(MME)
The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.
Thesis Option
The degree is a thesis degree requiring a written thesis with the approval of the student’s major professor and advisory committee. Twenty-four hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned including a maximum of six hours of credit for the thesis. The curricular requirements include:
- At least twelve credit hours at the 7000 level or above, exclusive of any type of independent studies credit except for special project credit earned.
- A minimum of five courses in ME.
- A primary area consisting of a minimum of nine hours of earned credit in a specified field of study in one of the following areas: thermal sciences, mechanical systems, or materials science and engineering.
- A minimum core requirement of three credit hours outside the student’s primary area of study
- One course (three credit hours) in mathematics.
- One credit hour of the ME Graduate Seminar (ME 7901 ) every semester, except for circumstances as stated below:
- Please Note: The seminar attendance requirement for part-time students will be for one semester only. The seminar course (ME 7901 ) attendance requirement is waived for any student, after the date when he/she has successfully defended his/her thesis, or while he/she is participating in an out-of-state internship or out-of-state student exchange program under approval of his/her major professor. If this condition is met for an entire semester, the registration requirement is waived.
- The major professor and advisory committee must approve all course selections.
- In addition, the student is required to present his/her research results at a departmental forum before graduation, usually during the final semester in residence. This is done in the annual departmental Graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC) prior to graduation.
The student must pass a final exam consisting of a thesis and a comprehensive oral exam. At the discretion of the student’s advisory committee, a written exam may be required.
Non-Thesis Option
The degree is a non-thesis degree requiring a special project. Thirty-six hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned including a maximum of three hours of credit for the special project under ME 7903 . The non-thesis option is considered to result in a terminal degree in a technical field. It is appropriate for practicing and/or employed engineers who wish to acquire advanced background and knowledge in chosen subject areas without having the need to pursue rigorous research. The degree can be earned with a part-time departmental-level academic course plan. It is generally not available to international students under student visa (F1) category.
The curricular requirements include:
- At least 18 credit hours at the 7000 level or above.
- A minimum of six courses must be taken of mechanical engineering core courses with at least one course from each of the three areas of focus: thermal sciences, mechanical systems, and materials science and engineering.
- One course (three credit hours) in mathematics.
- An additional 12 credit hours as approved by the advisory committee, to achieve depth in one or more areas
- A grade of “B” or above in each course in order for the course to qualify toward the degree requirements.
- One credit hour of ME Graduate Seminar (ME 7901 ) every semester. The seminar attendance requirement for part-time students will be to register and attend for one semester. The seminar course (ME 7901 ) attendance requirement is waived for any student, after the date when he/she has successfully completed his/her final exam, or while he/she is participating in an out-of-state internship or out-of-state student exchange program under approval of his/her major professor. If this condition is met for an entire semester, the registration requirement is waived.
Additionally, the student must declare his/her intent to join the MS non-thesis option before beginning his/her departmental-level academic course plan. If the student is in the non-thesis option, he/she will not be eligible for any financial aid from the department or college. If the student is currently in the thesis option and has received financial support from the department, he/she will not be permitted to switch to the non-thesis option.
The student must pass a final exam consisting of a special project and a comprehensive oral exam (three credit-hour project under ME 7903 , a report approved by the major professor and advisory committee). This report is used in the final exam as a document to portray ability to do in-depth analysis of a mechanical engineering topic.