About

The objectives of the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (M.S.A.E.) degree are to provide a quality graduate educational program that will complement the existing undergraduate and graduate curricula in mechanical engineering. The aerospace graduate program will improve and enhance the capabilities of those students seeking careers in the aerospace field and supporting engineering work for the aerospace and aviation technology community. The majority of students seeking the M.S.A.E. degree will have undergraduate degrees in the fields of mechanical or aerospace engineering, or closely related fields of engineering, applied physics, or applied mathematics; some will already have graduate degrees in the more conventional areas of engineering or the sciences. Those individuals with engineering (as well as physical science) interests will use the M.S.A.E. to develop careers as well as improve their skills in the aerospace and aviation industry. Students enrolling in the program on a full-time basis will likely assist engineering faculty in obtaining sponsored project funding and performing innovative aerospace and aviation engineering research.

Available Options

  • Non-Thesis Track
  • Thesis Track
  • Integrated BS-MS Track

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

M.S.A.E. Non-Thesis Track

The M.S.A.E. non-thesis track strives to provide a learning centered environment where accomplished faculty share their experience and knowledge with students so that graduates of the program can:

  1. Demonstrate a advanced technical knowledge of state-of-the-art and evolving areas associated with  the mechanical engineering field so that they can lead and direct engineering and scientific industry teams in their chosen field of study.
  2. The ability to solve open-ended design problems.
Outcomes

Graduates of the program will demonstrate a strong technical knowledge in chosen mechanical engineering field by passing a comprehensive exam or a design project in the student's major area of study near the completion of the degree program.

Assessment
  1. Comprehensive exam/design project
  2. Track graduates career shortly after graduation
Requirement

Requires 33 credits of approved graduate courses. At least 18 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, of which 15 credits must be in engineering. To complete the Non-Thesis option, students must also successfully complete the Design Project course (ME 796-Design Project in Mechanical Engineering) or pass a comprehensive written and oral exit exam before receiving their degree.

M.S.A.E. Thesis Track

The M.S.A.E. thesis track strives to provide a learning centered environment where accomplished faculty share their experience and knowledge with students so that graduates of the program can:

  1. Demonstrate a advanced technical knowledge of state-of-the-art and evolving areas associated with the mechanical engineering field so that they can lead and direct engineering and scientific industry teams in their chosen field of study.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to work creatively and independently on research topics.
Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  1. Demonstrate a strong technical knowledge in chosen mechanical engineering field by successfully completing course work and integrating knowledge learned in their course work into a thesis.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to learn independently by completing a creative or research project and reporting on this activity in a thesis which should include:
    • A hypothesis (or hypotheses)
    • A set of objectives and goals
    • A critical literature review
    • A theoretical, experimental and/or modeling study
    • A conclusion
  3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate technical information both orally and in writing at an acceptable level of proficiency.

Assessment

  1. MS thesis
  2. Thesis defense (oral exam)
  3. Track graduates career shortly after graduation
Requirement

Requires 33 credits of approved graduate courses. At least 18 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, of which 15 credits must be in engineering. To complete the Non-Thesis option, students must also successfully complete the Design Project course (ME 796-Design Project in Mechanical Engineering) or pass a comprehensive written and oral exit exam before receiving their degree.

Career Possibilities

Graduates in Aerospace Engineering may pursue a variety of career paths in aircraft design and development, propulsion, and aerodynamics. Some work in related fields in industry and others obtain an advanced degree.

Requirements

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Plan Description

The objectives of the M.S.A.E. degree are to provide a quality graduate educational program that will complement the existing undergraduate and graduate curricula in mechanical engineering. The aerospace graduate program will improve and enhance the capabilities of those students seeking careers in the aerospace field and supporting engineering work for the aerospace and aviation technology community. The majority of students seeking the M.S.A.E. degree will have undergraduate degrees in the fields of mechanical or aerospace engineering, or closely related fields of engineering, applied physics, or applied mathematics; some will already have graduate degrees in the more conventional areas of engineering or the sciences. Those individuals with engineering (as well as physical science) interests will use the M.S.A.E. to develop careers as well as improve their skills in the aerospace and aviation industry. Students enrolling in the program on a full-time basis will likely assist engineering faculty in obtaining sponsored project funding and performing innovative aerospace and aviation engineering research.

For more information about your program including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements

  1. Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee. 
  2. Bachelor's Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
  3. All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
    1. Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

(b) Department Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, an applicant for the M.S. program must complete the following requirements:

  1. A written statement of purpose indicating interests and objectives in working toward a M.S. degree.
  2. Two letters of recommendation using the online recommendation system. There is no specified format. Each letter should detail the potential of the applicant for success in a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering program.
  3. The applicant must have a bachelor's degree in engineering or a closely related discipline. Admitted students with non-engineering backgrounds will be required to complete a set of course work requirements that will assure successful completion of the M.S. specialization and qualify the student to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The Graduate Program Committee or Graduate Coordinator will specify a list of required undergraduate courses that must be completed within the first year. These courses are in addition to those required for the graduate degree.
  4. The GPC will examine the applicant's academic record and will make the final determination of the applicant's admissibility to the M.S. program. In general, a minimum post-baccalaureate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or equivalent is preferred for admission in addition to a GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale or equivalent in all engineering courses.

