Application deadline
Credits and costs
Nationally Recognized
Penn State's Mechanical Engineering Master's Degree — 100% Online
Earning your master's in mechanical engineering shows your commitment to your career. And earning your Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) online through Penn State World Campus shows that you recognize the quality of this program and the advantage of learning online while you work.
Mechanical engineers with advanced degrees can be found at the forefront of technological advances, researching, designing, creating, and testing nearly everything. Graduates can apply their new knowledge in the automotive, biomedical, nuclear energy, robotics, power generation, aerospace, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industries.
Professionals with an undergraduate degree in a suitable engineering field or in a related science discipline can apply to this program. Graduates can acquire a skill set with the higher level of versatility required in the mechanical engineering profession today. As the field continues to grow and our technology becomes more advanced, mechanical engineers will have a pivotal role in shaping our future.
Why an Online Mechanical Engineering Degree from Penn State?
Penn State has a long tradition of offering top-notch engineering programs that are well known and respected across industry. Our online mechanical engineering program, delivered through Penn State World Campus, is identical to our resident instruction program — the same courses taught by the same graduate faculty who are active in research and experts in their fields of study. And when you graduate, your diploma will be identical to the one earned by our on-campus students.
Your Online Mechanical Engineering Courses
The courses in the 32-credit online MSME curriculum can help you gain advanced knowledge for research, analysis, and design in mechanical engineering. You'll study topics such as heat transfer, the foundations of fluid mechanics, the principles of turbomachinery, automatic control systems, solid mechanics, and engineering optimization.
Information for Military and Veterans
Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, or application instructions.
Courses
The 32-credit online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) was designed to help you gain advanced knowledge for research, analysis, and design in mechanical engineering.
The curriculum offers courses in thermal sciences and mechanical sciences and includes course work in:
- heat transfer
- foundations of fluid mechanics
- principles of turbomachinery
- automatic control systems
- solid mechanics
- engineering optimization
Academic Seminars (2 credits)
You must successfully complete two 1-credit courses of ME 590 Colloquium, preferably in your first two semesters of the program.
Math Courses (select 3 credits)
Mechanical Engineering Courses (select 27 credits)
You and your adviser can tailor the program specifically to suit your needs and educational goals by choosing 27 credits from the course lists below.
- At least 15 credits are required in 500-level courses (in addition to the 3 required credits of mathematics).
- A minimum of 12 credits must be at the 400- or 500-level.
Thermal Sciences Courses
If you use ME 512 to satisfy the 3-credit math requirement, it cannot be applied toward the additional 27 credits of required Mechanical Engineering courses.
Mechanical Sciences Courses
M.S. Paper
As part of the ME 596 Individual Studies course, you will be required to write a paper on a topic that you and your faculty adviser mutually agree is suitable for publication in a professional journal or presentation at a national or international conference, in order to obtain this degree.
Special Topics
ME 597 offers a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently.
Collaborative Learning
The online courses are collaborative, allowing you to build strong ties with other students and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries. The program maintains maximum flexibility in an effort to meet both the professional needs of individual students and quality academic standards.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,121 per credit |
| 12 or more | $13,452 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
It is expected that students will have a bachelor of science degree in a suitable engineering field. Admission decisions will also be based on relevant work experience and recommendation letters. All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The program contains a number of courses requiring a solid background in mathematics typically found in an undergraduate program in engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, or computer science, with at least two semesters of calculus. Students with other undergraduate majors who have a strong background in mathematics may apply. The admissions committee will consider the academic background, as evidenced by the transcript, as part of the overall application.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
GPA and Test Scores — Official GRE test scores will be considered if submitted, but are NOT required. All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
References (3) — you will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names, email addresses, and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to each reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment for success in an online program. Please inform all recommenders they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Résumé — Upload your résumé to the online application.
Statement of Purpose — a one- to two-page statement of purpose outlining personal career goals and reasons for wanting to enroll in the program. This statement should be specific and include information about your short- and long-term goals and how enrolling in the program may help to achieve them. The statement of purpose also offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your writing and communication skills, specify examples of leadership, and provide pertinent information that will assist the committee in selecting candidates who can benefit from and contribute to the mechanical engineering program.
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
Applying as a Nondegree Graduate Student
Beginning with the spring 2017 semester, enrollment in this program's courses will be limited to degree-seeking students (including provisionally admitted degree-seeking students). Requests to enroll in Mechanical Engineering courses from nondegree students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Enrollment requests should be sent to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at [email protected].
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Engineering, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
127 Reber Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-1345
Email: [email protected]
Faculty
-
Ashok Belegundu
-
DegreePh.D., Civil Engineering, University of Iowa
-
DegreeB.Tech., Civil Engineering, I.I.T. Madras
Design optimization, nonlinear and dynamic finite element analysis.
