Program Overview
The Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tulsa equips students with advanced technical and professional skills, enhances their research abilities, and prepares them for independent research projects. The program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours, including 24 credit hours of research and dissertation, and 42 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students must pass a qualifying examination, become eligible for candidacy, and successfully defend their dissertation to earn the degree.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tulsa equips students with advanced technical and professional skills, enhances their research abilities, and prepares them for independent research projects. The program aims to advance students' knowledge and skills, fostering their development as professionals and researchers in the field of mechanical engineering.
Objectives:
- Enhance students' theoretical and practical knowledge to solve complex problems in mechanical sciences and thermal sciences.
- Develop effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, for the dissemination of technical information.
- Inculcate an understanding of ethical considerations in mechanical engineering and related fields.
- Foster the development of independent research skills and the ability to conduct research projects in mechanical engineering or related fields.
Outline:
Course Structure:
The curriculum for the Ph.D. program consists of graduate-level courses selected from offerings approved by the Graduate School. The program requires:
- Minimum of 72 credit hours of graduate credit
- Minimum of 24 credit hours of research and dissertation (including master's thesis)
- Minimum of 42 credit hours of graduate coursework and independent study
- Minimum of 24 credit hours in mechanical engineering
- Minimum of 6 credit hours outside mechanical engineering, including 6 credit hours of 6000-level or 7000-level mathematics
- Maximum of 9 credit hours of independent study
- Maximum of 15 credit hours of 6000-level courses
Program Requirements:
- Courses in thermal sciences and solid mechanics are required.
- Students may be required to complete prerequisite undergraduate courses without graduate credit.
- Not more than 12 hours of transfer credit beyond the master's degree from an accredited institution may be counted toward the course requirements.
Assessment:
Qualifying Examination:
- Students take a written qualifying examination after completing nine hours of Ph.D. coursework.
- Failure to pass the examination allows for a second attempt during the following semester.
- The mechanical engineering graduate faculty determine the outcome of the examination.
Candidacy:
- Candidates become eligible for candidacy after completing 42 hours of coursework, passing the qualifying examination, and receiving approval for their research proposal.
Dissertation:
- Students conduct original research and write a dissertation that demonstrates their ability to independently investigate a specific area of interest and contribute to the field of science or engineering.
- The dissertation must follow the Graduate School's submission requirements and be presented to the advisory committee for review.
- The dissertation is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Final Oral Examination:
- Candidates defend their dissertation and field of research before their advisory committee.
- The committee recommends the candidate to the Dean of the Graduate School for the Ph.D. degree upon successful completion of the defense and acceptance of the dissertation.