M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

The program of study depends upon the student’s interest and background. The entire MSME degree may be completed through USC’s Distance Education Network (DEN).

Courses in other combinations and from other departments within the university may be approved if a particular coordinated interest can be demonstrated. In some instances students whose undergraduate background is not in mechanical engineering may be required to take additional course work.

During the first semester at USC, students must consult a departmental faculty advisor in the area of concentration and draw up an approved study plan.

*Note that listed core and elective units may not add up to 27 for some specializations; remaining units can be chosen in area of specific interest to the student.

*NOTE: In the area of Dynamics & Control, a specific structured program is designed.

**All courses listed are 3 units each**

Requirements for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) are the same as set forth in the general requirements.

Six of the required units must be in AME 525 and AME 526 or courses in engineering analysis approved in advance in writing by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The specific sequence of courses that constitutes an acceptable program must be approved in advance. For information on when courses are offered, please see the USC Catalogue.

Requirements for Graduation Without Thesis:

27 units total with 3.0 GPA

• AME 525 and AME 526 or approved mathematics (6)
• 500 level courses in major department (12)
• Approved 400 or 500 level courses (9)

Requirements for Graduation With Thesis:

27 units total with 3.0 GPA

• AME 525 and AME 526 or approved mathematics (6)
• 500 or 600 level courses in major department (12), not including thesis
• maximum AME 594ab–thesis (4)
• approved 400 or 500 level units (5) (a maximum total of eight units combining AME 590 and AME 594ab)

The Fluid & Thermal Sciences encompasses concentration in one of the following areas: (1) Combustion, (2) Fluid Dynamics, and (3) Heat Transfer.

A coherent degree program in one of these concentrations will require four core courses (12 units), two required engineering analysis courses (6 units), two core electives (6 units), and one engineering elective (3 units) by advisement. Additional requirements may need to be met per the University Catalogue.

Core Courses (12 units)

Choose one of the following areas:

Combustion: AME 436, AME 513, AME 514, and AME 530a

Fluid Dynamics: AME 457, AME 511, AME 530a, and AME 535a

Heat Transfer: AME 457, AME 515, AME 516, and AME 517

Required Engineering Analysis (6 units)

AME 525 Engineering Analysis
AME 526 Engineering Analytical Methods

Engineering Elective (3 units)

Take one 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate course by advisement.

Contact:

Combustion: Dr. Paul Ronney, ronney@usc.edu

Fluid Dynamics: Dr. Charles Campbell, campbell@usc.edu

Heat Transfer: Dr. Sati Sadhal, sadhal@usc.edu

Core Electives (6 units)

Take two courses from the following list, not duplicating core of engineering analysis courses:

AME 436 Energy and Propulsion
AME 457 Engineering Fluid Dynamics
AME 511 Compressible Gas Dynamics
AME 513 Principles of Combustion
AME 514 Advanced Topics in Combustion
AME 515 Advanced Problems in Heat Conduction
AME 516 Convective Processes
AME 517 Radiation Heat Transfer
AME 530a Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids
AME 533 Multi-Phase Flows
AME 535a Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
AME 535b Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
AME 537 Microfluidics
AME 599 Spacecraft Thermal Control

The Engineering Design is a program concentration that focuses on engineering design process and techniques.

A coherent degree program in this concentration will require three core courses (9 units), two required engineering analysis courses (6 units), two core elective courses (6 units), and two engineering electives approved by advisement (6 units). Additional requirements may need to be met per the University Catalogue.

Core Courses (9 units)

AME 503 Advanced Mechanical Design
AME 505 Engineering Information Modeling
AME 509 Applied Elasticity

Required Engineering Analysis (6 units)

AME 525 Engineering Analysis
AME 526 Engineering Analytical Methods

Engineering Elective (6 units)

Take two 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate courses by advisement.

Contact: Dr. Yan Jin, yjin@usc.edu

Core Electives (6 units)

Take two courses from the following list:

AME 404 Mechanical Engineering Problems
ASTE 520 Spacecraft System Design
ASTE 523 Design of Low Cost Space Missions
AME 527 Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design
AME 541 Linear Control Systems II
AME 549a System Architecting
CE 529a Finite Element Analysis

The Advanced Manufacturing Track in Mechanical Engineering educates and trains multidisciplinary professionals to pursue careers in manufacturing companies as designers, manufacturing engineers and engineering managers.

A coherent degree program in Advanced Manufacturing will require two required engineering analysis courses (6 units), five core courses (15 units), and two engineering electives approved by advisement (6 units). Additional requirements may need to be met per the University Catalogue.

Required Core Courses (15 units)

AME 547 Manufacturing Automation
AME 599 Additive Manufacturing Technologies
ISE 511L Mechatronics Systems Engineering
AME 546 Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
ISE 510 Computational Design and Manufacturing

Required Engineering Analysis (6 units)

AME 525 Engineering Analysis
AME 526 Engineering Analytical Methods

Engineering Elective (6 units)

Take two 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate courses by advisement. Elective courses may be from AME, ISE, SAE, or CS. Up to 3 units of directed research, seminar, and/or internship may be taken as degree credit.

Contact: Prof. S.K. Gupta, guptask@usc.edu

A coherent degree program in Mechanics of Materials will require four core courses (12 units), two required engineering analysis courses (6 units), one core elective course (3 units), and two engineering electives approved by advisement (6 units). Additional requirements may need to be met per the University Catalogue.

Core Courses (12 units)

AME 509 Applied Elasticity
AME 559 Creep
AME 560 Fatigue and Fracture
AME 584 Fracture Mechanics

Required Engineering Analysis (6 units)

AME 525 Engineering Analysis
AME 526 Engineering Analytical Methods

Engineering Elective (6 units)

Take two 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate courses by advisement.

Contact: amegrad@usc.edu

Core Electives (3 units)

Take one course from the following list:

AME 542 Theory of Plates (CE 542)
AME 588 Materials Selection
CE 529a Finite Element Analysis

The Master of Science with emphasis in Dynamics and Control educates and trains multidisciplinary professionals in the modeling, analysis, simulation and control of complex time-evolutionary systems. It is a program of study that encompasses advanced analytical dynamics, nonlinear dynamical systems, linear and nonlinear dynamics and vibrations, and linear and nonlinear control. The program equips students to apply their knowledge to a variety of complex systems encountered in nature and society, especially those in civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering and applied mechanics.

Required Engineering Analysis (6 units)

AME 525 Engineering Analysis
AME 526 Engineering Analytical Methods

Required Core Courses (15 units)

AME 521 Engineering Vibrations II
AME 522 Nonlinear Vibrations
AME 524 Advanced Engineering Dynamics
AME 541 Linear Control Systems II
AME 552 Nonlinear Control Systems

Engineering Elective (6 units)

Take two 400-, 500- or 600-level graduate courses by advisement.

Elective courses can be chosen in areas of specific interest to the student such as orbital dynamics, spacecraft control, aircraft dynamics and control, chaos and chaotic dynamics, random vibrations, computer control of mechanical systems and robotics. The program provides the graduate student with a broad, well-rounded, advanced education that can be applied to many specific, technologically advanced fields in which dynamics and control play a pivotal role.