PhD in Mechanical Engineering

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In our Mechanical Engineering PhD program, you will focus on aspects of the design, construction and use of technology in your specific field or application, selected alongside an advisor. Our coursework gives you expertise in biomechanics, biofluids and composites, among a variety of other topics. By pursuing the PhD, you will have the opportunity to become among the top experts in your chosen topic in mechanical engineering.

Our program's focus is independent academic research. You will work to complete a dissertation based on your original research. This emphasis on the research process allows our students to develop the skills necessary to thrive in a wide variety of career types. After leaving DU, you will be prepared to go on to pursue job opportunities in academia, research or in the private sector.

Start Dates: Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer

Curriculum: 90 Credit hours completed in quarter terms for students entering with a bachelor’s degree

Program Length: 4 Years

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Top 10 Colorado’s rank for highest paying states for mechanical engineers Universities.com

$137,581 Average annual salary for those with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering Glassdoor.com

10% Projected job growth from 2022 to 2032 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

How our curriculum prepares you for your mechanical engineering career

Advance the field of mechanical engineering

Our PhD in Mechanical Engineering program is designed to help you develop the skills to advance the field through independent research.
Research alongside DU faculty

You will have the opportunity to conduct research alongside faculty in a variety of mechanical engineering-related fields, including bioengineering, robotics and more.
Be prepared to work across industries

Your PhD in mechanical engineering can be applied across multiple industries including aerospace, energy, biotechnology, material science, construction, transportation and more.
Learn both theoretical and applied knowledge

Our coursework in mechanical engineering includes both theoretical and applied knowledge including opportunities to work with engineering software and interdisciplinary projects.

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Application Information

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Admission Requirements

Degree and GPA Requirements 
- Bachelor's degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.
- Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.
- Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Prerequisites
- Mechanical Engineering: Students with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related areas may apply for the PhD program in Mechanical Engineering (ENME). Admission with only a Bachelor of Science degree in this field is also possible, but we encourage you to enroll in the MS ENME program first.
Other Required Materials
- We recommend PhD applicants contact faculty to find a research advisor BEFORE submitting the application. If we receive an application and there is no research advisor commitment, we will consider the applicant for the master’s program only.
English Language Proficiency Test Score Requirements 
The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:
- Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
- Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
- Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176
- Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115
English Conditional Admission: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission

Mechanical Engineering Courses

Start your path to a PhD, even if you hold a bachelor's degree

Candidates who hold only a bachelor’s degree on entering the doctoral program are expected to meet all degree requirements of the corresponding master’s degree program.
If you are entering with a bachelor’s degree, 90 credits are required. 75 of your credits must be completed at the University of Denver. A minimum of 48 credits must be at the 4000 or 5000 level and may include as many dissertation research credits as considered appropriate by your advisor. No courses at the 1000 or 2000 level are accepted. To obtain official entrance into the PhD program, you must pass the qualifying exam.

For students with a master’s degree

If you are entering with a master’s degree, up to 45 credits may be transferred and applied to the doctorate degree. In addition, a minimum of 45 of your credits must be completed at DU. The total number of credits required for the degree is 90. A minimum of 36 credits must be completed at the 4000- or 5000-level, which may include as many research credits as considered appropriate by your advisor. No courses at the 1000- or 2000-level are acceptable.

Required Core Courses

ENME 4900 - Grad Professional Development
ENME 4950 - Graduate Assessment

Mechanical Engineering Core Courses

ENGR 3630 - Finite Element Methods
ENGR 4730 - Introduction to Robotics
ENME 3545 - Mechanisms
ENME 3651 - Computational Fluid Dynamics
ENME 4020 - Advanced Finite Element Analysis
ENME 4360 - Elasticity
ENME 4520 - Intermediate Dynamics
ENME 4541 - Advanced Mechanics of Materials
ENME 4630 - Viscous Flow
ENME 4670 - Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
ENME 4671 - Convective Heat Transfer
ENME 4800 - Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced Math Courses

ENGR 3620 - Advanced Engineering Mathematics - Corporate
ENGR 4300 - Advanced Numerical Methods
ENGR 4350 - Reliability
ENGR 4620 - Optimization
ENGR 4765 - Robot Control

The Next Steps Toward a PhD in Mechanical Engineering

After completion of the qualifying exam and coursework, you should schedule and take the comprehensive exam attended by your PhD committee. After successful completion of the qualifying exam and the comprehensive exam, you are required to complete and defend a dissertation of publishable quality based on your original research.

Graduate Teaching and Graduate Research Assistantships

You can access funding through graduate teaching and research assistantships. While these assistantships are competitive, you are encouraged to apply before the priority admissions deadline. Learn more about GTA/GRA positions at DU.