Mechanical Engineering Graduate Advising

Category: Announcements

Resources for Grad Student Housing

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If you are a new or returning graduate student at Michigan Tech, here are some links and resources to help you find housing both on and off campus.

Housing Information

Off-Campus Housing: https://offcampushousing.mtu.edu/listing
On Campus Housing:  https://www.mtu.edu/residential-living/options/graduate/
Michigan Tech Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechMarketplace
GSG Housing Resource:  https://gsg.mtu.edu/housing/
Michigan Tech Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MichiganTechMarketplace

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Course Recommendations for MAE Graduate Students, Spring 2025

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Unlike undergraduate degree programs, graduate degrees are flexible, so students can tailor the program to their goals and interests. An MS student can take courses of their choosing as long as they conform to the degree requirements found here.

The normal semester course load is 9 to 11 credits (3 courses), and coursework students are limited to 12 credits of 4000-level, including math, most often at 4000-level.  Math the first semester is not required and not always a good thing as you are just starting your graduate career, adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment, and math courses can be challenging.  Keep this in mind when selecting courses. The following list is lengthy. Course titles in red are outside of MEEM.  Some courses are listed in more than one category.

Prerequisites Are Enforced in MAE

Many of the 4000-level and some 5000-level courses have required prerequisites. You have probably had the prerequisite for 4000-level, but our registration system does not know that. If you get a prerequisite error for a MEEM course, submit the waiver request here.

Waivers are processed in the order submitted, with those having the published prerequisite course first. Waivers are not intended to allow you into a course for which you are unprepared. Waivers are to override the registration system for similar courses. Course equivalency is determined by content, not course title.

Required Courses

MEEM 6000 Graduate Seminar (2 credits required for on-campus MS, 1 may be substituted by co-op(s)).
Presentations and seminars on issues related to mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics. May include invited speakers from industry, government labs, and academia. It is strongly recommended to take the seminar in your first semester. NOTE: Seminar courses in other departments cannot be used as a substitute for MEEM 6000 or for credit toward any MEEM degree. MEEM 6000 is not required for online distance learning certificate or degree students.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). All graduate students are required to complete Basic RCR and Advanced RCR. Basic RCR is most easily completed by attending the required Graduate Orientation on the date specified in your acceptance letter. Advanced RCR must be completed after you are here and by the end of your second semester, or you will not be permitted to register. There are options for completing Advanced RCR that you will learn after you arrive. More information can be found here.

Mathematics. The MS requires 3 credits of math. The credits must come from MA-department 4000 level or higher courses and be mathematical tools, such as differential equations, linear algebra, regression analysis, etc. It may not be a math appreciation course like History of Math. The only other course outside MA that can be counted is MEEM 5800 Advanced Engineering Mathematics, offered in the summer.

On-Line courses

Courses offered with online sections (+OL) are unavailable to on-campus students. However, a student on CPT can take online courses.

Special Topics

MEEM5990/6990 Study of selected subjects related to mechanical engineering or engineering mechanics. This course requires a faculty member to agree to offer the credit to a student under an agreed-upon subject, assessment, and deliverables. Faculty members should work with the student and the Director of Graduate Studies to document the course description. The outcome should contain the same basic information as a typical course syllabus. In addition to the course description, the course deliverables (exams, homework, and/or report, etc.) and their relative contribution to determining the final grade must be included.

Coursework MS student may take a total of 4 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Courses in Topic Areas

The courses listed below are for reference only and are subject to change. For the list of set course offerings, please consult Banweb. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Design and Manufacturing

MEEM 4170 Failure of Mat’l in Mechanics Identifies the modes of mechanical failure that are essential to prediction and prevention of mechanical failure. Discusses theories of failure in detail. Treats the topic of fatigue failure extensively and brittle fracture, impact and buckling failures at some length.

MEEM 4404 Mechanism Synthesis / Dynamic Modeling Students apply kinematic synthesis techniques in design and analysis of mechanical systems. They develop synthesis software to link to dynamic analysis packages such as ADAMS, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, etc. They investigate influences of process variation on system output and learn methods to minimize the variation influences.

MEEM 4405 Intro to Finite Element Method Introduces the use of the finite element method in stress analysis and heat transfer. Emphasizes the modeling assumptions associated with different elements and uses the computer to solve many different types of stress analysis problems, including thermal stress analysis and introductory nonlinear analysis.

MEEM 4430 Advanced CAD and CAM Methods Students apply advanced solid modeling techniques to construct solid models of mechanical systems, document the design using GD&T conventions as per ASME standards, simulate the motion of the system, and learn computer-aided manufacturing and additive manufacturing techniques.

MEEM 4655 Production Planning Provides current issues, such as just-in-time production and reengineering, while covering fundamental production planning topics as scheduling, job design, inventory and forecasting. Provides the fundamental essence of the firm–how its services and products are created and how they are delivered to customers.

MEEM 5655 Lean Manufacturing (+OL) Lean manufacturing is emerging globally as a paradigm by which business units must function to be globally competitive. Quality, cost, and delivery have become critical measures that impact profits and, in turn, the success of an organization. Significant improvements in all these three measures come from the continuous elimination of waste, or non-value added activities, in manufacturing. Numerous tools are available for the elimination of waste and making businesses lean. This course is intended to familiarize students with this new philosophy of lean manufacturing and arm them with a basic toolset that enables the identification, measurement, and elimination of non-value-added activities.

MEEM 5656 Advanced Production Planning Covers fundamental production planning topics as capacity management, facility layout, process design and analysis, forecasting, inventory management, MRP, scheduling, and theory of constraints. Introduces basic lean concepts, lean production, and value stream mapping. Advanced topics include case studies and exploring the influence of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and augmented/virtual reality fields on production planning.

MEEM 5695 Additive Manufacturing Background, principles, process chain, software aspects, post-processing, open-source tools, applications, and future directions of AM technologies are discussed. Advanced topics include process modeling and selection, DFAM, and opportunities and challenges of AM processes.

MEEM 5705 Robotics and Mechantronics Cross-discipline system integration of sensors, actuators, and microprocessors to achieve high-level design requirements, including robotic systems. A variety of sensor and actuation types are introduced, from both a practical and a mathematical perspective. Embedded microprocessor applications are developed using the C programming language. A final project is required including analysis, design, and experimental demonstration. Cannot receive credit for both MEEM4705 and MEEM5705.

BA 5610 Operations Management (requires instructor approval) Applications and case studies focusing on contemporary issues in operations and quality management to include lean manufacturing practices, ERP, quality and environmental management systems/standards, Six Sigma, statistical process control, and other current topics.

MSE 4120 Material & Process Selection (requires instructor approval) The principles of materials selection for engineering design. Topics include selection based on strength, stiffness, thermal properties, high temperature behavior, corrosion resistance, formability, joinability, manufacturability, recyclability, etc. Considers ethics and economics. Presents numerous case studies and examples.

MSE 5440 Materials Recycling Methods for materials recycling is the emphasis. Topics include the recycling of materials for steel, aluminum, automobile, foundry, glass, plastics, energy, construction, and other industries. Background of the industry, characteristics of materials, materials flow, and the processing and utilization methods to recycle the materials are presented.

ENG 5525 Syst Analysis Sustainability In-depth coverage of systems analysis using advanced tools and methods. Topics will include environmental life cycle assessments, social life cycle assessments, techno-economic assessments, material flow analysis, industrial ecology, and regional economic assessments.

