The Post-Master’s track trains and prepares graduates for successful careers in research and development in industry, in academia, and in government research laboratories and agencies. PhD graduates will have the advanced ability to apply their knowledge of mathematics, engineering, and science to formulate and solve problems and conduct high-quality research in mechanical and aerospace engineering, the ability to communicate scientific and technical research effectively in writing and oral presentations, and the ability to conduct independent cutting-edge research and contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
The track is intended for students with a master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or a closely related discipline. The PhD degree offers the following gateways into the program:
- a PhD for students with formal training in this area who have earned an MS degree and are seeking higher level graduate education and research training.
- a PhD for students with formal training in a related field who have earned an MS degree and are seeking higher level graduate education and research training.
The Post-Master’s Track requires completion of 42 credit hours, of which 15 credit hours minimum must be formal coursework, exclusive of directed research (XXX 6918), thesis (xxx 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919), and independent study (XXX 6908), and 15 credit hours minimum of dissertation research (XXX 7980). No more than 12 credit hours combined of directed research (XXX 6918), or thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be taken toward fulfilling the degree program of study coursework requirements. The track is designed for students who have an M.S. degree in engineering and are seeking a higher-level education and research training. Students are expected to pass the qualifying examination(s) in the first year.
Track Prerequisites
An earned Master's degree or its equivalent in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or a related discipline is required. The Graduate Program Director will evaluate the suitability and applicability of degrees in other disciplines for admission purposes.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
9 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete at least 3 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5237 - Intermediate Mechanics of Materials (3)
- EML5713 - Intermediate Fluid Mechanics (3)
- EML6211 - Continuum Mechanics (3)
- Complete at least 3 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5152 - Intermediate Heat Transfer (3)
- EML5713 - Intermediate Fluid Mechanics (3)
- EML6104 - Classical Thermodynamics (3)
- Complete at least 3 of the following:
- EML5060 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5271 - Intermediate Dynamics (3)
- EML5311 - System Control (3)
- EAS6415 - Guidance, Navigation and Control (3)
- The substitution(s) of required courses with elective courses are available if the student completed required courses in the concentration area within seven years prior to matriculation. The substitution(s) are subjected to approval of the Graduate Program Director based on course evaluation.
Elective Courses
18 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 6 of the following:
- EML5066 - Computational Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EML5105 - Gas Kinetics and Statistical Thermodynamics (3)
- EML5228C - Modal Analysis (3)
- EML5291 - MEMS Materials (3)
- EML5402 - Turbomachinery (3)
- EML5403 - Science and Technology of Fuel Cells (3)
- EML5456 - Turbines for Sustainable Power (3)
- EML5546 - Engineering Design with Composite Materials (3)
- EML5937 - Special Topics: Advanced Manufacturing (3)
- EML6067 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering I (3)
- EML6068 - Finite Elements in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering II (3)
- EML6131 - Combustion Phenomena (3)
- EML6154 - Conduction Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6155 - Convection Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6157 - Radiation Heat Transfer (3)
- EML6223 - Advanced Vibrational Systems (3)
- EML6226 - Analytical Dynamics (3)
- EML6227 - Nonlinear Vibration (3)
- EML6233 - Fundamentals of Fatigue Analysis (3)
- EML6238 - Plates and Shells (3)
- EML6295 - Sensors and Actuators for Micro Mechanical Systems (3)
- EML6296 - MEMS Mechanism and Design (3)
- EML6297 - MEMS Characterization (3)
- EML6299 - Advanced Topics on Miniaturization (3)
- EML6305C - Experimental Mechanics (3)
- EML6547 - Engineering Fracture Mechanics in Design (3)
- EML6572 - Probabilistic Methods in Mechanical Design (3)
- EML6712 - Mechanics of Viscous Flow (3)
- EML6725 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer I (3)
- EML6726 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer II (3)
- EML6808 - Analysis and Control of Robot Manipulators (3)
- EGM6653 - Theory of Elasticity and Plasticity (3)
- EAS5123 - Intermediate Aerodynamics (3)
- EAS5157 - V/Stol Aerodynamics and Performance (3)
- EAS5211 - Aeroelasticity (3)
- EAS5302 - Direct Energy Conversion (3)
- EAS5315 - Rocket Propulsion (3)
- EAS5407C - Mechatronic Systems (3)
- EAS5535 - Engineering Design for Aerospace Vehicles (3)
- EAS6138 - Advanced Gas Dynamics (3)
- EAS6222 - Non-Destructive Evaluation of Aero-Structures (3)
- EAS6250 - Structural and Dynamic Stability (3)
- EAS6405 - Advanced Flight Dynamics (3)
- EAS6414 - Estimation of Dynamical Systems in Aerospace Engineering (3)
- EAS6507 - Topics of Astrodynamics (3)
- EAS6722 - Multidisciplinary Optimization Under Uncertainty (3)
- EAS6808 - Space Environment and Payload Instrumentation (3)
- Students can take no more than 12 credit hours of directed research (EML6918), thesis (EML6971), doctoral research (EML7919) and/or independent study (EML6908) as part of their available Elective Courses.
- The other electives in the department and the electives outside the department are subject to prior approvals of the faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Director.
Seminar
0 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- EML5090 - Mechanical and Aerospace Seminar (99)
- The MAE Graduate Seminar is a zero-credit hour (S/U) course that is offered each fall and spring academic semesters. Prior to graduation, all MAE graduate students who are pursuing PhD dissertation required to register, participate, and receive a satisfactory (S) for four semesters of MAE Graduate seminar, with at least two of these taken prior to candidacy.
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: EML 7980.
Grand Total Credits: 42
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
The Post-Master’s Track requires successful completion of a minimum of 42 credit hours at the graduate level beyond MS and the successful defense of a PhD dissertation. Specifically, the Post-Master’s Track requires:
(1) 15 credit hours minimum must be formal coursework, exclusive of directed research (XXX 6918), thesis (xxx 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919), and independent study (XXX 6908).
(2) No more than 12 credit hours combined of directed research (XXX 6918), or thesis (XXX 6971), doctoral research (XXX 7919) and/or independent study (XXX 6908) may be taken toward fulfilling the degree program of study coursework requirement.
(3) 15 credit hours minimum must be Dissertation (XXX 7980).
(4) Successful completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination.
(5) Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination.
(6) Successful completion of defense of the doctoral dissertation.
