Program Overview

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Baccalaureate Field: Mechanical engineering. The degree must be from an American Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) accredited college or university or equivalent.
• Grade Point Average: At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• English Proficiency: Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:
  • TOEFL iBT: 80, with minimum scores of 19 (Reading), 17 (Listening), 20 (Speaking), and 21 (Writing)
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5, with minimum scores of 6.0 (Reading), 6.0 (Listening), 6.0 (Speaking), and 6.0 (Writing)
  • PTE Academic: 54, with minimum scores of 51 (Reading), 47 (Listening), 53 (Speaking), and 56 (Writing)
• Letters of Recommendation: Three required.
• Personal Statement: Required.
• Other Requirements: Admission to the PhD program is not automatic for students completing their MS degree in the department. Master’s students who desire to continue on to the PhD must see the department’s graduate coordinator for forms to apply to the PhD program.
• Nondegree Applicants: Nondegree applicants may be admitted for no more than 8 semester hours.
• Deadlines: The application deadline is the same as the Graduate College deadline; the deadline for applicants who want to be considered for funding can be found on the Graduate College website.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Minimum Semester Hours Required: 36.
• Student must choose one of the following two options:

I. Thesis Option (36 hours total)

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Coursework (24 hours)
    • Select 12 hours at the 500 level, excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
    • 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
    • Remaining 12 hours at the 400 or 500 level
    • Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
    • 4 hours must be in the ME rubric
  • Additional courses:
    • ME 598: M.S. Thesis Research (12 hours)
    • ME 595: Mechanical Engineering Seminar
• All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
• Approval by the director of graduate studies is required for all out-of-rubric courses. Unapproved courses will not count toward the degree.

II. Coursework-Only Option (36 hours total)

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Coursework (36 hours)
    • Select 16 hours at the 500 level, excluding ME 596, ME 598, and ME 599
    • 12 hours must be in the ME rubric
    • Remaining 20 hours at the 400 or 500 level
    • Up to 4 hours of ME 596 can be used
    • 8 hours must be in the ME rubric
  • Additional courses:
    • ME 595: Mechanical Engineering Seminar
• All students must enroll in ME 595 every fall and spring semester.
• Approval by the director of graduate studies is required for all out-of-rubric courses. Unapproved courses will not count toward the degree.

Other Requirements

• No graduation credit will be given for Credit/No Credit courses.
• Students must get the director of graduate studies’ approval to take online courses.
• All courses must be approved first by the student’s advisor and then by the director of graduate studies.
• Comprehensive Examination: None.
• Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options: Thesis or coursework only. No other options are available.