The Academic Advising Manuals provide detailed information about the degree requirements for the MSE and PhD programs, as well as information about department administrative procedures and student life.

All Ph.D. students and “essay” master’s students must complete an annual graduate student evaluation with their advisors, which are due to the department by June 30. The advisors will initiate this process with their students starting in March, with completed evaluations due to the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu by June 30.

For students with more than one advisor – both advisors should participate in the evaluation process and must sign the evaluation form.

For students with a primary advisor outside the Department of Mechanical Engineering and have a second advisor who is a full-time tenure-track Mechanical Engineering professor – both professors must participate in the evaluation and sign the evaluation form.

For master’s students completing an essay who are working on the essay with a professor other than their primary advisor – both professors must participate in the evaluation and sign the evaluation form.

Incomplete evaluation forms will be returned to the student for completion.

All Whiting School of Engineering graduate students will register for courses with credits. Some things to know:

  • The Mechanical Engineering degree requirements do not change, even with credits assigned to courses. Degree requirements are still counted by number of courses, not number of credits.
  • All Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) graduate-level courses (.600-level or higher) have credits assigned to them. Visit the Whiting School’s “Graduate Credit Hours” page for more information, including what to do if registering for a course that lists no credits and the maximum number of credits in which a student can be enrolled.
  • Audited courses do not count toward your full-time credit load nor toward the degree requirements.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if taking less than a full-time credit load of 9 credits.

MASTER’S – FULL-TIME
To maintain full-time status, all WSE graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits.

Master’s students will be enrolled in at least 9 credits per semester.

Students can achieve full-time status by registering for any combination of courses and seminars, as approved by one’s advisor. SIS is set to select appropriate credits:

  • Seminars – 1 credit
  • WSE courses, both undergraduate and graduate – 3 or 4 credits each
  • EN.530.820 Master’s Graduate Research (through Spring 2022) or EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (Fall 2022 and later) – 3-10 credits
  • EN.530.821 Master’s Essay – Research and Writing (through Spring 2022) or EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (Fall 2022 and later) – 3-10 credits
  • EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op – 3-10 credits
  • NOTE:
    • International Students:  if you wish to drop or withdraw from a course where the resulting course load is less than the required 9-credits, please first consult with the Office of International Services to discuss whether this decision will keep you compliant with F-1 visa regulations.
    • Those creating an essay will enroll for one of the essay courses when doing essay research and writing, typically in the last one or two semesters. While the course can grant 3-10 credits per semester, most students will register for 3 or 6 credits per semester. Students must check with their faculty advisors to confirm when to register for the course.
    • Audited courses do not count toward your full-time credit load nor toward the degree requirements.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if taking less than a full-time credit load of 9 credits.
    • Krieger School of Arts and Sciences’ graduate-level courses will not have credits listed in SIS, but will be recognized as 3-4 credits toward one’s full-time credit load.
    • When dropping and adding courses, SIS will not allow you to drop courses if the credit load drops below the 9-credit full-time threshold. Add new courses first, and then drop the courses you wish to drop.
    • If you wish to change to part-time status, visit the “Master’s – Part-Time” section to learn more.

MASTER’S – PART-TIME
Master’s students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering may become eligible for part-time status.

“ALL-COURSE” MASTER’S STUDENTS
All “all-course” master’s students must register full-time most or all semesters for a minimum of nine credits.

  • American students, once the one-year/two-semester full-time residency status is met, can register for 3-8 credits as a part-time student for remaining semesters.
  • International students must maintain their full-time status in every semester except the last one, if less than nine credits are needed to complete the degree requirements.  Visit the Office of International Services’ “Full-Time Study Requirements” page that explains U.S. federal law on maintaining F-1 visas, which requires students to maintain full-time status, unless if in the final semester a course load less than full-time is needed to complete the degree requirements.  See below about submitting a Reduced Course Workload form to go part-time.

“ESSAY” MASTER’S STUDENTS

  • American students, after meeting the minimum two-semester “full-time” residency requirement – where a student pays full-time tuition for a minimum of two semesters –  who have not yet completed the research to the point where the final and sole activity is essay writing must maintain their “residency” status, but can register “part-time” by registering for 3-8 credits for remaining semesters.
  • International students must maintain their full-time status in every semester except the last one, if less than nine credits are needed to complete the degree requirements, such as when completing an essay.  Visit the Office of International Services’ “Full-Time Study Requirements” page that explains U.S. federal law on maintaining F-1 visas, which requires students to maintain full-time status, unless if in the final semester a course load less than full-time is needed to complete the degree requirements.  See below about submitting a Reduced Course Workload form to go part-time.

For each semester where essay research and writing occurs, students must register for one of these courses, typically in the last one or two semesters. While the course can grant 3-10 credits per semester, most students will register for 3 or 6 credits per semester. Students must check with their faculty advisors to confirm when to register for the course EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research.

For International Students

International students completing the degree with an Essay – Co-Op option must also enroll for EN.500.851 Engineering Research Practicum and apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Visit these sites for information:

PART-TIME TUITION
Students are charged tuition per-credit, which in the 2024-25 academic year is ~$2,158 per-credit. The student’s advisor or the department may choose to cover this charge, but that is not guaranteed.

PART-TIME HEALTH INSURANCE
While part-time master’s students are eligible to remain on the University’s student health insurance plan, they must pay the full health insurance premium. There is no financial aid for health insurance for part-time students.

COURSE REGISTRATION
The Mechanical Engineering department requires enrollment in courses:

  • Any remaining courses for the degree – 3-4 credits each
  • Research and Writing – EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research

Students must enroll in a total of six credits for the essay courses, either one semester for six credits or two semesters for three credits each.