The Integrated BS-MS degree program is designed to provide high-achieving UNLV Mechanical Engineering undergraduate students with the opportunity to take graduate courses that can count toward both the B.S. and M.S. ME degree programs at UNLV. This will hopefully encourage them to continue with a graduate degree by reducing the time needed for degree completion. Up to nine credits of approved graduate-level course work can be taken as technical electives for the grade of B or better during the senior year and those credits will be waived for the graduate degree. The following conditions are needed to enroll in the Integrated BS-MS program:

  1. A minimum of two semesters of full-time enrollment in B.S. of Mechanical Engineering program is required.
  2. Applications are normally submitted with two semesters remaining in the senior year.
  3. A minimum of 90 credits of course work applicable to the B.S. of Mechanical Engineering degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher must be completed before beginning the joint degree program.
  4. Student has to choose the thesis option.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Non-Thesis
Subplan 2: Thesis
Subplan 3: Integrated BS-MS

Subplan 1 Requirements: Non-Thesis

Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 9

Complete three of the following courses:

Core Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:​

Elective Courses – Credits: 12

Complete 12 credits of elective coursework from within the College of Engineering. Courses from outside the College of Engineering may be taken with advisor approval.

Design Project – Credits: 3

Degree Requirements

  1. Requires 30 credits of approved graduate courses. At least 18 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, and 15 credits must be in engineering.
  2. Students must make satisfactory progress toward degree completion as defined below:
    1. File an approved degree program before the completion of nine credits of coursework.
    2. Complete at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year.
    3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale with no grades below C. Grades of C- or below are not acceptable.
  3. Students must comply with Graduate College policy. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College.

Graduation Requirements

Successfully complete a design project.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Thesis

Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 9

Complete three of the following courses:

Core Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:​

Elective Courses – Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits of elective coursework from within the College of Engineering. Courses from outside the College of Engineering may be taken with advisor approval.

Thesis – Credits: 6

Degree Requirements

  1. Requires 24 credits of approved graduate courses plus six credits of work associated with the master's level thesis, for a total of 30 credits. At least 15 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, and at least 15 credits must be in engineering. The final examination will include a defense of thesis.
  2. Students must make satisfactory progress toward degree completion as defined below:
    1. File an approved degree program before the completion of nine credits of coursework.
    2. Complete at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year.
    3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale with no grades below C. Grades of C- or below are not acceptable.
  3. Students must comply with Graduate College policy. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College.
  4. The student must identify a Thesis Advisor within the first semester of joining the program. The student, in consultation with their Advisor, will form a Thesis Committee that includes at least four members:
    1. One Thesis Advisor. A student may have two co-Advisors but they count as one committee member.
    2. Two Mechanical Engineering Department faculty members.
    3. One Graduate College representative. The student, in consultation with their Advisor, is responsible for inviting a committee member from within the university but outside the Mechanical Engineering Department. This person is responsible for ensuring consistency and fairness throughout the UNLV graduate programs.

Graduation Requirements

The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Integrated BS-MS

Total Credits Required: 21-27

Students admitted into this subplan have taken 3, 6 or 9 credits of graduate level courses that were applied toward their B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNLV. These credits reduce the total needed to complete the M.S. degree.

Course Requirements

Required Courses – Credits: 9

Complete three of the following courses:

Core Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:​

Electives – Credits: 0-6

Complete 0-6 credits of elective coursework from within the College of Engineering. Courses from outside the College of Engineering may be taken with advisor approval.

Thesis – Credits: 6

Degree Requirements

  1. Total credits required depends on the total number of approved graduate-level course work taken as technical electives (with a grade of B or better) during the senior year.
  2. Requires 15-21 credits of approved graduate courses plus six credits of work associated with the master's level thesis, for a total of 21-27 credits. At least 15 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, and at least 15 credits must be in engineering. The final examination will include a defense of thesis.
  3. Students must make satisfactory progress toward degree completion as defined below:
    1. File an approved degree program before the completion of nine credits of coursework.
    2. Complete at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year.
    3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale with no grades below C. Grades of C- or below are not acceptable.
  4. The student must identify a Thesis Advisor within the first semester of joining the program. The student, in consultation with their Advisor, will form a Thesis Committee that includes at least four members:
    1. One Thesis Advisor. A student may have two co-Advisors but they count as one committee member.
    2. Two Mechanical Engineering Department faculty members.
    3. One Graduate College representative. The student, in consultation with their Advisor, is responsible for inviting a committee member from within the university but outside the Mechanical Engineering Department. This person is responsible for ensuring consistency and fairness throughout the UNLV graduate programs.

Graduation Requirements

The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Plan Graduation Requirements

Refer to your subplan for Graduation Requirements.

Subplan 1: Non-Thesis
Subplan 2: Thesis
Subplan 3: Integrated BS-MS

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering prepares students for the lifelong practice of mechanical engineering and related engineering disciplines. Our students to become problem solvers through applying science to deal with the relations among forces, work, or energy, and power in designing systems, which ultimately contributes to the betterment of the human environment.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/me
Phone
702-895-1331
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Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering

The College of Engineering provides students a well-rounded foundation in several engineering disciplines for a successful career in engineering and computer science. Through the hands-on, experiential education experience we offer, students are enabled to achieve excellence in their respective fields.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/engineering
Email
engineering.advising@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-2522
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