The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering offers engineering education and research opportunities of the highest quality. As one of the oldest departments within this state university, the department has provided curricula and support services for many decades and earned a reputation among engineering education professionals as one of the finest programs in the nation, as measured by the able performance of Illinois graduates in research, industry, education, and government. Competition among promising and qualified students for placement in the department's graduate programs is active, stimulated equally by:
the renown of the graduate faculty;
the diversity of research activities, funding, and resources available within one of the top engineering colleges;
the flexibility within the Department which provides an individual course of study for each of its graduate students; and
the variety of financial aid options, including research and teaching assistantships, fellowships, and tuition and fee waivers.
Currently the Department has approximately 270 graduate students, of whom about 40% are doctoral candidates. While most of these students enter graduate study directly after completing undergraduate work, some come from industry. The majority of the masters graduates seek industrial positions involving research and development work; most doctoral degree recipients prefer research careers in industry, government, or research and teaching careers at universities. The graduate study programs allow each student to pursue his/her career objectives while participating in important work in areas of basic scientific research and current societal concern. In this setting both students and faculty benefit from expansion of personal horizons while performing significant public service.
Generally about 90% of the graduate students are supported by research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships.
With approximately 975 undergraduates, 270 graduate students, and over $8 million per year in external research funding, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is committed to excellence in both graduate and undergraduate education.
The department has a long and exceptional tradition of outstanding teaching. Four faculty members and two former teaching assistants hold the UIUC Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and nine hold the College of Engineering Everitt Award for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. The Ralph Coats Roe Award, the highest recognition given to educators in mechanical engineering by the American Society for Engineering Education, has been presented to three of our faculty members since the award was established in 1970.
More than half of the current faculty members hold national awards for outstanding research accomplishments. Fourteen of the most senior have been honored with the grade of Fellow in professional societies. In service to the national and international research communities, more than one-fourth of the faculty hold editorships or memberships on editorial boards of archival journals. Eight young faculty members hold National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Awards.
The March 20, 1995 issue of U.S. News & World Report included an article on "America's Best Graduate Schools," in which our mechanical engineering graduate program was ranked fifth. The College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was ranked third behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at Berkeley. This ranking was determined from a survey of deans of engineering and practicing engineers based on the following criteria: academic reputation, practicing engineers' reputation, student selectivity, research activity, faculty resources, total enrollment, full-time Ph.D. students/full-time faculty ratio, percent of applications accepted, and research dollars.
THE FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH INTERESTS
A. L. Addy, Professor and Head of Department; Ph.D., Illinois, 1963. Fluid and gas dynamics.
A. Alleyne, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Berkeley, 1994. Control theory and application, vehicle dynamics, nonlinear and adaptive control, vibration isolation.
J. Bentsman, Professor; Ph.D., IIT, 1984. Automatic control systems.
M. Q. Brewster, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1981. Heat transfer, combustion, propulsion.
R. O. Buckius, Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1975. Heat transfer, combustion
C. W. Bullard, Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1971. Simulation and optimization of thermal systems, refrigeration and air conditioning, technology policy analysis
J. C. Chato, Professor; Ph.D., MIT, 1960. Heat transfer, fluid mechanics, bioengineering, electrohydrodynamics.
A. M. Clausing, Professor and Associate Head of Department; Ph.D., Illinois, 1963. Heat transfer, solar thermal energy systems, computer modeling.
H. E. Cook, Professor; Ph.D., Northwestern, 1966. Product realization, total quality management, management of technology.
C. Cusano, Professor; Ph.D., Cornell, 1970. Friction, lubrication, and wear.
J. A. Dantzig, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins, 1977. Solidification, materials processing, computer modeling.
P. A. DeLisle, Professor; Ph.D., Texas at Austin, 1994. Engineering and human development, optimization of small group task activities, cognitive problem solving and team behavior.
R. E. DeVor, Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison, 1971. Machining and machine tool systems, quality control and industrial statistics.
W. E. Dunn, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1976. Heat and mass transfer, numerical modeling.
J. C. Dutton, Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1979. Gas dynamics, fluid mechanics, propulsion.
P. M. Ferreira, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1987. Factory automation, manufacturing processes, precision engineering and manufacturing applications of artificial intelligence.
