An interdisciplinary degree co-advised by Mechanical Engineering and the School of Design is also available. For information on the Master of Product Development, please visit - http://www.mpd.cmu.edu
The M.S. Degree Course Work Option:
This is a self-supported Masters Degree option that primarily consists of graduate-level course work. For this option the student or an outside funding source (such as the student's employer) must pay for tuition (which is $30,000 for the 05-06 academic year) and living expenses (on the order of $21,000 per year). However, in return for this investment, students in the program can receive their Masters degree in two semesters, taking four 12-unit courses each semester. This allows a student to move very quickly toward pursing a Ph.D. degree or employment in industry.
A unique aspect of this degree option is that a student is allowed to receive up to 18 units (1.5 - 2 courses) of research project credit, which can be earned by undertaking research under the supervision of a faculty member. Thus even this "course" degree program allows a student to participate in an academic research project.
The M.S. Degree Project Option:
This is a self-supported. The Master of Science Project degree option consists of a mix of course work and independent research. Course requirements for this option are less than those for the M.S. Course Work Option. However, because of its added emphasis on research, students typically complete this degree after four semesters and one summer (i.e. 2 years minus 3 summer months). The culmination of the project-option MS is a final research report and presentation to faculty and students at the annual Bennett Conference, held in the spring of each year. All masters students are self-supported or have an outside funding source (such as the student's employer) to pay for tuition and living expenses.
The Ph.D. Degree:
A Ph.D. degree allows students to pursue a career in research and academics. Our Ph.D. degree requirements are similar to those in other American universities, culminating with the writing and defense of a research thesis. The Ph.D. degree typically takes 3-5 years to complete. Courses are the focus of the early part of the PhD degree in order to enhance ones knowledge to conduct research. Within one year of entering the program a student must take the departmental Ph.D. qualifying examination, which is an oral examination of the student's knowledge in three subject areas in Mechanical Engineering. The student’s research experience forms the core of the PhD program. Research involves active, student-directed inquiry into an engineering problem. Conducting research requires combining knowledge gained in the classroom with the ability to read the scientific literature, identify critical knowledge gaps, structure complex problems, formulate and test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data, and present and discuss technical results. Dissemination of new knowledge at technical conferences and in peer-reviewed archival publications is an important part of research. Upon completion of his or her dissertation, the student will be an international expert in a technical area. Students pursuing a Ph.D. are typically supported by the department through assistantships or fellowships. That support generally consists of a full tuition scholarship and a monthly stipend for the academic year. There is a slight increase in the stipend level after passing the qualifiers. Graduates from the mechanical engineering doctoral program pursue careers in industry, government and academics.
A Note for Students Interested in the M.S.-Project and Ph.D. Degrees:
Because research interactions with an advisor are a major part of these degrees, a student's choice of advisor is extremely important. Because of this, the department does its best to match students to advisors during the application process. We encourage students to review our faculty web pages and note the projects currently being researched by each advisor. Including specific interests in your Statement of Purpose may assist in the decision process. It is generally a good idea to understand what type of project you intend to work on should you be admitted to Carnegie Mellon's mechanical engineering program.
For more information on our degree options and the department in general, students should consult our on-line Graduate Student Guide.
