The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides opportunities for students to continue in graduate studies and pursue research in a wide range of disciplines.
PhD in Robotics
The PhD in Robotics prepares students to lead advancements in the design and integration of complex robotic systems. Students will gain the expertise to design cyber-secure robotic platforms, describe and control robotic motion, and incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence into intelligent autonomous systems.
Emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach, the program integrates knowledge from cybersecurity, electrical, and mechanical engineering to achieve cohesive system development. Students also learn to create robotic systems with effective human-robot interaction, conduct critical literature reviews on emerging robotics topics, and develop strong technical writing skills through the completion of a dissertation. Additionally, graduates are equipped to educate and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the field of robotics.
Qualified undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students may obtain a master's degree in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Computational Science, Data Analytics, and more in a shorter time-frame through a Bachelor's-to-Accelerated Master's (BAM) pathway.
Graduate Certificates
Microfabrication
The Microfabrication Graduate Certificate is designed to equip students with the skills needed for the growing job opportunities in this field. Students gain a solid understanding of advanced materials and sensors, along with hands-on experience. They also learn about device design principles. Upon completing the certificate program, students possess the ability to comprehend the unique properties of materials and device performance at the nanoscale. They are be able to fabricate microsensors within a cleanroom environment and operate key instruments used in the cleanroom.
Naval Ship Design
The Naval Ship Design Graduate Certificate provides students with the fundamentals and hands-on experience to be effective ship designers and design managers. Through coursework and experiential learning, students develop specific knowledge in the art of naval ship design and acquire the skills to support the management of new and in-service design programs. Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates are be able to:
- Design a vessel to execute a specified mission profile.
- Critically assess the impact of vessel design decisions on the concept of operations.
- Support programmatic needs by translating fleet requirements to design specifications while managing cost.
Responsible Artificial Intelligence
The Responsible Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate provides students with the critical knowledge, skills, and analytical abilities needed to identify and address challenges in the design and deployment of systems that incorporate AI. Such systems could include safety-critical physical systems like self-driving cars, air taxis, and health applications, but they also include software-based systems like financial and banking systems, as well as those that support education and research.
Students learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, how AI systems are architected, the principles of systems engineering as they relate to AI systems, theories of AI safety and risk, how to test and evaluate such systems to meet risk thresholds, and how to identify ethical, legal, and regulatory issues that arise in such systems. Students are prepared to develop and manage complex systems with embedded AI, including identifying unique requirements for systems with embedded AI, testing and certifying these systems, and defining and maintaining safe levels of performance for deployed AI.