J. G. Georgiadis, Associate Professor; Ph.D., UCLA, 1987. Fluid mechanics and heat transfer, two-phase flow, quantitative visualization of complex interfaces, magnetic resonance imaging, bioengineering.
A. M. Jacobi, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1989. Heat transfer, fluid mechanics, end-use energy applications, thermal systems.
M. A. Johnson, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1988. Computational probability, queuing theory, operations research.
P. M. Jones, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Georgia Tech, 1991. Human-machine systems engineering, knowledge-based support for supervisory control, intelligent tutoring systems, simulation.
S. G. Kapoor, Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison, 1977. Manufacturing systems, CAD/CAM, robotics, engineering statistics.
R. E. Klein, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1968. Control systems theory, mechanical design, bicycle and human-powered vehicle engineering.
H. Krier, Professor; Ph.D., Princeton, 1968. Combustion with solid and liquid rockets, multiphase flows with heat and mass transport, shock hydrodynamics, viscous gas dynamics and plasma dynamics.
C. S. Larson, Emeritus Professor and Assistant Dean, College of Engineering; Ph.D., Illinois, 1965. Machine design and vehicle dynamics.
J. S. Liebman, Professor; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins, 1971. Operations research, optimization in engineering design; civil infrastructure systems and health systems.
R. P. Lucht, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Purdue, 1981. Laser diagnostics for species and temperature measurements, combustion, fluid mechanics.
T. J. Mackin, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Penn State, 1991. Mechanical properties of composites: experiment, theory, and computer simulation.
J. Mazumder, Professor; Ph.D., Imperial College (London), 1978. Laser materials processing, materials processing transport phenomena, laser surface modification, thin films and nanophase formation by laser.
N. R. Miller, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison, 1975. Advanced automation and instrumentation systems.
T. A. Newell, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Utah, 1980. Heat transfer, solar thermal-energy systems, solar ponds.
J. W. Nowak, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1988. Production operations management, quality of information.
U. S. Palekar, Associate Professor; Ph.D., SUNY at Buffalo, 1986. Integer programming, scheduling theory, facilities planning and location.
A. J. Pearlstein, Associate Professor; Ph.D., UCLA, 1983. Theoretical (i.e., computational and analytical) studies of incompressible flow, hydrodynamic stability, development of numerical methods, applications to materials processing.
C. O. Pedersen, Emeritus Professor; Ph.D., Carnegie-Mellon, 1968. Thermal systems simulation and energy consumption in buildings.
J. E. Peters, Professor and Associate Head of Department; Ph.D., Purdue, 1981. Combustion, internal combustion engines, atomization.
M. L. Philpott, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Cranfield Institute of Technology (England), 1986. Design for manufacture, integration and automation of mold and die production, sculptured surface production, new and advanced manufacturing processes, nonhierarchical cell control, quality monitoring of robotic and automated arc welding, high-speed packaging machinery.
N. V. Sahinidis, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon, 1990. Mixed-integer and nonlinear optimization, planning and scheduling, computer-aided design methodology, process synthesis, computational biochemistry, molecular design.
P. M. Sanderson, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Toronto, 1985. Engineering psychology, human performance and cognition, human interaction with complex systems.
H. Sehitoglu, Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1983. Cyclic deformation and fatigue, thermomechanical behavior of materials, constitutive equations.
M. A. Shannon, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1993. Fundamentals of laser energy interactions with materials with application to laser-material processing.
D. F. Socie, Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1977. Mechanical behavior of materials, fracture mechanics.
S. L. Soo, Emeritus Professor; Sc.D., Harvard, 1951. Multiphase flow systems, pneumatic transport and coal processes.
B. G. Thomas, Associate Professor; Ph.D., British Columbia, 1985. Metallurgical process engineering; computer modeling of fluid flow; heat transfer and stress analysis in solidification and casting processes, including continuous casting of steel and directional solidification of airfoils.
D. A. Tortorelli, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1989. Theoretical development and computer implementation of design and analysis methodologies in solid mechanics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
T.-C. Tsao, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1988. Modeling and control of mechanical systems and manufacturing processes, digital control, adaptive and learning control, precision engineering.
