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Master of Science
MSCotermOverview
The master’s program in Mechanical Engineering is a non-thesis degree that allows students broad flexibility in selecting a program of lecture and project-based courses to meet their educational objectives. The program is designed principally for students who wish to enter industry as practicing professionals. With our emphasis on human-centered design, as well as the multidisciplinary nature of the curriculum and the University-wide initiative on sustainability, Stanford Mechanical Engineering is producing graduates with advanced skills to meet the coming needs of the industry.
Students are encouraged to visit the ME Student Intranet opens in a new tab for departmental forms, policy resources, and procedure guides.
Requirements
Program Requirements
Mathematical Fundamentals
Two math courses covering two different areas from Linear Algebra, Partial Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis, and Statistics. The following courses satisfy the requirement in the indicated area(s).
Partial Differential Equations
Numerical Analysis
Petitions for other math-focused courses, including more advanced math courses and math applications courses, will be considered in cases where students can demonstrate sufficient math fundamentals from prior coursework. Such petitions should be submitted to ME Student Services for review before taking the proposed course; include the prior course(s) syllabus.
Depth in Mechanical Engineering
“Depth” refers to a cluster of courses with thematic and/or technical continuity that enables a student to study a part of mechanical engineering in more depth, with more focus, and over a period of time. A depth cluster or area comprises at least nine units (2-3 courses).
Automatic Controls
AA 203
Optimal and Learning-based Control
AA 212
Advanced Feedback Control Design
AA 277
Multi-Robot Control and Distributed Optimization
ENGR 105
Feedback Control Design
ENGR 205
Introduction to Control Design Techniques
ME 286
Identification and Estimation in Engineering Design
ME 327
Design and Control of Haptic Systems
Biomechanical Engineering
At least two Foundational Courses must be taken.
Foundational Courses
System-Specific Courses
Design Methodology
Note: The Design Methodology Depth is intended as a series, and a singular course cannot be used as breadth. Please refer to the "Breadth in Mechanical Engineering" section for approved breadth courses in the Design Methodology area.
Dynamics
Energy and Transport Sciences
Fluid Mechanics
Additional Course
ME 354
Experimental Methods in Fluid Mechanics
ME 355
Compressible Flow
ME 361
Turbulence
ME 451A
Advanced Fluid Mechanics Multiphase Flows
ME 451B
Advanced Fluid Mechanics - Flow Instabilities
ME 451C
Advanced Fluid Mechanics - Low-Order Modeling for Turbulent Flow
ME 461
Advanced Topics in Turbulence
Manufacturing and Product Realization
Additional Courses
ME 204
Advanced Mechanical Systems Design
ME 217
Engineering Design Analytics for Product Realization
ME 219
The Magic of Materials and Manufacturing
ME 225
Scaling Up
ME 227
Design for Additive Manufacturing
ME 318
Computer-Aided Product Creation
ME 321
Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing
MATSCI 351
Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing
ME 324
Precision Engineering
ME 325
Making Multiples: Injection Molding
Materials and Stress Analysis
ME 219
The Magic of Materials and Manufacturing
ME 258
Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures
MATSCI 358
Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures
ME 303
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
MATSCI 333
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
ME 329
Mechanical Analysis in Design
ME 340
Mechanics - Elasticity and Inelasticity
Mechatronics
Note: The Mechatronics Depth is intended as a series, and a singular course cannot be used as breadth. Please refer to the "Breadth in Mechanical Engineering" section for approved breadth courses in the Mechatronics area.
Reactive and Ionized Gas Dynamics
Required Course
ME 362A
Physical Gas Dynamics
Additional Courses
ME 362B
Nonequilibrium Processes in High-Temperature Gases
ME 363
Partially Ionized Plasmas and Gas Discharges
ME 364
Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy
ME 366
Light and Plasma
ME 371
Combustion Fundamentals
ME 372
Combustion Applications
ME 374
Fundamentals of Aerosols and Nanoparticle Science
ME 463
Advanced Topics in Plasma Science and Engineering
Robotics and Kinematics
Breadth in Mechanical Engineering
“Breadth” refers to graduate-level ME courses outside the student’s depth area. The intent is for students to engage in coursework in areas of mechanical engineering outside of the depth to broaden their understanding and competency in the broader range of topics.