Energy, Thermo-Fluids, Alternative & Renewable Energy

MEEM 4200 Principles of Energy Conversion Introduces fundamentals of energy conversion and storage. Topics include fossil and nuclear fuels, thermodynamic power cycles, solar energy, photovoltaics, and energy storage

MEEM 4230 Compressible Flow/Gas Dynamics (+OL) Fundamentals of one-dimensional gas dynamics, including flow in nozzles and diffusers, normal shocks, frictional flows, and flows with heat transfer or energy release; introduction to oblique shocks.

MEEM4250 Heating/Ventilation/Air Cond Elements of heat transfer for buildings. Thermodynamic properties of moist air, human comfort and the environment, solar energy fundamentals and applications, water vapor transmission in building structures, heating and cooling load calculations.

MEEM4260 Fuel Cell Technology Fuel cell basics, operation principles and performance analysis. Emphasis on component materials and transport phenomena on proton exchange membrane fuel cells along with other types of fuel cells. Hydrogen production, transportation, and storage. Balance of plant and systems analysis.

MEEM 4820 Intro to Aerospace Propulsion (graduate enrollment is limited) Principles of jet propulsion, cycle analysis and component analysis (non-rotating components, compressors, turbines). Principles of rocket propulsion, chemical rockets, propellants, turbomachinery, electrical propulsion. Review of thermodynamics for fluid flow, one-dimensional gas dynamics, and boundary layer theory included.

MEEM 5240 Comp Fluid Dynamics for Engg (+OL) Introduces finite-difference and finite-volume methods used in solving fluid dynamics and heat transfer problems. Covers numerical grid generation, turbulence modeling, and application to some selected problems.

EC 5620 Energy Economics (requires instructor approval) Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Research project applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

MSE 5410 Materials for Energies Advanced solid materials for hydrogen energy will be introduced, including hydrogen storage materials, hydrogen production catalysts, and proton exchange membranes with emphasis on structures and properties. Silicon semiconductors, compound semiconductors, and nanostructured semiconductors will be discussed for solar energy applications.

MSE 5440 Materials Recycling Methods for materials recycling is the emphasis. Topics include the recycling of materials for steel, aluminum, automobile, foundry, glass, plastics, energy, construction, and other industries. Background of the industry, characteristics of materials, materials flow, and the processing and utilization methods to recycle the materials are presented.

ENG 5525 Syst Analysis Sustainability In-depth coverage of systems analysis using advanced tools and methods. Topics will include environmental life cycle assessments, social life cycle assessments, techno-economic assessments, material flow analysis, industrial ecology, and regional economic assessments.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles – Automotive

MEEM 4450 Vehicle Dynamics (+OL) This course will develop the models and techniques needed to predict the performance of a road vehicle during drive off, braking, ride, and steering maneuvers. Topics to be covered include: acceleration and braking performance, power train architecture, vehicle handling, suspension modeling, tire models, and steering control. Matlab, Adams Car, and Amesim, will be used as computational tools.

MEEM 4702 Shock and Vibration Theory and experimental techniques in vibration control, Shock, structural health monitoring, condition-based maintenance, dynamic measurements, test methods, and planning.

MEEM 4704 Acoustics and Noise Control Analysis and solution of practical environmental noise problems. Fundamental concepts of sound generation and propagation, the unwanted effects of noise, assessment of sound quality, and source-path-receiver concepts in noise control. Lecture, measurement laboratory, and team project directed at solving a real noise problem under a client’s sponsorship.

MEEM 5255 Adv Powertrain Instr & Exp (+OL) Course is for those interested in experimentation, engines, and powertrain. Objective is prepare to acquire quality data, and efficient experiments. Investigate transducers, calibration, data acquisition, signal conditioning, noise, and specific applications; engine combustion and emissions. Hands-on homework and structured lab activities.

MEEM 5315 Cyber Security Auto Sys I (+OL) Modern automotive control and communications systems from a cyber security perspective. Topics include: V2X communications, vehicle attack surfaces and vulnerabilities, in-vehicle networks, threat analysis and vulnerabilities, security mechanisms and architectures, security requirements analysis, hardware security modules, and standards.

MEEM 5812 Automotive Control Systems (+OL) Introduction to automotive control systems. Modeling and control methods are presented for: air-fuel ratio, transient fuel, spark timing, idle speed, transmission, cruise speed, anti-lock brakes, traction, active suspension systems, and hybrid electric vehicles, Advanced control methodologies are introduced for appropriate applications.

Noise, Vibration, Harshness, Dynamic Systems, Controls

MEEM 4404 Mechanism Synthesis / Dynamic Modeling Students apply kinematic synthesis techniques in design and analysis of mechanical systems. They develop synthesis software to link to dynamic analysis packages such as ADAMS, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, etc. They investigate influences of process variation on system output and learn methods to minimize the variation influences.

MEEM 4450 Vehicle Dynamics (+OL) This course will develop the models and techniques needed to predict the performance of a road vehicle during drive off, braking, ride, and steering maneuvers. Topics to be covered include: acceleration and braking performance, power train architecture, vehicle handling, suspension modeling, tire models, and steering control. Matlab, Adams Car, and Amesim, will be used as computational tools.

MEEM 4702 Shock and Vibration Theory and experimental techniques in vibration control, Shock, structural health monitoring, condition-based maintenance, dynamic measurements, test methods, and planning.

MEEM 4704 Acoustics and Noise Control Analysis and solution of practical environmental noise problems. Fundamental concepts of sound generation and propagation, the unwanted effects of noise, assessment of sound quality, and source-path-receiver concepts in noise control. Lecture, measurement laboratory, and team project directed at solving a real noise problem under a client’s sponsorship.

MEEM 4720 Space Mechanics This course presents the vector-based solution of the two-body problem and the solution for Kepler’s equations. The course will also cover basic orbit determination techniques, impulsive orbit transfer maneuvers, interplanetary trajectories, ground tracks, and rendezvous problems.

MEEM 4730/5730 Dynamic System Simulation (+OL) Methods for simulating dynamic systems described by ordinary differential equations using numerical integration are developed. Quantifying simulation errors for both batch and real-time, control system applications is covered along with numerical optimization strategies for model validation. MATLAB and Simulink are used to illustrate key concepts.

MEEM 5315 Cyber Security Auto Sys I (+OL) Modern automotive control and communications systems from a cyber security perspective. Topics include: V2X communications, vehicle attack surfaces and vulnerabilities, in-vehicle networks, threat analysis and vulnerabilities, security mechanisms and architectures, security requirements analysis, hardware security modules, and standards.

MEEM 5720 Advanced Space Mechanics (+OL) This course presents the vector-based solution of the two-body problem and the solution for Kepler’s equations. The course will also cover basic orbit determination techniques, impulsive orbit transfer maneuvers, interplanetary trajectories, ground tracks, and rendezvous problems.

Solid Mechanics & Computational Mechanics

MEEM 4170 Failure of Mat’l in Mechanics Identifies the modes of mechanical failure that are essential to prediction and prevention of mechanical failure. Discusses theories of failure in detail. Treats the topic of fatigue failure extensively and brittle fracture, impact and buckling failures at some length.

MEEM 4405 Intro to Finite Element Method Introduces the use of the finite element method in stress analysis and heat transfer. Emphasizes the modeling assumptions associated with different elements and uses the computer to solve many different types of stress analysis problems, including thermal stress analysis and introductory nonlinear analysis.

MEEM6130 Engineering Fracture Mechanics Development of the stress and deformation fields present near the tips of cracks. Uses elasticity solutions, plasticity corrections, and numerical methods in modeling these fields. Introduces fracture criteria and explains the various parameters used to develop these criteria.

