Non-Thesis Option | Mechanical Aerospace and Materials Engineering | SIU

Non-Thesis Option

Basic Requirements - The program requires the student to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of formal course work at the 400-level and 500-level beyond the B.S. degree. Of these, at least 18 hours must be at the 500-level, excluding 3 hours of ME 592 credit for the research paper. In this non-thesis program, at least 21 semester hours of acceptable graduate credit must be taken within the MAME program. In addition, each candidate is required to successfully complete (a) a research paper, and (b) a written comprehensive examination. The research paper may count as the three hours of ME 592 (research paper) credit. The student must enroll for this course to be given credit.

Preliminary Advisement - The student who has been admitted to the School and the Mechanical Engineering program should make an appointment with the graduate studies academic advisor, usually the Chair. This may be done through the program secretary. The initial course assignment is completed after discussion with the graduate studies academic advisor. Until a permanent advisor is chosen, the academic advisor should be consulted on program changes, course registration approval, etc. The MAME graduate advisor is the only person authorized to sign registration forms for the non-thesis student, but an advisor will be selected to direct the student and chair the examining committee.

Examining Committee - Some time before the beginning of the second semester of enrollment, the student should select three faculty members (with two from the MAME Program) to serve as their Examining Committee. One member must act as the student’s graduate advisor and committee chair. This committee will administer and approve the written comprehensive examination over coursework taken in the program.

Research Paper Project Approval - Sometime prior to 15 weeks before the planned graduation date, the student must submit to the Examining Committee for approval a description of the proposed research paper project. The form “Proposed Thesis Research/Research Paper Project” is used for this purpose. The form must be completed by the student, signed by all committee members, and filed with the MAME graduate advisor and examining committee chairperson.

Comprehensive Exam and Oral Exam - The requirements indicated for the oral examination in a thesis program apply here also; refer to the previous section on this topic. The comprehensive exam will be an eight hour exam over all courses taken in the program of study. Faculty members who have taught courses included in the student’s program of study will submit two -problems for each course, one closed-book and one open-book.  The student will be asked to answer at least one question in each course during the exam.  The student must have a minimum score of 70% to pass this exam. A student will be given two attempts to pass the exam. Failure to pass the exam will result in termination of the student’s program of study.

Research Paper Submission - A final copy of the research paper must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than three weeks before graduation and must include a form headed by “Southern Illinois University, The Graduate School.” It must be signed by the examining committee chairman and the Program Director. The research paper should represent the synthesis of information in the chosen topic areas without resorting to plagiarism.  This is an adaptation of guidelines developed by the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Materials Engineering of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Final Clearance - Before the Program Director signs the approval sheet on the thesis, dissertation or research paper, the Clearance form must be completed with appropriate signatures.

Application for Graduation - The student should file for graduation at least six weeks before commencement. These forms are available from the SIU Graduate School.

Forms Required by Program and Grad School

Please see the MAME office staff to obtain copies of all forms needed for your successful completion of your graduate program.  Additional required forms can be obtained from the SIU Graduate School.