The Doctor of Philosophy degree in mechanical engineering is designed to prepare graduates for professional practice in teaching, research and development, design, and consulting. Graduates are prepared for challenging and rewarding employment in high-technology industries, research organizations, consulting firms and government agencies.
Program Highlights
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These programs are also designed to serve both full-time and part-time graduate students. The department is closely associated with area industries, consulting firms, government agencies and research laboratories, which add relevance to the graduate engineering curricula, creating a stimulating environment for the pursuit of graduate studies.
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Students benefit from the University’s affiliation with NASA Langley Research Center, the Jefferson National Laboratory, the National Institute of Aerospace, and the Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center.
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Manufacturing Engineers
Design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists
Assist mechanical engineers in such activities as generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy. Prepare layouts of machinery or equipment or plan the flow of work. May conduct statistical studies or analyze production costs.
Mechatronics Engineers
Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.
Mechanical Engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
Requirements
To qualify for admission to a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mechanical Engineering, a student must have earned a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in engineering, physics, or mathematics, including graduate-level course work equivalent to the corresponding master’s programs in Mechanical Engineering. Applicants with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the master’s level are eligible for regular admission. Applicants with a GPA below 3.5 who present evidence and potential for improvement may be eligible for provisional admission. Students are typically required to submit their Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, although the Graduate Program Director (GPD) may waive the GRE requirement for applicants with excellent academic credentials.
Featured Courses
Advanced kinematics with moving reference frames. Euler equations of motion. Gyroscopic theory. Principle of virtual work, D'Alembert's principle, Hamilton's principle, Lagrange's equations of motion and rigid body dynamics.
This course will focus on formal experiment design. Topics to be discussed will include review of statistics, ANOVA, multiple comparisons, residuals, modal adequacy checking, randomized complete block designs, factorial designs, 2^k factorial and fractional factorial designs, random and mixed effects in factorials, and optimization. The course will also provide an introduction to response surface methods. Laboratory exercises will use designed experiments as applied to aerospace testing, including wind tunnel testing and instrument calibration.
Cost of Attendance
We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance.
Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Other fees are assessed for special services and certain academic programs. Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
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Additional Programs
Are there other programs at ODU I may be interested in?
With over 120 undergraduate programs, 130 graduate programs at the master's, education specialist and doctoral levels plus a wealth of certificate and professional development programs, Old Dominion University has the program for you. Visit our academic program listing page to see other programs ODU has to offer.