M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Admission requirements follow the general admission rules for aerospace and mechanical engineering graduate programs. For admission requirements, refer to Viterbi Graduate Degrees and Requirements at USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering prepares the student to practice engineering at an advanced level in a specialization within mechanical engineering and to recognize the benefit of solving problems using expertise from other engineering disciplines. Students improve their skills in setting up and solving problems by using contemporary tools and leveraging interaction with peers.

Requirements

The program of study depends upon the student’s interests and background. The M.S. in Mechanical Engineering program requires completion of a minimum of 27 units, with at least 18 units at the 500 level, and a 3.0 GPA overall. A minimum of 15 units must be AME 500-level courses including applied mathematics course. See details below.

• 4 units of Applied Mathematics Coursework. Choose from:
  • AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  • AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  • AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)
  • Cross-listed classes count as AME department courses
  • Elective courses may be from AME, Math, Physics, or other Engineering Departments (ASTE, BME, CE, CHE, CSCI, DSCI, EE, ENE, ENGR, ISE, ITP, MASC, PTE, SAE)

  In addition to the general requirements listed in the catalogue, the department has identified requirements in several areas of optional specializations. Core requirements and elective requirements are defined for each area of specialization below. Note that specializations are not designated on transcripts or diplomas.

  Specializations

  *Note that listed core and elective units below may not add up to 27 for some specializations. Courses listed are either 3 or 4 units. Remaining units can be chosen in area of specific interest to the student in accordance with the requirements listed above.

  Requirement Common to All Areas Of Specialization is AME 525 Engineering Analysis.

  ▸ ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (5 courses = 18 units):
  AME 546 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (4 units)
  AME 547 Manufacturing Automation (4 units)
  AME 554 Additive Manufacturing Technologies (4 units)
  ISE 510 Computational Design and Manufacturing (3 units)
  ISE 511L Mechatronics Systems Engineering (3 units)

  Core Electives (select 5 units):
  400-, 500- or 600-level graduate courses by advisement. Elective courses may be from AME, ISE, SAE, or CSCI. Up to 3 units of directed research, seminar, and/or internship may be taken as degree credit.

  ▸ COMBUSTION SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (4 courses = 16 units):
  AME 513a Fundamentals and Principles of Combustion I (4 units)
  AME 513b Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion II (4 units)
  AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units)
  AME 579 Numerical Modeling of Single and Multiphase Reactive Flows (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 6-8 units):
  AME 511 Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 515 Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (4 units)
  AME 516 Convective Processes (3 units)
  AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units)

  ▸ DESIGN SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science(4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 10 units):
  AME 503 Advanced Mechanical Design (3 units)
  AME 505 Engineering Information Modeling (3 units)
  AME 509 Applied Elasticity (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 6-8 units):
  AME 404 Computational Solutions to Engineering Problems (3 units)
  AME 410 Engineering Design Theory and Methodology (3 units)
  AME 527 Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design (3 units)
  AME 528 Finite Element Analysis (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 529; students enroll in CE 529)
  AME 541 Linear Control Systems II (4 units) (Pre-req: AME 451 or equivalent)
  AME 546 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (4 units)
  AME 547 Foundations for Manufacturing Automation (4 units)
  AME 549a System Architecting (3 units) (Cross-listed with SAE 549; students enroll in SAE 549)
  AME 554 Additive Manufacturing Technologies (4 units)
  AME 588 Material Selections (4 units) (Cross-listed with MASC 583; students enroll in MASC 583)
  ASTE 520 Spacecraft System Design (3 units)
  ASTE 523 Design of Low-Cost Space Missions (3 units)

  ▸ DYNAMICS AND CONTROL SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (5 courses = 20 units):
  AME 521 Engineering Vibrations II (4 units) (Pre-req: AME 420 or equivalent)
  AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units)
  AME 524 Advanced Engineering Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 541 Linear Control Systems II (4 units) (Pre-req: AME 451 or equivalent)
  AME 552 Nonlinear Control Systems (4 units)

  Core Elective (select 3 units):
  Can be chosen in area of specific interest to the student in accordance with elective options outlined in the “Requirements” section above.