PART-TIME RESTRICTIONS

  • Audited courses do not count toward your full-time credit load nor toward the degree requirements.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if taking less than a full-time credit load of 9 credits.
  • Part-time American students are ineligible to work as a student worker, including as a Teaching Assistant; but part-time international students are still eligible to work as a student worker, including as a Teaching Assistant.
  • Part-time students enrolled in the University health insurance must pay the full premium, which in 2023-24 is $1,168.50 in Fall 2024 and $1,947.50 in Spring 2025.

HOW TO OBTAIN PART-TIME STATUS

  • Contact the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu to confirm eligibility to switch. He will notify the Registrar upon confirmation of eligibility to switch.
  • International students also must complete the Reduced Course Load E-form request.
    • Go to iHopkins
    • Click on the blue Login button under “Students/Scholars/Int’l Employees with Active JHED ID.”
    • Login with your JHED ID and password
    • Click on “F-1 Student Services” drop down menu
    • Then click on “F-1 Reduced Course Load Form” and complete it.

Visit the Whiting School Graduate Credit Hours page for information.

MASTER’S – NON-RESIDENCY
“ALL-COURSE” MASTER’S STUDENTS
Students taking the “all-course” master’s degree are not eligible for non-residency status.

“ESSAY” MASTER’S STUDENTS
Whiting School graduate students are eligible for non-residency status when all degree requirements except the writing of the master’s essay are complete. The essay research must be finished before the non-resident status can be requested.

Students going on a co-op experience for their master’s essay will be considered non-resident and must apply for non-resident status.  Students must complete all other course requirements before going on a co-op.

Whiting School graduate students are typically granted only one semester of non-residency with the expectation that the essay will be written, read, and approved in that semester. The Whiting School will consider exception requests for an additional semester of non-residency.

NON-RESIDENT TUITION
Non-resident students pay only 10% of the full-time tuition but will still have all the privileges of full-time students such as access to campus services and faculty advising.

COURSE REGISTRATION
Non-resident students must register in EN.910.600 Non-Resident Status (Fall or Spring) or EN.500.805 Non-Resident Status (Summer 2022 and every Summer term after) for 9 credits.. In addition to the non-resident course, Master’s Co-Op students would also register for EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op (6 credits).

NON-RESIDENT RESTRICTIONS
Non-resident students cannot enroll in courses and would lose the Whiting School’s financial support for health insurance. The department could choose to cover health insurance charges, but that is not guaranteed.

Non-resident students are automatically enrolled in health insurance, but can waive the insurance, if eligible for waiver by proof of enrollment in another health insurance plan with similar coverage.

To maintain non-resident status, students will have to register for non-resident status each semester and provide a letter explaining their progress toward the degree’s completion.

HOW TO OBTAIN NON-RESIDENT STATUS

  • Contact the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu to confirm eligibility for non-resident status.
  • Complete the Non-Resident Status application form and send it to the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu, who will send it to the Whiting School Academic Affairs office for review and approval.
  • If the Non-Resident request is denied, a student may be eligible for part-time status.

RESOURCES

All Whiting School of Engineering graduate students will register for courses with credits. Some things to know:

  • The Mechanical Engineering degree requirements do not change, even with credits assigned to courses. Degree requirements are still counted by number of courses, not number of credits.
  • All Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) graduate-level courses (.600-level or higher) have credits assigned to them. Visit the Whiting School’s “Graduate Credit Hours” page for more information, including what to do if registering for a course that lists no credits.
  • Audited courses do not count toward your full-time credit load nor toward the degree requirements.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if taking less than a full-time credit load of 9 credits.

Ph.D. – FULL-TIME
To maintain full-time status, all WSE graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits, but PhD students must be enrolled in at least 20 credits per semester. The maximum per-semester enrollment limit is 25 credits.

Ph.D. students can achieve at least 20 credits by registering for any combination of courses and seminars, as approved by one’s advisor. SIS is set to select appropriate credits:

  • Seminars – 1 credit
    • EN.530.803 Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar
      • Through Spring 2019 – this course is required for all Ph.D. students of all years.
      • Since Fall 2019 – this course is required only for first, second, and third year Ph.D. students. Those beginning their fourth year or later in Fall 2019 are no longer required to take this course.
    • Other seminars as your advisor requests or requires.
  • WSE courses, both undergraduate and graduate – 3 or 4 credits each
  • EN.530.801 PhD Graduate Research – 3-20 credits (required every semester)
  • NOTE:
    • Audited courses do not count toward a full-time credit load.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if an audited course is taken outside the Spring or Fall semesters and when a student is part-time during any semester.
    • Krieger School of Arts and Sciences’ graduate-level courses will not have credits listed in SIS, but will be recognized as 3-4 credits toward one’s full-time credit load.
    • When dropping and adding courses, SIS will not allow you to drop courses if the credit load drops below the 9-credit full-time threshold. Add new courses first, and then drop the courses you wish to drop.
    • If you wish to change to part-time status, visit the “PhD – Part-Time” tab of this section to learn more.
    • If you wish to drop or change courses in SIS but cannot because of the minimum-20-credit requirement, see the “Course Registration – Changing Credits on Research Courses” section of this page to learn how to do this.
    • If there is a need to register for more than 25 credits, please contact Academic Program Manager Mike Bernard. The Whiting School will consider exceptions to allow this.

