Thesis Option - M.S.E. Mechanical Engineering

The thesis option is recommended for students interested in industrial research and development, teaching, or possibly continuing for the Ph.D. Students should talk with ME faculty is his/her area of interest as soon as possible. The purpose is to find an ME faculty research advisor who will supervise the individual research and a project of mutual interest. At least one additional member is required and may be a faculty member or a research scientist from ME or from another College of Engineering Department.

The student enrolls in ME595 using the faculty research advisor's independent study number. Student may check with their advisor or with staff in the Academic Service Office for the number. A letter grade is given for this course. In subsequent terms, ME695 will be elected twice for 3 hours each, again using the advisor's number. Six credits of ME695 may be taken in one term with approval of the faculty research advisor. A grade of satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) is given.

No particular writing style is required. The same style for a doctoral dissertation thesis may be used, or any style used for report writing. When the thesis is complete, the student will schedule an oral exam to defend the thesis similar to the way in which the doctoral dissertation is defended. The minimal two-member committee must be present at the oral defense. On occasion the defense may occur in a term subsequent to the last enrollment. If all other MSE degree requirements are met, a student need not be enrolled to defend.

No later than the last day of exams in the term the student expects to graduate, a memo signed by the faculty research advisor must be submitted to the ASO, which states that the student has successfully defended his/her thesis. A bound (e.g. spiral) thesis is required.