Two courses are required from the list of eligible breadth courses from area(s) outside your depth. They can come from the same area or two different areas. If you select two Data Science classes for your breadth, at least one of those must have an ME course number.
Automatic Controls
AA 203
Optimal and Learning-based Control
AA 212
Advanced Feedback Control Design
AA 277
Multi-Robot Control and Distributed Optimization
ENGR 105
Feedback Control Design
ENGR 205
Introduction to Control Design Techniques
ME 286
Identification and Estimation in Engineering Design
ME 327
Design and Control of Haptic Systems
If depth is Automatic Controls, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Automatic Controls, select any course(s) from the list above.
Biomechanical Engineering
ME 234
Introduction to Neuromechanics
ME 235
Biotransport Phenomena
ME 244
Mechanotransduction in Cells and Tissues
ME 249
Designing Biomaterials
ME 281
Biomechanics of Movement
ME 283
Introduction to Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
ME 285
Computational Modeling in the Cardiovascular System
ME 287
Mechanics of Biological Tissues
ME 303
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
MATSCI 333
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
ME 381
Orthopaedic Bioengineering
ME 485
Modeling and Simulation of Human Movement
If depth is Biomechanical Engineering, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Biomechanical Engineering, select any course(s) from the list above.
Design Methodology
Dynamics
If depth is Dynamics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Dynamics, select any course(s) from the list above.
Energy and Transport Sciences
If depth is Energy and Transport Sciences, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Energy Systems, select any course(s) from the list above.
Fluid Mechanics
ME 351A
Fluid Mechanics
ME 351B
Fluid Mechanics
ME 354
Experimental Methods in Fluid Mechanics
ME 355
Compressible Flow
ME 361
Turbulence
ME 451A
Advanced Fluid Mechanics Multiphase Flows
ME 451B
Advanced Fluid Mechanics - Flow Instabilities
ME 451C
Advanced Fluid Mechanics - Low-Order Modeling for Turbulent Flow
ME 461
Advanced Topics in Turbulence
If depth is Fluid Mechanics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas, excluding ME 352C. If depth is other than Fluid Mechanics, select any course(s) from the list above.
Manufacturing and Product Realization
MATSCI 251
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties
ME 203
Design and Manufacturing
ME 204
Advanced Mechanical Systems Design
ME 206B
Design for Extreme Affordability
ME 217
Engineering Design Analytics for Product Realization
ME 219
The Magic of Materials and Manufacturing
ME 225
Scaling Up
ME 227
Design for Additive Manufacturing
ME 318
Computer-Aided Product Creation
ME 321
Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing
MATSCI 351
Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing
ME 324
Precision Engineering
ME 325
Making Multiples: Injection Molding
If depth is Manufacturing and Product Realization, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Manufacturing and Product Realization, select any course(s) from the list above.
Materials and Stress Analysis
ME 219
The Magic of Materials and Manufacturing
ME 258
Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures
MATSCI 358
Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures
ME 303
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
MATSCI 333
Soft Composites and Soft Robotics
ME 329
Mechanical Analysis in Design
ME 340
Mechanics - Elasticity and Inelasticity
If depth is Materials and Stress Analysis, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Materials and Stress Analysis, select any course(s) from the list above.
Mechatronics
If depth is Mechatronics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Mechatronics, any course(s) from the list above may be taken as a breadth course in Mechatronics.
Reactive and Ionized Gas Dynamics
ME 362A
Physical Gas Dynamics
ME 362B
Nonequilibrium Processes in High-Temperature Gases
ME 363
Partially Ionized Plasmas and Gas Discharges
ME 364
Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy
ME 366
Light and Plasma
ME 371
Combustion Fundamentals
ME 372
Combustion Applications
ME 374
Fundamentals of Aerosols and Nanoparticle Science
ME 463
Advanced Topics in Plasma Science and Engineering
If depth is Reactive and Ionized Gas Dynamics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Reactive and Ionized Gas Dynamics, select any course(s) from the list above.
Robotics and Kinematics
If depth is Robotics and Kinematics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Robotics and Kinematics, select any course(s) from the list above.
Solid Mechanics
If depth is Solid Mechanics, select any two courses from one or two of the other areas. If depth is other than Solid Mechanics, select any course(s) from the list above.
Data Science
The following Data Science courses can be used for Breadth only. If you select two Data Science courses for your breadth, at least one of those must have an ME course number.
AA 222
Engineering Design Optimization
CS 131
Computer Vision: Foundations and Applications
CS 230
Deep Learning
CS 234
Reinforcement Learning
CS 236
Deep Generative Models
EE 364A
Convex Optimization I
EE 364B
Convex Optimization II
ME 233
Automated Model Discovery
ME 343
Machine Learning for Computational Engineering.
ME 470
Uncertainty Quantification
Sufficient Mechanical Engineering Coursework
Students must take a minimum of 15 units of coursework in mechanical engineering. Only courses with a 200+ ME course number and lecture (LEC) designation are considered mechanical engineering topics, with the addition that the specific courses ENGR 105 can count toward this requirement. Research (independent study) units and seminars cannot count toward the 15 units of ME coursework.
Approved Electives
Additional graduate (numbered 200+) engineering, math, and science courses will bring the total number of units to at least 39. The student’s advisor must approve all of these units. Graduate engineering, math, and science courses are typically approved. 100-level CS courses that satisfy the CS-MS: Computer Science (MS) program are also allowed.
Of these 39 units, no more than six units may come from independent study (ME 391 and ME 392), and no more than three units may come from seminars. Students planning to pursue the PhD should discuss taking ME 391 or ME 392 during the master’s program with their academic advisor. ME 491 and ME 299A/ME 299B may not be included in approved electives.
Students may use one of the following courses as an approved elective without petition: CS 106A, CS 106B, CS 106X, CS 107.
Note: Students participating in ME 391 or ME 392 should make the necessary arrangements with a faculty member. In addition, the faculty member and the student should determine the number of units for the course. ME 391 and ME 392 may only be taken on a credit / no credit basis. If a student takes an independent study in a different department, the grading option should be credit/no credit.
Unrestricted Electives
These courses will bring the total number of units submitted for the MS degree to 45. Students are strongly encouraged to take these units outside engineering, mathematics, or the sciences. Students should consult their advisor for recommendations on course loads and on ways to use the unrestricted electives to make a manageable program.
Unrestricted electives must be level 100+ and may be taken credit/no credit.
Laboratory Requirement
Within the courses satisfying the requirements above, there must be at least one graduate-level course with a laboratory component. The following courses can satisfy this requirement.
ME 203
Design and Manufacturing
ME 210
Introduction to Mechatronics
ME 218A
Smart Product Design Fundamentals
ME 218B
Smart Product Design Applications
ME 218C
Smart Product Design Practice
ME 220
Introduction to Sensors
ME 287
Mechanics of Biological Tissues
ME 327
Design and Control of Haptic Systems
ME 310B
Global Engineering Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
ME 310C
Global Engineering Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
ME 318
Computer-Aided Product Creation
ME 324
Precision Engineering
ME 326
Collaborative Robotics
ME 354
Experimental Methods in Fluid Mechanics
ME 367
Optical Diagnostics and Spectroscopy Laboratory
ME 391, ME 392, ME 398, and similar directed study/research courses offered by faculty in other departments will satisfy this requirement if 3 units are taken for work involving laboratory experiments. Please contact ME Student Services (me-degreeprogress@stanford.edu) for verification of lab work and approval.
Students should work with their assigned advisors to develop and update their course plans.