C. L. Tucker, Professor; Ph.D., MIT, 1978. Polymer processing, composite materials processing, computer-aided design.
A. F. Vakakis, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Caltech, 1990. Linear and nonlinear vibrations, chaotic dynamics, experimental and analytical modal analysis; large repetitive space structures.
S. P. Vanka, Professor; Ph.D., Imperial College (London), 1976. Computational fluid mechanics, heat transfer and reacting flows, large eddy and direct numerical simulations of turbulence.
J. S. Walker, Professor; Ph.D., Cornell, 1970. Magnetohydrodynamics, crystal growth, energy conversion, materials processing.
R. A. White, Emeritus Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1963. Gas dynamics, heat transfer, vehicle dynamics, internal-combustion engines.
In addition, the following faculty members from other departments hold zero-time appointments in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and as such, are authorized to advise/supervise students in our department.
R. J. Adrian Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
R. J. Balachandar Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
R. A. Beddini Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
M. B. Bragg Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
J. D. Buckmaster Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
R. L. Burton Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
T. F. Conry General Engineering
O. Coskunoglu General Engineering
W. J. Davis General Engineering
J. E. Greene Materials Science and Engineering
J. R. Gunderson Rehabilitation Education
B. G. Jones Nuclear Engineering
Y. S. Kim General Engineering
A. F. Kramer Aviation/Psychology
K. D. Lee Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
E. Loth Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
M. H. Moeinzadeh General Engineering
H. Reis General Engineering
D. N. Riahi Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
M. S. Selig Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
M. J. Shaw Business Administration
N. R. Sottos Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
D. S. Stewart Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
M. G. Strauss Rehabilitation Engineering/General Engineering
J. F. Stubbins Nuclear Engineering
D. L. Thurston General Engineering
P. G. Voulgaris Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
C. D. Wickens Aviation/Psychology
L. J. Wozniak General Engineering
In mechanical engineering, studies are conducted in combustion; computer-aided design; control systems; electromechanical systems; fluid mechanics; gas dynamics; heat and mass transfer; kinematics and dynamics of machinery; knowledge-based engineering expert systems; manufacturing systems; materials behavior; materials processing; multiphase flow; propulsion; system simulation and optimization; and tribology. Problems in energy systems include air pollution, combustion, energy logistics, internal-combustion engines, propulsion, solar and renewable energy, and waste handling. Progress in the study of materials behavior and processing includes casting processes, composite materials, creep, fatigue, fracture, high-temperature material behavior, laser processing, polymer processing, ceramic-matrix composites, and thin films. Tribology studies include elastohydrodynamics and lubrication of oil and refrigerant mixtures.
In industrial engineering, studies are conducted in human factors and engineering psychology, operations research, and production engineering. Study in the areas of cognitive engineering, computer-aided manufacturing, ergonomics, facilities planning, human-machine interaction, large-scale systems analysis, machine tool systems design, mathematical programming and optimization, production planning and control, and project management is aimed at improving the design and implementation of integrated systems of persons, materials, and equipment.
The department has several center-based research activities including two NSF industry/university cooperative research centers, one in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and one in Machine Tool Systems. The University of Illinois is also the lead institution in the newly formed NSF/ARPA Agile Manufacturing Research Institute for Machine Tools. In addition, the department has the Center for Laser Materials Processing and the Institute for Competitive Manufacturing.
Facilities include laboratories for advanced automation, air conditioning and refrigeration, combustion, computer-aided design and simulation, computer-integrated manufacturing, control systems, design for manufacturing, flexible automation, gas dynamics, heat transfer, human factors and simulation of human-machine interaction, internal-combustion engines, knowledge-based engineering systems, laser diagnostics for combustion, laser processing, machining and machine tool systems, mechanical behavior of materials, metrology, operations research, precision engineering, polymer and composite materials processing, propulsion, rapid prototyping, robotics, solar energy, thermal processing of materials, thermodynamics, tribology, vehicle dynamics, and welding and heat treatment.
Special facilities include a 1/2-acre solar pond, test facilities for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and components, low- and high-speed wind tunnels, and laboratories for study of combustion, radiation, particulate and multiphase flow, complete specimen-scale mechanical testing equipment including an environmental testing chamber, thermomechanical and multiaxial loading capabilities, and laser processing facilities. The department has a construction shop with instrument makers and electronics technicians.
