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 four recommended areas of study:
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.
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
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of ClassesAPPLICATION DEADLINES| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|
| Spring 2021 (Final Deadline) | September 15, 2020 |
| Spring 2021 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | August 31, 2020 |
| Fall 2021 (Final Deadline) | January 15, 2021 |
| Fall 2021 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) | December 15, 2020 |
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Visit our
Application Deadlines page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTSBachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Design, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, and Mechatronics.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
- 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
- Personal Statement : The personal statement should describe succinctly 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 APPLICANTSEnglish Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. 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. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
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 2020 - Summer 2021 | $2,148 | $6,444 | $8,592 |
| Fall 2019 - Summer 2020 | $2,075 | $6,225 | $8,300 |
TUITION & SAMPLE COURSE PLAN FOR 27 UNIT PROGRAM
STUDENT FEES
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
|---|
| Mandatory Fees (approximate) | Fall 2019: $475
Spring 2020: $420 | | |
| Health Insurance | Fall 2019: $730
Spring 2020: $1,311 | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $75/semester |
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| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $35/semester | |
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| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
Detailed Information on Tuition & Fees
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 |
| 27 units total with 3.0 GPA overall. |
| AME 525 | Engineering Analysis (4 units) |
| 15 units 500 level courses in AME department. Cross listed classes count as AME department courses. |
| 12 units Approved 400 or 500 level elective courses. Elective courses may be from AME or other Engineering Departments. |
| Recommended Courses by Specialization |
| Note: Specializations do not appear on transcripts or diplomas. |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track |
| The Thermal and Fluid Sciences encompasses concentration in one of the following areas: (1) Combustion, (2) Fluid Dynamics, and (3) Heat Transfer. |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Combustion Core Courses |
| AME 436 | Energy and Propulsion (3 units) |
| AME 513a | Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion (4 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units) |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Fluid Dynamics Core Courses |
| AME 457 | Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 511 | Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units) |
| AME 530a | Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units) |
| AME 535a | Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| Thermal and Fluid Sciences Track Heat Transfer Core Courses |
| AME 457 | Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3 units) |
| AME 515 | Advanced Heat and Mass Diffusion (4 units) |
| AME 516 | Convection Processes (3 units) |
| Design Track |
| Design Track Core Courses |
| AME 503 | Advanced Mechanical Design (3 units) |
| AME 505 | Engineering Information Modeling (3 units) |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity (4 units) |
| Design Track Recommended Elective Courses |
| 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) |
| ASTE 523 | Design of Low Cost Space Missions (3 units) |
| SAE 549 | Systems Architecting (3 units) |
| CE 529a | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
| Mechanics and Materials Track |
| Mechanics and Materials Track Core Courses |
| AME 509 | Applied Elasticity (4 units) |
| AME 560 | Fatigue and Fracture (3 units) |
| MASC 551 | Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials (4 units) |
| Mechanics and Materials Track Recommended Electives |
| AME 588 | Materials Selection (4 units) |
| CE 529a | Finite Element Analysis (3 units) |
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