Mar 17, 2026

2026-2027 Graduate Catalog

Engineering - Mechanical (MSE)

Purdue University
Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.)

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building, Rm. 321 ~ 260-481-6357

Hosni Abu-Mulaweh, Graduate Program Director

The Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) with Mechanical Engineering specilization is designed to help students sharpen their engineering skills, grow professionally, and stay on top of recent developments in the field. Our MSE degree prepares students for the future by broadening and deepening their understanding of engineering principals, state-of-the-art technology, and technical management. Our MSE degree equips students to succeed in our rapidly-changing world and positions them to become senior engineering professionals or technical managers.

Our graduate program is designed for working engineers taking one or two courses each semester. However, full-time students can also be accommodated, as they can take additional classes in systems engineering, organizational leadership, math & statistics, and engineering technology. In addition, on-line classes from Purdue WL can be taken at a reduced tuition rate. All students are encouraged to conduct research and write a thesis. Research is a high-impact, transformational activity that benefits industry, students, and our program. Industry-sponsored research projects are ideal. A non-thesis MSE option is also available.

Program Delivery:

The MSE program is delivered primarily through on-campus courses; however, the opportunity to take some courses on-line through the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University does exists. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss this option with their advisor beforehand. In order to meet the needs of both our full-time students and working adults, most of the graduate level courses are offered in the evenings.

Admissions Criteria:

Applicants to the M.S.E. program ideally should have graduated from an approved, accredited engineering program with a Bachelor of Science degree in their selected area of specialization with a GPA of 3.0.

Graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees from programs in the physical sciences, computer science, mathematics or technology will be considered for admission. Formal admission to the M.S.E. program requires a Bachelor of Science degree as well as:

Completion of the engineering mathematics sequence which includes calculus, multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations
Completion of at least two semesters of calculus-based physics
Completion of all undergraduate engineering courses that are the prerequisites to the graduate courses on the student’s plan of study

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=1401&fos_credential=5

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduates from the Master of Science in Engineering program with concentration area in Mechanical Engineering will:

1. Be able to identify, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems, and apply advanced engineering design to create solutions that address specified needs while considering public health, safety, welfare, and global, cultural, environmental, and economic factors.

2. Demonstrate ethical research and professional conduct consistent with Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) principles (e.g., integrity, data stewardship, authorship, collaboration, conflict-of-interest management) and show civic responsibility by evaluating the societal impacts of engineering decisions and contributing their expertise to support community welfare and democratic values.

Program Requirements

To earn an MSE degree, students are required to complete 30 credits of course work with overall GPA of 3.0 or above. Course requirements are flexible allowing students to tailor their program to specific career goals.

The students must complete a Plan of Study before the start of the graduating semester to document their intended curriculum.

Graduates of the MSE program must complete the CITI RCR Basic training. The RCR certificate confirmation email must be sent to the Graduate Program Director when applying for graduation.

The CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Basic Training provides foundational instruction in the ethical and professional standards expected of researchers across engineering, science, and related fields. The course is designed to promote research integrity and prepare graduate students to conduct scholarly and applied research responsibly.

The training covers core RCR topic areas, including:

· Research Integrity and Misconduct (honesty, accuracy, objectivity; fabrication, falsification, plagiarism)

· Data Management and Stewardship (acquisition, storage, sharing, ownership, security)

· Authorship and Publication Practices (authorship criteria, plagiarism avoidance, responsible reporting)

· Mentor-Mentee Responsibilities (expectations, communication, professional development)

· Collaborative Research Ethics (roles, communication, accountability in team research)

· Peer Review Ethics (confidentiality, objectivity, conflict-of-interest considerations)

· Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (disclosure, management strategies)

· Human Subjects and Animal Research Overviews (key protections and regulatory frameworks)

Completion of the CITI RCR Basic course equips students with the ethical framework necessary to conduct research that upholds academic, professional, and societal standards. For more information about CITI RCR training, please visit the Purdue OGSPS website: https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/professional-development/responsible-conduct-of-research-rcr/

Major and Supporting Courses Required for the MSE

The course of study requires completion of 30 credit hours in the following components:

Four 50000-level, graduate mechanical engineering core courses
Two additional 50000-level, engineering courses
Two thesis research courses (ENGR 69800) or two approved elective courses (graduate level)
Two math (or closely related) approved courses

Mechanical Engineering Core Requirements: Credits 12

Select four of the following courses:

Electives

Students have the opportunity to take courses from the following departments:

Systems Engineering (SE):
SE 52000 - Engineering Economics Cr. 3.
SE 53000 - Systems Engineering Management Cr. 3.
SE 54000 - Systems Architecture Cr. 3.
SE 55000 - Manufacturing System Design For Sustainability Cr. 3.
Organizational Leadership (OL):
OLS 51000 - Foundations Of Behavior And Leadership In Organizations Cr. 3.
OLS 52000 - Foundations Of The Organizational Context Cr. 3.
OLS 53000 - System Change And Organization Development Cr. 3.
Statistics (STAT) and Math (MA):
STAT 51100 - Statistical Methods Cr. 3.
STAT 51400 - Design Of Experiments Cr. 3.
MA 51100 - Linear Algebra With Applications Cr. 3.
Distance Learning Courses through Purdue West Lafayette:
- ME 55300 Product and Process Design
- ME 55700 Design for Manufacturability
- MSE 69700 Materials Engineering Fundamentals
TRANSFER CREDIT:

With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, students may transfer up to 12 graduate credit hours of appropriate course work with grades of B (3.0) or better earned at other accredited institutions. No more than 12 greduate credits completed as a non-degree student will be counted toward the MSE.

Total: Credits 30

Student Responsibility

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the Graduate Director.