All students pursuing the doctoral degree with a major in mechanical and energy engineering must plan their degree program with the assistance of their major professor and their advisory committee. The requirement for graduation with a PhD degree is at least 72 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree or 42 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree in mechanical engineering. The student needs to maintain at least a B average in all graduate courses.

Students entering with a BS

Students entering the PhD program with a bachelor of science must complete at least 72 semester hours at the graduate level as follows:

1. A minimum of 12 semester credit hours of core courses chosen from the courses listed in Appendix D provided by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
2. A minimum of 9 semester credit hours of electives are selected from one of the three areas: general energy, thermal energy and fluids, or solid mechanics and controls. Courses are selected with approval of the student’s dissertation advisor and graduate advisor.
3. A minimum of 15 semester credit hours of courses from mechanical and energy engineering and related fields approved by the dissertation advisor.
4. Up to 21 hours of research credits.
5. Up to 3 hours of seminar.
6. A minimum of 12 hours of dissertation (MEEN 6950 ) credit hours, which can be registered for only after successfully passing both the written and oral qualifying exams.

Students entering with an MS

Students entering the PhD program with a master of science degree in ME must complete at least 42 semester credit hours of course work as outlined below:

1. A minimum of 12 semester hours of core courses chosen from core courses.
2. A minimum of 9 semester credit hours of electives that are selected form one of three areas: general energy, thermal energy and fluids, or solid mechanics and controls. Courses are selected with the approval of the student’s dissertation advisor and graduate advisor.
3. A minimum of 3 credit hours of courses at the 5000 level or higher offered by mechanical and energy engineering and related fields.
4. Up to 6 hours of research credit hours.
5. Up to 3 hours of seminar.
6. A minimum of 9 hours of dissertation (
   MEEN 6950
    ) credit hours, which can be registered for only after successfully passing both the written and oral qualifying exams.

Examinations

1. Two written qualifying examinations in the following areas of specialization: general energy, thermal energy and fluids, or solid mechanics and controls.
2. After passing the written exam, students are required to complete and defend in an oral examination an original research proposal that, if executed, would lead to a PhD dissertation.
3. Upon passing the written and oral examination by the examination committee, the applicant is admitted to candidacy.
4. Details of the written examination schedule, expectations and criteria for successful completion are available in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
5. A pre-dissertation presentation must be conducted between 6 and 12 months prior to final dissertation defense. This presentation is to the PhD committee members and open to the general public. Committee members will identify weaknesses and shortcomings in the research and will provide specific, actionable recommendations to strengthen the dissertation.
6. The student must give a final oral dissertation presentation to the dissertation committee and that is made open to the general public. The dissertation must be submitted to the committee at least seven days before the oral defense and the time and place of the presentation disseminated to the MEE faculty and students. The student will revise the dissertation following the suggestions of the dissertation committee and submit the final dissertation to the graduate school of UNT.