The MS in Mechanical Engineering degree provides the technical education needed for engineering professionals in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and power, utilities, petrochemical, design, manufacturing, and transportation. While the field of Mechanical Engineering encompasses this broad set of technical areas, this degree program encourages focused education in selected areas of interest.
Students in this program will choose from one of ten recommended areas of study:
- Advanced Manufacturing Specialization
- Combustion Specialization
- Design Specialization
- Dynamics and Control Specialization
- Energy Conversion Specialization
- Fluid Dynamics Specialization
- Heat Transfer Specialization
- Mechanics and Materials Specialization
- Solid and Structural Mechanics
- Quantitative Medical Engineering Specialization
The course program for each track listed above is designed to provide you with an education that is strong in both fundamentals and application, preparing you for doctoral programs as well as for continuing your engineering career in the industry.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring | September 1 (extended to October 1) |
| Fall | December 15 (Scholarship consideration)
January 15 (Final deadline) |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Mechanical Engineering must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Most applicants have degrees in engineering or closely related fields, such as Aerospace, Aeronautics, Mechanical, and Mechatronics.
Applicants without a bachelor's degree in a directly related field may still be considered if they have completed and demonstrated strong proficiency in the following coursework (or equivalent):
| |
| Computer |
| Engineering |
| Linear Systems |
| Programming |
This is not an exhaustive list. Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (Optional)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2026 applications.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
TUITION AND FEES OVERVIEW
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 27 Unit Program
LAURA JHOANA LOPEZ
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
USC has a great Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering program. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering with a minor in Computer Engineering from Chico State, I wanted to return to Southern California specifically near the L.A. area.
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
I am currently finishing up my first year at USC and I have already been sponsored to attend conferences in and outside of the state.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
I helped recreate the Women's Rugby team here on campus. At Chico State I was part of the Women's Rugby team. Once I got to USC I was informed that the Women's team hadn't been active for about 3 years. I asked around and got connected with someone else who was interested in recreating the women's team here at USC. Due to COVID we weren't allowed to form a new club for Fall 2021, but the team is now official. Although I am no longer eligible to compete competitively, I can always stop by and support the team when I have the chance.
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE),Society of Women Engineers(SWE), Women In Engineering (WIE), and Trojan Women's Rugby team.|
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JEFFREY WEST
Jeffrey West first visited University of Southern California as part of a research project he undertook during his undergrad. During his visit, he connected with USC professors and learnt more about the university and the research opportunities it provided. “I wanted to go to a prestigious school which invested a lot on research projects and USC, I knew, has a track record of funding and doing big research projects,” says West explaining his decision to pursue graduate studies at USC. A year later, he was a part of the USC’s Trojan family, studying Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Viterbi School of Engineering.
Born and raised in Ohio, West did his undergraduate at Ohio Northern University where he majored in Mechanical engineering. In 2012, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue higher studies and spent the next five years at USC. After getting a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, West then pursued and earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. West was also drawn towards the emphasis USC placed on its student population and the resources provided to them. Additionally, the location was a big draw. “Los Angeles is a big city with huge prospects. With USC having one of the highest international student population, it was easy to meet people from all the over world and learn about different cultures.”
During his five years at USC, West also took on teaching and research assistantships along with his studies. He was a part of Viterbi Graduate Mentorship program where he guided and coached new graduate students to adjust to the life at USC and the city of Los Angeles.