MSE 4120 Material & Process Selection (requires instructor approval) The principles of materials selection for engineering design. Topics include selection based on strength, stiffness, thermal properties, high-temperature behavior, corrosion resistance, formability, joinability, manufacturability, recyclability, etc. Considers ethics and economics. Presents numerous case studies and examples.

CEE 5202 Finite Element Analysis Introduction to the use of finite element methods in structural analysis. Covers the finite element formulation, 1- and 2-D elements, including isoparametric elements, axisymmetric analysis, plate and shell elements, dynamics, buckling, and nonlinear analysis.

Broadening Courses for All Technical Areas

BA 5610 Operations Management (requires instructor approval) Applications and case studies focusing on contemporary issues in operations and quality management to include lean manufacturing practices, ERP, quality and environmental management systems/standards, Six Sigma, statistical process control, and other current topics.

EC 5620 Energy Economics (requires instructor approval) Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Research project applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

Suggested Mathematics Courses

The following MA courses offered in spring are those most taken by MEEM students. That is not to say that other MA courses may not be appropriate. The MA course must be a mathematical tool, not an appreciation such as History of Mathematics.

MA 4515 Intro Partial Diff Equations An introduction to solution techniques for linear partial differential equations. Topics include: separation of variables, eigenvalue and boundary value problems, spectral methods, Fourier series, and Green’s functions. Studies applications in heat and mass transfer (diffusion eqn.), and mechanical vibrations (wave and beam eqns.).

MA 4610 Numerical Linear Algebra Derivation and analysis of algorithms for problems in linear algebra. Covers floating point arithmetic, condition numbers, error analysis; solution of linear systems (direct and iterative methods), eigenvalue problems, least squares, singular value decomposition. Includes a review of elementary linear algebra and the use of appropriate software.

MA 4700 Prob and Stat Inf I (+OL) Introduction to probabilistic methods. Topics include probability laws, counting rules, discrete and continuous random variables, moment generating functions, expectation, joint distributions, and the Central Unit Theorem.

MA 4720 Design/Analysis of Experiments Covers construction and analysis of completely randomized, randomized block, incomplete block, Latin squares, factorial, fractional factorial, nested and split-plot designs. Also examines fixed, random and mixed effects models and multiple comparisons and contrasts. The SAS statistical package is an integral part of the course.

MA4770 Mathematical Statistics II Continuation of MA4760. Theory of point and interval estimation; properties of estimators, theory of hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, analysis of categorical data and other topics as time allows

MA 4780 / 5781 Time Series Analysis (+OL) Statistical modeling and inference for analyzing experimental data that have been observed at different points in time. Topics include models for stationary and non-stationary time series, model specification, parametric estimation, model diagnostics and forecasting, seasonal models and time series regression models.

MA 5701 Statistical Methods (+OL) Introduction to design, conduct, and analysis of statistical studies, with an introduction to statistical computing and preparation of statistical reports. Topics include design, descriptive, and graphical methods, probability models, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.

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Application for Grader Positions in Spring 2025

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If you are an MAE graduate student interested in being a grader in the spring 2025 semester, please complete the Google Application Form.

Note: To qualify for a grading position, you must:

  • Be a graduate student in the MAE department.
  • Be on campus, not on Co-op (CPT).
  • Have a background in mechanical engineering courses.
  • Be in good academic standing.

Graders are compensated with 1 credit of tuition support for every 5 hours/week of work. This support is paid against your MTU student tuition bill.  The cash value of tuition, as well as hourly pay, is not available.  Only registered credits will be paid in your MTU tuition bill. 

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General Information New and Continuing Graduate Students – Fall 2024

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The MS degree has three options: Coursework, Report, and Thesis.  Most students are in the Coursework MS as it can be completed in 3 semesters and has the most flexibility for courses and industrial co-op (CPT).  The Coursework MS does not have a formal research component, but students can engage in faculty-sponsored projects in their program’s latter semester(s) by MEEM 5990 Special Topics.  These are different from MEEM 5990 with a specific course name and a new offering of a new formal course.

Because the coursework in MS is the most sought-after by students, its requirements are:

  • 30 total semester credits, all at 4000-level or above
  • A minimum of 18 are at the graduate level (5000 and 6000-level),
  • A minimum of 15 credits from MEEM courses at 4000, 5000, and 6000-level. The other 15 can be course credits from other departments.
  • 3 credits (4000 or 5000-level) from the Math department (must be a technical course, history or appreciation courses do not count). Alternatively, MEEM58000 Advanced Engineering Mathematics will fulfill the MSME Math requirement.
  • 2 MEEM6000 Graduate Seminar credits (counts as graduate level MEEM credits).  Co-op credit(s) may not replace more than 1 seminar credit.
  • An international student must have completed 2 full-time academic semesters before being eligible for CPT.  Full-time in Fall and Spring semesters requires a minimum of 9 credits.
  • MEEM 5999 or MEEM 6999 research credits can NOT be used for the Coursework MS Degree option.

Only grades of B or higher in MEEM courses can count toward the degree. To be in good academic standing, one’s cumulative GPA must remain at or above 3.0/4.0.

Students often focus inwardly on just MEEM courses and, unfortunately, miss opportunities to broaden their knowledge into areas that the industry values.  Feedback from the industry through co-op reports is that the technical ME background is solid, but they wish students had more exposure to areas including written communication, reports, presentation skills, and engineering and business/economics subjects outside MEEM.  The course recommendations below help fill some of these gaps.

We know that courses are sometimes full.  That is normal.  Students often over-enroll in courses against better judgment.  We are always looking at additional seats in the heavy-demand courses; enrolled students often drop courses to go on co-op, and students sometimes enroll in courses they will drop later.  There are often unfilled seats when the semester finally starts, which is months away.  Students can add/drop courses to adjust their schedule through the first week of fall classes.  We only allow you to register for 10 credits to minimize this problem. The normal semester course load is 9 -10 credits (3 courses).  Math in the first semester is not required. It is not always a good thing as you are just starting your graduate career, adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment, and math courses can be challenging.  Keep this in mind when selecting courses.

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MEEM Grad Program Seminar Recording

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Every semester, on the second Thursday, I conduct the seminar for MEEM6000. During the seminar, I covered the requirements and procedures for MS and PhD programs and also answered general questions about the graduate program. I have included a link to the latest seminar recording below, feel free to watch it. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know.

MEEM6000 Seminar – WWeaver – Thursday, January 18, 2024

Dr. Weaver

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Application for Grader Positions in Fall 2024

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If you are a MEEM graduate student interested in being a grader in the spring 2024 semester, please complete the Grader Application Form.

Note: To qualify for a grading position, you must:

  • Be a graduate student in the MEEM department.
  • Be in good academic standing.
  • Be on campus, not on Co-op (CPT).
  • Have a background in MEEM courses.

Graders are compensated with 1 credit of tuition support for every 5 hours/week of work. This support is paid against your MTU student tuition bill.  The cash value of tuition, as well as hourly pay, is not available.  Only registered credits will be paid in your MTU tuition bill. 

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Course Recommendations for MEEM Graduate Students – Fall 2024

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Unlike undergraduate degree programs, graduate degrees are flexible, so students can tailor the program to their goals and interests. An MS student can take courses of their choosing as long as they conform to the degree requirements found here.

The normal semester course load is 9 to 11 credits (3 courses), and coursework students are limited to 12 credits of 4000-level, including math, most often at 4000-level.  Math the first semester is not required and not always a good thing as you are just starting your graduate career, adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment, and math courses can be challenging.  Keep this in mind when selecting courses. The following list is lengthy. Course titles in red are outside of MEEM.  Some courses are listed in more than one category.

