Boost your career with cutting-edge research, expert faculty and top industry connections through the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at UMass Lowell.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    MSE

Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Find out what UMass Lowell Mechanical Engineering research is all about!

Advance your education, career and earning potential with UMass Lowell’s Master's in Mechanical Engineering. Our program, which offers concentrations in energy, mechanics, design, thermofluids and more, will bring you up to date on the latest technologies, trends and innovations through our state-of-the-art labs and research centers.

You will learn from expert faculty members who are award-winning researchers in the field. You can also choose to complete a Master's Co-op to gain professional experience and further develop and deepen your skills.

Program Quick Facts

  • Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Not Required
  • F1 Visa Eligibility
  • STEM-Designated Degree Program
  • Scholarships and Financial Aid Available

Master's in Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

The M.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering is a 30-credit degree program offered in both thesis and non-thesis tracks. Students on the non-thesis tracks can choose from the following concentrations: Mechanics & Materials, Thermofluids, Energy, Vibrations/Dynamics/Controls and Design and Manufacturing.

For a complete list of academic requirements and courses, please visit the Academic Catalog.

All MSE degree candidates must satisfy each of the following four requirements. No course can count towards more than one requirement:
Three (3) credit hours of advanced mathematics from the following list:
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5200Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations3
ENGY.5390(CHEN.5390)Mathematical Methods for Engineers3
MATH.5450Partial Differential Equations3
MATH.5300Applied Math I3
Three (3) credit hours of solid mechanics courses from the following list:
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5960Mechanics of Composite Materials3
MECH.5130Theory of Finite Element Analysis3
MECH.5620Solid Mechanics I3
MECH.5630Dynamic Behavior of Materials3 
MECH.5910Mechanical Behavior of Materials3
Three (3) credit hours of thermofluid courses from the following list:
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5410Advanced Heat Transfer3
MECH.5491Advanced Thermodynamics3
MECH.5590Multi-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics I3
MECH.5810Advanced Fluids Mechanics3
MECH.5260Transport Processes in Energy Systems3

Either 1 or 2 below:

TracksDetailsTotal Credit Hours
1.Thesis TrackM.S Students on the thesis track will design a student specific curriculum sequence of 12 credit hours of coursework with the first semester of graduate study.9 Credit hours of thesis research, 12 Hours coursework, at least one semester of the 0 credit research seminar (MECH.5010)
2.Non-Thesis TrackIn their first year students on a non-thesis track must submit a plan of study to the graduate coordinator and obtain his/her approval9 credit hours of coursework in a Mechanical Engineering concentration and 12 credit hours of coursework approved by the graduate coordinator.


Design and Manufacturing Concentration Courses
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5120Applied Finite Elements3
MECH.5490Cooling of Electronic3
MECH.5530MEMS & Microsystems3
MECH.5710Quality Engineering3
MECH.5740Design for Reliability Engineering3
MECH.5750Industrial Design of Experiments3
MECH.5760Engineering Project Management3
MECH.5790Robotics3


Energy Concentration Courses
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5040Energy Engineering Workshop3
MECH.5210Solar Fundamentals3
MECH.5220Wind Energy Fundamentals3
MECH.5250Grid-Connected Solar Electric Systems3
MECH.5260Transport Processes in Energy Systems3
MECH.5270Solar Energy Engineering3
MECH.5280Photovoltaics Manufacturing3
MECH.5290Fuel Cell Fundamentals3
MECH.5320Off-Grid Electric Systems3
MECH.5330Nanomaterials for Energy3
MECH.5340Green Combustion and Biofuels3
MECH.5350Fundamentals of Sustainable Energy3
MECH.5440Combustion Modeling3
CHEN.5280Advanced Transport Phenomena3
ENGY.5050Reactor Physics3
ENGY.5070Reactor Engineering and Safety Analysis3
ENGY.5090Dynamic Systems3


Mechanics & Materials Concentration Courses
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5120Applied Finite Elements3
MECH.5130Finite Element Analysis I3
MECH.5140Finite Element Analysis of Composites3
MECH.5620Solid Mechanics I3
MECH.5630Dynamic Behavior of Materials3
MECH.5690Fracture Mechanics3
MECH.5910Mechanical Behavior of Materials3
MECH.5960Composite Materials3
MECH.5970Processing of Composites3
MECH.5980Experimental Characterization of Composites3
MECH.6010Special Topics: Mechanics/Materials3
MECH.6150Advanced Finite Elements Methods3
MECH.6150Micromechanics of Composites and Metamaterials3
PLAS.5890Polymer Nanocomposites 3


