students enrolled full time (whether dual degree or single degree) are required to attend a designated number of seminars. (This course is restricted to MECEMS-U or MECE-MS or MECE-ME or MECEME-U Major students.) Seminar 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
Graduate Electives I, II, III, IV |
12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MECE-795 | Graduate Seminar* This seminar course presents topics of contemporary interest to graduate students enrolled in the program. Presentations include off campus speakers, and assistance with progressing on your research. Selected students and faculty may make presentations on current research under way in the department. All graduate students enrolled full time (whether dual degree or single degree) are required to attend a designated number of seminars. (This course is restricted to MECEMS-U or MECE-MS or MECE-ME or MECEME-U Major students.) Seminar 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MECE-730 | Design Project Leadership† This course focuses on preparing students to take on a leadership role in design project teams. Topics include product development processes, management of design project teams, developing a business case for design projects, understanding customer needs and translating them into engineering specifications, tools for developing design concepts, tools for assessing the feasibility of design concepts, conducting engineering tradeoffs and analysis to synthesize a preliminary design. Students use the concepts and tools discussed throughout the course in a team-based environment to develop project packages. (This course is restricted to students in an MECE-BS/MS program or MECE-MS or MECE-ME.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
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| MECE-777 | Graduate Internship‡ This course number is used by students in the master of engineering degree program for earning internship credits. Students must submit a proposal for the internship, to be approved by an employing supervisor and the department prior to enrolling. Students are required to submit an evaluation report at the conclusion of the internship. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Internship (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
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| MECE-792 | Project with Paper§ This course is used by students in the master of engineering degree program for conducting an independent project. The student must demonstrate an acquired competence in an appropriate topic within mechanical engineering. The topic is chosen in conference with a faculty adviser. The work may involve an independent research and/or a design project and/or literature search with a demonstration of acquired skill. A written paper, approved by the advisor and the department, and an oral presentation of the work are required. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Ind Study (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
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Graduate Electives V, VI, VII |
9 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
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* Graduate Seminar (MECE-795) is a 0 credit course required for all full-time and full-time equivalent students to take three times.
† Design Project Leadership (MECE-730) is reserved only for students enrolled in the accelerated MECE-BS/ME program.
‡ Graduate Internship (MECE-777) is an option for all MECE-ME students and students enrolled in the accelerated MECE-BS/ME program.
§ Project with Paper (MECE-792) is an option for all MECE-ME students and students enrolled in the MECE-BS/ME program.
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is available on-campus only.
| Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full‑time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | Yes |
| Part‑time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | No |
Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.
Application Details
To be considered for admission to the Mechanical Engineering ME program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- Entrance exam requirements: GRE required (waived for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025). No minimum score requirement.
- Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.
English Language Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.
| TOEFL | IELTS | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 6.5 | 56 |
International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers with significant hearing loss do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.
How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application
Cost and Financial Aid
An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.
A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree
Research
The faculty and students in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering are engaging in numerous areas of research, which takes place across all of our engineering disciplines and often involves other colleges at RIT, local health care institutions, and major industry partners. Explore the college's key research initiatives to learn more about our research in:
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