Prerequisites Are Enforced in ME-EM

Many of the 4000-level and some 5000-level courses have required prerequisites. You may have had the prerequisite course at your prior institution, but our registration system does not know that. If you get a prerequisite error for a MEEM course, submit the waiver request here.

Waivers are processed in the order submitted, with those having the published prerequisite course first. Waivers are not intended to allow you into a course for which you are unprepared. Waivers are to override the registration system for similar classes. Content, not course title, determines course equivalency.

Required Courses

MEEM 6000 Graduate Seminar (2 credits required for on-campus MS, 1 may be substituted by co-op(s)).
Presentations and seminars on issues related to mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics. It may include invited speakers from industry, government labs, and academia. It is strongly recommended that you take the seminar in your first semester. NOTE: Seminar courses in other departments cannot be used as a substitute for MEEM 6000 or for credit toward any MEEM degree.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). All graduate students are required to complete Basic RCR and Advanced RCR. Basic RCR is most easily completed by attending the required Graduate Orientation on the date specified in your acceptance letter. Advanced RCR must be completed after you are here and by the end of your second semester, or you will not be permitted to register. There are options for completing Advanced RCR that you will learn after you arrive. More information can be found here.

Mathematics. The MS requires 3 credits of math. The credits must come from MA-department 4000 level or higher courses and be mathematical tools, such as differential equations, linear algebra, regression analysis, etc. It may not be a math appreciation course like History of Math. The only other course outside MA that can be counted is MEEM 5800 Advanced Engineering Mathematics, which is offered in the summer.

On-Line courses

Courses offered with online sections (+OL) are only for distance-learning online students and are unavailable to on-campus students. However, a student on CPT can take online courses.

Special Topics

MEEM5990/6990 Study of selected subjects related to mechanical engineering or engineering mechanics. This course requires a faculty member to agree to offer credit to a student under an agreed-upon subject, assessment, and deliverables. Faculty members should work with the student and the Director of Graduate Studies to document the course description. The outcome should contain the same basic information as a typical course syllabus. In addition to the course description, the course deliverables (exams, homework, and/or report, etc.) and their relative contribution to determining the final grade must be included.

Coursework MS students may take a total of 4 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Courses in Topic Areas

The courses listed below are for reference only and are subject to change. For the list of set course offerings, please consult Banweb. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Design and/or Manufacturing

MEEM 4150 Intermediate Mechanics of Materials
Basic concepts of three-dimensional stress and strain. Inelastic behavior of axial members, circular shafts and symmetric beams. Deflections of indeterminate beams. Unsymmetrical bending, shear flow and shear center for open sections. Energy methods for structures made up of one-dimensional elements. Introduction to theories of failures.

MEEM 4430 Advanced CAD and CAM Methods
Students apply advanced solid modeling techniques to construct solid models of mechanical systems, document the design using GD&T conventions as per ASME standards, simulate the motion of the system, and learn the computer aided manufacturing and additive manufacturing techniques.

MEEM 4701 Analytical and Experimental Modal Analysis
Combined experimental and analytical approach to mechanical vibration issues; characterization of the dynamic behavior of a structure in terms of its modal parameters; digital data acquisition and signal processing; experimental modal analysis procedures; parameter estimation for obtaining modal parameters; model validation and correlation with analytical models; structural dynamics modification.

MEEM 5110 Continuum Mechanics/Elasticity (+OL)
Covers the development of Cartesian tensors and indicial notation applied to vector analysis; analysis of stress, principal stresses, invariants, strain tensors, material derivatives, and continuity equations; basic conservation laws and constitutive relationships; the theory of elasticity, including 2-D problems in plane stress/strain, stress functions, and 3-D problems with polar symmetry.

MEEM 5170 Finite Element Methods in Engineering (+OL)
Presents fundamental concepts of variational methods including Rayleigh-Ritz technique. Introduces foundations of finite element modeling through direct method, variational method, and weighted residual method. Reviews elements commonly used in static structural analysis and heat transfer problems. Advanced topics such as nonlinearity and time-dependent problems may also be discussed.

MEEM 5640 Micromanufacturing Processes
Introduction, analysis and reporting of the processes and equipment for fabricating microsystems and the methods for measuring component size and system performance. Fabrication processes include microscale milling, drilling, diamond machining, and lithography. Measurement methods include interferometry and scanning electron microscopy.

MEEM 5650 Advanced Quality Engineering
Concepts and methods for quality and productivity improvement. Topics include principles of Shewhart, Deming, Taguchi; meaning of quality: control charts for variables, individuals, and attributes; process capability analysis; variation of assemblies; Monte Carlo simulation, multi-variate situations; and computer-based workshops. No credit for both MEEM4650 and MEEM5650.

MEEM 5655 Intro to Lean Manufacturing (+OL)
Introduces lean manufacturing tools, techniques, and practices. Topics include Muda, 5S, visual factory, VSM, theory of constraints, standardized work, pull system, SMED, TPM, and lean assessment. Additional case studies and manufacturing process simulation-based projects are also used for assessing and improving processes.

MEEM 5702 Analytical Vibroacoustics (+OL)
First in a series of two courses on vibro-acoustics to provide a unified approach to study noise and vibration. Emphasizes interaction between sound waves and structures. Presents advanced vibration concepts with computational tools. Discusses wave-modal duality.

MSE 4100 Mech. Behavior of Materials
An introduction to the deformation and fracture behavior of materials. Topics include multiaxial stress and strain, elastic and plastic deformation, hardening mechanisms, viscoelasticity, fracture, fatigue, creep, and microstructure/property relationships.

MSE 4110 Intro to Polymer Engineering
Introductory study of polymeric materials and polymer engineering. Basics in polymer science including molecular characteristics, synthesis, structure and properties of polymers, with strong emphasis on thermodynamics of polymers. Various processing techniques and mechanical/ structural applications of polymers.

MSE 4310 Principles of Metal Casting
Principles of metal casting, including melting practice, casting design, mold design, heat transfer and solidification, fluid flow and gating design. Introduction to computer simulation techniques for mold filling, solidification, and development of residual stress. Structure-property relations in cast metals. Recycling and environmental issues of the cast metals industry.

MSE 5140 Mechanical Behavior of Matls
Deformation-related physical behaviors of materials in the mathematical framework of tensor analysis. Material symmetry and tensor property. Stress, strain, and elastic constitutive relation. Non-elastic strain, thermomechanical, electromechanical, and magneto-mechanical behaviors.

EET 5144 Real-Time Robotics Systems
Covers the components of a robot system, safety, concepts of a work-cell system, geometry, path control, automation sensors, programming techniques, hardware, and software.

ENG 5510 Sustainable Futures I
Covers introductory and intermediate concepts of Sustainable Development. Explores methods/tools for assessing sustainability (economic, environmental, societal impacts) of current and emerging industrial technologies. Explores relationships between government policies and markets for introducing sustainable technologies into national economies and corporations.

Energy, Thermo-Fluids, Alternative & Renewable Energy

MEEM 4202 Applied Fluid Mechanics & Heat Transfer (+OL)
Fluid mechanics and heat transfer topics are covered. These include control volume forms of balance laws for viscous flows, dimensional analysis, steady and unsteady heat conduction, isothermal and non-isothermal internal flows, and simple heat-exchanger considerations.

MEEM 4210 Computational Fluids Engineering (+OL)
This course introduces students to computational methods used to solve fluid mechanics and thermal transport problems. Computer-based tools are used to solve engineering problems involving fluid mechanics and thermal transport.

