Civil and Environmental Engineering Mechanical Engineering |
Mechanical EngineeringHolmes 302 Faculty*Graduate Faculty *R. H. Knapp, PhD (Interim Chair)—solid mechanics, design Adjunct Faculty*J. Yuh, PhD—control, robotics, design Cooperating Graduate FacultyM. J. Antal Jr., PhD—alternate energy, combustion Degrees Offered: BS in mechanical engineering, MS in mechanical engineering, PhD in mechanical engineering Mission StatementThe overriding objective of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UH Manoa is to prepare students for successful professional careers and lifelong learning and to instill in them principles of ethical behavior that will lead to their being concerned, good citizens of their community and the world. Achievement of this overriding objective requires the achievement of the following three major “component objectives." Objectives
OutcomesIn order to achieve the Mission Statement, ME students are educated to effectively develop:
The Academic ProgramMechanical engineering (ME) is concerned with the design of all types of machines, conversion of energy from one form to another, instrumentation and control of all types of physical and chemical processes, the manufacturing and utilization of engineering materials, and control of human and machine environments. Mechanical engineers conceive, plan, design, and direct the manufacture, distribution, and operation of a wide variety of devices, machines, instruments, materials, and systems used for energy conversion, heat and mass transfer, biomedical applications, environmental control, control of human and machine environment, physical and chemical process control, materials processing, transportation, manufacture of consumer products, materials handling, and measurements. Mechanical engineers also employ Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Computer Aided Testing (CAT), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), computer modeling and simulations, novel materials, robotics, and mechatronics (integration of computers with electromechanical systems) in their day-to-day activities. Mechanical engineers find opportunities for employment in every branch of industry and in a variety of government agencies. Work may involve research, development, design, analysis, manufacture, testing, marketing, or management. Undergraduate StudyBachelor’s DegreeThe BS degree requires completion of at least 124 credit hours of course work. The curriculum consists of a group of required courses chosen to provide students with the basic tools for the professional practice of mechanical engineering and to assist students in developing a sense of responsibility as professionals. The objectives of the lower division curriculum are to build a foundation in the basic sciences and mathematics, provide an introduction to engineering design and professional ethics, develop communications and computer programming skills, and acquire an appreciation for the humanities and social sciences. The objectives of the upper division program are to provide a sound foundation in the engineering sciences; build on that foundation for applications in the areas of energy conversion, mechanical systems and control, experimentation, and manufacturing; and encourage creativity culminating in a “capstone” design experience. To provide sufficient flexibility, technical elective courses enable students to acquire additional competence in areas compatible with their career objectives. All electives are subject to the approval of an advisor. College RequirementsStudents must complete the College Requirement courses for engineering (see “Undergraduate Programs” within the College of Engineering). Departmental RequirementsStudents must complete the following coursework:
Graduate StudyThe department offers graduate programs leading to MS and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering, with areas of concentration in thermal and fluid sciences conversion (heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, combustion, thermal environmental engineering), in materials/manufacturing (nano, composite and smart materials, mechanical properties, failure analysis, electrochemistry and corrosion, processing, marine materials), and in mechanics design, systems, and controls (robotics, structures, dynamics, control, continuum mechanics). For qualified graduate students, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and scholarships are available. Master’s DegreeApplicants for admission to the MS program must have completed a BS degree in engineering or its equivalent from a reputable institution. RequirementsStudents are required to follow the Plan A (thesis) program. However, under special circumstances, a petition to follow Plan B (non-thesis) may be granted by the graduate faculty. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for graduation, including 1 credit hour for seminar. Plan A students must take 8 credit hours for thesis, 12 credit hours in the ME 600 course series, and 9 credit hours in technical electives. Technical elective courses must be at the 400 level or above, selected from engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences approved by the student’s thesis committee. For graduation, each candidate must present an acceptable thesis (research report for Plan B) and must pass a final oral examination based on the thesis for Plan A or on the course work and the research report for Plan B. Doctoral DegreeApplicants for admission to the PhD program must have completed the requirements for the MS in mechanical engineering at UH Manoa or an equivalent degree from a reputable institution. RequirementsIntended candidates for the PhD are required to pass an oral qualifying examination within the prescribed period of time. The purpose of the qualifying examination is to judge students’ ability to pursue research. After passing the qualifying examination, the student will be admitted to the status of “candidate” in the PhD program. At the discretion of the qualifying examination committee, students who fail the qualifying examination will be dropped from the program. Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 50 credit hours in course work beyond the BS level. They are required to select one major and one minor field of study within the following three areas of concentration: materials/manufacturing, mechanics/design/systems/controls, or thermal/fluid sciences. Students who enter the program may, with the approval of the graduate chair, be credited with up to 30 credits for equivalent work to be counted toward their PhD-credit-hour requirement. Up to 8 of these 30 credit hours may be assigned for prior MS thesis work. Students who possess a second MS degree may be credited with up to 9 additional credit hours for equivalent work. Up to 6 credit hours may be assigned for course work taken as an unclassified graduate student. All courses shall be selected by students but must be approved in writing by their committees. These courses must form an integrated education plan. A minimum of 2 credit hours in ME 691 or its equivalent must be included in every PhD program. Students who desire teaching experience may, with the approval of the PhD committee chair, request that the department chair assign them teaching responsibility for a particular undergraduate course. The department chair will determine whether students are qualified to teach the course in question, and, if they are deemed qualified, they may be given the teaching assignment. Students who teach a course or courses will be assigned a maximum of 3 credit hours toward their PhD course work requirements. Comprehensive ExaminationPhD candidates must pass an oral comprehensive examination to demonstrate their comprehension of the chosen areas of study relevant to their dissertation proposals and basic knowledge of courses taken in their major and minor fields. Students who fail the comprehensive examination may, at the discretion of the graduate faculty concerned, repeat it once after at least six months. Students who fail the examination a second time will be dropped from the program. Final ExaminationStudents are required to complete a satisfactory doctoral dissertation and to pass an oral final examination based primarily upon the dissertation. The final examination will be administered by the respective PhD committee. A student passes the final examination upon the favorable recommendation of a majority of the PhD committee. ME Courses |
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