Mechanical Engineering, M.S.M.E.

Graduate Degree

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.M.E) at Marshall University in West Virginia combines the fundamentals of basic engineering and the advanced knowledge of specific core areas to provide graduate students with a broad degree tailored to tackle real engineering problems and challenges. Graduate engineering students can be assured the structure of this program will increase knowledge and sharpen skills leading to successful careers across the nation and internationally. A Research-2 university in West Virginia, Marshall offers a comprehensive, collaborative environment for exploration across the continuum of sciences and the arts.

Why study Mechanical Engineering at Marshall?

As a program housed in the Weisberg Division of Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Marshall provides robust interaction with other engineering and computer disciplines at the university, while offering a detailed, innovative hands-on curriculum aimed at developing the engineering leaders of tomorrow. Marshall offers a personalized program which allows its expert faculty to efficiently supervise research works, dedicate quality time to students and develop courses aligned with the rapidly changing world.

The M.S.M.E. program at Marshall prepares students for leadership roles in industry, government and private research. The program also prepares students who desire to pursue further graduate work leading to a Ph.D. degree or to obtain the Professional Engineering (P.E.) license. Affiliations with industry across West Virginia offers students exposure to many exciting opportunities.

In addition, the M.S.M.E. program allows students to carry out a broad range of experimental and theoretical research works in the areas of fluid dynamics, advanced manufacturing, engineering material, system dynamics and control, and energy systems under the supervision of experienced and dedicated faculty who are experts in their fields. The program offers a variety of courses and provides students with multiple elective options to tailor their degree to their chosen interests. Degree areas of specialization include Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer; Advanced Manufacturing; Engineering Material; System Control; Dynamics and Vibrations; Solid Mechanics. After graduation from the M.S.M.E. program, students will be able to apply the fundamentals of engineering to design, innovate, and fabricate mechanical, thermal, or energy systems and devices.

Specialized labs at Marshall available to mechanical engineering graduate students:

Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Systems Lab – This lab contains an array of equipment and instrumentation utilized in support of teaching and research works in the area of advanced/additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing).
Thermal Energy Lab – This lab is composed of a broad spectrum of equipment, utilized to design and conduct experiments in the area of heat transfer (both conduction and convection) and thermodynamics.
Hydraulics and Pneumatics Lab – This lab is used to design and conduct experiments in the field of aerodynamics, particularly for: (i) experimental characterization of compressible flows (including sub-sonic and super-sonic flows); (ii) flow visualization and diagnostics; and (iii) measurement of moments, forces (lift and drag), as well as angle of attack.
Fluids Hydraulics Lab – This lab is used to design and conduct experiments pertaining to the fundamentals of fluid mechanics (such as hydrostatic pressure, Bernoulli’s theorem, internal viscose flow, and flow in open channels).
Industrial Control Lab – Our Industrial Control lab is equipped with PLCs (Programmable Logic Controls) stations, wind turbines, and other educational tools such as servo DC motors, inverted pendulum, flexible joint and link, ball beam system, and shake table. These tools are used to teach our students the concepts of PLC programming, which is a widely used industrial controller, renewable energy and power generation, and designing control systems for motors, flexible structures such as aircraft wings and robotic arms, and under-actuated systems such as inverted pendulums and ball beam systems.
Autonomous Lab – This lab is used for industrial robotics’ education and control of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, specifically drone).

Career Outlook for Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Graduates

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for the employment of mechanical engineers is expected to increase about four percent over the next decade. With a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marshall University, graduates will be well prepared for careers in machinery and transportation manufacturing, research and development and architectural and engineering services. Mechanical engineers can hold positions like:

Mechanical Engineer
Aerospace Engineer
Automotive Engineer
Maintenance Engineer
HVAC Engineer
Operations Engineer
Engineering Professor

The BLS says the expected median salary for mechanical engineers with a bachelor’s degree is $87,370 annually.

Opportunities for Mechanical Engineering Graduates

Mechanical Engineering graduate students at Marshall are offered a broad range of internships and job opportunities that are communicated every semester.

Career Placement for graduates of Marshall’s Mechanical Engineering program remains strong. Mechanical Engineering is one of the core engineering majors and the job outlook for those students who complete the M.S.M.E. program successfully remains in high demand.
Marshall’s engineering students are afforded individualized assistance from faculty as they navigate the job market. Faculty members will provide detailed help on all aspects of the job search and also provide letters of recommendation based on students’ performance when needed.

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