MEEM 4220 Internal Combustion Engines
This course teaches the operational principles of spark-ignition and compression-ignition internal combustion engines through the application of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer. Course studies engine performance, efficiency, and emissions using cycle-based analysis, combustion thermochemistry, and compressible fluid flow.

MEEM 4240 Combustion & Air Pollution
Introduces sources of emissions from combustion, applies thermo-chemical principles to model the formation of pollutants, and identifies impacts of air pollutants on the environment and human health. Addresses pollution regulation and societal impacts including emissions, climate change, and air quality.

MEEM 5210 Advanced Fluid Mechanics (+OL)
Develops control volume forms of balance laws governing fluid motion and applies to problems involving rockets, pumps, sprinklers, etc. Derives and studies differential forms of governing equations for incompressible viscous flows. Some analytical solutions are obtained and students are exposed to rationale behind computational solution in conjunction with CFD software demonstration. Also covers qualitative aspects of lift and drag, loss of stability of laminar flows, turbulence, and vortex shedding.

MEEM 5215 Computational Fluids Engineering (+OL)
Introduces computational methods used to solve fluid mechanics and thermal transport problems. Discusses theoretical and practical aspects. Modern computer-based tools are used to reinforce principles and introduce advanced topics in fluid mechanics and thermal transport.
 
MEEM 5235 Wind Energy
Students will be introduced to the underlying principles of wind energy conversion, including wind turbine design, aerodynamics, construction, control, and operation. The evaluation of concurrent aspects such as wind resource turbine siting, grid integration, and environmental and social impact will be covered.

ENG 5510 Sustainable Futures I
Covers introductory and intermediate concepts of Sustainable Development. Explores methods/tools for assessing sustainability (economic, environmental, societal impacts) of current and emerging industrial technologies. Explores relationships between government policies and markets for introducing sustainable technologies into national economies and corporations.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles – Automotive

MEEM 4202 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics & Heat Transfer
Fluid mechanics and heat transfer topics are covered. These include control volume forms of balance laws for viscous flows, dimensional analysis, steady and unsteady heat conduction, isothermal and non-isothermal internal flows, and simple heat-exchanger considerations.

MEEM 4220 Internal Combustion Engines
This course teaches the operational principles of spark-ignition and compression-ignition internal combustion engines through the application of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer. Course studies engine performance, efficiency, and emissions using cycle-based analysis, combustion thermochemistry, and compressible fluid flow.

MEEM 4240 Combustion & Air Pollution
Introduces sources of emissions from combustion, applies thermo-chemical principles to model the formation of pollutants, and identifies impacts of air pollutants on the environment and human health. Addresses pollution regulation and societal impacts including emissions, climate change, and air quality.

MEEM 4295 Intro Propulsion Sys for HEV (+OL)
Hybrid electric vehicle analysis will be developed and applied to examine the operation, integration, and design of powertrain components. Model based simulation and design is applied to determine vehicle performance measures in comparison to vehicle technical specifications. Power flows, losses, energy usage, and drive quality are examined over drive-cycles via application of these tools.

MEEM 4296 Intro Prop Sys for HEV Lab
Hybrid electric vehicles and their powertrain components will be examined from the aspects of safety, testing and analysis, energy conversion, losses, and energy storage, and vehicle technical specifications and vehicle development process. The lab will culminate with vehicle testing to perform power flow and energy analysis during a drive-cycle.
 
MEEM4707 Autonomous Systems
The main concepts of autonomous systems will be introduced, including motion control, navigation, and intelligent path planning and perception. This is a hands-on project-based course. Students will have the opportunity to work with mobile robotics platforms.

MEEM 4775 Control System Analysis & Design (+OL)
This course covers topics of control systems design. The course includes a review for modeling of dynamical systems, stability, and root locus design. Also covers control systems design in the frequency domain, fundamentals of digital control, and nonlinear systems. This course may have very strict prerequisite content.

MEEM 5700 Dynamic Measurements & Signal Analysis
Assessment of measurement system requirements: transducers, conditioners, and displays of dynamic measurands. Time-, frequency-, probabilistic-, and correlative-domain approaches to dynamic signal analysis: sampled data, discrete Fourier transforms, digital filtering, estimation errors, system identification, calibration, and recording. Introduction to wavelet analysis. All concepts are reinforced in laboratory and simulation exercises.

MEEM 5715 Linear Systems (+OL)
Overview of linear algebra, modern control; state-based design of linear systems, observability, controllability, pole placement, observer design, stability theory of linear time-varying systems, Lyapunov stability, optimal control, linear quadratic regulator, Kalman filter.

MEEM 5750 Distributed Embedded Control Systems
This course introduces embedded control system design using a model-based approach. Course topics include model-based embedded control system design, discrete-event control, sensors, actuators, electronic control unit, digital controller design, and communications protocols. Prior knowledge of hybrid electric vehicles is highly recommended.

MEEM 5811 Automotive Systems (+OL)
Automotive systems for light-duty vehicles are examined from the perspectives of requirements, design, technical, and economic analysis for advanced mobility needs. This course links the content for the automotive systems graduate certificate in controls, powertrain, vehicle dynamics, and connected and autonomous vehicles.

MSE 5760 Vehicle Batt Cells and Systems
The behavior and application of batteries will be examined by introducing concepts from thermodynamics, materials science, transport processes and equivalent circuits. The non-ideal power source behavior of rechargeable batteries in applications will be treated using electrolyte: electrode transport and electrode materials chemistry. Prior exposure to freshman chemistry, elementary electrical circuits, and elementary transport theory is assumed.

Noise, Vibration, Harshness, Dynamic Systems, Controls

MEEM 4701 Analytical and Experimental Modal Analysis
Combined experimental and analytical approach to mechanical vibration issues; characterization of the dynamic behavior of a structure in terms of its modal parameters; digital data acquisition and signal processing; experimental modal analysis procedures; parameter estimation for obtaining modal parameters; model validation and correlation with analytical models; structural dynamics modification.

MEEM 4775 Control System Analysis & Design (+OL)
This course covers topics of control systems design. Course includes a review for modeling of dynamical systems, stability, and root locus design. Also covers control systems design in the frequency domain, fundamentals of digital control and nonlinear systems.

MEEM 5110 Continuum Mechanics/Elasticity
Covers development of Cartesian tensors and indicial notation applied to vector analysis; analysis of stress, principal stresses, invariants, strain tensors, material derivatives, and continuity equations; basic conservation laws and constitutive relationships; the theory of elasticity, including 2-D problems in plane stress/strain, stress functions, and 3-D problems with polar symmetry.

MEEM 5680 Optimization I
Provides introductory concepts to optimization methods and theory. Covers the fundamentals of optimization, which is central to any problem involving engineering decision making. Provides the tools to select the best alternative for specific objectives.

MEEM 5700 Dynamic Measurements & Signal Analysis (+OL)
Assessment of measurement system requirements: transducers, conditioners, and displays of dynamic measurands. Time-, frequency-, probabilistic-, and correlative-domain approaches to dynamic signal analysis: sampled data, discrete Fourier transforms, digital filtering, estimation errors, system identification, calibration, recording. Introduction to wavelet analysis. All concepts reinforced in laboratory and simulation exercises.

MEEM 5702 Analytical Vibroacoustics (+OL)
First in a series of two courses on vibroacoustics to provide a unified approach to study noise and vibration. Emphasizes interaction between sound waves and structures. Presents advanced vibration concepts with computational tools. Discusses wave-modal duality.

