Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The MS in Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh University gives engineers advanced technical depth in the mechanics, energy and control of machines and systems.
- Credits30
- Typical length1.5–2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Science
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
On this page
Overview
What the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is
Graduate study here is meant to take you well past the level of a strong undergraduate program. The core courses set that level, and you then work with faculty scholars on advanced topics across mechanical engineering and mechanics. Along the way you become familiar with how research is supported, funded and presented.
Graduate students also share the department with undergraduates, and that mix keeps teaching methods and course material improving, a benefit the department counts as part of its mission alongside research and service to industry and society.
A 30-credit degree, typically 1.5–2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Research areas
Research on machines, materials and energy
Across all three research areas, the department’s faculty and students take on large, complex problems: making machines and autonomous systems dependable, designing structures that are safer and more efficient, and meeting energy and health needs through better use of fluids and heat. Master’s students can build on this work through their department and free electives.
Mechanical Systems
Machines are taking on more complex work, from automated production to systems that operate on their own, and they have to behave predictably. Researchers in this area develop the control methods and autonomous systems that make machines dependable, including control of the plasma used in nuclear fusion devices.
Focus topics: Control Systems, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Nuclear-Fusion Plasma Control.
Solid Mechanics
Every part, from a medical implant to a load-bearing frame, has to carry force without failing. Work in this area studies how solids deform, resist and generate stress, from designing structures that make the best use of material to the biological tissues and molecular mechanisms behind that behavior.
Focus topics: Mechanics for Optimized Design, Biomechanics, Molecular Mechanics and Fundamental Mechanisms of Stress Generation.
Thermo-Fluids
The movement of air, water and blood and the transfer of heat sit behind energy systems, vehicles and medical technology. This area studies flows from their fundamental behavior to bio-inspired design and biomedical applications, and applies that understanding to renewable energy.
Focus topics: Bio-Inspired Flows, Biomedical Flows, Renewable Energy, Fundamental Flows.
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits: a required mathematics course, two core courses, and then electives that you shape around your interests, with room to take courses in other departments.
- Required mathematics course, 3 credits. Everyone takes Mathematical Methods in Engineering I (ME 452).
- Core courses, 6 credits. Choose two from Advanced Manufacturing Science, Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering, Heat and Mass Transfer, Advanced Fluid Mechanics, Linear Systems and Control, Mathematical Methods in Engineering II, Introduction to Elasticity, and Analytical Methods in Dynamics and Vibrations.
- Mechanical engineering and mechanics electives, 9 credits. Three courses in ME and MECH at the 300 and 400 level. ME 460, ME 490 and ME 499 do not count here, and only one course in this group may be at the 300 level.
- Free electives, 12 credits. Four courses at the 300 and 400 level in ME and MECH or in another department. Up to two courses from another department may be at the 200 level.
- Grades. You need a B- or better in at least eighteen credits of your program and in all 300 courses in the major field. No course graded below C- counts toward the degree.
- Courses that do not count. Courses with an ESLP subject code, undergraduate-only 300-level courses such as Apprentice Teaching, Directed Study, Senior Thesis and Seminar Credit, and doctoral-only 400-level courses cannot be applied to the degree.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ME 452 | Mathematical Methods In Engineering I | Analytical math methods for engineering: ODEs, transforms. |
| ME 402 | Advanced Manufacturing Science | Science and simulation of manufacturing processes. |
| ME 413 | Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering | Numerical methods for mechanical engineering problems. |
| ME 423 | Heat and Mass Transfer | Diffusion, conduction, convection, and radiation transfer. |
| ME 430 | Advanced Fluid Mechanics | Incompressible fluid mechanics and boundary layers. |
| ME 433 | Linear Systems and Control | Linear systems, state-space, and control theory. |
| ME 453 | Mathematical Methods in Engineering II | Complex analysis and PDE methods for engineering. |
| MECH 408 | Introduction to Elasticity | Graduate intro to solid mechanics and elasticity. |
| MECH 425 | Analytical Methods in Dynamics and Vibrations | Rigid-body dynamics, vibrations, and Hamilton principle. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog listing below and with your academic advisor.
Careers
Where graduates work
Mechanical engineering alumni work wherever things are designed, built and kept running.
Most of our alumni work in engineering roles in manufacturing, defense and space, aviation and aerospace, electronics, information technology and life sciences, and others teach and research at universities. Typical roles include mechanical engineer, project engineer, process engineer, manufacturing engineer, product design engineer and research scientist. Many alumni advance to senior and principal engineer, engineering manager, director of engineering and executive positions.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Lockheed Martin
- GE
- Air Products
- Pratt & Whitney
- Boeing
- Lutron Electronics
- Apple
- Amazon
Alumni also work at RTX (Raytheon), Northrop Grumman, MPR Associates, Pennsylvania State University, Intel, BD and W. L. Gore & Associates.
Based on current employers of Lehigh mechanical engineering alumni who graduated between 1996 and 2025. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $52,050.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
- Partial merit-based and alumni tuition scholarships are available. Employees of EdAssist-affiliated companies are eligible for a 20% tuition discount on this program.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
A minimum GPA of 3.0. You will also submit official transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the minimums in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the MS in Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree for engineers who want advanced knowledge in mechanical engineering and mechanics. You build on a mathematics course and two core courses with electives in the department and in other fields, and you work with faculty on advanced topics.
How many credits is the MS in Mechanical Engineering?
30 credits: 3 in required mathematics, 6 in core courses, 9 in mechanical engineering and mechanics electives, and 12 in free electives.
How long does the MS in Mechanical Engineering take to complete?
The program typically takes 1.5 to 2 years. Faster completion may be possible through academic planning with your advisor.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required for the MS in Mechanical Engineering.
What courses are required?
Everyone takes Mathematical Methods in Engineering I. You then choose two core courses from a list of eight that covers manufacturing, numerical methods, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, control, advanced mathematics, elasticity, and dynamics and vibrations.
How do the electives work?
You choose three electives in mechanical engineering and mechanics at the 300 and 400 level, with no more than one at the 300 level, and four free electives at the 300 and 400 level. Free electives can come from another department, and up to two of those may be at the 200 level.
What are the admission requirements?
A minimum GPA of 3.0. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, and English proficiency scores where applicable.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering?
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $52,050 for the 30-credit degree. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
What scholarships apply to this program specifically?
Partial merit-based and alumni tuition scholarships are available. Employees of EdAssist-affiliated companies are eligible for a 20% tuition discount on this program.
Which department offers this program?
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, English proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Deadlines are December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
What elective courses can I choose from?
Electives are chosen with your advisor. Courses students can choose from include Integrated Product Development, Advanced Thermodynamics, Topics in Thermodynamics, Unsteady and Turbulent Flow, Advanced Gas Dynamics, Robot Motion Planning and Control, Systems Identification, and Formal Methods in Robotics, among others. The Lehigh course catalog carries the full list.
Contact
Talk to the program
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
Packard Laboratory, 19 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics »
General inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.