(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. An initial course plan should be submitted to the department by the start of the second semester of enrollment and revised periodically thereafter.
The thesis option requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of approved course work (Excluding ME 7903 ), 6 hours of thesis credit (ME 8000 ), and a satisfactory Master’s thesis defended in a final examination. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved course work, 6 hours of special project credit (ME 7903 ) taken in consecutive semesters, and a satisfactory Master’s report presented in a non-thesis final examination.
Curricular requirements for both options include:
- At least 9 credit hours from an approved list of core courses.
- At least 50% of the required course work must be at the 7000-level.
- At least 50% of the required course work must be in Mechanical Engineering.
- 3 credit hours of 4000 level or higher mathematics courses are recommended.
- Attendance of the ME Graduate Seminar (ME 7901 ) each semester is mandatory, except for circumstances described on the departmental graduate program website.
- A research presentation in the departmental graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC) is required prior to graduation.
LSU Mechanical Engineering undergraduate students with superior academic records are given the opportunity to pursue an accelerated M.S.ME degree. The non-thesis option is available to all students meeting the Graduate School’s eligibility criteria for accelerated Master’s Degrees. The accelerated thesis option is reserved for exceptional students personally invited by the department. Those in the accelerated program can apply up to 9 credit hours from their undergraduate degree toward their graduate studies, where approvals from graduate advisory committee and LSU Graduate School are required before classes are taken.