MEEM 5715 Linear Systems (+OL)
Overview of linear algebra, modern control; state-based design of linear systems, observability, controllability, pole placement, observer design, stability theory of linear time-varying systems, Lyapunov stability, optimal control, linear quadratic regulator, Kalman filter.

MEEM 5750 Distributed Embedded Control Systems
This course introduces embedded control system design using model-based approach. Course topics include model-based embedded control system design, discrete-event control, sensors, actuators, electronic control unit, digital controller design, and communications protocols. Prior knowledge of hybrid electric vehicles is highly recommended.

EET 5144 Real-Time Robotics Systems
Covers the components of a robot system, safety, concepts of a work-cell system, geometry, path control, automation sensors, programming techniques, hardware, and software.

Solid Mechanics & Computational Mechanics


MEEM 5110 Continuum Mechanics/Elasticity
Covers development of Cartesian tensors and indicial notation applied to vector analysis; analysis of stress, principal stresses, invariants, strain tensors, material derivatives, and continuity equations; basic conservation laws and constitutive relationships; the theory of elasticity, including 2-D problems in plane stress/strain, stress functions, and 3-D problems with polar symmetry.


MEEM 5170 Finite Element Methods in Engineering (+OL)
Presents fundamental concepts of variational methods including Rayleigh-Ritz technique. Introduces foundations of finite element modeling through direct method, variational method, and weighted residual method. Reviews elements commonly used in static structural analysis and heat transfer problems. Advanced topics such as nonlinearity and time-dependent problems may also be discussed.


MSE 4100 Mech. Behavior of Materials
An introduction to the deformation and fracture behavior of materials. Topics include multiaxial stress and strain, elastic and plastic deformation, hardening mechanisms, viscoelasticity, fracture, fatigue, creep, and microstructure/property relationships.


MSE 5140 Mechanical Behavior of Matls
Deformation-related physical behaviors of materials in the mathematical framework of tensor analysis. Material symmetry and tensor property. Stress, strain, and elastic constitutive relation. Non-elastic strain, thermomechanical, electromechanical, and magneto-mechanical behaviors.

Cyber-Physical Systems

MEEM 5300 Cyber Security of Industrial Control Systems (+OL, This online course CAN be taken by on-campus students.)
General introduction to ICS systems security and critical infrastructure, including but not limited to threat and vulnerability analysis, industrial networks, survey of attacks, etc.

MEEM 5750 Distributed Embedded Control Systems
This course introduces embedded control system design using model-based approach. Course topics include model-based embedded control system design, discrete-event control, sensors, actuators, electronic control unit, digital controller design, and communications protocols. Prior knowledge of hybrid electric vehicles is highly recommended.

Broadening Courses for All Technical Areas (permission required for BA & EC courses)

BA 5700 Managing Behavior in Organizations
Discusses managing effectively within the environmental context of the organization. Topics include corporate culture, managing in a global environment, planning and strategy, organizational structure, human resources management, managing change, leadership, motivation, communication, conflict management, and teamwork.

BA 5800 Marketing, Tech, & Globalization
The course facilitates students’ improvement of analytical skills, information processing techniques, and cultural competence in the globalized marketing environment. Focuses are placed on strategic marketing management, high-tech product marketing, global consumer behavior, branding, and online marketing.

EC 5650 Environmental Economics
Considers the efficient and equitable use of environmental resources. Measures the benefits and costs of decreasing pollution and protecting scarce ecological resources; addresses market failures and the economic valuation of environmental amenities. Requires students to learn quantitative and technical techniques to determine the efficient use of resources.

ENG 5510 Sustainable Futures I
Covers introductory and intermediate concepts of Sustainable Development. Explores methods/tools for assessing sustainability (economic, environmental, societal impacts) of current and emerging industrial technologies. Explores relationships between government policies and markets for introducing sustainable technologies into national economies and corporations.

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Modification to Graduate Certificate in Quality Engineering

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There has been an update in the requirements for the graduate certificate in Quality Engineering.

MA5701 Statistical Methods is no longer a fixed requirement. You can take MEEM5670 Experimental Design in Engineering instead. Both courses offer significant preparation in statistics, which is why the change has been made. The certificate still requires 9 credits.

Here are the updated requirements for the certificate:

Required (6 credits)

  • 3 credits: MA 5701 Statistical Methods OR MEEM 5670 Experimental Design in Engineering
  • 3 credits: MEEM 4650 or 5650 Quality/Advanced Quality Engineering

Electives (3 credits; Pick ONE of the below courses)

  • MEEM5655 Lean Manufacturing
  • MEEM5670 Experimental Design in Engineering

For details on the certificate, please go to: https://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/programs/certificates/quality-engineering/

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Course Recommendations for MEEM Graduate Students – Spring 2024

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Unlike undergraduate degree programs, graduate degrees are flexible, so students can tailor the program to their goals and interests. An MS student can take courses of their choosing as long as they conform to the degree requirements found here.

The normal semester course load is 9 to 11 credits (3 courses), and coursework students are limited to 12 credits of 4000-level, including math, most often at 4000-level.  Math the first semester is not required and not always a good thing as you are just starting your graduate career, adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment, and math courses can be challenging.  Keep this in mind when selecting courses. The following list is lengthy. Course titles in red are outside of MEEM.  Some courses are listed in more than one category.

Prerequisites Are Enforced in ME-EM

Many of the 4000-level and some 5000-level courses have required prerequisites. You have probably had the prerequisite for 4000-level, but our registration system does not know that. If you get a prerequisite error for a MEEM course, submit the waiver request here.

Waivers are processed in the order submitted, with those having the published prerequisite course first. Waivers are not intended to allow you into a course for which you are unprepared. Waivers are to override the registration system for similar courses. Course equivalency is determined by content, not course title.

Required Courses

MEEM 6000 Graduate Seminar (2 credits required for on-campus MS, 1 may be substituted by co-op(s)).
Presentations and seminars on issues related to mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics. May include invited speakers from industry, government labs, and academia. It is strongly recommended to take the seminar in your first semester. NOTE: Seminar courses in other departments cannot be used as a substitute for MEEM 6000 or for credit toward any MEEM degree.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). All graduate students are required to complete Basic RCR and Advanced RCR. Basic RCR is most easily completed by attending the required Graduate Orientation on the date specified in your acceptance letter. Advanced RCR must be completed after you are here and by the end of your second semester, or you will not be permitted to register. There are options for completing Advanced RCR that you will learn after you arrive. More information can be found here.

Mathematics. The MS requires 3 credits of math. The credits must come from MA-department 4000 level or higher courses and be mathematical tools, such as differential equations, linear algebra, regression analysis, etc. It may not be a math appreciation course like History of Math. The only other course outside MA that can be counted is MEEM 5800 Advanced Engineering Mathematics, offered in the summer.

On-Line courses

Courses offered with online sections (+OL) are unavailable to on-campus students. However, a student on CPT can take online courses.

Special Topics

MEEM5990/6990 Study of selected subjects related to mechanical engineering or engineering mechanics. This course requires a faculty member to agree to offer the credit to a student under an agreed-upon subject, assessment, and deliverables. Faculty members should work with the student and the Director of Graduate Studies to document the course description. The outcome should contain the same basic information as a typical course syllabus. In addition to the course description, the course deliverables (exams, homework, and/or report, etc.) and their relative contribution to determining the final grade must be included.

Coursework MS student may take a total of 4 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Courses in Topic Areas

The courses listed below are for reference only and are subject to change. For the list of set course offerings, please consult Banweb. A Thesis or Report MS student may take a total of 3 credits of Special Topics spread over a maximum of 2 occurrences, with a maximum of 3 credits in any occurrence.