Who May Apply
U.S. Citizens:
Persons with at least a bachelors degree or the equivalent from an accredited college in the United States or an approved institution of higher learning abroad with a minimum grade-point average of 4.0 (A = 5.0) for the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate study. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering has an unofficial minimum admission grade-point average requirement of 4.25/5 (3.25/4) for previous bachelors work and 4.50/5 (3.50/4) for previous graduate work.
Persons who are enrolled for a bachelor's degree and who are in their senior year and meet the grade-point average requirements stated above. In this case, grade-point averages are computed on the last 45 semester hours or 60 quarter hours of undergraduate study.
Applicants from Other Countries:
Persons with at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited college in the United States or a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. Furthermore, a grade-point average of 4.0 (A = 5.0) for the last 60 semester hours (or last two years) of undergraduate study is a minimum requirement for admission. In other systems, a 4.0 grade-point average is considered the approximate equivalent of a "Very Good," a "Second Class, Upper Division" (from British systems), 60% and/or "First Class or Division" (from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh), 80/100 or "Good" (from People's Republic of China), 79/100 or 4.5/5.0 (from Republic of China), et al. Again, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering has an unofficial minimum admission grade point average requirement of 4.25/5 (3.25/4) for previous bachelors work and 4.50/5 (3.50/4) for previous graduate work. In addition, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering requires a class ranking when available. A form for this purpose is included with the application material.
Persons who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and who are in their senior or final year.
Application Fee
U.S. Citizens:
A non refundable $30 application processing fee is required with the receipt of the application. Please attach a check or money order, payable to the University of Illinois, when submitting the application. University of Illinois employees requesting application fee waivers based on their employment should indicate their office of employment and office telephone number in item 14. An applicant for readmission to a graduate degree program in which he or she was enrolled within five years preceding the term specified in item 3 of the application is not required to pay the application fee.
Applicants from Other Countries:
A non refundable $40 (U.S.) application processing fee is required. Please attach your check or money order drawn upon any U.S. affiliated bank, payable to the University of Illinois, to the bottom of the application form. This non refundable application processing fee is valid for only one semester and must be submitted before any action can be taken. The fee cannot be waived or temporarily deferred regardless of currency restrictions imposed by certain countries. An applicant for readmission to a graduate degree program in which he or she was enrolled within five years preceding the term specified in item 7 on the application is not required to pay the application fee.
Application Form
Details regarding procedures for, and completion of, the graduate application are included with the application form. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, two graduate applications are used: 1) for applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and 2) for applicants from other countries.
Application Deadlines
The following deadlines for receipt of the application in order to be considered for admission and financial aid are in effect for applicants to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and they supersede any other printed deadlines:
For Fall admission: March 1
For Spring admission: October 1
For Summer admission: March 1
These deadlines do not apply to transcripts and letters of recommendation. We do encourage applicants, though, to have test score results to us by the above deadlines. Files will be held until all documentation is complete. Files from international applicants which are still incomplete by December 1 (for Spring admission) and July 1 (for Fall admission) will be denied. Files from applicants who are U.S. citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents which are still incomplete by January 1 (for Spring admission) and August 1 (for Fall admission) will be denied.
Where to Send the Completed Application
All applications for admission or readmission, along with the application processing fee, must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 10 Administration Building, 506 South Wright Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801. The Office of Admissions and Records assumes no responsibility for applications and fees submitted to any other address.
Transcripts, letters of reference, and any documentation other than the application should be sent directly to: Graduate Programs Coordinator, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 140 Mechanical Engineering Building , 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801.
Pre-Application Test Requirements
Scores on the Graduate Record Examination, General Test, are required of all applicants to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Currently, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering requires a minimum score of 607. Graduate applicants are exempt from this testing if they will have completed at least two full academic years of full-time study prior to the proposed term of entry (within five years of the proposed date of enrollment in the University) in a country where English is the primary language and in a school where English is the primary language of instruction.
Applicants who have already taken the TOEFL should request the Educational Testing Service to send their scores to the Office of Admissions and Records immediately. For admission purposes, TOEFL scores are valid for only two years prior to the proposed term of entry.
