Departmental Admissions Requirements

An applicant for admission to the MS in Mechanical Engineering is expected to have earned a BS degree from an approved program, or its equivalent. Admission is decided based on a multi-parameter criterion that can include the following items to be evaluated by the department:

  • undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,

  • GRE General Test (GRE) scores with Quantitative greater than or equal to 50%; Verbal greater than or equal to 33%; Analytical Writing greater than or equal to 33%. Students with BS degrees in related fields from TTU are not required to take the GRE.

  • Three (3) letters of recommendation that demonstrate strong evidence for success in the graduate program.

  • Availability of appropriate faculty to serve as research advisor(s).

  • Participation in undergraduate research.

  • Post-BS degree professional experience relevant to planned degree of study.

  • Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or award-winning presentations in technical conferences.

  • International students must score at least 550 (213 computer-based or 79 internet-based) on the TOEFL or a minimum base score of 6.0 on the IELTS.

Based on the level of satisfaction of the above criterion, the department will either recommend admission to Full Standing, Provisional Standing, or Special Standing, or deny admission. Standing status may be changed to Full Standing after the student satisfies the requirements specified by the department at the time of admission.

The ME Department has a Departmental Admissions Committee who reviews and evaluates each application individually for unique merits and for the applicants potential success in the graduate program and makes admission recommendation to the appropriate administrator. Students who do not meet the minimum admission requirements or whose potential for success is not evident from the application may be considered for provisional standing. These students will be reclassified to full standing once they satisfy the conditions specified in the provisional admission statement. Occasionally, highly qualified students not having their BS degree in mechanical engineering may be admitted on a provisional basis with the stipulation of satisfactorily completing a specified set of undergraduate courses before achieving full standing. If admitted in provisional standing at master's level, the student must remove all deficiencies and apply for reclassification to full standing prior to the completion of 15 graduate hours.

Fast Track M.S. Program

The Fast Track program is designed to enable TTU ME undergraduates to accumulate up to six (6) credit hours of graduate coursework while still pursuing their undergraduate degree and to transition to the graduate program smoothly, with accelerated completion. Up to six (6) hours of graduate coursework, exclusive of directed study, taken during the students senior year can be used to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements (double counted). These courses must be taken at Tennessee Tech University and must be approved as appropriate substitutions in the undergraduate curriculum for senior ME electives (AOE courses). There is no obligation to complete the masters degree if the students plans change. Students who plan to work on a masters thesis are strongly encouraged to meet with faculty during their junior and senior year to get a head start on the research for their masters degree.

Fast Track Requirements to Apply

  • Student must be an ME undergraduate student in their junior or senior year.

  • Student must have obtained a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher for all undergraduate courses.

  • Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the BS/MS graduate program. To receive full consideration, all applications to the BS/MS program should be received two weeks before the start of the registration period.

Fast Track Program Rules and Requirements

To maintain eligibility for the BS/MS Fast Track program after being accepted, students must:

  • Maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher (ME courses) at the undergraduate level. Students who graduate with their BS degree with less than a 3.25GPAwill not be eligible for the BS/MS program.

  • Students must complete their BS degree, and then matriculate into the MS program. Students cannot graduate with a BS and MS at the same time.

  • Start in the MS program immediately after graduating with their BS degree. The only exception to this is summer semester. Students who graduate in the spring are allowed to take summer semester off and start in the fall semester.

Master's Program Degree Options

There are two options to consider:

  • Thesis option

    • This option requires 30 credit hours, which includes 22-24 credit hours of course work and 6-8 credit hours of thesis research.

    • Funding from the ME Department may be available through the department in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA). Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are awarded by individual faculty from their research grants/contracts.

    • The time it takes to complete the M.S. degree depends on the thesis project, the advisor, and the student's motivation and work ethic.

  • Non-thesis option

    • This option requires 33 credit hours, which includes 30 hours of course work and 3 hours for the independent project course.

    • There is no funding available through the department for this option.

    • With proper planning, well-motivated students can complete the M.S. non-thesis degree in three semesters.