Design and Manufacturing

MEEM 4170 Failure of Mat’l in Mechanics Identifies the modes of mechanical failure that are essential to prediction and prevention of mechanical failure. Discusses theories of failure in detail. Treats the topic of fatigue failure extensively and brittle fracture, impact and buckling failures at some length.

MEEM 4404 Mechanism Synthesis / Dynamic Modeling Students apply kinematic synthesis techniques in design and analysis of mechanical systems. They develop synthesis software to link to dynamic analysis packages such as ADAMS, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, etc. They investigate influences of process variation on system output and learn methods to minimize the variation influences.

MEEM 4405 Intro to Finite Element Method Introduces the use of the finite element method in stress analysis and heat transfer. Emphasizes the modeling assumptions associated with different elements and uses the computer to solve many different types of stress analysis problems, including thermal stress analysis and introductory nonlinear analysis.

MEEM 4430 Advanced CAD and CAM Methods Students apply advanced solid modeling techniques to construct solid models of mechanical systems, document the design using GD&T conventions as per ASME standards, simulate the motion of the system, and learn computer-aided manufacturing and additive manufacturing techniques.

MEEM 4655 Production Planning Provides current issues, such as just-in-time production and reengineering, while covering fundamental production planning topics as scheduling, job design, inventory and forecasting. Provides the fundamental essence of the firm–how its services and products are created and how they are delivered to customers.

MEEM 5655 Lean Manufacturing (+OL) Lean manufacturing is emerging globally as a paradigm by which business units must function to be globally competitive. Quality, cost, and delivery have become critical measures that impact profits and, in turn, the success of an organization. Significant improvements in all these three measures come from the continuous elimination of waste, or non-value added activities, in manufacturing. Numerous tools are available for the elimination of waste and making businesses lean. This course is intended to familiarize students with this new philosophy of lean manufacturing and arm them with a basic toolset that enables the identification, measurement, and elimination of non-value-added activities.

MEEM 5656 Advanced Production Planning Covers fundamental production planning topics as capacity management, facility layout, process design and analysis, forecasting, inventory management, MRP, scheduling, and theory of constraints. Introduces basic lean concepts, lean production, and value stream mapping. Advanced topics include case studies and exploring the influence of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and augmented/virtual reality fields on production planning.

MEEM 5695 Additive Manufacturing Background, principles, process chain, software aspects, post-processing, open-source tools, applications, and future directions of AM technologies are discussed. Advanced topics include process modeling and selection, DFAM, and opportunities and challenges of AM processes.

MEEM 5705 Robotics and Mechantronics Cross-discipline system integration of sensors, actuators, and microprocessors to achieve high-level design requirements, including robotic systems. A variety of sensor and actuation types are introduced, from both a practical and a mathematical perspective. Embedded microprocessor applications are developed using the C programming language. A final project is required including analysis, design, and experimental demonstration. Cannot receive credit for both MEEM4705 and MEEM5705.

BA 5610 Operations Management (requires instructor approval) Applications and case studies focusing on contemporary issues in operations and quality management to include lean manufacturing practices, ERP, quality and environmental management systems/standards, Six Sigma, statistical process control, and other current topics.

MSE 4120 Material & Process Selection (requires instructor approval) The principles of materials selection for engineering design. Topics include selection based on strength, stiffness, thermal properties, high temperature behavior, corrosion resistance, formability, joinability, manufacturability, recyclability, etc. Considers ethics and economics. Presents numerous case studies and examples.

MSE 5440 Materials Recycling Methods for materials recycling is the emphasis. Topics include the recycling of materials for steel, aluminum, automobile, foundry, glass, plastics, energy, construction, and other industries. Background of the industry, characteristics of materials, materials flow, and the processing and utilization methods to recycle the materials are presented.

ENG 5525 Syst Analysis Sustainability In-depth coverage of systems analysis using advanced tools and methods. Topics will include environmental life cycle assessments, social life cycle assessments, techno-economic assessments, material flow analysis, industrial ecology, and regional economic assessments.

Energy, Thermo-Fluids, Alternative & Renewable Energy

MEEM 4200 Principles of Energy Conversion Introduces fundamentals of energy conversion and storage. Topics include fossil and nuclear fuels, thermodynamic power cycles, solar energy, photovoltaics, and energy storage

MEEM 4230 Compressible Flow/Gas Dynamics (+OL) Fundamentals of one-dimensional gas dynamics, including flow in nozzles and diffusers, normal shocks, frictional flows, and flows with heat transfer or energy release; introduction to oblique shocks.

MEEM4250 Heating/Ventilation/Air Cond Elements of heat transfer for buildings. Thermodynamic properties of moist air, human comfort and the environment, solar energy fundamentals and applications, water vapor transmission in building structures, heating and cooling load calculations.

MEEM4260 Fuel Cell Technology Fuel cell basics, operation principles and performance analysis. Emphasis on component materials and transport phenomena on proton exchange membrane fuel cells along with other types of fuel cells. Hydrogen production, transportation, and storage. Balance of plant and systems analysis.

MEEM 4820 Intro to Aerospace Propulsion (graduate enrollment is limited) Principles of jet propulsion, cycle analysis and component analysis (non-rotating components, compressors, turbines). Principles of rocket propulsion, chemical rockets, propellants, turbomachinery, electrical propulsion. Review of thermodynamics for fluid flow, one-dimensional gas dynamics, and boundary layer theory included.

MEEM 4990 SEC09 Nuclear Power and Propulsion

MEEM 5240 Comp Fluid Dynamics for Engg (+OL) Introduces finite-difference and finite-volume methods used in solving fluid dynamics and heat transfer problems. Covers numerical grid generation, turbulence modeling, and application to some selected problems.

MEEM 5990 SEC11 Solar Energy Engineering

EC 5620 Energy Economics (requires instructor approval) Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Research project applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

MSE 5410 Materials for Energies Advanced solid materials for hydrogen energy will be introduced, including hydrogen storage materials, hydrogen production catalysts, and proton exchange membranes with emphasis on structures and properties. Silicon semiconductors, compound semiconductors, and nanostructured semiconductors will be discussed for solar energy applications.

MSE 5440 Materials Recycling Methods for materials recycling is the emphasis. Topics include the recycling of materials for steel, aluminum, automobile, foundry, glass, plastics, energy, construction, and other industries. Background of the industry, characteristics of materials, materials flow, and the processing and utilization methods to recycle the materials are presented.

ENG 5525 Syst Analysis Sustainability In-depth coverage of systems analysis using advanced tools and methods. Topics will include environmental life cycle assessments, social life cycle assessments, techno-economic assessments, material flow analysis, industrial ecology, and regional economic assessments.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles – Automotive

MEEM 4450 Vehicle Dynamics (+OL) This course will develop the models and techniques needed to predict the performance of a road vehicle during drive off, braking, ride, and steering maneuvers. Topics to be covered include: acceleration and braking performance, power train architecture, vehicle handling, suspension modeling, tire models, and steering control. Matlab, Adams Car, and Amesim, will be used as computational tools.

MEEM 4702 Shock and Vibration Theory and experimental techniques in vibration control, Shock, structural health monitoring, condition-based maintenance, dynamic measurements, test methods, and planning.

MEEM 4704 Acoustics and Noise Control Analysis and solution of practical environmental noise problems. Fundamental concepts of sound generation and propagation, the unwanted effects of noise, assessment of sound quality, and source-path-receiver concepts in noise control. Lecture, measurement laboratory, and team project directed at solving a real noise problem under a client’s sponsorship.