All graduate applications to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering are evaluated by a departmental admissions committee which meets on a regular basis during the two semesters beginning mid-September each academic year. The admissions committee evaluates and makes admission/denial recommendations on all available complete application files at each meeting. Decisions on financial aid offers are made at the same time.
Students, whose application file is complete (including three letters of reference and all transcripts, GRE, and TOEFL scores), are notified regarding admission and financial aid within 1-2 days following each admissions meeting. The Department will notify an applicant as soon as a decision on admission and financial aid has been reached unless the application fee has not been paid. No decision may be referred to the applicant until this fee has been paid.
After a decision has been reached, applications are forwarded to the Office of Admissions and Records for further processing. Admission recommendations by the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering are not official until the Office of Admissions and Records issues a Notice of Admission and sends registration instructions.
Length of Application Process
Once the University Office of Admissions and Records receives the application, a decision can normally be expected within three to four weeks, again providing the application file is complete. Applicants will be notified (as soon as the application is received by the Department) regarding the status of their file.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of assistantships, fellowships, and Tuition and Fee Waivers to qualified applicants. At the present time approximately 90% of our graduate students receive some form of financial aid. An assistantship generally requires 20 hours of service per week (for 50% time) and includes a monthly stipend. A fellowship is an award for which no service is required and includes a monthly stipend (amount depends on the level of the award).
Assistantships: Assistantships are available in two forms: teaching and research. Teaching assistantships are available on a limited basis to serve undergraduate teaching and laboratory needs. Teaching assistantships are offered directly by the Department. Research assistantships are available to assist faculty in conducting ongoing research activities. Research assistantships are offered, via the Graduate Policy Committee, by individual faculty members holding research grants/contracts; availability is determined by research funding. By far, most of the students receiving financial aid are supported on contract research assistantships (currently 80%).
The maximum academic-year appointment an assistant may hold is 50%. Summer appointments may consist of two months at 67% or three months at 50%, but not higher.
Monthly stipends are based on academic progress. The following is a list of 1994-95 50% time monthly stipend levels:
Pre M.S. -- $1,100.00
Post M.S. -- $1,155.00
Post M.S./Successful Completion of PhD Qualifying Examination -- $1,250.00
Successful Completion of the PhD Preliminary Examination -- $1,340.00
Generally, these rates are increased each Fall Semester contingent upon funding allocations from the State of Illinois.
All assistantships are subject to federal and state taxation. Students who hold an assistantship for at least 25% time and not more than 67% time are exempt from tuition and partial fees. Current charges for fees not waived include (these fees are subject to change):
Semester Summer Health Insurance $126.00 $126.00 Health Service $120.00 $ 60.00 General Fee $ 75.00 $ 50.00 Transportation Fee $ 18.00 $ 9.00 Krannert $ 5.00 $ 3.00 Student Organization Resource Fee $ 10.00 $ 5.00 $354.00 $253.00
For those students not on appointment during the Summer Session, tuition and partial fee waivers are automatic if the student has held at least a 25% assistantship during the preceding Spring Semester.
Fellowships: All applicants to the graduate program are considered for departmental fellowship awards at the time the application is evaluated by the admissions committee. Fellowships are awarded on a highly competitive basis, with the nominees rated according to their scholastic record, GRE scores, and letters of reference. At the present time, approximately 15% of our graduate population receive departmentally awarded fellowships in one form or another. Generally, these fellowship awards are in addition to a 50% time assistantship offer. Fellowship stipends per academic year range from $1000-$4000, with most in the $2000-$3000 range.
Applicants should also consider fellowships for which they apply directly. A few which might be considered are:
AAUW (American Association of University Women) Fellowships
Air Force Research Fellowships
Department of Energy Fellowships
Education Foundation Fellowships
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships
Ford Foundation Minority Fellowships
Hughes Fellowships
National Defense Science and Engineering Grants
National Hispanic Scholarships
National Science Foundation Fellowships
Office of Naval Research Fellowships
Within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, separate degree programs are available in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. Students may pursue both the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in either Industrial or Mechanical Engineering.
Master of Science in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
The Graduate College specifies that at least 8 units (1 unit = 4 semester hours) of credit are required for a Master of Science (M.S.) degree at the University of Illinois. Of these 8 units at least 3 must be earned in 400-level courses and 2 of the 3 units must be in the major field.
