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The Stanford School of Engineering offers a mechanical engineering graduate certificate, with a focus on electromechanical systems. This online certificate program combines rigorous coursework with hands-on projects, giving students an overview of electromechanical systems, miniaturization technologies, and upcoming trends in sensors. The program is ideal for engineers exploring graduate-level coursework in mechanical engineering, as well as for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the subject.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree (preferably in an engineering field) with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.3 or better, and coursework in basic electronics, linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and introductory programming.
Consisting of three required courses and one elective, this program explores topics such as mechatronics, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems, sensors, and numerical methods for engineering.
Students learn how electronic and mechanical systems work together; delve into the performance criteria for sensors; discover how to predict the performance of transducers and sensors; and explore the fabrication, applications, and design tradeoffs in developing micro- and nano-electromechanical systems.
Villanova University offers five certificates in mechanical engineering—ideal for professionals who wish to gain more experience and develop their skills and knowledge. These online graduate certificates are made up of just four to five courses which can be applied towards a degree in that specific field. The program faculty includes highly-acclaimed professors excelling in both the laboratory and classroom in specialties such as biomechanics, nanomaterials, renewable energy, mechatronics, and more.
Major admission requirements include an accredited bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or its equivalent, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, GRE scores (for international applicants and graduates of institutions not accredited by ABET), and TOEFL scores for international applicants.
The five mechanical certificates are as follows:
Mechanics and materials (12 credit-hours): This mechanics and materials certificate includes courses such as continuum mechanics, biomechanics of hard tissues, mechanical behavior of materials, and advanced engineering analysis.
Machinery dynamics (12 credit-hours): Courses in this certificate include advanced engineering analysis, advanced dynamics, dynamics of rotating machinery, and vibration analysis.
Modeling and simulation (15 credit-hours): Students in this certificate program will be required to complete five courses. Courses in the curriculum include finite element analysis, dynamics of rotating machinery, and biomechanics of soft and hard tissues.
Thermofluid systems (12 credit-hours): This certificate involves courses such as advanced engineering thermodynamics, convection heat transfer, advanced fluid mechanics, and continuum mechanics.
Electro-mechanical systems (15 credit-hours): Courses in this certificate include matrix theory, dynamics of rotating machinery, robotics: analysis and control, and control systems engineering.
Purdue Online, College of Engineering, offers two graduate certificates in mechanical engineering: applied heat transfer and noise control.
These certificates not only help students gain deeper knowledge but also can increase their job prospects. Enhancing the technical skills of students, these online certificates have been designed especially for mid- and late-career engineers. Students learn from the same experienced faculty that teaches the on-campus courses.
For admission into these programs, students will be required to have a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area (engineering, science, mathematics, or technology) with GPA of 3.0 or higher, official transcripts, and TOEFL scores for international students.
The applied heat transfer (12-credit-hour) certificate program helps students understand topics such as heat transfer, heat transfer in electronic systems, mechanical vibrations, and gas dynamics. This certificate is ideal for engineering managers who want a background in applied heat transfer.
The noise control (12 credit-hour) certificate program provides students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of engineering acoustics, mechanical vibrations, vibrations of discrete systems, and intermediate fluid mechanics. Once students have earned this certificate, they can work in areas that often deal with noise problems such as traffic, and also industrial and commercial businesses.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers a 100 percent online graduate certificate program: mechanical engineering for technical leaders (METL). The program offers students with a well-rounded learning experience, teaching them how to lead teams, manage projects, and make informed business choices.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree (preferably ABET-accredited), official transcripts, a plan of study, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a current resume, and TOEFL and GRE scores for international applicants.
The program comprises nine credits each in graduate-level mechanical engineering and graduate-level business courses, making a total of 18 credit-hours. Students receive instruction in heat transfer, robot dynamics, the design and analysis of manufacturing process, introduction to control of nonlinear dynamical systems, and advanced dynamics.
On completion of this program, graduates can also apply the credits earned toward a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Columbia University offers a mechanical engineering (sustainable energy) certificate program, providing engineers with expertise in areas such as expanding access to energy services, increasing renewable energy resources, and increasing the efficiency of energy usage. This fully online program includes topics such as energy infrastructure planning, energy conversion technologies, and the implementation and applications pertaining to different energy services.
In order to get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field (subject to the approval of the mechanical engineering program) from an accredited academic institution, a grade point average of 3.0, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, personal-professional statement, a current resume, and the $150 application fee.
This 12-credit-hour program involves courses such as turbomachinery, solar thermal engineering, energy infrastructure planning, and energy sources and conversion.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
The Missouri University of Science and Technology offers five online graduate certificate programs in mechanical engineering. Each program is made up of four courses from existing graduate-level coursework. These graduate certificate programs are a pathway to the master’s degree without the GRE/GMAT.
Applicants to these certificate programs must have a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, a minimum grade point average of 2.75 or higher, a completed online application, a statement of purpose, transcripts, and a current resume.
The following are the five graduate certificates:
Composite materials and structures – Courses in this program include fracture mechanics, an introduction to composite materials and structures, analysis of laminated composite structures, and introduction to finite element analysis.
Control systems – This program involves courses such as mechanical and aerospace control systems, analysis and synthesis of mechanical and aerospace systems, digital control, and linear control systems.
Energy conversion and transport – Courses in this program include intermediate thermofluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer by convection, and intermediate thermofluid mechanics.
Engineering mechanics – This program involves courses such as an introduction to continuum mechanics, advanced mechanics of materials, fracture mechanics, and advanced finite element analysis.
Manufacturing automation – This graduate certificate in manufacturing automation includes courses such as manufacturing equipment automation, mechatronics, mechanical and aerospace control systems, and computer numerical control of manufacturing processes.
Sylvie Lorente, PhD Villanova University
Dr. Sylvie Lorente is the College of Engineering chair professor in mechanical engineering at Villanova University. Her research areas include heat transfer, applied physics, fluid flows, and constructal law. She has published in prominent journals such as the International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Scientific Reports, and the International Journal of Energy Research.
Professor Lorente has won numerous awards such as the James P. Hartnett – Irvine Award, the Edward F. Obert Award, and the Bergles-Rohsenow Young Investigator in Heat Transfer Award.
Amy Marconnet, PhD Purdue University
Dr. Amy Marconnet is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering. Her research work explores electronics cooling and thermal management, nanostructured materials and devices, and nanoscale thermal transport and energy conversion.
Dr. Marconnet has published in influential scholarly journals such as Applied Physics Letters and the Journal of Electronic Materials. She also has received laurels such as an Outstanding Paper Award and the MRS Symposium Fall 2011 Graduate Student Silver Award. She earned her PhD and MS from Stanford University and her BS from the University of Wisconsin.
J. Keith Nisbett, PhD Missouri University of Science and Technology
Dr. J. Keith Nisbett is an associate professor and associate chair for mechanical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Currently, his research interests include kinematics, mechanism synthesis, and mechanical design. Before teaching to Missouri University, he worked at the University of Texas at Arlington.
He has published his research in top-notch journals such as the Journal of Applied Mechanisms and Robotics. He also has won several accolades such as the Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, an Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, and a Faculty Teaching Award. He completed his PhD, MS, and BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Farheen Gani has researched a wide array of topics related to engineering since 2018. She has written about electrical and computer engineering programs, structural engineering programs, mechanical engineer salaries, environmental engineering programs, and many other subfields of engineering. She...
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