2024 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2024*
Companies & Job Titles (multiple positions may be listed)
Average Reported Salary: $107.900
- The Aerospace Corporation - Systems Engineer
- Apple - Manufacturing Design Engineer / Product Design Engineer
- Applied Materials, Inc. - Mechanical Engineer II
- ASM America, Inc. - Mechanical Engineer II
- Biosense Webster - Senior Quality Engineer
- Bloom Energy - Senior Mechanical Engineer
- Boeing - Engineer / Manufacturing Engineer / Tooling & Equipment Engineer
- BYD North America - Mechanical Design Engineer, Chassis
- Easley-Dunn Productions, Inc. - Robotics Engineer
- Edwards Lifesciences - R&D Engineering Co-Op, Advanced Technology
- GoForward, Inc. - Senior Design Engineer
- Honda Performance Development - Development Engineer
- L3Harris Technologies - Mechanical Engineer 3
- Lecron - Junior Control Engineer
- Los Alamos National Laboratory - R&D Engineer
- Matic Robots - Robot Production Engineer
- Northrop Grumman - Associate Manufacturing Systems Engineer
- Penumbra, Inc. - R&D Engineer
- Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc. - Manufacturing Engineer
- Rivian - Electric Power Conversion Engineer
- UEA - Mechanical Design Engineer
- Verex Engineering LLC - Mechanical Engineer
- Williams International - Lead Engineer II
.Internships (Summer 2023)**
Amazon, Apple Inc., Bytedance Inc., CRRC MA Corporation, Dassault Systemes Americas Corp., Meta, Viasat Inc., Wells Fargo, ZapBatt
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2022 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
This 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.
| General Requirements for Graduation Without Thesis |
| Applied Math Requirement |
| Select one course - 4 units total |
| AME 525 | Engineering Analysis (4 units) |
| AME 526 | Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units) |
| Recommended Courses by Specialization |
| Note: Specializations do not appear on transcripts or diplomas. |
| Note: Listed core and elective units below may not add up to 27 for some specializations. Courses listed are either 3 or 4 units. Remaining units can be chosen in area of specific interest to the student in accordance with the AME 525 requirement listed above. |
| Combustion Specialization |
| Core Requirements - 4 courses, 16 units |
| AME 513a | Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I (4 units) |
| AME 513b | Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion II (4 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units) |
| AME 579 | Numerical Modeling of Single and Multiphase Reactive Flows (4 units) |
| Core Electives - 2 courses, 6-8 units |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units) |
| AME 515 | Advanced Heat and Mass Diffusion (4 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| Design Specialization |
| Core Requirements - 3 courses, 10 units |
| AME 503 | Advanced Mechanical Design (3 units) |
| AME 505 | Engineering Information Modeling (3 units) |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity (4 units) |
| Core Electives - 2 courses, 6-8 units |
| AME 404 | Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems (3 units) |
| AME 527 | Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design (3 units) |
| AME 541 | Linear Control Systems II (4 units) |
| ASTE 520 | Spacecraft System Design (3 units) |
| Dynamics and Control Specialization |
| Core Requirements - 5 courses, 20 units |
| AME 521 | Engineering Vibrations II (4 units) |
| AME 522 | Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units) |
| AME 524 | Advanced Engineering Dynamics (4 units) |
| AME 541 | Linear Control Systems II (4 units) |
| AME 552 | Nonlinear Control Systems (4 units) |
| Core Elective - 3 units |
| Can be chosen in area of specific interest to the student in accordance with elective options. |
| Fluid Dynamics Specialization |
| Core Requirements - 3 courses, 11 units |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units) |
| Core Electives - 2 courses, 6-8 units |
| AME 515 | Advanced Heat and Mass Diffusion (4 units) |
| AME 516 | Convection Processes (3 units) |
| Heat Transfer Specialization |
| Applied Math Requirement - 4 units |
| AME 526 | Engineering Analytical Methods (4 units) |
| Core Requirements - 3 courses, 11 units |
| AME 515 | Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (4 units) |
| AME 516 | Convective Processes (3 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units) |
| Core Electives - 2 courses, 7-8 units |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units) |
| AME 513a | Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I (4 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units) |
| Mechanics and Materials Specialization |
| Core Requirements - 3 courses, 11-12 units. Students must choose either MASC 583 or MASC 551, and either MASC 560 or CE 507 |
| AME 506 | Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics (4 units) |
| CE 507 | Mechanics of Solids I (4 units) OR MASC 560 |
| MASC 560 | Fatigue and Fracture (3 units) OR CE 507 |
| MASC 551 | Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials (4 units) OR MASC 583 |
| MASC 583 | Materials Selection (4 units) OR MASC 551 |
| Core Electives - 2 courses, 7-8 units. |
| CE 507 | Mechanics of Solids I (4 units) |
| AME 521 | Engineering Vibrations II (4 units) |
| AME 522 | Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units) |
| AME 524 | Advanced Engineering Dynamics (4 units) |
Please complete the following form for more information.
