Doctoral Programs

Students can pursue a PhD directly, upon completing a Bachelor's degree, or upon completion of a Master's degree. In the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, students can pursue a Doctoral (PhD) degree in one of the following programs:

  • Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering

Each program is unique and has its own set of requirements in order to complete the degree. Those requirements include:

  • Coursework
  • Qualifying Exams
    • Only required of the Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering programs
  • A PhD Candidacy Exam
    • Usually taken after completing coursework and before writing the Dissertation.
    • Contains a written and oral component
  • Final Defense of the Dissertation 

A PhD degree will typically take between 4 and 6 years to complete, depending on the background of the student pursuing it, whether or not they already have or are getting a Masters degree, and other factors.