The current design practice in aerospace and mechanical engineering relies on a number of numerical tools to simulate structures, heat transfer, and fluid flows (e.g., NASTRAN, FLUENT, etc.) as well as mathematical packages for analyzing data (e.g., MAPLE, MATLAB, etc.). Similarly, the availability of advanced computers has resulted in the development of new approaches in research where the computational techniques are used to explain and predict fundamental physical phenomena important in aerospace and mechanical engineering.
In an environment of a typical large aerospace company, usually different engineers specializing in one of the core areas (structures, fluids, heat transfer, combustion) will handle different aspects of designing a product before their inputs are combined. The students graduating from the USC MS in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics) program will be prepared to:
Interact with engineers across all core disciplines because the program prepares them in both solid and fluid mechanics; this also offers greater flexibility in job placement and advancement within a company. Pursue higher degrees (Engineer and PhD) in areas of computational mechanics and heat transfer. The coursework in the MS in Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics Program is designed to provide a necessary background in the core aerospace and mechanical engineering disciplines (solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer), the engineering mathematics, and the numerical techniques employed by computational packages and practical examples of their use.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 27 units is required for the MS in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering – Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics degree
- Required Core Courses: 21 units
- Computational Technical Elective Courses: 3 units
- Technical Elective Courses: 3 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of ClassesAPPLICATION DEADLINES| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|
| Fall 2019 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | December 15, 2018 |
| Fall 2019 (Final Deadline) | January 15, 2019 |
| Spring 2019 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | August 31, 2018 |
| Spring 2019 (Final Deadline) | September 15, 2018 |
Visit our Application Deadlines page for more information.
APPLICATION CRITERIA- An undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science from a regionally-accredited university.
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average)
- Satisfactory GRE test scores. All scores must be officially reported to the university directly by ETS.
- Satisfactory performance in previous coursework related to the intended major.
USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR ALL APPLICANTS Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
GRE General Test: Satisfactory and valid test scores. Valid GRE scores must be dated within five years of the start of the intended application semester. The fall semester starts in August, and the spring semester starts in January. Official scores must be reported from ETS directly to USC using ETS school code 4852. A department code is not required.
Resume/CV (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Required): The statement of purpose should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
Letters of Recommendation (Optional): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS English Language Proficiency: In addition to the general admission criteria listed above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS examination to be considered a candidate for admission. There is no minimum
TOEFL or
IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. For more details on English Proficiency Criteria for the University of Southern California, please visit
USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English. The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
|---|
| Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 | $1,937 | $5,811 | $7,748 |
| Fall 2018 - Summer 2019 | $2,005 | $6,015 | $8,020 |
TUITION & SAMPLE COURSE PLAN (Residential Students Only) FOR 27 UNIT PROGRAM
STUDENT FEES
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
|---|
| Mandatory Fees (approximate) | Fall 2017: $450
Spring 2018: $400 | | |
| Health Insurance | Fall 2017: $646
Spring 2018: $1,170 | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $75/semester |
| |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $35/semester | |
|
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
Detailed Information on Tuition & FeesThis program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
Required Core Courses
|
| All courses are required – 21 units total. |
| AME 404 | Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems (3 units) |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity OR CE 507 (3 units) |
| CE 507 | Mechanics of Solids I OR AME 509 (3 units) |
| AME 525 | Engineering Analysis (3 units) |
| AME 526 | Engineering Analytical Methods (3 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units) |
| CE 529a | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
| Computational Technical Elective |
| One course from this list is required – 3 units total. |
| AME 535b | Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units) |
| CE 529b | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
| MASC 575 | Basics of Atomistic Simulation of Materials (3 units) |
| MASC 576 | Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Materials and Processes (3 units) |
| Technical Elective |
| One course from this list is required – 3 units total. |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 516 | Convection Processes (3 units) |
| CE 541a | Dynamics of Structures (3 units) |
| CE 542 | Theory of Plates (3 units) |
| One core class requirement may be waived at the discretion of a graduate advisor if a student documents that he or she completed or is enrolled in an equivalent course. The waived class must be replaced by a technical elective. Credit for one course of not more than 4 units from another accredited institution may be approved by a graduate advisor. The Master’s Thesis (4 units) may be substituted for a technical elective class (3 units). |
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