Ph.D. – PART-TIME
Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. students may switch to part-time status after the successful completion of the Graduate Board Oral examination and the Teaching Assistant requirement, with approval of both the research advisor and the Graduate Program Chair, as well as the Office of International Services for international students.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Visit the Office of International Services’ “Full-Time Study Requirements” page that explains U.S. federal law on maintaining F-1 visas, which requires international students to always maintain full-time status, unless if in the final semester a course load less than full-time is needed to complete the degree requirements.

PART-TIME TUITION
Students are charged tuition per-credit.  See the Student Accounts Tuition and Fees page for info on tuition costs per-credit. The student’s advisor or the department may choose to cover this charge, but that is not guaranteed.

COURSE REGISTRATION
Part-time students will take three credits of EN.530.801 Graduate Research each semester.

Part-time students or their advisors will pay the part-time per-credit tuition.

PART-TIME RESTRICTIONS

  • Audited courses do not count toward a full-time credit load.  No academic credit will be given but tuition will be charged per-credit if an audited course is taken outside the Spring or Fall semesters and when a student is part-time during any semester.
  • Part-time American students are ineligible to work as a student worker, including as a Teaching Assistant; but part-time international students are still eligible to work as a student worker, including as a Teaching Assistant.
  • Part-time students enrolled in the University health insurance must pay the full premium, which in 2024-25 is $1,168.50 in Fall 2024 and $1,947.50 in Spring 2025.

HOW TO OBTAIN PART-TIME STATUS

  • Contact Academic Program Manager Mike Bernard to confirm eligibility to switch.
  • Obtain approval from both the research advisor and the Graduate Program Chair
  • International students must first obtain approval from the International Office.

Visit the Whiting School Graduate Credit Hours page for information.

Ph.D. – NON-RESIDENCY
Whiting School graduate students are eligible for non-residency status when all degree requirements except the writing of the dissertation are complete. The dissertation research must be finished before the non-resident status can be obtained.

Whiting School graduate students are typically granted only one semester of non-residency with the expectation that the dissertation will be written and prepared for the final Graduate Board Oral (GBO) Exam/disseration defense in that semester. The Final GBO Exam/dissertation defense can occur during that semester or shortly thereafter. The Whiting School will consider exception requests for an additional semester of non-residency.

Note:  PhD students who started before Spring 2023 and who took the Graduate Board Oral exam before the dissertation defense, typically by the students’ third years, must earn an unconditional pass and complete all other requirements and research before applying for non-residency to write their dissertations.

NON-RESIDENT TUITION
Non-resident students pay only 10% of the full-time tuition but will still have all the privileges of full-time students such as access to campus services and faculty advising.

NON-RESIDENT RESTRICTIONS
Non-resident students cannot enroll in courses and would lose the Whiting School’s financial support for health insurance. The department could choose to cover health insurance charges, but that is not guaranteed.

Non-resident students are automatically enrolled in health insurance, but can waive the insurance, if eligible for waiver by proof of enrollment in another health insurance plan with similar coverage.

To maintain non-resident status, students will have to register for non-resident status each semester and provide a letter explaining their progress toward the degree’s completion.

HOW TO OBTAIN NON-RESIDENT STATUS

  • Contact the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu if you are unsure of your eligibility for non-resident status.  They will help you confirm, if you need.
  • Complete the Non-Resident Status application form for Whiting School form and send it to the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu.  They will send the form to the Whiting School Academic Affairs office for approval.
  • If the Non-Resident request is denied, a student may be eligible for part-time status.

RESOURCES

Ph.D. – NON-RESIDENT STUDY-AWAY
Sometimes, Ph.D. students will study for an extended period off-campus, usually either because they have an opportunity for a special internship or research experience at a company or laboratory or because their advisor will work for an extended period at another university where it would be best for the students to join the professor at that location. In these cases, Non-Resident Study Away may be an appropriate option.

  • Students must complete all required course work and earn an unconditional pass on their preliminary Graduate Board Oral examination before starting the Non-Resident Study Away status.
  • Tuition costs are reduced to 10% of standard tuition.
  • Salary is still paid at the standard annual graduate student rate.
  • Students may return to campus in a resident status, as determined by the department and advisor.

RESOURCES

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Occasionally, extenuating circumstances may require graduate students to take a leave of absence from their studies.

Graduate students may apply for up to two semesters of leave of absence when medical conditions, compulsory military service, or personal or family hardship prevents them from continuing their graduate studies.

Visit the Homewood Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs page for Leave of Absence. Select the appropriate form to either request, extend, or return from a Leave of Absence.

The forms will explain that student privileges, degree progress, and access to health insurance may be affected. Contact the Registrar’s health insurance staff at JHUStudentBenefits@jhu.edu to discuss your situation and determine what options exist.

Please complete the form, obtain the appropriate signatures, and obtain the required documentation as noted on the form, and send  the completed form and supporting documentation to the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu, who will submit the request to the Whiting School’s Associate Vice Dean for Graduate Affairs, Christine Kavanagh for review and approval. Students will be notified upon approval.

Credits on research courses can vary, generally from 3-10 credits for master’s research and 3-20 credits for Ph.D. research courses. Occasionally, the number of credits may have to be changed during the semester either to maintain a required full-time status when another course is to be dropped or changed. Also, credits may be changed to reflect the true amount of work being performed in a current research course.

Once a student registers for a research course, the selected number of credits cannot be changed directly in SIS, but it can be changed by submitting a request on the Student Enrollment and Account management system > Records and Registration > “Other records and registration topic” button, then scroll to the Request Support button.  Explain that you would like to change the number of credits in EN.530.801 Graduate Research or whatever research course whose credits you are changing.

