Program Overview

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

The PhD program in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University is designed to provide students with a rigorous appreciation of mathematics and a broad exposure to fields of engineering and science outside of their immediate area of interest. The program requires six quarters of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree and the successful completion of a dissertation after at least six quarters devoted to research.

Curriculum Overview

• PhD students are not required to follow a rigid curriculum; each student may arrange a curriculum that accommodates individual needs, talents, and interests while satisfying the basic degree requirements.
• The basic degree requirements are designed to ensure that students develop a rigorous appreciation of mathematics and have a broad exposure to fields of engineering and science outside of their immediate area of interest.
• The PhD program typically takes four to five years to complete.

PhD Degree Requirements

• Course Requirements:
  • A total of 15 course units (excluding project/research units) are required toward PhD.
  • Nine course units within this 15 units must satisfy the MS course requirements.
  • General program students must take at least one course each from four of seven sub-areas:
    1. Solids
    2. Fluids/Thermodynamics
    3. Dynamics/Controls
    4. Design/Manufacturing/Tribology
    5. MEMS/Nanotechnology
    6. Biomedical/Biology
    7. Mathematics/Sciences
• TA Requirement:
  • All PhD students must gain teaching experience through one or more quarter-long teaching positions that total at least 15 hours per week of service.
• English Requirement:
  • All international PhD students whose primary language is not English are required to take the Versant English Test after arriving at Northwestern.
• Residency:
  • Eight quarters of full-time registration consecutively over two years, including summers, are required.
• Qualifying Examination / Admission to Candidacy / PhD Prospectus:
  • Admission to The Graduate School does not constitute or guarantee a student's admission to candidacy for the PhD degree.
• Research Qualification Exam:
  • All PhD students shall pass an oral research qualification exam that tests their research ability.
• Dissertation Proposal Exam:
  • Students are eligible to take the dissertation proposal exam when all but three of the courses required for PhD have been taken.
• GPA Requirement:
  • GPA is determined by all post-BS courses taken at Northwestern toward satisfying the course requirements above, excluding research and seminar units.
• PhD Thesis Dissertation:
  • A written dissertation on the research project that is satisfactory to the student's faculty adviser, the advisory committee, and meets the University's requirements, is required.
• Final Examination / Dissertation Defense:
  • An oral examination by the examination committee of faculty including the student's adviser addressing the research is required.

Additional Programs

• Kellogg Summer Program: Management for Scientists and Engineers:
  • This is a certificate program taught by Kellogg School faculty that will equip promising doctoral students with the necessary business and leadership skills.