Skip to main content

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering  accepts applications from prospective MS, ME and PhD students in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. Details of the program requirements can be found here.

 

Why graduate school?

While entry-level engineering requires only a bachelor’s degree, advancement hinges on a higher level of education and training. Master’s degree requirement is increasing in the engineering industry, and doctoral degrees continue to be essential for high-level research as well as for academic teaching and research positions.

According to payscale.com a Master’s in mechanical engineering can, in just the first five years, net you up to $36,000 more than your expectation for a BS entry-level position.
An advanced degree enhances your potential for specialized focus areas.

Why now?

The longer you wait, the more you forget.

Obligations such as work, finances and family responsibilities can conflict with graduate school. Full-time work makes an academic load last for five to six years (more for a PhD).

Why Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at New Mexico State University?

With over a century of tradition and excellence, research is the foundation of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program.

Our Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering graduates are highly sought after by companies and government laboratories including: Los Alamos, Sandia National Laboratories, NASA White Sands, US Army, IBM, Dell, GM, Ford, and Delphi Automotive Systems. Many students complete their M.S. studies at NMSU and continue on for the Ph.D. degree at NMSU and other universities.

 

Master Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Areas of active research in mechanical engineering include the following:

  • computational and experimental fluid mechanics,
  • energy systems and components,
  • thermal management,
  • modeling and analysis of machining processes,
  • micromechanics and cross property connections,
  • computational mechanics with application to material properties,
  • renewable energy,
  • nonlinear dynamics and vibration,
  • reduced order modeling in multibody dynamics,
  • structural dynamics and fluids,
  • robotics,
  • composite materials and nanomaterials.

Areas of active research in aerospace engineering include the following:

  • computational, theoretical and experimental aerodynamics,
  • vortex dynamics,
  • flow control,
  • aeroelasticity and flutter,
  • space dynamics and control,
  • propulsion,
  • structural health monitoring, and
  • unmanned aerial systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Note: only minimum requirements are listed here for reference purpose. Meeting the minimum requirements does NOT guarantee admission.

What are the DEADLINES for applying for Financial Aid and for Admission to your department?

To be considered for a teaching assistantship, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Graduate Coordinator must receive a Mechanical Engineering Financial Support Form and three Financial Support Reference Forms by August 15 for students applying for a teaching assistantship for the Fall Semester, and by December 15 for students applying for a teaching assistantship for the Spring Semester.

Students must be admitted into the Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program prior to these deadlines. New students applying to the Mechanical/Aeropace Engineering Graduate Program for the first time should have completed the graduate school application packet no later than March 1 for students applying for the Fall Semester and no later than October 1 for students applying for the Spring Semester.

Teaching assistantships are rarely available during the Summer I and Summer II sessions.

Do you require GRE?

All students applying for admission to Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The suggested minimum score for students applying for our graduate programs is: Verbal + Quantitative > 294 (new scale) or > 1000 (old scale). Please note that this is only the minimum requirements for reference purpose. Meeting this minimum does not guarantee admission. Usually, applicants need a higher score to be competitive.

What is the minimum GPA required by your department?

Master’s Degree Program: Students holding a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from a school accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) are eligible for regular admission to graduate study in Mechanical Engineering if their grade point average is 3.0 or above (based on a 4.0 scale). Doctoral Program: Students having a Master’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from an accredited school are eligible for regular admission to graduate study in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering if their grade point is 3.3 or above (based on a 4.0 scale) during the graduate program. Students are allowed to apply for the Doctoral Program directly after receiving a bachelor’s degree if their graduate point average is 3.3 or above (based on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate study.

Can I apply for the Doctoral Program directly after receiving a bachelor’s degree?

Students can apply for the Doctoral Program directly after receiving a bachelor’s degree.

Can I get an idea about my chance of being admitted and receiving financial aid prior to submitting an application and supporting documents?

No. It is not possible for anyone to appraise an applicant’s chances for admission and financial aid without a complete application.