If the change in credits will result in enrollment below full-time status (at least nine credits), students must first obtain permission to switch to part-time status. Visit the “Course Registration – Credits, Full-Time, Part-Time, Residency” bar on this page for eligibility and information on how to make the request.

Registration Instructions

Visit the Registrar’s Graduate Registration page for information on how to register for courses, how to change grading from letter grades to audit and back, adding and dropping courses, withdrawals, and the deadlines to take action.

Course Schedule and Catalog

Visit the Schedule and Catalog pages for course information.

Unable to Register in SIS?

Sometimes, students are unable to register for courses in SIS, such as when courses have reached their enrollment limit, students who have met prerequisites in an alternate way, if a student must retroactively enroll in a class for a previous semester or after the current semester’s registration period ended, or if instructor approval is required.

NEW and easier process (updated September 30 and October 8, 2024):

  • Submit a request to the Student Enrollment and Account Management (SEAM) system > Browse All Topics > Records and Registration > Add/drop inquiry > Sign-In to Request Support (or “Request Support” if already signed in). Scroll down to the blue button to create a SEAM case. Complete the request and state that the case should be tagged to the Mechanical Engineering academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu and your advisor along with his or her e-mail address.  If you already obtained approval to enroll by e-mail from your advisor or the academic staff, you can upload those e-mails, as well.  Then submit the form. You will get a confirmation e-mail with your case number.
  • The SEAM staff for the Registrar will follow up as needed directly with the department, advisor, department head, and/or Christine Kavanagh, Associate Vice Dean in the Whiting School Graduate Affairs office to obtain approval to change or update your course registration. Once all necessary approvals are received, the SEAM staff will then complete your registration request.

Under no circumstances should students be seeking out Christine Kavanagh for course registration approvals at her office or by e-mail.  She is able to accept registration requests only from the SEAM staff in the process described above.

Course Exception Waiver Form

Use the Course Exception Waiver Form (Graduate) anytime that you are taking and counting a class outside of the usual requirements for the degree. These substitutions must be preapproved by your academic advisor and may also need the department’s and/or the Whiting School’s approval.

You and your advisor must complete and sign the form, and then send it to the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu.

Canvas

Canvas is the portal to course information and activities. Check out the Start-of-Term Tips for Students page on how to connect to your courses. The JHU Center for Educational Resources can help you with questions at cerweb@jhu.edu.

 

Many interesting and relevant online Mechanical Engineering and other engineering courses are available via our Engineering for Professionals program.

  • Up to two Engineering for Professionals courses can be counted toward the master’s degree.
  • Visit the EP Courses page to find available courses. The page can be filtered to select Mechanical Engineering courses.
  • Please discuss proposed Engineering for Professionals courses with your faculty advisor to confirm that they would qualify for your degree.

To register for courses offered by the Engineering for Professionals program, courses numbered EN.xx5.xxx, you must register using the Interdivisional Course Registration form. Please visit the Registrar’s Interdivisional Registration page for info and the form. Select the IDR – Engineering form.

Most of the form should be self-explanatory, but just in case:

  • In the upper right corner, select and complete the semester, e.g. “Fall 20__” as Fall 2021 or “Spring 20..” as Spring 2022.
  • Host Division – select “EP”
  • Classification – select “Degree Candidate”
  • Program or Dept of Study – Mechanical Engineering
  • In the “Interdivisional Courses for Which Cross-Registration is Sought” section, the course number is split into four sections, for example, if registering for the course EN.535.641, Section 1
    • Division = EN
    • Department = 535
    • Course # = 641
    • Section = 01
  • Leave the tuition rate, audit, and terms offered blank
  • Have your advisor sign the form.  You don’t need an Academic Advising Office signature.

Once the form is completed, submit the form to the Student Enrollment and Account Management (SEAM) system > Records and Registration > Add/drop inquiry.  Complete the info on the request and upload your form to the request and submit. You will get a confirmation e-mail with your case number.  The Registrar will then register you.

The M.S.E. degree may be a final degree or it may be earned en route to the Ph.D. Either way, the requirements remain the same, and the advisor’s approval is required. Students who complete the M.S.E. degree are not automatically admitted to the Ph.D. program.

University Requirements

To fulfill, the University-wide requirements, you must complete:

  • A minimum of two semesters as a full-time resident graduate student. They don’t need to be consecutive semesters, but for international students, most will be full-time every semester except possibly the last semester.
  • Course registration every semester.
  • EN.500.603 Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics
  • AS.360.624 (online) or AS.360.625 (in-person) Responsible Conduct of Research – see the policy page for details on which to take
  • Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting – Certifier, and Opioid Epidemic Awareness training courses.
    • Access these courses at MyJHU.edu.
    • Sign in with your JHED ID and password.
    • On the left blue bar, select the “Education” icon, then the “My Learning” icon.
    • Search for the following courses:
      • “Opioid Epidemic Awareness and Education Program”
      • “Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention”
      • “Effort Reporting – Certifier”
    • Select the “Take Course” icon to take the course. Each course takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

The department requirements for an M.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering are described in Sections “A” and “B”:

Section A:  Completion of a set of advanced one-semester courses as approved by your advisor.

  • Six courses, each 3-credits or more from any department other than the Center for Leadership Education.
  • Additional courses totaling 6 credits – which can include any of these options:
    • Two 3-credit courses from any department other than the Center for Leadership Education.
    • One 3-credit (or more) course from any department and up to 3 credits from the Center for Leadership Education (EN.660.xxx, EN.662.xxx, and EN.663.xxx), either two 1.5-credit courses or one 3-credit course.
    • Six credits from the Center for Leadership Education, any combination of 1.5-credit or 3-credit courses.