-
-
Catherine Berdanier
-
DegreePh.D., Engineering Education, Purdue University
-
DegreeM.S., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University
-
DegreeB.S., Chemistry, University of South Dakota
Engineering cognition research; methods development for engineering education research; mixed methods research; eye-tracking methods.
-
-
Sean Brennan
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico State University
-
DegreeB.S., Physics, New Mexico State University
Ground vehicle dynamics and automation, mechatronics and embedded systems, data representations for map-based localization and robot guidance.
-
-
Margaret Byron
-
DegreePh.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley
-
DegreeM.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley
-
DegreeB.S.E., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
Motion of both passive particles and aquatic organisms in turbulent flow, focusing on intermediate scales and Reynolds numbers; scale-dependent complexity of organism/environment interaction.
-
-
Fan-Bill Cheung
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre DameMultiphase heat transfer, thermal processing of materials, nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics and safety.
-
John Cimbala
-
DegreePh.D., Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology
-
DegreeM.S., Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology
-
DegreeB.S., Aerospace Engineering, Penn State
Fluid dynamics, flow visualization, wind tunnels, neutron radiography, turbulence, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), turbulence modeling, turbomachinery, air pollution, stratified tanks, indoor air quality, heat pipes, instrumentation, hydroturbines.
-
-
Mary Frecker
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
-
DegreeB.M.E., Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton
Optimal design, compliant mechanisms, smart structures, medical device design.
-
-
Aman Haque
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
-
DegreeM.B.A., University of Alberta
-
DegreeM.S, Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of ultrathin films; insitu transmission electron microscopy; MEMS; nano-scale materials behavior.
-
-
Dan Haworth
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Numerical modeling of chemically reacting turbulent flows. Computational fluid dynamics. Reciprocating-piston internal combustion engines.
-
-
Reuben Kraft
-
DegreePostdoctoral, Mechanics, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Computational solid mechanics, finite element analysis, numerical modeling, blast physics, high- performance computing.
-
-
Robert Kunz
-
DegreePh.D., Aerospace Engineering, Penn State
-
DegreeM.S., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, University of Illinois
-
DegreeB.S., Aerospace Engineering, SUNY at Buffalo
Computational fluid dynamics, multiphase flows, turbomachinery, nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics and thermal management analysis.
-
-
Stephen Lynch
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wyoming
Convective heat transfer and turbulent boundary layers, gas turbine heat transfer and aerodynamics, advanced experimental diagnostics.
-
-
Jaqueline O'Connor
-
DegreePh.D., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
-
DegreeM.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
-
DegreeB.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Reacting Flow Dynamics Laboratory focuses on issues of reacting flows for energy and propulsion applications. High-speed laser diagnostics and other state-of-the-art experimental techniques are used in research areas like combustion and hydrodynamics.
-
-
Zoubeida Ounaies
-
DegreePh.D., Engineering Sc. and Mech., Penn State
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Penn State
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Penn State
Smart materials, with a particular focus on design and development of unique combinations of mechanical-electrical-chemical coupling in polymers and polymer nanocomposites; characterization of dielectric materials for sensing, actuation and energy storage.
-
-
Laura Pauley
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois
Computational fluid dynamics, boundary layer separation, large-eddy simulation, direct numerical simulation, cavitation inception, engineering education.
-
-
Chris Rahn
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Dynamic systems modeling, design, analysis, and control with applications to flexible structures; biologically inspired robotics; smart material actuators, sensors, and energy harvesters; and electrochemical energy storage.
-
-
Alex Rattner
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania
Sustainable thermal-fluid energy systems, waste heat recovery, multiphase flow heat and mass transfer, high performance computing.
-
-
Alok Sinha
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Turbine blade vibration, magnetic bearings, active vibration control, sliding mode control, robust control, neural network.
-
-
H.J. Sommer
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana
Kinematics, biomechanics, mechatronics, robotics, machine vision, unmanned aircraft.
-
-
Adri van Duin
-
DegreePh.D., Chemistry, Delft University of Technology
-
DegreeDoctorandus, Chemistry, University of Amsterdam
Molecular dynamics simulations on reactive and nonreactive systems; applications to combustion, catalysis and material failure.
-
-
Chao-Yang Wang
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Iowa
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University
Multiphase transport, batteries, and fuel cells.
-
-
Yuan Xuan
-
DegreePh.D., Aeronautical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
-
DegreeM.S., Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, California Institute of Technology
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique
Computational fluid dynamics, turbulent combustion, soot formation, numerical methods, uncertainty quantification.
-
-
Richard Yetter
-
DegreePh.D., Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
-
DegreeM.A., Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
-
DegreeM.S., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
-
DegreeB.S., Mechanical Engineering, Syracuse University
Combustion/environmental science, combustion chemistry, heterogeneous combustion, materials synthesis, propellant combustion, combustion generated pollutants, atmospheric plume chemistry and chemical processing.
-
Additional Faculty
The faculty listed above regularly teach for the Penn State World Campus Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program. View the complete Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty and Staff directory.
