Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Mechanical Engineering, MS


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Contact Information

Dr. Pierre Larochelle
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Civil Mechanical Building Room 129
(605) 394-2401
Email: Pierre.Larochelle@sdsmt.edu

Dr. Albert Romkes
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Civil Mechanical Building Room 167
(605) 394-2255
Email: Albert.Romkes@sdsmt.edu

Leslee Moore
Program Assistant I
Civil Mechanical Building Room 129
(605) 394-1952
Email: Leslee.Moore@sdsmt.edu

MS in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science degree program in mechanical engineering can be pursued using either of two (2) equal options, a thesis option or a non-thesis, courses only option.

South Dakota Mines students accepted to the Accelerated MS option may apply up to 9 credits of 400/500/600 level courses taken as an undergraduate toward both the BS and the MS degrees.

Degree requirements for thesis option


Distribution of credits


Core requirements: 15 credits
Research or project requirements: 6 credits
Elective requirements: 9 credits
Total credits: 30

A maximum of 9 credits may be taken at the 400/500 level.

Core requirements


Research or project requirements


The completion of a master’s thesis, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.

  • Credits: Credit to be arranged. **
  • ** At least 6 credits of ME 798 are required.  No more than 6 credits of ME 798 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements


  • At least 9 credits of elective courses approved by the student’s committee

Students may enroll in 400 level courses only if 500/600 level courses within the major are not being offered, and they must obtain written permission from their major professor and the department head.

Examinations


A thesis defense and an oral final examination are required for this degree. Upon completion of the thesis, mechanical engineering graduate students electing this option will be examined orally over the written thesis.

Additional requirements


In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees  by the Council of Graduate Education.

Degree requirements for non-thesis option


Distribution of credits


Core requirements: 15 credits
Research or project requirements: 0-6 credits
Elective requirements: 9-15 credits
Total credits: 30

No more than 9 credits may be taken at the 400/500 level.

Core requirements


Research or project requirements


Although there are no research or project requirements for the non-thesis option, interested students can complete a master’s project. The project must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and the department head. As indicated below, students that opt to do a master’s project must enroll in at least 3 credits of ME 788 Master’s Research Problems/Projects.

  • Credits: Credit to be arranged. **
  • ** At least 3 credits of ME 788 are required for students that want to pursue a master’s project.  No more than 6 credits of ME 788 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements


  • Between 9 credits and 15 credits of elective courses are required and must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The actual number of elective courses that the student must take depends on how many credits of ME 788 Master’s Research Problems/Projects  the student takes.

Students may enroll in 400 level courses only if 500/600 level courses within the major are not being offered, and they must obtain written permission of the student’s major professor and the department head.

Examinations


Mechanical engineering non-thesis MS graduate students not electing to do a project do not take an end-of-program examination. Mechanical engineering non-thesis MS graduate students electing to pursue a master’s project will be required to prepare a report documenting their project work. This report will be written and formal although not of thesis quality nor extent. Upon the completion of the project and with the approval of the directing faculty member, the student will be given a formal oral examination over the project.

Additional requirements


In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees  by the Council of Graduate Education.

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