Accelerated Ph.D. Degree
Master’s-level students who are interested in pursuing an accelerated entry into the doctoral degree engineering science program have the option if they meet several requirements.
Students who completed at least two semesters in residence in Mechanical Engineering’s master’s program and also completed a minimum 18 hours of approved course with a minimum 3.75 GPA may submit a request for accelerated entry.
Students who earn accelerated entry status:
- Show evidence they are prepared to begin doctoral-level study research activities.
- Have GRE scores at or above the 50 th percentile for both verbal and analytical essay components, and at the 80 th percentile for the qualitative component, or a combined total percentile score of 180 or higher.
- Domestic students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher; International students have a TOEFL score of 550 (paper score) or an IBT score of 80 or an IELTS score of 6.5 is an additional requirement. In exceptional cases, to substitute for the above mentioned GRE and TOEFL score requirements, the student’s current faculty advisor, with the approval of the program director, may submit a recommendation letter for the student’s accelerated entry into the Ph.D. program.
- May not write a M.S. thesis.
- May have 6 credit hours of 500-level coursework completed prior to their entry into the doctoral program counted toward the Ph.D., course requirement.
In the event students who receive accelerated entry into the doctoral program fail to pass the Ph.D., qualifying exam in two attempts, they will be allowed to complete courses to earn a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.