Combined Degree Program

The combined degree program provides exceptional OSU Undergraduate students an opportunity to double-count credit from their undergraduate studies towards a graduate degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Nuclear Engineering.

Students can take classes that can be counted toward both their undergraduate and graduate degree. Per departmental policy, students pursuing the combined degree program can double-count up to nine hours toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees (for students starting autumn 2024).

Who can apply to the combined degree program?

Students who have earned at least 90 cumulative semester hours and are enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering disciplines, and have a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average or better in all previous undergraduate coursework, may apply. Students must at least be enrolled in their first semester of junior level engineering coursework to apply to the program.

Which courses can be used?

All undergraduate requirements in the student's respective program must still be met. In order to receive graduate credit the courses must be letter-graded and meet the following requirements:

Must be 5000-level or higher
Must meet the course requirements for the graduate degree being pursued
Must be taken upon enrolling in the combined degree program
Must not be a capstone course

Technical electives are the most frequent means of satisfying the requirements above, but relevant graduate courses in other subjects, such as mathematics, are an option as well. Coursework taken prior to joining the combined degree program cannot be counted for graduate credit under any means.

Program Paths

Skills Developed

Research and Analysis Skills

Thesis students will hone their ability to conduct rigorous research, assess existing literature, and employ advanced methodologies to gather and analyze data. Through this process, they learn to identify gaps in knowledge and contribute valuable insights to their field. This fosters the capacity to adapt theories to practical scenarios and devise creative solutions.

Specialized Technical Knowledge

Students will cultivate strong problem-solving and critical thinking capabilities. Scholars learn to approach intricate engineering issues by applying analytical skills, evaluating various approaches, and synthesizing new strategies.

Communication and Presentation Skills

Students develop excellent communication and presentation abilities, essential for both academic and professional settings. They can articulate their research effectively, write comprehensive theses adhering to academic standards, and deliver compelling presentations to diverse audiences, showcasing their findings and methodologies. These skills are vital for sharing knowledge and driving advancements in engineering.

Undergraduate Honors Research

Students pursing the research path are strongly encouraged to participate in Honor's Undergraduate Research. Students should be talking with their faculty advisors about the benefits of this program and implications on their graduate studies plans.

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Skills Developed

Professional Development

Provide students with opportunities to work with industry partners, giving them valuable networking opportunities, exposure to different career paths, and experience working in multidisciplinary teams.

Personalized Learning

Students in this program will have the opportunity to work with faculty advisors to tailor their learning experience to their specific interests and goals, allowing them to gain expertise in areas that are most relevant to their career aspirations.

Practical Skills

Students develop practical skills that are directly applicable to real-world engineering challenges.

Experiential Project Options

Graduate Capstone Course

Students may enroll in the graduate-level design-build course, and complete a team project over the span of 2 consecutive semesters.

Research Experience

Students may define and complete a research experience directly under the supervision of their MAE faculty advisor. This is typically a one-semester research experience. .

Internship

Students may complete a full-time internship outside of the University in an engineering-related field of application, for the duration of one academic period (e.g., Summer period). Students may seek support from their faculty advisor, Engineering Career Services or Graduate Education resources at COE for finding internship opportunities.

Application Requirements

Submit an application
Submit the Combined Degree Form
Submit a Statement of Purpose
Submit a CV/Resume
Submit a Personal Challenge Statement
Submit ALL post-secondary transcripts for credit received at any institution except those from Ohio State
- Any coursework you have completed at Ohio State will be obtained internally.
Submit letter(s) of recommendation
- Research Track: Your research advisor should write a letter of recommendation. If they are writing a letter, you only need to submit that letter. If they are not writing a letter, you need to submit 3 letters of recommendation.
- Experiential-Track: You need three letters of recommendation

Combined Degree Program