The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science has ABET-certified courses, such as mechanical engineering, engineering science and materials science. They provide students with solid basic knowledge, help them to think critically and invent, thus encouraging them to master their own future. There are about 90 graduates in this department every year. All the graduates have obtained good positions in enterprises or research institutions.
The following is a professional introduction of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science of the University of Pittsburgh for your understanding.
1. Mechanical engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science offers the courses of Master of Science and Doctor of Science in the field of mechanical engineering, which enables students to study a field of interest in depth. There are more than 20 research laboratories in the department, which provide students with opportunities to work in many enterprises (from biomedical engineering to aerospace engineering). The department encourages academic innovation.
The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering offers two learning directions: professional master and research master. The master's degree is awarded to a practicing engineer.
Doctor of mechanical engineering
The goal of doctor of mechanical engineering is to train students to meet the strict demand of engineering research in enterprises or academia. Ph.D. in mechanical engineering studies cutting-edge knowledge such as technology, management, system design and decision-making.
This major requires excellent mathematical background and professional knowledge in a certain field of mechanical engineering. Doctor of Mechanical Engineering requires full-time study. But candidates can also be entered as on-the-job personnel. Candidates must study full-time at school for at least one year.
Students who have completed eight master's courses and achieved good results can directly enter the doctoral program. Applicants who have obtained a master's degree in mechanical engineering (ABET certification) and are fully prepared can also enter the doctoral program in mechanical engineering.
If the engineering background is insufficient (for example, from a science major), you can be admitted after completing the required minimum undergraduate course. Only well-prepared students can be formally admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. In order to be admitted to the doctoral program, students must have excellent academic admission and the potential to engage in research independently. The average grade point of the postgraduate course for quasi-doctoral students shall not be less than 3.3.
2. Materials Science and Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science has been focusing on high-quality postgraduate education, which is consistent with its high attention to research. Its master of science and doctoral programs also cover materials science and engineering. At the master of science stage, both master of research and master of specialty are offered. Postgraduate courses are generally taught at night to facilitate on-the-job study.
The course of materials science and engineering is problem-solving-oriented, focusing on the transformation of scientific and engineering achievements to solving material problems that hinder scientific and technological progress. Their goal is to train engineers and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in research, development, production, management and teaching.
At present, some research projects of the Department focus on several aspects of advanced ceramics and metallurgy, including corrosion and oxidation, high-temperature materials, magnetic materials, phase transition between metallurgy and ceramics, plastic deformation of metals and alloys, mechanical heat treatment of steel and other alloys, thermodynamic properties of materials, ceramic technology, high-temperature superconducting and microwave ferroelectric properties of ceramics, and smart materials and structures.
3. Nuclear engineering
The University of Pittsburgh offers postgraduate courses in nuclear engineering. Research fields include nuclear operation and safety, nuclear science, nuclear system and policy. Nuclear operation and safety not only meet the perceived educational needs, but also make use of Pittsburgh's unique industrial resources. The Department of Nuclear Engineering of the University of Pittsburgh has decades of commercial application experience in the nuclear energy industry, and they are also experts and engineers in this field.
Nuclear science provides necessary courses for graduate research projects. Finally, in terms of nuclear system and policy, nuclear engineering has also set up courses to learn nuclear industry standards and nuclear power management.