Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Program Overview
- Application Information
- Tuition & Fees
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
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.
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.
Students in this program will choose from one of three recommended areas of study:
- Thermal and Fluid Sciences
- Engineering Design
- Mechanics and Materials
The course program for each track 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.
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 Mechanical Engineering degree
- Required Courses: 6 units
- Specialization Required Courses: 3, 6, or 9 units
- Recommended Technical Elective Course: at least 3 units
- Remaining units can be courses from technical electives within selected program of study (students must consult and receive approval from a graduate advisor before enrolling in these courses)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
| 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 |
| *Applicants Interested in Online Delivery: Please contact DEN@Viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension for Fall 2018. | |
- 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.
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.
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 FOR 27 UNIT PROGRAM (Residential Students Only)
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 |
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.
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
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@ViterbiDetailed 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 Engineering Analysis Courses |
| All courses are required for either specialization – 6 units total. |
| AME 525 | Engineering Analysis (3 units) |
| AME 526 | Engineering Analytical Methods (3 units) |
| Required Core Specialization Track |
| Students must choose one track – either Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Engineering Design, or Mechanics and Materials. |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track with an Emphasis in Combustion, Fluid Dynamics, or Heat Transfer |
| The Thermal and Fluid Sciences encompasses concentration in one of the following areas: (1) Combustion, (2) Fluid Dynamics, and (3) Heat Transfer. |
| A coherent degree program in one of these concentrations will require four core courses (12 units), two required engineering analysis courses (AME 525 and 526 – 6 units), two core electives (6 units), and one engineering elective (3 units) by advisement. |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Emphasis in Combustion Core Courses |
| All courses are required for the Thermal Fluid Sciences Track with an Emphasis in Combustion – 12 units total. |
| AME 436 | Energy and Propulsion (3 units) |
| AME 513 | Principles of Combustion (3 units) |
| AME 514 | Applications of Combustion and Reacting Flows (3 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3 units) |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Emphasis in Fluid Dynamics Core Courses |
| All courses are required for the Thermal Fluid Sciences Track with an Emphasis in Fluid Dynamics – 12 units total. |
| AME 457 | Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Emphasis in Heat Transfer Core Courses |
| All courses are required for the Thermal Fluid Sciences Track with an Emphasis in Heat Transfer – 12 units total. |
| AME 457 | Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 515 | Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (3 units) |
| AME 516 | Convective Processes (3 units) |
| AME 517 | Radiation Heat Transfer (3 units) |
| Core Electives for Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track with any emphasis |
| Students must select two courses from this list, not duplicating any course from their emphasis core courses – 6 units total. |
| AME 436 | Energy and Propulsion (3 units) |
| AME 457 | Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 513 | Principals of Combustion (3 units) |
| AME 514 | Advanced Topics in Combustion (3 units) |
| AME 515 | Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (3 units) |
| AME 516 | Convection Processes (3 units) |
| AME 517 | Radiation Heat Transfer (3 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3 units) |
| AME 530b | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units) |
| AME 535b | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 537 | Microfluidics (3 units) |
| Engineering Elective for Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track with any emphasis |
| Take one 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate course by advisement – 3 units total. |
| Engineering Design Track |
| The Engineering Design is a program concentration that focuses on engineering design process and techniques. |
| A coherent degree program in this concentration will require two required engineering analysis courses (AME 525 and 526 – 6 units), three core courses (9 units), two core elective courses (6 units), and two engineering electives approved by advisement (6 units). |
| Engineering Design Track Core Courses |
| All courses are required for the Engineering Design Track – 9 units total. |
| AME 503 | Advanced Mechanical Design (3 units) |
| AME 505 | Engineering Information Modeling (3 units) |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity (3 units) |
| Engineering Design Track Core Elective Courses |
| Students must choose two courses – 6 units total. |
| 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 (3 units) |
| ASTE 520 | Spacecraft System Design (3 units) |
| ASTE 523 | Design of Low Cost Space Missions (3 units) |
| SAE 549a | System Architecting (3 units) |
| CE 529a | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
| Engineering Elective for Engineering Design Track |
| Approved (by advisement) 400-, 500-, or 600-level engineering courses – 6 units total. |
| Mechanics and Materials Track |
| A coherent degree program in Mechanics of Materials will require two required engineering analysis courses (AME 525 and 526 – 6 units), four core courses (12 units), one core elective course (3 units), and two engineering electives approved by advisement (6 units). |
| Mechanics and Materials Track Core Courses |
| All courses are required for the Mechanics and Materials Track – 12 units total. |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity (3 units) |
| AME 559 | Creep (3 units) |
| AME 560 | Fatigue and Fracture (3 units) |
| AME 584 | Fracture Mechanics (3 units) |
| Mechanics and Materials Track Core Electives |
| All courses are required for the Mechanics and Materials Track – 6 units total. |
| AME 588 | Materials Selection (3 units) |
| CE 529a | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
| Engineering Elective for Mechanics and Materials Track |
| Approved (by advisement) 400-, 500-, or 600-level engineering courses – 6 units total. |
Please complete the following form for more information.