MEEM4707 Autonomous Systems The main concepts of autonomous systems will be introduced including motion control, navigation, and intelligent path planning and perception. This is a hands-on project based course. Students will have the opportunity to work with mobile robotics platforms.

MEEM 5255 Adv Powertrain Instr & Exp Course is for those interested in experimentation, engines, and powertrain. Objective is prepare to acquire quality data, and efficient experiments. Investigate transducers, calibration, data acquisition, signal conditioning, noise, and specific applications; engine combustion and emissions. Hands-on homework and structured lab activities.

MEEM 5315 Cyber Security Auto Sys I (+OL) Modern automotive control and communications systems from a cyber security perspective. Topics include: V2X communications, vehicle attack surfaces and vulnerabilities, in-vehicle networks, threat analysis and vulnerabilities, security mechanisms and architectures, security requirements analysis, hardware security modules, and standards.

MEEM 5812 Automotive Control Systems (+OL) Introduction to automotive control systems. Modeling and control methods are presented for: air-fuel ratio, transient fuel, spark timing, idle speed, transmission, cruise speed, anti-lock brakes, traction, active suspension systems, and hybrid electric vehicles, Advanced control methodologies are introduced for appropriate applications.

MEEM 5990 SEC11 Python Auto (+OL)

Noise, Vibration, Harshness, Dynamic Systems, Controls

MEEM 4404 Mechanism Synthesis / Dynamic Modeling Students apply kinematic synthesis techniques in design and analysis of mechanical systems. They develop synthesis software to link to dynamic analysis packages such as ADAMS, I-DEAS, Unigraphics, etc. They investigate influences of process variation on system output and learn methods to minimize the variation influences.

MEEM 4450 Vehicle Dynamics (+OL) This course will develop the models and techniques needed to predict the performance of a road vehicle during drive off, braking, ride, and steering maneuvers. Topics to be covered include: acceleration and braking performance, power train architecture, vehicle handling, suspension modeling, tire models, and steering control. Matlab, Adams Car, and Amesim, will be used as computational tools.

MEEM 4702 Shock and Vibration Theory and experimental techniques in vibration control, Shock, structural health monitoring, condition-based maintenance, dynamic measurements, test methods, and planning.

MEEM 4704 Acoustics and Noise Control Analysis and solution of practical environmental noise problems. Fundamental concepts of sound generation and propagation, the unwanted effects of noise, assessment of sound quality, and source-path-receiver concepts in noise control. Lecture, measurement laboratory, and team project directed at solving a real noise problem under a client’s sponsorship.

MEEM 4720 Space Mechanics This course presents the vector-based solution of the two-body problem and the solution for Kepler’s equations. The course will also cover basic orbit determination techniques, impulsive orbit transfer maneuvers, interplanetary trajectories, ground tracks, and rendezvous problems.

MEEM 4730/5730 Dynamic System Simulation Methods for simulating dynamic systems described by ordinary differential equations using numerical integration are developed. Quantifying simulation errors for both batch and real-time, control system applications is covered along with numerical optimization strategies for model validation. MATLAB and Simulink are used to illustrate key concepts.

MEEM 5315 Cyber Security Auto Sys I (+OL) Modern automotive control and communications systems from a cyber security perspective. Topics include: V2X communications, vehicle attack surfaces and vulnerabilities, in-vehicle networks, threat analysis and vulnerabilities, security mechanisms and architectures, security requirements analysis, hardware security modules, and standards.

MEEM 5720 Advanced Space Mechanics (+OL) This course presents the vector-based solution of the two-body problem and the solution for Kepler’s equations. The course will also cover basic orbit determination techniques, impulsive orbit transfer maneuvers, interplanetary trajectories, ground tracks, and rendezvous problems.

MEEM 5990 SEC11 Python Auto (+OL) note: on-campus students are allowed to take this online course.

Solid Mechanics & Computational Mechanics

MEEM 4170 Failure of Mat’l in Mechanics Identifies the modes of mechanical failure that are essential to prediction and prevention of mechanical failure. Discusses theories of failure in detail. Treats the topic of fatigue failure extensively and brittle fracture, impact and buckling failures at some length.

MEEM 4405 Intro to Finite Element Method Introduces the use of the finite element method in stress analysis and heat transfer. Emphasizes the modeling assumptions associated with different elements and uses the computer to solve many different types of stress analysis problems, including thermal stress analysis and introductory nonlinear analysis.

MEEM 6110 Advanced Continuum Mechanics Presents fundamental concepts in hyperelasticity, damage mechanics, linear viscoelasticity, quasi-linear viscoelasticity, poroelasticity, continuum jump conditions, plasticity, and viscoplasticity. These theories are applied to describe the mechanical behavior of a wide range of engineering materials and biomaterials such as polymers, metals, soil, collagen, muscle tissue, bone tissue, and cartilage.

MEEM5990 SEC43 Polymetric Nanocomposites

MSE 4120 Material & Process Selection (requires instructor approval) The principles of materials selection for engineering design. Topics include selection based on strength, stiffness, thermal properties, high-temperature behavior, corrosion resistance, formability, joinability, manufacturability, recyclability, etc. Considers ethics and economics. Presents numerous case studies and examples.

CEE 5202 Finite Element Analysis Introduction to the use of finite element methods in structural analysis. Covers the finite element formulation, 1- and 2-D elements, including isoparametric elements, axisymmetric analysis, plate and shell elements, dynamics, buckling, and nonlinear analysis.

Broadening Courses for All Technical Areas

BA 5610 Operations Management (requires instructor approval) Applications and case studies focusing on contemporary issues in operations and quality management to include lean manufacturing practices, ERP, quality and environmental management systems/standards, Six Sigma, statistical process control, and other current topics.

EC 5620 Energy Economics (requires instructor approval) Introduction to the institutional, technical, and economic issues of the production and use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, electric utilities, and alternative energy. Research project applies economic analysis to supply, distribution, and use of energy resources, including environmental and social consequences.

Suggested Mathematics Courses

The following MA courses offered in spring are those most taken by MEEM students. That is not to say that other MA courses may not be appropriate. The MA course must be a mathematical tool, not an appreciation such as History of Mathematics.

MA 4515 Intro Partial Diff Equations An introduction to solution techniques for linear partial differential equations. Topics include: separation of variables, eigenvalue and boundary value problems, spectral methods, Fourier series, and Green’s functions. Studies applications in heat and mass transfer (diffusion eqn.), and mechanical vibrations (wave and beam eqns.).

MA 4610 Numerical Linear Algebra Derivation and analysis of algorithms for problems in linear algebra. Covers floating point arithmetic, condition numbers, error analysis; solution of linear systems (direct and iterative methods), eigenvalue problems, least squares, singular value decomposition. Includes a review of elementary linear algebra and the use of appropriate software.

MA 4720 Design/Analysis of Experiments Covers construction and analysis of completely randomized, randomized block, incomplete block, Latin squares, factorial, fractional factorial, nested and split-plot designs. Also examines fixed, random and mixed effects models and multiple comparisons and contrasts. The SAS statistical package is an integral part of the course.

MA 4780 / 5781 Time Series Analysis Statistical modeling and inference for analyzing experimental data that have been observed at different points in time. Topics include models for stationary and non-stationary time series, model specification, parametric estimation, model diagnostics and forecasting, seasonal models and time series regression models.

MA 5701 Statistical Methods Introduction to design, conduct, and analysis of statistical studies, with an introduction to statistical computing and preparation of statistical reports. Topics include design, descriptive, and graphical methods, probability models, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.

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