In addition…

  • At least four courses must be at the graduate level (xxx.600 or higher, up to two Engineering for Professionals xx5.4xx or higher).
  • No more than four courses may be at the advanced undergraduate level (full-time programs xxx.400 – xxx.499, Engineering for Professionals xx5.3xx).
  • At least two courses should be in applied mathematics, numerical analysis, or computational methods. This requirement can be waived in writing by your advisor, if sufficient prior preparation in these areas can be demonstrated.
  • Ineligible Courses: AS.370.602 American English Pronunciation, AS.370.603 Public Speaking in Academia, EN.530.800 Independent Study, EN.530.801 PhD Graduate Research, EN.530.820 MSE Graduate Research, EN.530.821 MSE Essay – Research and Writing, EN.530.822 MSE Essay – Co-Op, EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research, and all other departments’ Graduate Research, Independent Study, and Special Studies are not eligible courses. See Section B to see how MSE Graduate Research could be counted.
  • At least 4 courses if taking an “all-course” option, or at least 3 if writing an essay – must be Mechanical Engineering or related courses:
    • EN.530.xxx Mechanical Engineering
    • Any of these courses:
      • EN.520.773 Advanced Topics in Fabrication and Microengineering
      • Intro to Linear Systems – any one of EN.530.616, EN.520.601, or EN.580.616.
      • EN.560.449 / EN.560.649 Energy Systems
      • EN.560.772 Nonlinear Finite Element Methods
      • EN.560.773 Finite Element Methods
      • EN.580.451/452 (Fall/Spring) – Cell and Tissue Engineering
    • EN.535.xxx – courses from the Engineering for Professionals (EP) program.
      • For all current and incoming students enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester – no more than three “EP” courses can count. This is to accommodate those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
      • For students matriculating in Spring 2021 and later – no more than two “EP” courses can count.

Section B: Plus either:

COURSE OPTION

  • Two additional one-semester graduate-level courses, at least 6 total credits (xx.xxx.6xx or higher, Engineering for Professionals EN.xx5.4xx or higher)
  • EN.530.820 MSE All-Course – Graduate Research (through Spring 2022) or EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (Fall 2022 and later)
    • BS/MSE and MSE students only: one of these two courses can be EN.530.820 or EN.530.823
    • PhD students earning the MSE degree cannot count EN.530.820 or EN.530.823.
  • Ineligible Courses: EN.530.800 Independent Study, EN.530.821 Master’s Essay – Research and Writing, EN.530.822 Master’s – Co-Op, EN.530.801 Ph.D. Graduate Research, and other departments’ Graduate Research, Independent Study, and Special Studies are not eligible courses to complete Section B’s requirement.

ESSAY OPTION

  • An M.S.E. essay (the official title of master’s theses at Johns Hopkins) acceptable to your advisor and one other eligible reader.
  • There are two options to complete the essay:
    • Conduct Laboratory Research – Register for EN.530.821 Master’s Essay – Research and Writing (through Spring 2022) or EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (Fall 2022 and later) for semester(s) when research and writing are done. Learn more about the master’s essay here!
    • Work in Co-Op – Register for EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op for semester(s) when co-op and writing are done. Learn more about the Co-Op program here!
  • EN.530.821, EN.530.822, and EN.530.823 do not count as one of the eight courses required in addition to the essay. The courses are generally the equivalent of six credits and can be taken in one semester or split into three-credit courses over two semesters. If a student needs subsequent semesters to continue essay work, he or she can simply register for the same course each semester.
  • For International Students – International students completing the degree with an Essay – Co-Op option must also enroll for EN.500.851 Engineering Research Practicum and apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). This course is not graded. Visit these sites for information:

Research Requirements

If conducting research, either by taking EN.530.820 MSE All-Course – Graduate Research, EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research, completing an essay, or taking a research course in another department you must also complete the eight Laboratory Safety Assessment online modules and, for some, the optional EN.500.601 Research Laboratory Safety lecture course.

    • The online modules are available on MyJHU.edu.
    • Sign in with your JHED ID and password.
    • On the left blue bar, select the “Education” icon, then the “My Learning” icon.
    • Search for “Laboratory Safety Assessment.” You will see 8 parts. Take them all. Each will take 30-60 minutes to complete.

For more information, visit the Whiting School of Engineering’s Homewood-based Graduate Programs policies page, which lists all policies which graduate students must follow.

EN.530.821 Master’s Essay – Research and Writing (through Spring 2022) or EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (Fall 2022 and later)
EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op

Students must enroll in the appropriate course when doing essay research or co-op for each semester where such work is done, typically in the last one or two semesters. While the courses can grant 3-10 credits per semester, most students will register for 3 or 6 credits. Students must check with their faculty advisors to confirm when to register for the appropriate course.

These courses do not count as one of the eight courses required in addition to the essay. Both courses are generally the equivalent of six credits and can be taken in one semester or split into three-credit courses taken over two semesters. If a student needs subsequent semesters to continue essay work, he or she can simply register for the same course each semester.

According to the Graduate Board’s Procedures for Administration of Approved Policies for the Award of Advanced Degrees, “Thesis [essay] readers are selected and appointed by the chair or appropriate faculty of the sponsoring department or committee. Any duly appointed member of a department or committee holding the rank of assistant professor or higher (excluding lecturers) is eligible for selection as a referee without prior approval. The Graduate Board Office must approve readers from outside the University, or from any non-Ph.D. sponsoring department, laboratory or institute within the University.”