Additionally, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering M.S. degree requirements are as follows:
1. Of the eight units required by the Graduate College, there must be at least 6 units of classroom (lecture-discussion) courses, two of which must be at the 400-level. With the approval of the student's advisor and a petition to the Graduate College, courses in the major area from another department may be used to satisfy the Graduate College requirement that 2 of the 3 400-level units must be in the major field.
2. A Master's thesis, for which at least one and no more than two units of credit can be received for ME/IE 499 (Thesis). Upon consent of the advisor and approval by petition of the Graduate Policy Committee, the M.S. thesis requirement may be waived. This option then requires a total of nine units of credit including at least 8 units of classroom (lecture-discussion) courses (two at the 400-level) and at least one unit of a 400-level independent investigation course.
3. Continuous registration is required in ME 493, Graduate Seminar, throughout the Master's degree program and during the doctoral program until the Preliminary Examination is passed. Attendance is required at a minimum of four seminars per semester. Students may attend other university technical seminars in place of some or all of the departmental seminars and may receive attendance credit by leaving their name and the name and date of the seminar attended with the Graduate Programs Office. ME 493 is offered on a 0-unit credit basis.
Please keep in mind that in order to obtain a master's degree, students must satisfy both the Graduate College and departmental requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy
For those students entering the program with a master's degree (earned at the University of Illinois or elsewhere), the minimum prerequisites and degree requirements are:
1. The Master of Science degree or its equivalent (8 units--32 semester hours--of acceptable graduate work at this or another university).
2. Eight (8) units of formal graded coursework, four (4) at the 400-level, one (1) unit of which may be a 400-level independent investigations course.
3. Eight (8) units, minimum, of ME/IE 499-Thesis Research.
4. The University of Illinois requires that sixteen (16) units must be from courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign campus or at other locations approved by the Graduate College for resident credit.
5. The Department requires the successful completion of a Qualifying Examination to formally enter the Ph.D. program. The Qualifying Examination should be taken no later than the second calendar semester after initial enrollment.
6. A Preliminary Examination is required and is generally scheduled upon completion of the eight (8) units of formal coursework or in the semester in which the final coursework is taken, but no sooner.
7. Following the Preliminary Examination, continuous registration must be maintained until the thesis is deposited with the Graduate College.
8. A Final Doctoral Dissertation Defense is required and may be taken no sooner than six (6) months after the Preliminary Examination.
Direct Doctor of Philosophy
For those students entering the program with a bachelor's degree, the minimum prerequisites and requirements are:
1. The Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent.
2. Fourteen (14) units of formal graded coursework, six (6) at the 400-level, one (1) unit of which may be a 400-level independent investigations course.
3. Ten (10) units, minimum, of ME/IE 499-Thesis Research.
4. At least twenty-two (22) of the minimum twenty-four (24) units required must be from courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign campus or at other locations approved by the Graduate College for resident credit.
5. Approval of an advisor to continue in the Direct Doctor of Philosophy program upon completion of six (6) of the fourteen (14) units of formal coursework.
6. The Department requires the successful completion of a Qualifying Examination to formally enter the Ph.D. program. The Qualifying Examination should be taken as soon as possible as determined by the advisor and student (generally, no later than the third semester)
7. A Preliminary Examination is required and should be scheduled as soon as possible after successful completion of the Qualifying Examination.
8. Following the Preliminary Examination, continuous registration must be maintained until the thesis is deposited with the Graduate College.
9. A Final Doctoral Dissertation Defense is required and may be taken no sooner than six (6) months after the Preliminary Examination.
A candidate for the Master's degree must complete all requirements for that degree within five calendar years after the first registration in the Graduate College. A candidate for the doctorate must complete all requirements for this degree within seven calendar years after the first registration in the Graduate College, except as noted hereafter. A candidate for the doctorate who has received a Master's degree elsewhere must complete all requirements for the degree within six years after the first registration in the Graduate College. This regulation also applies to the candidate who has received the Master's degree from the University of Illinois and whose studies were interrupted immediately thereafter, provided not more than the minimum number of units required for the Master's degree are applied to the doctorate.