The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a program leading to the M.S. in mechanical engineering. The program is designed to stimulate creativity, to provide an in-depth understanding of the basic physical phenomena involved in mechanical systems, and to provide the student with the ability to use modern techniques in the analysis and design of mechanical components and systems.

Admission to the graduate program in mechanical engineering requires a baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering or related areas such as physics, mathematical sciences, chemistry, computer science, and engineering disciplines. NIU undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering can, however, be admitted to the accelerated B.S./M.S. sequence after finishing 90 semester hours with a GPA of at least 3.00.

Educational Objectives

Graduate students in the M.S. program are expected to attain the following objectives by the time and within a few years of graduation: 1. become successful professionals; 2. contribute to their professional fields and assume leadership roles in industry or research organizations; 3. assume professional responsibilities and exhibit effective communication skills; 4. collaborate with faculty and conduct research and scholarly activities at the forefront of the field and engage in professional societies by publishing professional papers and attending and presenting papers at professional conferences.

Program Outcomes

Program graduates should attain the following outcomes by the time of graduation: design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs in one of the specialty areas (applied mechanics, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, design of thermal-fluid systems, vibrations, dynamics and control systems); identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems and to conduct research in one of the specialty areas; communicate effectively; understand professional and ethical responsibility; use of modern engineering tools.