For International Students

International students completing the degree with an Essay – Co-Op option must also enroll for EN.500.851 Engineering Research Practicum and apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Visit these sites for information:

Visiting the Whiting School’s “Graduate – Full-Time Academic Policies” page for information on policies that affect students and degree programs, including transferring courses from outside institutions and double-counting courses from another Hopkins degree.

View the MSE Sample Programs sheet, which provides a visual look at the various master’s degree programs that we offer, which can be a guide for course planning.

You can use this Excel Checkout Sheet to plan your course work. You can also use this Adobe Acrobat MSE Certificate of Completion to plan your courses, both which provides degree requirements.

Your academic advisor or the academic staff can help you with planning your coursework.  Be sure to view the degree requirements on this page or in the master’s academic advising manual, which is available on the top of this page.

Degree Timelines

Students can generally expect to complete their degrees in these timeframes. Note that individual experiences may vary.

5th Year Masters – All-Course or Essay – Research and Writing (Johns Hopkins MechE department alumni only)

  • Junior/Senior Undergraduate Years
    • Double-count two.400-level or higher academic courses from the Bachelor’s Degree.
    • Take two courses that count for the master’s degree but do not count for the Bachelor’s Degree.
  • 5th Year Master’s – Semester 1
    • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Take three academic courses
    • If taking or planning to take a research course or writing an essay, register for and complete:
      • The required eight Lab Safety modules and possibly the optional EN.500.601 Research Lab Safety course.
      • AS.360.624 online Responsible Conduct of Research course.
      • EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research, 3 credits *
  • 5th Year Master’s – Semester 2
    • All-Course: Take three academic courses and graduate.
    • Essay:
      • Take one academic course
      • Register for EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research, 3 credits *
      • Continue essay research and begin writing the essay.
      • Complete the essay, have readers approve, submit essay to the library, and then graduate. Note that some students writing an essay may need a third semester to complete the program.

* If a student is taking a research course for the essay in their undergraduate years, they cannot register for graduate-level independent work. In this case, the department will accept EN.530.501 Undergraduate Research.

If students do not take two courses outside the bachelor’s degree in their Undergraduate Years, they may have to return for a third semester. It is not recommended to take more than 3 courses in a semester. Please talk to your advisor first if you want to take more than 3 courses in one semester.

5th Year Masters – Essay Co-Op option (Johns Hopkins MechE department alumni only)

Junior/Senior Undergraduate Years

  • Double-count two .400-level academic courses from the Bachelor’s Degree.
  • Take at least two, but preferably three courses that count for the master’s degree but do not count for the Bachelor’s Degree.

Summer Before the Master’s Year (optional)

  • Take a 3-credit online graduate course with the Engineering for Professionals program.

Semester 1

  • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Take 3 or 4 academic courses.
    • Either take 3 courses if three extra master’s courses were taken before this semester or take 4 courses if two extra master’s courses were taken before this semester.
    • Note that taking 4 courses in the master’s semester is challenging. Careful planning and time management will be necessary to succeed.
  • Register for and complete:
    • …required eight Lab Safety online modules and optional EN.500.601 Research Lab Safety course.
    • AS.360.624 online Responsible Conduct of Research course.
  • Discuss essay topic with advisor and arrange for co-op
  • Apply for non-resident status for Semester 2 co-op

Semester 2

  • Begin co-op and write the essay.
  • Register for EN.910.600 (Fall and Spring) or EN.500.805 (Summer 2022 and every Summer term after) Non-Resident Status and EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op (6 credits)
  • Complete the essay, have readers approve, submit essay to the library, then graduate.

All-Course

  • Semester 1
    • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Take 3 academic courses
    • If taking or planning to take a research course, complete required Lab Safety modules
  • Semester 2 – take 3 courses
  • Summer Term (optional) – take a 3-credit online graduate course with the Engineering for Professionals program.
  • Semester 3 – take 3 courses
  • Semester 4 – take 1 course if not taken in the Summer Term.

It is not recommended to take more than 3 courses in a semester. Please talk to your advisor first if you want to take more than 3 courses in one semester.

Essay – Research and Writing

  • Semester 1
    • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Take 3 academic courses
  • Semester 2
    • Take 3 academic courses
    • Complete required Lab Safety modules
    • Discuss essay topic with advisor and possibly begin research
  • Semester 3
    • Take 2 academic courses,.
    • Begin or continue research, begin writing the essay and register for EN.530.821 Master’s Essay – Research and Writing (3 credits).
  • Semester 4
    • If additional research is needed before or while writing the essay, register as a part-time student and take EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research (3 credits).
    • If all research is complete and only writing the essay is needed, register as a non-resident student. You will be automatically enrolled in EN.910.600 Non-Resident Status (Fall or Spring) or EN.500.805 Non-Resident Status (Summer).  In  summer, if you are working on campus and are receiving pay, register for EN.530.897 Graduate Research – Summer (9 credits).
    • Complete the essay, have readers approve, submit essay to the library, then graduate.

Essay – Co-Op

Students must complete eight courses before beginning the co-op experience.

