Engineering, Mechanical (PhD, MS)

Program Overview

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers programs leading to the Master of Science (MS) and PhD in mechanical engineering. Our curriculum includes theory, design and laboratory experience in the areas of transport phenomena, mechanics, dynamic systems, design and materials. Our program seeks to train students to become future leaders of the industry.

The MS track provides a balanced course of study that includes advanced theory and practical knowledge application. Students will be adequately prepared to pursue a career in industry or enter a doctoral program. The PhD program is a research-intensive, multidisciplinary program. Funding is available in the form of teaching and research assistantships. Many of our assistantships include union and health benefits.

Current Binghamton University undergraduates can also pursue a 4+1 BS + MS program.

Students with questions about these programs are encouraged to email the Department of Mechanical Engineering at megrad@binghamton.edu.

Degrees Offered

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering
• MS in Mechanical Engineering

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

The graduate program in mechanical engineering boasts a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages students to explore opportunities that may enrich their academic experience. At the same time, it fosters relationships with industry giants such as Samsung as well as collaborative curricula with universities overseas. Laboratory facilities on campus are new and state-of-the-art.

The MS program offers coursework in the following specializations:

• Design and Manufacturing
• Dynamic Systems
• Materials
  
• Solid Mechanics
  
• Transport Phenomena and Energy

The PhD program includes the following research areas:

• Mechanics, design and manufacturing, with emphasis on solid mechanics/stress analysis, additive manufacturing and vibrations
• Transport Phenomena and Energy, with emphasis on heat transfer, lubrication, materials processing and environmental/biological transport phenomena
• Materials, with emphasis on microstructural/property relationships and electronic packaging materials
• Computational mechanics, with emphasis on asymptotic methods and hybrid analytical/computational methods
• Dynamic systems, with emphasis on sensing, robotics and acoustics

Watson Career and Alumni Connections offers professional advice and services such as interview guidance, cover letter critiques and networking opportunities. The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Organization is also available to help new and current students for academic or general questions about the community.

After You Graduate

Due to the marketability of an advanced degree in mechanical engineering, alumni easily transition into a diverse range of careers. Graduates of the program have obtained positions in competitive companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Ford, Texas Instruments, General Electric, Toyota, Lockheed Martin and CISCO. Doctoral graduates can enter academia by becoming professors in institutions such as Northeastern University.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for graduate study, you must:

• Provide a complete set of your undergraduate (and, if applicable, graduate) transcripts showing one of the following:
  • You have earned a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are within one academic year of earning a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are eligible to apply as part of a memorandum of understanding between your current institution and Binghamton University
• Have earned, at minimum, one of the following:
  • A 3.0 GPA over your entire undergraduate career
  • A 3.0 GPA during your last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of your undergraduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • A 3.0 GPA in a graduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • In consideration of the different grading scales used around the world, each academic department evaluates international transcripts to determine on a case-by-case basis whether they demonstrate one of the above requirements.

To apply, you must submit the following materials. For general guidelines for these materials, see the Admission Requirements website.

• Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee
• Transcripts from each college or university that you have attended
• Personal statement of 2 to 3 pages describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your career aspirations, your special interests within your field, and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to the graduate admissions committee
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official GRE scores
  • Master's students: GRE scores are optional
  • Doctoral students: GRE scores are strongly recommended
  • GRE scores are required for master's and doctoral students who want to be considered for a graduate assistantship (TA/GA/RA)

International students must also submit the following materials. For more information about these materials, see the International Students section of the Admission Requirements website.

• International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form
• Supporting financial documentation (such as bank statements, scholarship or sponsor letters, etc.)
• Proof of English proficiency (such as official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic/Duolingo* scores)
  • *In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate School at Binghamton University has temporarily approved the use of the Duolingo English Test as proof of English proficiency through the 2023 application cycle.

This information is subject to change. While we make every effort to update these program pages, we recommend that you contact the department with questions about program-specific requirements.

Deadlines

Accelerated/4+1 Degrees

You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!

For more information, visit the Engineering, Mechanical website.