The Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering is primarily intended for students with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering or a closely related discipline obtained from a recognized accredited institution.
The Mechanical Systems track in the MSME program requires 30 credit hours, including 12 credit hours of required courses, 12 credit hours of elective courses selected from a list of approved courses, and 6 credit hours in a thesis or nonthesis option.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Please note: Mechanical Engineering (MSME) - Mechanical Systems may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit . If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.
UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to for current information.
Track Prerequisites
A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
Prerequisites (or equivalent)
- Differential Equations (MAP 2302)
- Modeling Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (EML 3034C)
- Introduction to Vibrations and Controls (EML 4225)
- Mechanical Systems Laboratory (EML 4301C)
- Design and Analysis of Machine Components (EML 3500) or Flight Structures (EAS 4200)
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5237 - Intermediate Mechanics of Materials (3)
- EML5271 - Intermediate Dynamics (3)
- EML6211 - Continuum Mechanics (3)
Elective Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 4 of the following:
- EML5152 - Intermediate Heat Transfer (3)
- EML5228C - Modal Analysis (3)
- EML5311 - System Control (3)
- EML5402 - Turbomachinery (3)
- EML5456 - Turbines for Sustainable Power (3)
- EML5546 - Engineering Design with Composite Materials (3)
- EML5713 - Intermediate Fluid Mechanics (3)
- EML5937 - Special Topics: Advanced Manufacturing (3)
- EML6067 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering I (3)
- EML6068 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering II (3)
- EML6104 - Classical Thermodynamics (3)
- EML6131 - Combustion Phenomena (3)
- EML6154 - Conduction Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6155 - Convection Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6157 - Radiation Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6223 - Advanced Vibrational Systems (3)
- EML6233 - Fundamentals of Fatigue Analysis (3)
- EML6238 - Plates and Shells (3)
- EML6295 - Sensors and Actuators for Micro Mechanical Systems (3)
- EML6299 - Advanced Topics on Miniaturization (3)
- EML6305C - Experimental Mechanics (3)
- EML6547 - Engineering Fracture Mechanics in Design (3)
- EML6572 - Probabilistic Methods in Mechanical Design (3)
- EML6712 - Mechanics of Viscous Flow (3)
- EML6725 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer I (3)
- EML6726 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer II (3)
- EGM6653 - Theory of Elasticity and Plasticity (3)
- EAS5123 - Intermediate Aerodynamics (3)
- EAS5211 - Aeroelasticity (3)
- EAS5302 - Direct Energy Conversion (3)
- EAS5315 - Rocket Propulsion (3)
- EAS5407C - Mechatronic Systems (3)
- EAS5535 - Engineering Design for Aerospace Vehicles (3)
- EAS6138 - Advanced Gas Dynamics (3)
- EAS6185 - Turbulent Flow (3)
- EAS6250 - Structural and Dynamic Stability (3)
- EAS6405 - Advanced Flight Dynamics (3)
- EAS6414 - Estimation of Dynamical Systems in Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EAS6415 - Guidance, Navigation and Control (3)
- EAS6507 - Topics of Astrodynamics (3)
- EAS6722 - Multidisciplinary Optimization Under Uncertainty (3)
- Elective courses beyond those listed in the graduate catalog, and others outside the department and/or program, are permitted at the discretion of the student鈥檚 advisor and/or graduate program director in the form of a signed and approved Program of Study.
Thesis/Nonthesis Option
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: EML 6971 Thesis Additionally, all student pursuing the thesis option must enroll one time in the following course: EML 5090 - Mechanical and Aerospace Seminar (0 credit hours) Students must complete the thesis course with a satisfactory (S) grade. If the student does not complete the course with a satisfactory grade, the student will be asked to repeat the course to meet program requirements.
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
- EML6085 - Research Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3 - 99)
- For students who work on a research topic with an MAE faculty, XXX 6918 Directed Research (3 credit hours) may be used to substitute EML6085 as the student's independent learning experience. After the graduate program director approves the substitution, the faculty supervising the directed research will create a special registration of XXX 6918 for the student.
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Additional elective course.
Grand Total Credits: 30
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
All students must identify an adviser and file an official degree program of study prior to the completion of 9 credit hours of study. Students should consult with the MAE graduate program director for assistance in completing the program of study form. The program of study must have departmental approval and must include at least 24 credit hours of formal course work, exclusive of thesis and research. Furthermore, at least half of the credit hours must be from courses at the 6000 level.
Substitutions to the program of study must meet with the approval of the adviser and the department and the College of Graduate Studies. More information is available from the MAE departmental website listed above.
Equipment Fee
Students in the Mechanical Engineering MSME program pay a $90 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $45 per semester.
Independent Learning
The Independent Learning requirement is met by successful completion of a master's thesis for the thesis option. The independent learning experience in the nonthesis option is provided by the required course, EML 6085 - Research Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3 credit hours). For students who work on a research topic with an MAE faculty, XXX 6918 Directed Research (3 credit hours) may be used to substitute EML6085 as the student's independent learning experience. After the graduate program director approves the substitution, the faculty supervising the directed research will create a special registration of XXX 6918 for the student.