Thermofluids Concentration Courses
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5220Wind Energy Fundamentals3
MECH.5260Transport Processes in Energy Systems3
MECH.5290Fuel Cell Fundamentals3
MECH.5340Green Combustion and Biofuels3
MECH.5420Convective Heat and Mass Transfer3
MECH.5450Advanced Industrial Heat and Mass Transfer3
MECH.5490Cooling of Electronic Equipment3
MECH.5530MEMS & Microsytems3
MECH.5580Aero/Wind Engineering 3
MECH.5590Multi-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics I3
MECH.5600Multi-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics II3
MECH.5810Advanced Fluid Mechanics3
MECH.5830Advanced Aerodynamics3
MECH.5840Ocean Engineering 3
MECH.5890Finite Element in Thermofluids3
CHEN.5280Advanced Transport Phenomena3


Vibrations/Dynamics/Controls Concentration Courses
Course #Course NameCr.
MECH.5100Dynamics and Diagnostics of Rotating Machinery 3
MECH.5130Finite Element Analysis I3
MECH.5150Modal Analysis3
MECH.5160Experimental Model Analysis3
MECH.5180Signal Processing Techniques3
MECH.5190Engineering Spectral Analysis3
MECH.5230Structural Health Monitoring 3
MECH.5240Fundamentals of Acoustics3
MECH.5300Autonomous Robotic Systems3
MECH.5315Modern Control Systems3
MECH.5500Vibrations3
MECH.5520Probabilistic Methods and Analysis3
MECH.5540Dynamic Systems and Controls3
MECH.5790Robotics3
MECH.6030Special Topics: Vibration Dynamics3
MECH.6110Matrix Methods3
EECE.5130Control Systems3
EECE.5840Probability and Random Processes3

Why Study Mechanical Engineering at UMass Lowell?

Mechanical engineering students using unnamed equipment

Specialization

Choose from different concentrations in Mechanics and Materials, Thermofluids, Energy, Vibrations/Dynamics/Controls, Design and Manufacturing or Out-of-Department Concentrations. You can also select the Energy Engineering Option.
Mechanical Engineering professor Chris-Niezrecki showing equipment to a female student

Experiential Learning

Gain practical work experience while pursuing your degree through the Graduate Master’s Co-Op Option in Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering major Qiana Curcuru standing in front of equipment at iRobot, where she co-oped. Image by Tory Wesnofske

Research

Work directly with 30+ full-time faculty members in the department's internationally renowned research laboratories and centers, such as the Center for Wind Energy, the Nanomanufacturing Center and the Structural Dynamics and Acoustic Systems Laboratory.

Mechanical Engineering Career Outlook

  • +19,800

    Projected new job openings each year

    (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

  • $115,540

    Average salary for Mechanical Engineers in Mass.

    (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

Where Our Graduates Work

  • Raytheon
  • BAE Systems
  • Medtronic
  • GE Aerospace
  • Bose Corporation
  • iRobot
  • RTX
  • MilliporeSigma
  • L3Harris Technologies
  • Mercury Systems

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Complete the FAFSA

View Estimated Annual Tuition and Fees for the 2025 - 2026 Academic Year

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

  • Application:
  • Application Fee: $75
  • Statement of Purpose: Outline goals, experience and achievements (max 2 pages)
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) for master's, three (3) for doctoral applicants.
  • Transcripts: You may apply with unofficial transcripts, but if accepted, official transcripts are required.
  • Test Scores: Please send test scores to EngineeringCAS using school code 4530. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all Doctor of Philosophy programs and for the Master of Science in Engineering in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. It is accepted but not required for other master's applicants.

All materials must be received before your application is reviewed. To add documents before review, log in and select “Program Materials.”

International Applicants

English proficiency is required. If English is not your country’s national language, please submit one of the following scores:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 79+
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5+
  • Duolingo: 115+
  • ASC English: Level 6+
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): 53+

For the TOEFL, please send your scores to EngineeringCAS using the school code B887.

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Questions? Contact Us!

Phone:
800-656-4723 (U.S. Students)
978-934-2390 (International Students)

Email: 
Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu