Students may develop programs emphasizing fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, fatigue and fracture mechanics, and mechanical systems. Some may pursue more general programs that combine emphases. Others may specialize in interdisciplinary areas (e.g., energy engineering, materials engineering, automatic control, chemical processes), which involve a combination of mechanical and industrial engineering departmental courses and appropriate electives from other departments in the College of Engineering and across the University. Ph.D. programs may center on any one of these areas through choice of appropriate course work and research topic.