  • Semester 1
    • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Take 3 academic courses
  • Semester 2
    • Take 3 academic courses
    • Complete required Lab Safety modules
  • Semester 3
    • Take 2 academic courses.
    • International students will need to take a third academic course to remain in full-time status to keep compliant with F-1 visa rules. This third academic course will not count toward the master’s degree but will be useful for academic enrichment.
    • Discuss essay topic with advisor and arrange for co-op.
    • Apply for non-resident status for the 4th semester co-op.
  • Semester 4
    • Begin co-op and write the essay.
    • Register for EN.910.600 Non-Resident Status (Fall and Spring) or EN.500.805 Non-Resident Status (Summer 2022 and every Summer term after) and EN.530.822 Master’s Essay – Co-Op (6 credits)
    • Complete the essay, have readers approve, submit essay to the library, then graduate.

Our faculty welcomes master’s student participation in research, which greatly enhances your educational experience beyond coursework. Opportunities are available during the academic semesters, intersession, and summer through the course EN.530.823 MSE Graduate Research or through paid positions.

Three credits of EN.530.823 will count as one of the courses required for an “all-course” master’s degree.

  • Generally, 40 hours of research work = 1 credit.
  • Students must register in the first two weeks of the semester to earn independent research or study credit that semester. The University prohibits retroactive registration.

How?

To find research opportunities in Mechanical Engineering, contact the faculty directly to ask.

  • Visit the Faculty page for a list of our faculty and their research interests. There are links to their lab sites where you can view their research in detail.
  • Select a faculty member or two whose work interests you.
  • Be prepared to talk about what interests you about their research. On each Faculty member’s “full profile” pages are publications of their recent papers, which you can often look up in the MSE Library. Read a couple papers. While you won’t be expected to know, much less understand everything in the papers, that fact that you took interest and can discuss what you read will impress professors.
  • Sometimes, professors would like to see your resume and/or transcript, so keep those handy when you make your first contact.
  • Contact the faculty members of interest by e-mail, phone, or in person and express your interest in their research and that you would like to get involved in their research.

The Ph.D. degree certifies that the holder has demonstrated the ability to conduct independent research and develop new knowledge. The requirements for a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering are as follows:

Fulfill the University-wide requirements by:

  1. Completing a minimum of two consecutive semesters as a full-time resident graduate student,
  2. Register for courses every semester,
  3. Completing the following courses:
    • EN.500.603 Academic Ethics
    • AS.360.625 Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention and Opioid Epidemic Awareness training courses.
      • Access these courses at MyJHU.edu.
      • Sign in with your JHED ID and password.
      • On the left blue bar, select the “Education” icon, then the “My Learning” icon.
      • Search for the following courses:
        • “Opioid Epidemic Awareness and Education Program”
        • “Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention”
      • Select the “Take Course” icon to take the course. Each course takes about 1-2 hours to complete.
    • Required for all graduate students:  the eight Laboratory Safety Assessment online modules – the online modules are available on MyJHU.edu. Follow the instructions above and search for “Laboratory Safety Assessment.” You will see 8 parts. Take them all. Each will take 30-60 minutes to complete.
    • Optional EN.500.601 Research Laboratory Safety lecture course. The Laboratory Safety Assessment online modules are a pre-requisite to this course.
  4. Passing the Graduate Board Oral examination (GBO), and…
  5. Submitting and defending a dissertation approved by at least three referees appointed by the Mechanical Engineering Department faculty.

For more information, visit the Whiting School of Engineering’s Homewood-based Graduate Programs policies page, which lists all policies which graduate students must follow.

In addition to the University-wide requirements, students must:

  1. Pass the Departmental Qualifying Examination (DQE) before the start of the fifth semester as a doctoral candidate. This examination is preliminary to the GBO and its primary purpose is to evaluate the candidate’s suitability for continuing study.
  2. Act as Teaching Assistant to at least two Mechanical Engineering courses for approximately 10-15 hours per week during the semester.
  3. While a student maintains full-time status (that is, not change to non-resident status), each student must register for and pass these courses:
    • EN.530.801 Graduate Research – every semester as a Ph.D. student
    • EN.530.803 Mechanical Engineering Seminar by attending the required number of presentations, which are 12 seminars with at least 8 presented at the MechE seminar. This course required only for first, second, and third year Ph.D. students. Those beginning their fourth year or later in Fall 2019 are no longer required to take this course.
  4. Earn an appropriate grade for all classes taken, as described in the “Academic Performance Requirements” section of the Ph.D. Graduate Advising manual.

Degree Timelines

Students can generally expect the degree program experience to unfold in these time frames:

Year 1

  • Discuss program plan with advisor to determine academic courses, research topics, and research plan
  • Complete the required introductory online courses: Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics, Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention, Effort Reporting-Certifier, Opioid Epidemic Awareness, Laboratory Safety modules, and Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Take academic courses
  • Take required Graduate Research and MechE Graduate Seminar courses
  • Begin preliminary research work as determined by your advisor
  • Work with advisor to create annual evaluation
  • Prepare for Departmental Qualifier Exam

Year 2

  • Take academic courses
  • Take required in-person course: AS.360.625 Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Take required Graduate Research and MechE Graduate Seminar courses
  • Act as a Teaching Assistant for one of two required courses
  • Take Departmental Qualifier Exam in mid-September
  • Continue research work, start discussion on dissertation topic
  • Work with advisor to create annual evaluation.

Year 3

  • Take academic courses, as needed
  • Take required Graduate Research and MechE Graduate Seminar courses
  • Continue research work, continue discussion and decide on dissertation topic
  • Act as a Teaching Assistant for the second of two required courses
  • Prepare for and take (preliminary) Graduate Board Oral exam
  • Work with advisor to create annual evaluation

Year 4

  • Take required Graduate Research course
  • Work with advisor to create annual evaluation
  • Continue research work and hone dissertation topic. Perhaps begin writing it.

