Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineering degree is designed to be completed in two years of study and is offered both in-person at our Stephenville, Texas campus and online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework.

Accelerated Graduate Pathway for Tarleton Undergraduates

Qualified undergraduate Tarleton students have the opportunity to be approved early for graduate study. This option allows them to begin taking master’s courses during their senior year, positioning them to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering in just five years.

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

The program offers two pathways to a master’s in mechanical engineering—thesis and professional (non-thesis). Both paths are rich with required transformative independent research work culminating in several hands-on projects. Both options feature a rigorous curriculum while allowing students to concentrate on their preferred specialization.

Students electing to pursue the thesis option identify a research project that the Graduate Office approves and then defend the thesis before an advisory committee of Tarleton faculty and the head of the ENCS Department.

What courses will you take in the Mechanical Engineering master's degree?

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MEEN-MS) degree program is an industry-focused, practice-oriented degree that deepens mechanical engineering skills in design, manufacturing, controls, robotics, and energy and sustainability.

The main areas of study in our MEEN-MS program represent highly sought after skills across the mechanical engineering field, both in Texas and across the country, including:

• Mechanics of Solids and Materials
• Design, Manufacturing, and Materials Selections
• Thermal-Fluid Systems and Heat Transfer
• Power, Energy, and Sustainability
• System Dynamics, Controls, and Robotics
• Nanotechnology and MEMS Devices
• Advanced Performance Materials and Structural Health Monitoring

Thesis and Non-Thesis Required Courses

Students in the professional non-thesis pathway take 12 defined credits of coursework in Finite Element Analysis, Lean Six Sigma, Computational Methods for Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, and Advanced Energy Systems.

Thesis-track students take a six-credit Master’s Thesis course and choose six additional credits of coursework in the same courses defined above for non-thesis students.

Anything that involves force, energy, or motion involves mechanical engineering. As mechanical engineers design and work with all types of mechanical systems, careers in this field span across many industries.

A mechanical engineer working in the aerospace industry could design the next big energy-efficient jet engine. The robotics industry employs mechanical engineers who build robots that help save lives. The entertainment industry also demands the talents of mechanical engineers who design grand, moving Broadway stages and thrilling roller coaster rides.

According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), aspiring engineers can find a career in just about any industry, including:

• Aerospace
• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Bioengineering
• Design
• HVACR: Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
• Manufacturing
• Materials
• Nuclear
• Petroleum
• Robotics
• Sustainable Energy
• Systems
• Tribology

How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates make?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that mechanical engineers earn an average annual salary of $90,160.