MS in Mechanical Engineering

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Deepen Your Engineering Expertise

Acquire competence and confidence for new roles and increased responsibility as an engineer. With a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Tyler, advance your knowledge of thermo fluids and heat, material science and mechanics, and mechanical systems and control.

Work with expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Trane Residential Heating and Cooling Research Lab, and conduct your own research with the thesis option. Or, take the non-thesis track to deepen your professional experience, including an optional internship. Graduate with enhanced skills and new knowledge for the next step forward in your career.

Our Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering master’s programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

Why Earn a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at UT Tyler?

Mechanical engineers play key roles in the design, development, building and testing of equipment, systems and technology in every area of the economy. A master’s degree strengthens your professional preparation and positions you for leadership, greater responsibility and increased pay.

Or, you may seek to build your technical expertise in a new area to access additional opportunities. Focusing on research sets you up for Ph.D. studies and development positions in academia or industry.

Wherever you’re going, UT Tyler helps you get there:

  • Expert Faculty Mentors: Learn from seasoned pros with extensive industry and research experience. Our professors include a researcher whose structural analysis influenced the U.S. military’s treatment of aircraft vulnerability, the co-inventor of a patent related to fuel cell control and the author of a comprehensive book on the nonlinear analysis of structural mechanics.
  • Extensive Laboratory Facilities: Get hands-on experience in innovative laboratory environments, including the Trane Residential Heating and Cooling Research Lab and thermal sciences, fluid dynamics, fabrication and mechatronics labs.
  • Maximum Flexibility: Find room for your studies in a program designed to meet the needs of both working professionals and full-time graduate students. Our Houston Engineering Center gives you another option to take courses at a convenient location close to the action.
  • Pick Your Focus: Maximize the benefit of your degree by focusing on the areas that match your career goals, including thermo fluids and heat, material science and mechanics, and mechanical systems and control. Take three courses from the same area to earn a certificate of specialization to bolster your résumé.
  • Career Fast-Track: Earn your master’s degree more quickly to get a head start on your career. For mechanical engineering undergraduate students at UT Tyler, our BSME/MSME Straight-Through option (4+1) lets you complete both degrees in just five years.
  • Affordability: Build your professional skills without building a burden of debt. We offset our already-low tuition with graduate assistantships, scholarships and other forms of financial support.

Curriculum

The master’s in mechanical engineering involves 30 credit hours that you can complete in two years. Through our student-centered, career-focused curriculum, tailor your studies to match your intended path forward.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering delivers the program in two formats:

  • Thesis: Choose the thesis option to independently explore an engineering problem or prepare for doctoral studies and a research-focused career. Students complete 24 credit hours of coursework plus six hours of original research, culminating in a written thesis and an oral defense.
  • Non-Thesis: The non-thesis option accommodates practitioners seeking to build specialized experience through their studies. An optional internship and project let you apply your knowledge in real-world contexts.

In both tracks, you select electives from the core areas of thermo fluids and heat, material science and mechanics, and mechanical systems and control. Earn up to three certificates of specialization by taking at least three courses from the same area.

Whichever option you choose, graduate ready to:

  • Apply fundamental knowledge of specialized concepts across mechanical engineering’s sub disciplines.
  • Use modern tools to analyze engineering problems and design solutions.
  • Solve engineering problems through independent learning and research.
  • Communicate effectively in oral, visual and written contexts from a technical perspective.

See All MS in Mechanical Engineering Degree Requirements

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering?

Solve challenging engineering problems and help drive innovation in East Texas and beyond. Your degree prepares you to lead as a mechanical engineer in manufacturing, research and development, government, transportation or consulting. UT Tyler’s areas of focus equip you to take charge and make decisions as a:

  • Control systems engineer
  • Heating and cooling systems engineer
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Materials engineer
  • Robotics engineer
  • Thermal engineer

Or, think about how you can shape the field’s future and applications. To devise transformative, data-driven solutions, pursue a doctorate after completing your thesis to prepare for a career in academia or advanced research.

How to Apply

To apply, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited mechanical engineering program.

For students who have yet to receive this credential, UT Tyler requires them to complete prerequisites (leveling) before starting the MSME program, as determined by the graduate coordinator.

To be considered for admission, please submit or provide proof of:

  • A completed online application.
  • Official transcripts for all prior college- or graduate-level work, submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale on your last four semesters of academic study and last 60 semester credit hours of upper-division undergraduate or graduate courses.
  • A satisfactory score on the General Test (verbal and quantitative) of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). (GRE Code for UT Tyler: 6850)
  • A Statement of Purpose including goals of Graduate Education and Research Interests.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the English language, both spoken and written.

The College of Engineering further considers master’s candidates based on the following: your demonstrated commitment to your chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, status as a first-generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence and level of responsibility in other matters, including extracurricular activities, employment, community service and family responsibilities.

Review All Application Requirements

See Additional Admission Requirements

The College of Engineering opens this accelerated path only to current UT Tyler undergraduate students intending to complete a Master of Science in mechanical engineering after their BSME degree without interruption.

Students interested in the 4+1 track must obtain Department approval to enroll. The Department provisionally admits students with a minimum 3.0 GPA to begin in the fall semester of their senior year. Students receive full admission to the graduate program after they complete all BSME graduation requirements. Students must obtain an average “B” grade in all the graduate-level subjects taken during their senior year.

See Complete BSME/MSME Program Details

The estimated tuition for full-time, in-state on-campus enrollment is $14,148. Tuition varies by delivery method and hours taken per semester. Calculate your estimated tuition with the tuition calculator.

Working professionals experience challenges when trying to fit coursework around their busy schedules. That’s why, in addition to our main campus in Tyler, we also offer the master’s in mechanical engineering program through our Houston Engineering Center for those who work in or near the city. At the HEC, students learn from the same outstanding faculty and practice concepts through hands-on lab exercises. Obtain the same great program closer to home.

About the Houston Engineering Center

February 28

Application deadline for summer admission for international students.

April 15

Application deadline for summer admission for domestic students.

April 30

Application deadline for fall admission for international students.

August 15

Application deadline for fall admission for domestic students.

October 1

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens for the upcoming academic year.

October 30

Application deadline for spring admission for international students.

December 20

Application deadline for spring admission for domestic students.

Next Steps

Your future starts here. Get ready for the next step in your mechanical engineering career at UT Tyler.