Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) distance education program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or a closely related field who wish to pursue a graduate degree in mechanical engineering. It is a 30-credit hour degree program that does not require a thesis, final oral exam, or on-campus residency.

Admission Requirements

See MAE Graduate Admission website for more information.

• Overall grade point average (GPA) of >3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institution
• Undergraduate major in a technical area which satisfies the prerequisites for graduate coursework in MAE. If you do not hold a BS degree in ME or AE, see the section below, Admission Requirements for Non-Majors
• Three satisfactory letters of recommendation

Admission Requirements for Non-Majors (for MS): Applicants with accredited BS degrees in other areas of engineering, physics, and math may be admitted to our department. If admitted, students are often expected to take 1 to 3 remedial courses to make up for deficiencies depending on their background. These courses are typically taken in the first two semesters alongside first-semester courses or before the student begins taking graduate courses. Alternatively, you can enroll in online courses as a Non-Degree Seeking student to meet enrollment requirements and show success at the graduate level before applying to the program.

International students: The program does not accept international students who reside outside the continental U.S. TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores (no more than two years old) are required for international applicants unless they have successfully (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher) completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a regionally accredited four-year US College or university. 

Degree Requirements

Completion of 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses offered via EOL at the 500 or 700 level with an overall grade-point average of 3.0, including:

• 6 MAE courses (18 credit hours)
• 3 MAE or approved non-MAE technical electives (9 credit hours)
• MAE 586 independent project (3 credit hours)

The Director of Graduate Programs serves as academic advisor, and independent project work under a faculty mentor fulfills MAE 586 requirements.

All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years of enrolling in the first course appearing on the NC State graduate transcript. Admitted students must comply with the Graduate School regulations for continuous enrollment or must request a leave of absence not to exceed one year. 

Find out more about the degree requirements.

Course Registration

It is preferable to seek admission to the MSME program as soon as possible to assure integration into the advising process. However, a person does not have to be admitted to a degree program to enroll in an online credit course. Prior to applying to Graduate School, a qualified individual may enroll in Engineering Online courses as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student. The NDS classification is designed for individuals who wish to undertake academic work but who are not currently admitted to a degree program. If the student is admitted to the MSME program, a maximum of 12 hours taken in graduate status as an NDS student or from another institution may apply toward the 30 credit hour requirement. Students register for online courses through Engineering Online. Those who wish to take only a few courses and not pursue a degree do not need to apply for formal program admission to NC State University. However, students who wish to earn the MSME degree must formally apply for admission to the Graduate School. When completing the online application, please be sure to select the “Distance Education” version of the degree.

To register for an Engineering Online course, complete the registration form on the  Engineering Online website. Students cannot register through the University MyPack Portal system for Engineering Online courses.

Course Offerings

A list of mechanical and aerospace engineering distance education courses generally offered can be found on the Engineering Online website. Specific courses available in Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions can be viewed on the Engineering Online portal. Full-time employed individuals may only enroll in two online courses per semester. It is highly recommended that new students enroll in only one course during their first semester. Please note that some financial aid sources may require full-time enrollment of 3 classes or more; if you are receiving financial aid, you should inquire about enrollment expectations. 

Course Logistics

Online courses are the same as on-campus courses in terms of content, requirements, and academic rigor. On-campus class lectures are captured, digitized, and placed on the Internet for distance students to access at any time and from any location. Students must follow the on-campus class schedule in terms of submitting homework and taking exams. Course assignments, lecture notes, and handouts are made available to distance students on the course website. All in-class exams must be proctored.

Contact Information

• For more information about the MSME program available online, contact:
  Dr. Katherine Saul, Director of Graduate Programs
  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  Telephone: 919. 515.1273
  Email: ksaul@ncsu.edu
  Department website: http://www.mae.ncsu.edu
• For more information about the registration process, course offerings and course logistics, contact:
  Dr. Linda Krute, Director of Distance Education Programs
  College of Engineering
  Telephone: 919.515.5440
  Email: linda_krute@ncsu.edu
  Engineering Online website: https://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu