Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Online

What to Expect from an Online Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

An online master’s in mechanical engineering is a 30-credit hour and generally a non-thesis graduate program. It enhances students’ engineering knowledge and helps to apply that nuanced understanding to new and upcoming areas in mechanical engineering. Institutions offer this degree online, offline, or through hybrid learning modes. The program also equips students to meet the needs of the industry and tackle the emerging challenges in the field. Graduates who complete the program are competent in both technical and managerial aspects of mechanical engineering and will develop an ability to determine, assess, and test the properties and structures of materials for different projects in engineering, along with tools for critical decision-making aspects. After completing the program, students can work in defense, product design, production, maintenance, etc.

Curriculum and Coursework

The Master of Mechanical Engineering curriculum requires students to complete 30-45 credit hours and helps them gain advanced knowledge of analysis, design, and research in mechanical engineering. Most mechanical engineering graduate programs in the U.S. offer non-thesis options. In such cases, the degree will require either a portfolio project, a cumulative exam, or sometimes both. However, students can opt for degrees with a thesis option as well.

Mechanical engineering master’s teaches students how to apply principles of the field to complete projects and develop a good knowledge of robotics systems, metallurgy, operations management, sustainable manufacturing, engineering business management, advanced materials science, and much more. Different programs design Master’s coursework depending on the focus of the institution. However, students can find similar curriculums across colleges, like introductory thermal and mechanical sciences courses. Some of the standard courses students can typically find include:

Heat Transfer

This course deals with different phenomena associated with heat transfers, like the use, conversion, and exchange of thermal energy between other physical systems. Students understand specific mechanisms like thermal radiation, conduction, and convection. It involves learning basic and applied aspects of governing equations and evolving designs used in specific industrial segments.

Foundations of Fluid Mechanics

This course deals with the fundamentals of continuity equations, energy equations, and momentum principles. It also involves the understanding and knowledge of basic concepts and principles of fluid mechanics and its analysis of any system in which fluid is considered the medium of working. Students also learn about different fluid properties like surface tension, pressure distribution in fluid, hydrostatic forces on curved and plane surfaces, viscosity, etc.

Solid Mechanics

The course of solid mechanics helps students study the behavior of solid materials, their motion, and deformation under the action of temperature changes, forces, external or internal agents, or phase changes. Some other topics explored in this course include stress, mechanical properties of materials, geometric compatibility, torsion, transverse shear, stress transformation, etc. 

Automatic control systems

This course helps students learn about the essential concepts of automatic control systems and their types, like proportional, derivative, and integral. They understand how control systems can be used to describe systems that control the quantity of output. It can consist of different devices and elements interconnected to do processes. 

Manufacturing Engineering

This course introduces the processes like casting, machining, welding, and forming used in manufacturing with significance on materials aspects. It helps students learn basic manufacturing engineering processes, techniques, and field tools. They also learn about the properties of materials and their effect on the manufacturing ability and traditional forms of manufacturing that have always been in use. 

Some of the other standard courses students can generally find are:

Learning Outcomes and Skills Gained

The mechanical engineering program equips students to build knowledge of research, design, and analysis in the field and customize their academic plans to match their career goals. The learning gained from the program can be applied in automotive, nuclear energy, power generation, aerospace, heating, air conditioning, and other industries. Learners enrolled in the master’s program in mechanical engineering will gain some specific skills by the end of the program, including the ability to:

Types of Master’s Degrees Mechanical Engineering Students Can Obtain

An online master’s mechanical engineering program can help students learn about machine processes, energy use, generation, product manufacturing, and other industries. After completing the program, students can pursue employment opportunities in healthcare, automobile, defense, and other industries. Generally, across institutions in the U.S., students can obtain a Master of Science (MS) degree in mechanical engineering or a Master of Engineering (M. Eng. ME).

Areas of Specialization for Mechanical Engineering Students

Specializations are courses of study in a particular domain that will help you gain expertise in one field. Specializing in a subject of your choice gives you more time to prepare for the topics and understand them in-depth. For those who are taking a thesis-based master’s or want to pursue advanced degrees in mechanical engineering, such concentrations help you understand the different topics you could follow in your dissertation. Here are a few examples of specializations in  online mechanical engineering master’s programs:

Full-Time and Part-Time Programs

As with most educational degrees, the time required to obtain a master’s in mechanical engineering would depend on how many courses individuals complete from their coursework. On average, it takes about two years to complete a master’s degree when completed full-time. A part-time degree in mechanical engineering would take more than two years. Students can complete the program in an accelerated format in less than two years. Here is a quick summary of the timeline to complete the online mechanical engineering master’s programs:

Accelerated Mechanical Engineering Programs

An accelerated master’s degree in mechanical engineering enables students to complete their master’s degree in less time than a traditional program. The application process for accelerated graduate programs is typically the same as for standard master’s degrees. Many students opt for accelerated programs due to other commitments, such as work, and to reduce overall program costs. They can expedite their degrees by transferring credits and fast-tracking their coursework.

The Fast Track Program is designed to allow students to complete up to 6 credit hours of undergraduate study while working towards their bachelor’s degree, fulfilling both undergraduate and graduate academic requirements. This initiative aims to provide a cohesive and enriching educational experience for various student demographics, facilitating their attainment of a bachelor’s degree and seamless transition into a postgraduate program.

Some of the colleges that provide online master’s in mechanical engineering programs in the U.S. include

Requirements for Getting into a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Online Program

When applying for a graduate degree, individuals will find that there are many requirements they need to be aware of and gather documentation accordingly. Most colleges generally require an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering or related fields. Since master’s programs require advanced coursework, the institution will aim to ensure individuals have some elemental understanding of mechanical engineering. Therefore, individuals may need prerequisites in subjects like math, etc. Some of the standard admission requirements for mechanical engineering master’s programs involve the following:

No GRE Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Online Programs

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is a necessary admission requirement for many master’s schools in the United States. It assesses logic and aptitude for critical thinking to indicate readiness for higher education academic institutions. Increasingly, many colleges have waived the GRE requirement completely. After the pandemic, many schools have made the GRE requirement optional. Here are a few examples of institutions that provide master’s in mechanical engineering no gre

How to Ensure a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Online Degree is Accredited

Universities, schools, and vocational colleges in the United States must undergo institutional accreditation to verify their capacity to meet rigorous educational standards and provide students with resources. Certain degrees or programs may also require programmatic accreditation. Accredited universities assure graduates and employers of their knowledge and skills.

Any legitimate institution providing an online master of mechanical engineering program will have accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)⁷. ABET accreditation can greatly affect a student’s education, as it can determine various factors, from curriculum quality to having verified professionals as teaching faculty. ABET has a separate Engineering Accreditation Commission that confirms engineering programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. 

To verify the credentials of the institution students are interested in studying from, they can also look up the guidelines or databases from national-level organizations, including the Council for Higher Education Accreditation⁸ and the Database of Postsecondary Institutions and Programs⁹.

Universities can also be accredited nationally or by one of six regional accrediting agencies:

To understand this process, refer to the Guide to College Accreditation. 

Career Opportunities and Salaries After Graduating

After graduating with an online master’s in mechanical engineering, individuals have career opportunities available across various industries. The field offers competitive salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals. Graduates can expect to embark on rewarding career paths with opportunities for growth and advancement, contributing to innovation and technological development in diverse sectors. Some of the popular jobs mechanical engineering graduates can expect are:

Some of these roles have been explored below: