** Note: The above version of the Graduate Studies Manual is the most up to date version. If you experience any difficulty accessing the PDF, please contact the department to request an alternative format. **
The department offers separate programs in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. In each program, the Master of Science, MS, and the Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, degrees are granted. Students are accepted for Spring or Fall admission. Subject to certain limitations, students may undertake their program on a full- or part-time basis.
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. A BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or the equivalent, with a quality point average of at least 3.0/4.0, is normally required for admission to all programs. Prospective students may apply for either the MS or the PhD program. Students with a BS degree (i.e., without a MS degree) can apply for PhD program directly or may choose to f rst obtain an MS degree and then enter the PhD program. Students who complete UB's MS program and wish to continue for PhD must re-apply for admission to the PhD program.
All PhD students are required to have GREs taken before admission to the program. All MS students who have not obtained an undergraduate degree in the United States are also required to have GREs taken before admission to the program.
a) Degree Student: Graduate students who have been accepted by the department with an undergraduate quality point average of 3.0/4.0 or better.
b) Non-degree Student: Students with appropriate academic qualifications who do not wish to pursue a degree program.
c) Non-Matriculated Student: A student who has enrolled but is not yet accepted into the academic program.
d) Conditional Admission: Students admitted on a conditional basis do not qualify as degree students and must demonstrate their ability to perform satisfactorily at the graduate level before being admitted to degree candidacy. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required during the first semester. Otherwise, the student will be dropped automatically from the program with no further probationary period possible.
e) Provisional Admission: Students admitted on a provisional basis must complete certain requirements before being allowed to enroll in MAE.
Graduate credit earned (4 courses or 12 credits) by non-degree students may be applied toward a degree program by petition to the Director of Graduate Studies after acceptance as a degree student. An online application must be completed and an application fee is required. An official transcript must be supplied.
a) Full-Time: A student who carries 12 credit hours (equivalent to four approved courses) of work is considered a full-time student by the department. Research assistants (RAs), teaching assistants (TAs) and graduate assistants (GAs) are considered full time at 9 or more credit hours. The following students must be full time: university fellows, department fellows, TAs, RAs, GAs, veterans (supported by the Veteran’s Administration), and all foreign students with a student visa.
Students who are within 12 credit hours of fulfilling their Masters or Ph.D. degree requirements (9 credit hours in the case of RAs, TAs and GAs) should submit the Certification of Full-Time Status Form to the Graduate School for full-time status if registering for fewer than 12 (9 for RAs, GA and TAs) credits. All supported students and all foreign students falling into this category must file the petition. Note that an ATC form must be submitted and approved before a petition for full-time status will be approved by the Graduate School. Supported students should also be aware that the number of tuition scholarship credits that will be allowed will be limited to only those credit hours required for a particular degree (30 credit hours for the MS or 72 credit hours for the PhD, less any transfer credits).
b) Part-Time: A student who carries less than that required for full-time status and has not filed a petition for full-time status is considered a part-time student by the department.
a) Initial Advisement and Registration: Students enrolling for graduate study for the first time should report to the Department office in 210 Bell Hall at least one week prior to the first day of classes. International students registering for the first time should report to the Office of International Education in Talbert Hall for assistance on housing, visa status, and orientation before coming to the department office.
Each student is assigned a preliminary advisor upon admission. The preliminary advisor will: (1) work with the student to decide course work that should be taken during the first year of graduate study; (2) help with any general questions a student may have about the program, opportunities for research, or funding; and (3) help the student find an academic advisor for their MS thesis or PhD dissertation. The academic advisor may or may not be the same person as the preliminary advisor. The preliminary advisor also might be of assistance to provide counsel in non-curricular matters, such as health, housing, deficiencies in English comprehension, speaking or writing.
All incoming students must attend the department’s orientation where they will be introduced to their preliminary advisor. This orientation typically is held the week before Fall Semester classes start. After consultation with their preliminary advisors, new students will register for their first semester’s classes.
b) Academic Advisor: As early as possible in their first semester students should meet with MAE department faculty members to find a common area of research or technical interest with the purpose of deciding a preference for a thesis/dissertation topic and advisor. Upon reaching mutual agreement with a faculty member on thesis advisement the student should so notify the department graduate office. The advisor must be a member of the Graduate School Faculty. Prior to selection of an academic advisor, student should consult with their preliminary advisor for any advisement concerning their study.
Students should discuss regularly with their advisors, who must approve all course selections as well as provide thesis or project supervision. In unusual circumstances, students may change advisors only with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
c) Advisement by Non-MAE faculty: Non-MAE faculty can serve as a co-advisor or as project, thesis, and dissertation committee members, provided they have an appropriate Graduate School appointment.
All academic grievances should first be brought to the attention of the current Director of Graduate Studies. If the grievance is with the Director of Graduate Studies, the issue should be brought to the attention of the MAE Chair. A listing of policies and procedures regarding of academic grievances can be found here.
Academic integrity is a fundamental university value. Through the honest completion of academic work, students sustain the integrity of the university while facilitating the university’s imperative for the transmission of knowledge and culture based upon the generation of new and innovative ideas. When an instance of suspected or alleged academic dishonesty by a student arises, it shall be resolved according to the procedures set by the Graduate School. These procedures assume that many questions of academic dishonesty will be resolved through consultative resolution between the student and the instructor. It is recommended that the instructor and student each consult with the department chair, School or College dean, or the Graduate School if there are any questions regarding these procedures.
Examples of academic dishonesty include:
Complete policies and procedures regarding academic integrity issues can be found here.
Every student is required to register every semester; registration options include courses, research, thesis, or dissertation work. Schedules should be planned as early as possible at the beginning of each semester. The latter may be undertaken only under the direct supervision of a faculty member. No credit will be allowed for work done without proper registration. Proper registration is important for determination of the residence requirements. “Residence” implies the pursuit of advanced study or research while registered at UB-SUNY under the supervision of the Graduate School Faculty.
Normally, a minimum registration period of one year on a full-time equivalent basis is expected for the MS degree, and two years on a similar basis is expected for the PhD. A PhD candidate must also fulfill the PhD residency requirement of at least two semesters as a full-time student.
It is important for all international students to maintain full-time status during their entire graduate study at the University at Buffalo. As per immigration regulations, international students must maintain full time status.
Students are required to register continuously during their period of graduate study until all requirements for the degree are completed. Students who, for one reason or another, cannot maintain continuous registration must request a Leave of Absence before the start of the semester for which the leave is being requested. For this purpose, the student must petition the Dean of the Graduate School and obtain the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. A leave of absence will only be granted to students in good academic standing. If the student is enrolled for less than 12 credits (less than 9 credits for TAs, GAs or RAs, and for all international students), the Certification of Full-Time Status form should also be completed.
Leaves of absence will normally be granted for only one (1) semester at a time. Leaves of more than one (1) semester may require additional justification and documentation from the student and the student’s advisor. Documented cases of financial hardship, illness, or compulsory military service constitute valid justification. Students who leave the program after completion of some graduate work, but have not been given an approved leave of absence, must reapply and be readmitted as a new student. Continued leaves of absence beyond two (2) semesters will not be granted.
It is the responsibility of the student to meet all deadlines specified by the Department and by the Graduate School. Degree conferral deadlines are available here and are subject to change. Check at least three months before expected conferral. Allow time for in-ternal processing. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the Graduate School prior to the various deadline dates to be sure that all the requirements and paperwork for the degree have been completed.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON APPLICATION TO CANDIDACY (ATC) FORM: To be in compliance with University policies all full-time students must submit their ATC forms at least one semester before the degree is to be conferred. Students in the MS program should submit their ATC form in their second semester of full time study. Students in the PhD program should submit their ATC form as soon as possible after passing the PhD qualifier exam but no later than the fourth semester of full-time study.
a) From Another School: Transfer credit will be allowed only for graduate work with a grade of “B” or better. Graduate work done at other institutions may be offered in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree if the work is of acceptable quality and appropriate to the student’s program. Credits earned in correspondence courses may not be transferred.
A student desiring to transfer graduate credits should consult with his/her advisor before the end of the first semester in the program. When the student’s Application to Candidacy is submitted, it must list the credits to be transferred.
For the MS program, this transfer is limited to a maximum of 20% of the degree requirements (or 6 credit hours total).
A student entering the PhD program may transfer up to 30 total credit hours of previous graduate course work. Previous project or thesis work may not be transferred.
b) From another Department within UB: Graduate work done in another department within UB may be offered in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements if the work is of acceptable quality and appropriate to the student’s program and to the satisfaction of the advisor.
Graduate credit is granted only to degree students who:
i) have been accepted into the department prior to registration in any course, seminar, research program, or other type of study.
ii) are seniors close to graduation with at least a 3.0/4.0 grade point average during their last three semesters and who do not need the course credit to complete the BS requirements. (Petition forms are available in the Student Advising Services office. Exception registration is done within the department, by the assistant to the chair, with instructor’s permission.)
Graduate credit is earned for approved courses and registration in thesis/dissertation which is under the direct supervision of the advisor. Approved are those at the 500, 600 and 700 level, provided the advisement and registration requirements are met. Graduate courses from outside the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences or Natural Sciences and Mathematics must receive prior approval from the student’s advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. A form for this purpose is available with the department office of graduate studies.
Informal Courses
Informal courses usually include Individual Problems and Graduate Internship, which are taught on an informal basis. These courses require a complete narrative description on a special form designed for this purpose, which includes the signatures of the student, instructor, and the Director of Graduate Studies, and should be submitted to the MAE graduate secretary during registration time (the beginning of the semester).
A maximum of six (6) credit hours of informal courses may be applied toward the minimum 30 credit-hour requirement for the Masters degree.
A maximum of six (6) credit hours of informal course work may be applied towards the minimum 72 credit-hour requirement for the PhD degree. Any informal course credits applied towards a Masters degree are included in this six credit limit for PhD students.
Distance Learning for Part-time Students
Part-time students can take 4 courses through distance learning (e.g., EngiNet).
Distance Learning for Full-time Students
Full time Domestic Students can take 2 courses through distance learning (e.g., EngiNet). Full time International Students can take 1 course through distance learning. In such a case, both domestic and international students must discuss this with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. International students must also contact ISSS.
Graduate Credit from Undergraduate Courses
Students wishing to use an undergraduate course for graduate credit must submit a petition form along with a statement or syllabus from the instructor showing the additional work required for graduate credit to the MAE graduate office during the first week of classes to receive approval. Copies of these petitions must be included along with the Application to Candidacy form. Retroactive approval will not be granted. Such courses must be limited to a maximum of 2 advanced undergraduate courses at the 400 level. This maximum limit applies to the entire MS or PhD degree program. Undergraduate courses which carry 4 or more semester hours of credit will receive a maximum of 3 semester hours of graduate credit. Graduate students taking a 4 credit hour course must register and pay tuition for the full 4 credits.
Other
The following courses may not be employed to fulfill degree credit requirements:
Grades
A minimum average of B (3.0/4.0) must be maintained during all graduate work. This requirement takes effect after 3 courses, and all work taken for graduate credit which could be applied to the degree is used in calculating the grade point average. Courses should not be taken using “S/U” grading unless approval is obtained ahead of time from the Director of Graduate Studies.
Accordingly, courses taken in excess of that which is applied toward the degree credit requirements will be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average. Students whose averages fall between 2.5 and 3.0 at the end of any grading period may be permitted, upon the recommendation of their advisors and approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, to make up the grade point deficiency within a specified period.
Dismissal from Academic Program
A student will be considered for dismissal from the program when
Incomplete grades (I) are not counted in the program average while they are on the student’s record. However, after no more than two additional semesters, all requirements for such courses must be completed and a letter grade assigned. If this is not done, the ‘I’ grade will automatically be changed to a U (unsatisfactory), which cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements. The program average is not affected by grades received for thesis, dissertation and seminar. The grade L is normally to be used for Thesis, Project, Dissertation or Departmental Seminar courses.
Graduate students are permitted to resign from a course without academic penalty if this is done prior to the last day for dropping a course without penalty. The student must resign officially by use of a Change of Registration slip which is available in the Student Response Center office. The student must consult with his/her advisor before returning the slip. Students who are required to keep full-time status must also receive approval of the Director of Graduate Studies prior to dropping a course. It is important that the student resign officially from a course in the manner described, otherwise a grade of F will be recorded.
Time limits for full-time degree students
The time limit for the MS degree is four years, measured from the first registration as a graduate degree student. For part-time students a time limit of 6 years from the first registration in the graduate program may be permitted. At the end of 4 years, a graduate student petition form must be submitted to request an extension beyond the fourth year.
For students entering the PhD program with a MS degree the limit is five years from the date of the first PhD registration and seven years from the date of first graduate registration. For students entering the PhD program with a BS degree the limit is seven years from the date of the first PhD registration. The time spent on an approved leave of absence is not included in these time limits.
Time limit extensions may be granted for adequate reasons by petition to the Executive Committee of the Graduate School. The petition must be forwarded with a recommendation from the Director of Graduate Studies. The extension of time limit is normally granted for a maximum period of one year
Other Requirements
Any general requirements of the Graduate School or SEAS must also be satisfied.
All students are automatically considered for financial aid upon application for admission to graduate studies. There are three main types of financial support: Teaching or Graduate Assistantships, provided by state funds for lines allotted to the department; Research Assistantships, provided by research grants held by individual faculty members; and Graduate Fellowships provided by state funds administered by the Graduate School. In addition to Research Assistantships, potential new graduate students applying for admission are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships on which the decisions are made by the Graduate Studies Committee of the department. For TAs, the general policy of the department is to limit them to two semesters. PhD students as TAs are eligible for support beyond the first two semesters; however the expectation is that the bulk of the support of PhD students is to be provided by Research Assistantships and Graduate Fellowships based on satisfactory performance. The University has imposed a two-year limit on support (TA and GA) of Masters students on a state line; the limit for PhD students is four years.
The duties of TAs, which are assigned by the Department Chair, typically require twenty (20) hours per week and consist of conducting undergraduate laboratories, assisting faculty in recitations, the grading of problems, or the holding of office hours. The stipend and duties of RAs are decided by the Principal Investigator or grant holder. Usually the work of RAs contributes directly to their thesis study or at least is closely related. Graduate or University Fellowships are awarded annually to new students, by the Graduate School on a University-wide competitive basis. The department proposes several of its most promising candidates for these Fellowships every February when applications are solicited by the Graduate School.
Assistantships and fellowships normally include a full or partial tuition scholarship. How-ever, the University has imposed a four semester limit on tuition scholarships for all Masters students and an eight semester limit (beyond the B.S. degree) for Ph.D. students. Extensions of these limits are approved only by petition. For Masters students, it is unusual for the time limit to be extended. For PhD students, no tuition scholarship or remission will be awarded beyond the tenth semester of graduate study. Tuition Scholarship credit hours will generally be limited only to those credits required for the degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) being pursued. Continuing students who are eligible for tuition scholarships must complete and submit the necessary forms before the beginning of the Fall semester each year.
In cases of late appointments, tuition scholarship forms may be filed until the middle of the second week of classes each semester. Failure to do this could result in the loss of the tuition scholarship regardless of the initial appointment terms. Students should also note that tuition scholarships are not granted for courses or thesis/dissertation work undertaken during the summer months. It is therefore necessary that all graduate students register for adequate thesis or project credit during the fall and/or spring semesters in order that tuition scholarships are received for such study. This should be done even though most of the thesis or project work might actually be delayed until a later period. Registration for up to 19 credit hours per semester is permitted without petition.
Supported students in the Ph.D. program must take the Ph.D. qualifying exam, at the first opportunity as described in Sec. 3.5 and complete the annual review form every year. Failure to observe these requirements may result in the termination of financial support.
In the department’s view the main purpose of assistantship or fellowship support is to assist the student in completing the objectives and requirements of the degree program. It is mutually advantageous for the student to complete his/her program in the shortest period of time consistent with high academic performance. All assistantship appointments are subject to continuous departmental review and require satisfactory progress towards the program objectives as well as satisfactory performance of any assigned assistantship duties.
The granting of a teaching assistantship to a continuing student first requires a nomination by a tenure-track faculty member. Students are not permitted to nominate themselves.
Teaching and Research Assistants, as well as Fellows, are expected to pursue their pro-grams vigorously and as a continuing full-time commitment. During the various recesses and periods without classes which occur in the 10-month academic year (September through June) all Teaching and Research Assistants are expected to be present and actively engaged in thesis, project work, or assigned duties. Leaves of absence for time away from the campus must have the prior approval of the student’s advisor.
Unfortunately, the department does not have sufficient financial resources to assist all students deserving of support. In fact, only a fraction can be supported. For this reason students should consult the following websites:
Students are also encouraged to search for competitive awards available from sources outside the department or outside the University.
All full-time students should register for and attend the departmental seminar series (MAE 503). In cases where courses or formal assignments preclude regular attendance at the seminar, students may be excused. Students who enter the M.S. program are required to register for two semesters of seminar during their M.S. degree program. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with a M.S. degree are required to register for two semesters of seminar while those entering with a B.S. degree are required to register for four semester of seminar during their Ph.D. program. All students are encouraged to attend seminars, whether registered or not. A waiver for the seminar requirement can be made to the MAE Director of Graduate Studies. Waivers will only be granted if the request has sufficient justification.
For Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering the credit requirement is a minimum of thirty (30) semester credit hours. Three options exist in each program: a six-credit Thesis plus at least eight courses of three credits each; a three-credit Project plus at least nine courses of three credits each; or, the all-course option which consists of at least ten approved graduate courses of three credits each, plus a final comprehensive examination. Students receiving financial support (TA, RA or GA) through the department are required to do the Thesis option, except if they enter the Ph.D. program by passing the Ph.D. qualifying exam and do a dissertation.
The Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering Master of Science program re-quires that at least 21 credits, including research credits, be from within the MAE depart-ment. To aid in course selection, all MAE classes have been split into four tracks. These tracks might contain courses from different research areas:
The remaining 9 credits (3 courses) must be taken from MAE, another engineering department, or hard-science department such as Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, MDI, or Biology. Requests to use credits from any other department must be made to the Graduate Director before the semester in which that course will be taken.
It is suggested that students should take 9 MAE credits from three of the four different tracks to broaden his/her knowledge in the general area of MAE. The remaining 12 MAE credits will be free electives and can be chosen among any combination of tracks. However, students are advised to take these 12 credits among one particular track to get specialization in one particular area. For example, a student could take seven courses within FTS to get a specialization in Fluid and Thermal Sciences and can take one course in M&M and two courses in DO to broaden his/her knowledge scope in MAE. Students are not required to declare their specialization track.
There are three Master Degree programs available to students:
Master of Science Degree with Thesis: The minimum requirements consist of at least eight approved graduate courses (24 to 27 credit hours) and 3 to 6 credit hours of thesis registration, for a total of 30 credit hours. The student must submit an application to the candidacy form one semester before the degree is to be conferred and no later than the second semester of full-time graduate study. One semester before the degree is to be conferred, the student must submit an Application to Candidacy form. Informal courses (Sec. 1.11) listed in the Application to Candidacy must be accompanied by complete narrative descriptions signed by the instructors. The Application to Candidacy is then approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted to the Graduate School for approval by the Executive Committee of the Graduate School.
The thesis may cover a variety of activities, including theoretical and experimental investigations, practical design projects, and the like. The nature of these activities may vary greatly, but no essential difference should exist in equality and significance as a contribution to engineering. The thesis should be carefully prepared as indicated below.
Three people, qualified to render judgment in the area involved, constitute the thesis examination committee: the advisor plus two other graduate faculty members. Non-MAE faculty can serve as a co-advisor or committee members, provided they have a Graduate School appointment. Two of the thesis examination committee members must hold MAE appointments. A waiver for this requirement may be requested from the MAE Director of Graduate Studies.
The candidate is required to hold an oral presentation at which the examination committee is present in addition to other interested faculty and students. Advance notice of the oral defense must be sent to all department members at least one week prior to the presentation. Any changes in the thesis examination committee should be approved by the graduate committee. The department must approve and notify the Graduate School in writing when major changes in the program, such as a change in Thesis title, are made.
Following a successful oral defense, the examination committee certifies approval of the thesis by signing the Graduate School “M” form, and the advisor reports the thesis grade (if it needs to be changed).
The typing and detailed format and arrangement of the M.S. thesis are to be the same as prescribed for the Ph.D. dissertation in Sec. 3.11. After final corrections have been made, the student must submit the thesis electronically to the graduate school; see here for details. The department sends the signed “M” form to the Graduate School. All materials must be in the Graduate School Office on or before the degree conferral deadlines established each year by the Graduate School.
Master of Science Degree with Project: The minimum requirements consist of nine approved graduate courses (27 credit hours) and 3 credit hours of project registration (under MAE 560) for a total of 30 credit hours. One semester before the degree is to be conferred, the student must submit an Application to Candidacy form, which includes a summary of courses to be applied toward the degree. Informal courses listed in the Application to Candidacy must be accompanied by complete narrative descriptions signed by the instructor. The Application to Candidacy is then approved by the department Director of Graduate Studies and submitted to the Graduate School for approval by the Executive Committee of the Graduate School.
The project should be carefully prepared, and must be typed as indicated below. Two people, qualified to render judgment in the area involved, constitute the project examination committee: the advisor plus one other faculty member. Non-MAE faculty can serve as committee member, provided they have a Graduate School appointment. The candidate makes an oral presentation at which the examination committee is present in addition to other interested faculty and students. Advance notice of the oral defense must be sent to all department members at least one week prior to the presentation.
The three-credit Project must be done under the supervision or advisement of a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department graduate faculty member, although it can be initiated by a student. A typed report of substantial length is required, written to a satisfactory standard as judged by the faculty advisor. An electronic copy of the report must be submitted to the MAE graduate office (for retention). The detailed format and arrangement of the report should be the same as prescribed for the M.S. thesis.
Following a successful oral presentation, the advisor certifies approval of the project by signing the Graduate School “M” form.
All-Course Master of Science Degree with Comprehensive Examination: The requirements of this option are at least ten approved graduate courses of three credits each, plus a final comprehensive examination. The general regulations and guidelines governing program course content are the same as for the M.S. Thesis and Project options.
The comprehensive exam for the All-Course option is an oral exam in the area of the student’s specialization conducted by a committee of at least two faculty members of the MAE department. The comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the student’s mastery of their program of study and their ability to integrate knowledge acquired through their program. The comprehensive examination date will be established by the Director of Graduate Studies and will be held within one week of the conclusion of each semester. The result of the exam is to be communicated by the examination committee to the Director of Graduate Studies.
A summary of different requirements for each Master’s degree:
| MS Degree Option | Minimum Course Work Credits | Culminating Experience | Expected Time to Completion |
| All-Course | 30 | Comprehensive Exam | 2-3 semesters |
| Project | 27 | 3 credit project and presentation | 3-4 semesters |
| Thesis | 24-27 | 3-6 credit MS Thesis and defense | 3-4 semesters |
Dual M.S. Degrees
It is possible for a student to complete a program leading to two M.S. degrees, for example, the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering degrees described, or one of those and a second degree from another engineering discipline and department. The guideline governing such a program is that the integrity of each degree must be observed. This will usually mean that a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit must be completed for each degree and that 6 semester hours may be applied to both programs. In some cases the curriculum will contain prescribed courses which are common to both programs. Such common courses may be counted for both degree programs. See also information on the Graduate School site.
Deadlines
In order that students receive their degrees when expected it is necessary that certain deadlines be met in their programs. It is the student’s responsibility to be cognizant of these deadlines and ensure that they are met.
The minimum requirements for both the Mechanical Engineering and the Aerospace Engi-neering Ph.D. programs consist of a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate course work and 12-24 credit hours of dissertation work, for a total of 72 credit hours. A maximum of six credit hours of the 48 credit hour course requirement may be fulfilled by M.S. Thesis (six (6) credit hours) or M.S. Project (three (3) credit hours) completed at the University at Buffalo. Transfer credit policy for students entering with an M.S. degree from outside the Department was stated previously in Sec. 1.10. Effective Fall 2007, all PhD students must have taken the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Normally, at least three academic years of full-time graduate study, beyond the bac-calaureate degree, are required to complete the Ph.D. degree requirements. The selection of the program of courses and the student’s dissertation research are under the supervision of a Ph.D. program committee chaired by the student’s advisor.
Students who already have a Masters degree, an outstanding academic background and are highly interested in research can pursue his/her Ph.D. degree by entering the Ph.D. program. All applicants to the Ph.D. program must take the GRE before his/her application to the program can be assessed.
Students with outstanding undergraduate studies and a high level of interest in research can pursue his/her Ph.D. degree by directly entering the Ph.D. program. During this pursuit, if the student wishes to earn an M.S. instead of Ph.D. for special reasons, they need to first seek for the approval from his/her advisor. The request needs to be submitted by the advisor to the Graduate Studies Committee for final approval.
Students completing the M.S. program in UB’s MAE department who wish to proceed to the Ph.D. program must re-apply following the standard admission procedure. All applicants to the Ph.D. program must take the GRE before his/her application to the program. This requirement holds even if the applicant previously earned an M.S. degree or equivalent at UB or elsewhere and had not taken the GRE.
Within three (3) semester of beginning the program, all Ph.D. students must inform the MAE department of their advisor’s name. Students who do not have an advisor by the end of their third semester in the program may be dismissed.
Within three (3) semesters of beginning the Ph.D. program, students must consult with their Ph.D advisor and form a 72-credit coursework plan. This plan must be filed with the MAE department by the end of the student’s third semester. Any changes to this plan must be approved by the student’s Ph.D advisor and filed with the MAE department. Failure to submit this plan may result in the dismissal of the student from the MAE Ph.D. program.
Students who do not already hold a M.S. degree in their chosen area are eligible to earn a M.S. degree while completing their Ph.D. program. To do so, students must inform the department of their intent and satisfy all requirements of the M.S. program. Students must submit all paperwork according to the M.S. deadlines required by the department, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and University at Buffalo Graduate School.
Each student desiring to become a PhD candidate in the department must take the PhD Qualifying Examination, which consists of written and oral components. The written examination consists of three (3), 1.5-hour sessions given at the end of the Spring Semester. The exact time and dates for the examination will be announced by March, while the oral examination follows after the written examination.
All Ph.D. students must pass the Qualifying Examination within the first three (3) years of the PhD program if they enter with a BS degree and within two (2) years of the PhD program if they entered with an MS degree. The academic advisor of a student may require, at the advisor’s discretion, that a student pass the Qualifying Examination within the first two (2) years of the PhD program, regardless if they entered with a BS or MS degree.
For students entering with an MS degree, the PhD Qualifying Examination time limit will begin at the start of the student’s first Fall semester, unless the student’s academic advisor requires that the time limit begin from the student’s first semester.
All students will have two (2) opportunities to pass the Qualifying Examination. Failure to take the examination during the second year for students who enter with a BS degree or during the first year for students with an MS degree will be counted as a failed attempt. For any students whose academic advisor requires that they pass the Qualifying Examination during the first two years of the PhD program, failure to take the examination during the first year will be considered a failure.
Any requests for deferment of a qualifying exam must be provided in writing by the PhD advisor of the student at least four (4) weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. These will be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee on a case-by-case basis. If a student is not able to take the examination on the scheduled date due to medical reasons, documentation must be provided to the Graduate Studies Committee regarding the medical condition.
The Qualifying Examination consists of both a written and oral examination. The examination consists of seventeen (17) topics covering seven (7) areas:
1. Bioengineering:
(a) Evaluation of Biomedical Materials (MAE 514)
(b) Cardiovascular Biomechanics (MAE 578)
2. Computational and Applied Mechanics:
(a) Advanced Solid Mechanics (CIE 511)
(b) Finite Elements (MAE 529)
(c) Continuum Mechanics (MAE 555)
3. Design and Optimization:
(a) Probability (MAE 509)
(b) Optimization (MAE 550)
(c) CAD Applications (MAE 577)
4. Dynamics and Controls:
(a) Controls (MAE 543)
(b) Dynamics (MAE 562)
(c) Systems Analysis (MAE 571)
5. Fluid and Thermal Sciences:
(a) Thermodynamics (MAE 509)
(b) Fluid Mechanics (MAE 515)
(c) Heat Transfer (MAE 545)
6. Materials:
(a) Smart Materials (MAE 538)
(b) Thermodynamics of Materials (MAE 570)
(c) Modern Theory of Materials (MAE 587)
7. Mathematics (Written Examination Only):
(a) Engineering Analysis (MAE 507)
For each topic, the associated MAE course covering the topic is also provided. While not required, it is suggested that students register and successfully complete the associated courses before sitting for the Qualifying Examination.
At the beginning of the Spring semester, each student taking the the PhD Qualifying Exam must declare three (3) topics for the written examination and one area for the oral examination. No more than two (2) topics from a single area can be taken for the written examination. Students are also not allowed to select Mathematics as an area for the oral examination. Once declared, the student’s PhD advisor will be notified of the selection for final approval. If the student does not have an advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies will review the student’s choice.
The written examination will consist of three, 1.5-hour sessions in each of the three declared topics. The oral examination will be held after the written examination and may be on any topic in the selected area.
Following the completion of both the written and oral components of the Qualifying Examination, the Graduate Studies Committee, in consultation with the student’s PhD advisor, will reach a decision as to whether the student has passed or failed. Candidates who fail twice will be dismissed from the program.
At the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee and in consultation with the student’s PhD advisor, additional work, including but not limited to additional written examinations, oral examinations, or class work, may be required for passage of the Qualifying Examination.
Within 12 months of successful completion of the MAE Ph.D. Qualifying Examination a Ph.D. Program Committee is formed. This committee must consist of at least three MAE members who hold Full Graduate School membership plus one outside reader. The chair of this Ph.D. committee, who must be a member of MAE and hold a Full Graduate School appointment, is the primary advisor of the student. Non-MAE UB Faculty can serve as co-chairs, as long as three Ph.D. committee members are MAE faculty who hold Full Graduate School appointments. The Ph.D. committee may consist of additional members. If the additional member is affiliated with UB, they must hold either an Associate or Full Graduate School appointment. Additional members outside of UB require the approval of the MAE Director of Graduate Studies.
The outside reader, who can not hold an appointment in MAE, is selected by the student and their advisor/s, and could consist of non-MAE UB faculty who hold a Full Graduate School appointment, a tenured or tenure-track position at another university, or hold a Ph.D. degree and work in an industrial setting.
A waiver for these requirements may be requested from the MAE Director of Graduate Studies, and any changes in the Ph.D. program committee after the initial selection must be approved by the Ph.D. Program Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
PhD Dissertation Committee Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Ph.D. Program Committee to provide guidance to the candidate. The selection of the Ph.D. Program Committee members is primarily the responsibility of the candidate and their dissertation advisor/s. All Ph.D. Program Committee members are required attend the Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Defense, Sec. 3.7, review the Annual Evaluation, Sec. 3.8, read and approve of the Dissertation, Sec. 3.11, and sign any other paperwork which might be required. The outside reader is required to submit their approval of the Dissertation, Sec. 3.11, in writing to the MAE graduate director.
The student shall prepare a PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense presentation to his/her PhD Program Committee which will include a literature review, research plan, and any preliminary results. This presentation must be presented within 12 months of successful passage of the MAE PhD Qualifying Examination. After this presentation, the PhD Program Committee will offer written and/or oral comments on the presentation and advise the student for the proposed future work.
During the course of the student’s program, annual progress evaluations should be carried out by the PhD Program Committee and should be reported to the director of graduate studies. A review form for this purpose is available with the office of MAE graduate studies. This annual review will take place during the spring semester. In the progress evaluation the candidate’s course performance will be considered as well as progress made on the candidate’s dissertation research. If the committee finds the candidate’s progress unsatisfactory, it may recommend corrective action. If the candidate’s progress continues to be unsatisfactory, the committee may recommend withdrawal from the University to the Department Chair.
Continuation in the PhD program requires that student advance to candidacy. When considering a students advancement to candidacy, the Graduate Studies Committee will consider the following components:
Successful advancement to candidacy requires formal review by the Graduate Studies Committee and Director of Graduate Studies. If the Graduate Studies Committee or Director of Graduate Studies do not support a student’s advancement to candidacy, the student will be dismissed from the program.
To advance to candidacy, a student must submit an Application to Candidacy (ATC) form to the department. This ATC form must include the dissertation title, a 300-400 word dissertation proposal abstract, evidence of full-time residency for at least two semesters, itemization of at least 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate, including any proposed coursework, and any additional information required by the Graduate Studies Committee. Courses for transfer credit must be indicated as such on the Application for Candidacy. The program is then filed for approval by the Executive Committee of the Graduate School. Approval by the Executive Committee constitutes admission to candidacy. The student notifies the Graduate School by petition when minor changes in the program, such as changes in the dissertation title, or deletion/addition of one or two courses, occur. Major changes in the program, such as research abstract revision, adding or deleting more than two courses or change in major advisor require a petition to be filed through the department graduate office.
All students initially admitted to a PhD program for the Fall 2009 semester or there-after are required to document successful completion of “Responsible Conduct of Research” (RCR) training when they submit his/her Application to Candidacy (ATC) for his/her PhD degree. This training requirement may be fulfilled by either (1.) enrolling in and passing PHI 640 Graduate Research Ethics or RPN 541 Ethics and Conduct of Research or (2.) completing the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) online Responsible Conduct of Research course with an average score of 80% or higher. Students opting to complete the CITI online course must supply documentation of its successful completion with his/her Application to Candidacy.
Each PhD student is required to complete an original dissertation and orally defend his/her work before the program committee and any other interested parties. Upon completion of the dissertation a draft is submitted to the advisor for comments, corrections, and approval. Upon the advisor’s approval the student submits copies of the dissertation to the remaining members of the program committee for his/her approval.
The oral defense consists of a presentation during which the candidates outline the highlights of his/her work, followed by questions from the program committee or any other interested persons present. This oral defense can not occur earlier than six (6) months after the PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense date. Following a successful dissertation defense, the program committee certifies approval of the dissertation by signing the Graduate School M form. The M form must be signed by the Director of Graduate Studies or the Department Chair before being forwarded to the Graduate School.
After the student has made final corrections to the dissertation, the student must submit the dissertation electronically to the graduate school; see the MAE Graduate Coordinator for details. This must be done prior to your designated conferral date. All materials must be in the Graduate School office on or before the degree conferral deadlines established each year by the Graduate School.
The typing, arrangement, and submission of PhD dissertations must meet the requirements of the Graduate School. More details regarding the formatting and ETD submission dates of the dissertation can be found here.
Since theses and dissertations represent the joint effort of students and his/her advisors (if not also other members of the faculty), the student should make no arrangements for publication without consulting his/her advisor. Electronic submission of PhD dissertations, as required by the Graduate School, does not preclude publication by other methods later.
It should be noted that the primary responsibility for the quality of the presentation, organization, grammar and readability of the dissertation, thesis or project lies with the student. Extra effort and outside editorial assistance may be required when the student does not write fluently in the English language.
Dr. Ehsan Esfahani
Graduate Studies Director
245 Bell Hall
ehsanesf@buffalo.edu
Philomena Marinaccio
Graduate Coordinator
240 Bell Hall
mae-graduate@buffalo.edu