  ▸ ENERGY CONVERSION SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 10 units):
  AME 513a Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I (4 units)
  AME 577 Survey of Energy and Power for a Sustainable Future (3 units)
  AME 578 Modern Alternative Energy Conversion Devices (3 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 6-8 units):
  AME 436 Energy and Propulsion (3 units)
  AME 513b Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion II (4 units)
  AME 515 Advanced Heat and Mass Diffusion (4 units)
  AME 516 Convective Processes (3 units)
  AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units)

  ▸ FLUID DYNAMICS SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra In Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 11 units):
  AME 511 Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units)
  AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 6-8 units):
  AME 436 Energy and Propulsion (3 units)
  AME 506 Continuum Mechanics (4 units)
  AME 513a Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I (4 units)
  AME 513b Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion II (4 units)
  AME 515 Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (4 units)
  AME 516 Convective Processes (3 units)
  AME 533 Multi-Phase Flows (3 units)
  AME 535b Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 units)
  AME 537 Microfluidics (3 units)
  AME 651 Statistical Theories of Turbulence (3 units)

  ▸ HEAT TRANSFER SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course= 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 11 units):
  AME 515 Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction (4 units)
  AME 516 Convective Processes (3 units)
  AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 7-8 units):
  AME 511 Compressible Gas Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 513a Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion I (4 units)
  AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3 units)

  ▸ MECHANICS AND MATERIALS SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 11-12 units):
  AME 506 Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics (4 units)

  AME 509 Applied Elasticity (4 units)
  or AME 507 Mechanics of Solids I (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 507; students enroll in CE 507)
  or AME 560 Fatigue and Fracture (3 units) (Cross-listed with MASC 560; students enroll in MASC 560)

  AME 588 Materials Selection (4 units) (Cross-listed with MASC 583; students enroll in MASC 583)
  or MASC 551 Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 7-8 units):
  AME 507 Mechanics of Solids I (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 507; students enroll in CE 507)
  AME 521 Engineering Vibrations II (4 units)
  AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units)
  AME 524 Advanced Engineering Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 528 Finite Element Analysis (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 529; students enroll in CE 529)
  AME 542 Theory of Plates (3 units) (Cross-listed with CE 542; students enroll in CE 542)
  CE 541 Dynamics of Structures (4 units)

  ▸ QUANTITATIVE MEDICAL ENGINEERING SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements - Quantitative Core (select 2 courses = 8 units):
  AME 508 Machine Learning and Computational Physics (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements - Medical Engineering Core (3 courses = 12 units):
  AME 416 Mechanics and Transport in Medicine and Biology (4 units)
  AME 516 Thermal and Biological Transport Phenomena (4 units)
  AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units)
  AME 536 Biofluid Mechanics: Transport and Circulatory Systems (4 units)
  BME 514 Physiological Signals and Data Analytics (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 506 Continuum Mechanics (4 units)
  AME 509 Applied Elasticity (4 units)
  AME 515 Advanced Heat and Mass Diffusion (4 units)
  AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (4 units)
  AME 630: Transition to Chaos in Dynamical Systems (4 units)
  BME 403 Physiological Systems (4 units)
  BME 528 Medical Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Informatics Applications (4 units)

  ▸ SOLID AND STRUCTURAL MECHANICS SPECIALIZATION

  Applied Math Requirement (select 1 course = 4 units):
  AME 525 Linear Algebra in Engineering Science (4 units)
  AME 526 Partial Differential Equations for Engineering Applications (4 units)
  AME 540 Probability and Statistics in Engineering Science (4 units)

  Core Requirements (3 courses = 12 units):
  AME 506 Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics (4 units)
  AME 509 Applied Elasticity (4 units)
  AME 524 Advanced Engineering Dynamics (4 units)

  Core Electives (select 2 courses = 6-8 units):
  AME 507 Mechanics of Solids I (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 507; students enroll in CE 507)
  AME 521 Engineering Vibrations II (4 units)
  AME 522 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Vibrations, and Chaos (4 units)
  AME 528 Finite Element Analysis (4 units) (Cross-listed with CE 529; students enroll in CE 529)
  AME 539 Multi-body Dynamics (4 units)
  AME 542 Theory of Plates (3 units) (Cross-listed with CE 542; students enroll in CE 542)
  AME 560 Fatigue and Fracture (3 units) (Cross-listed with MASC 560; students enroll in MASC 560)
  AME 588 Materials Selection (4 units) (Cross-listed with MASC 583; students enroll in MASC 583)
  CE 541 Dynamics of Structures (4 units)