Year 5

  • Take required Graduate Research course
  • Work with advisor to create annual evaluation
  • Write dissertation
  • Prepare for and complete the Dissertation Defense. The University also sometimes calls this the “Final Graduate Board Oral exam.”
  • Prepare completed dissertation for submission to the JHU Library for publication
  • Graduate!

Individual experiences may vary.

View the Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Graduate Student manual for information.  Visit the Advising Manuals bar at the top of the page for the current manual.

Section 3.3 describes Departmental Qualifying Examinations (DQEs)

  • Please read this section with your advisor early in your time here to become familiar with suggested courses to prepare for the exam.
  • The academic staff will arrange DQE schedules beginning in summer, and will contact students and professors directly. Professors will complete the DQE Scheduling Request Form as part of the scheduling process.
  • The DQEs usually take place in September, with occasional exceptions.
  • Students usually take the DQE after the completion of the second semester.
  • Please contact John to explain unusual circumstances or otherwise request to take the DQE at a different time.

Sections 5 and 6 describe the Graduate Board Oral Examination and Dissertation Defense

  • Section 5 describes the new process for the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and the combined final GBO and Dissertation Defense.
  • Section 6 describes the legacy process for the preliminary GBO and Dissertation Defense, administered separately.

Please see those sections for information on how to schedule the GBO and Dissertation Defense.  The academic staff will assist with scheduling.  Visit the Preparing for Graduation page to ensure all steps are taken on time.

iPads are available from the department for use in remote or hybrid examinations.  Contact the academic staff at me-academic@jhu.edu for information on how to borrow one free of charge!

If you are struggling with any course homework or exams, having trouble attending lectures, or experiencing any academic or personal difficulties, don’t wait! Ask for help early. It’s totally okay and fully welcomed! We can help you surmount your troubles and succeed!

Here are some resources where to turn:

  • First, talk to your Professor, Faculty Advisor, or Teaching Assistant.
  • In addition, you can also talk to these folks, especially about personal struggles:
    • Your Mechanical Engineering Academic Staff – Mike Bernard or John Soos – 410-516-7154 or me-academic@jhu.edu
    • Allison Leventhal, Student Life Administrator – 410-516-2328 or aleventhal@jhu.edu
    • Christine Kavanagh, Associate Vice Dean of Graduate Affairs – 410-516-5938 or christinekavanagh@jhu.edu
    • Prof. Sri Sarma, Vice Dean for Graduate Education – 410-516-3481 or ssarma2@jhu.edu.

The Technical Communication Lab (TCL) serves as a free resource for all undergraduate and graduate students who need help improving written, oral, and visual communication.  The TCL offers free consultations in technical/professional writing, presentations and slides, interview practice, visual design, and ESL (English as a Second Language). In past semesters, their consultants have helped students polish papers for publication, prepare for important conference presentations, design flyers for research projects, improve their confidence in their English skills, work on their class assignments, and so much more!

Visit the TCL website and contact Senior Lecturer Amanda Hilliard at ahillia5@jhu.edu with your questions.

RESEARCH LABORATORY SAFETY

The University offers research laboratory safety training, which is required for all Mechanical Engineering graduate students. The training is offered in the following modes:

  • A series of eight online learning modules
    • Introduction in ethics, hazards, and risk evaluation
    • Physical hazards
    • Chemical hazards
    • Biological
    • Radiation
    • Hazard analysis
    • Design for safety
    • Writing protocols and procedures
  • The EN.500.601 Research Laboratory Safety is an optional course. Completion of the online learning modules is a prerequisite.

ONLINE LEARNING MODULES REQUIRED FOR ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS

All new Mechanical Engineering graduate students should complete the online learning modules within the first two weeks of their first enrolled semester.

The online modules are currently available at My.JHU.edu -> My Learning. Search for “Laboratory Safety Assessment Part 1…,” “Laboratory Safety Assessment Part 2…,” and so on.

Once all eight courses are completed, an internal SIS acknowledgment with a “course number” EN.990.600 will be entered on students’ records, which will allow students to enroll in EN.500.601 (but EN.990.600 will not appear on a student’s transcript nor on a student’s course registration in SIS).

en.500.601 IS optional

Advisors may encourage or require Mechanical Engineering graduate students to take EN.500.601 Research Laboratory Safety. Students must complete the eight online Laboratory Safety Modules modules before taking EN.500.601.

“RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH” – required for all master’s students

The Research Laboratory Safety course work is a separate activity from the Responsible Conduct of Research, which is required for all master’s students.

  • Most master’s students will take the course online.
  • Master’s Students whose research is funded by the NIH and all PhD students, no matter the research funding course will take the course in-person.

Section 2.3 of both the Master’s and PhD Academic Advising manuals linked in the “Advising Manuals” section of this page provides details.

Visit the “Preparing for Graduation” page to prepare for graduation for a master’s or Ph.D. degree!

Check out the Scholarships and Fellowships that are typically obtained by engineering students. Be aware of application deadlines!

Also, check out these helpful links courtesy of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association (MEGA) and the JHU National Fellowships Program (NFP):

Also, MEGA offers one-on-one assistants to review  and revise your application materials.  Many students in our department have won previous awards, such as the NSF GRFP, NASA NSTGRO, NDSEG, and Fulbright.  Contact MEGA at jhumega@gmail.com to request help.

 

Check out these pages!

COVID-19 Updates

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University and the Whiting School have created an information resources in these pages. These links address health and wellness needs, coping with social distancing, academic policy and grading adjustments, research, remote courses, future course registration, and visa concerns.