Distance Learning Program
Leading To
Master of Engineering or Master of Science
In
Mechanical Engineering
Program Description
Clarkson University currently offers a Distance Learning Master of Engineering or a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. The program is designed to allow off campus students to earn a Master’s degree while employed full time in industry or
government facilities. The two programs consist of the following:
Master of Engineering (ME) Master of Science (MS)
Seven 3 credit courses Six 3 credit courses
7 credits of project 10 credits of thesis
2 credits of seminar 2 credits of seminar
Both programs allow students to enroll in Clarkson graduate courses that are offered via a distance delivery system. This system captures both the video and audio of the faculty lecturer during the regular on-campus teaching of the course. It also captures the text written on a tablet and slides projected during lecture. The captured lecture is presented as a streaming video over the web, and may be viewed at any time after the lecture. The viewer can pause, replay, or jump to any point in the lecture. Interaction between the instructor and off-campus students is done using email, phone conversations, on-line chat sessions, etc. An example of the typical course presentation format is shown on the first page of this document.
Students normally enroll in one or two distance courses per semester, depending on their job work requirements. A student may transfer up to three graduate courses (9 semester credits) from another university toward completion of the degree requirements. The seminar credits may be satisfied by attending approximately ten to twelve presentations while on the job; these could be company internal presentations, outside guest speakers, or attendance at a technical conference.
ME versus MS
The primary difference between the ME and MS programs is the requirement for a project or thesis. The Master of Engineering degree is oriented toward the practice of engineering in industry, and thus the project is often a job related activity, with a faculty advisor. The resulting project report must demonstrate that the degree candidate has carried out engineering design and analysis at a level typically required of a practicing professional. The Master of Science degree is research oriented and requires the completion of a written and orally defended thesis conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. A master’s thesis should represent an original contribution that may be published.
Time Requirement
The time required to complete either degree will vary depending on a student’s previous graduate course work and job workload. It is expected that the ME degree would take about 2 years, while the MS degree may take longer because of the thesis requirement.
Mechanical Engineering Program
The following courses comprise the Mechanical Engineering distance learning program. These courses are generally taught every year for on-campus students, and every other year as distance learning courses. Additional courses may be added to meet special industry needs.
Fall Semester
ME 515: Finite Element Methods
This course is an introduction to the finite element method, from a mathematical as well as a modeling and applications point of view. The basic theory and implementation will be discussed in the context of continuum problems in linear elasticity, potential flow and plate modeling. If time permits, additional applications such as structures, electromagnetics, fluid mechanics, ground water and geotechnics will also be discussed. Topics include: weak formulations and the principle of virtual work, discretization and interpolation-function selection, assembly and solution of the system equations, error estimates and accuracy assessment.
ME 554: Continuum Mechanics
The course involves the analysis of stress and deformation at a point, and the derivation of the fundamental equations by applying the basic laws of conservation of mass, energy and
momentum and those of thermodynamics. Vector and cartesian tensors are reviewed. Relationships are then developed between stress, strain and strain rate and constitutive laws affecting stress-strain relationships. These are used to formulate the basic equations governing the behavior of any continuum with applications to solids and fluids.
ME 527: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
An introductory level graduate course in fluid mechanics. Spatial and material coordinates, kinematics of fluid motion, continuity and momentum equations, constitutive relations, simple solutions, potential flows, boundary layer theory, creeping flow, flow through porous media, particle motion, interfacial phenomena, turbulence.
ME 595: Principles of Physical Metallurgy
Topics include: structure of metals, diffraction techniques (X-Ray, SEM-TEM), dislocation phenomena, diffusion in solids, precipitation hardening, nucleation and growth, solidification and phase transformation in solids. A sample lecture from this course is available at:
http://ess-db.clarkson.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/cd18d112-339b-4d74-b10f-eec1a45a24cb (Make sure your sound is turned on and select the High Speed Version for best display).
Spring Semester
ME517: Advanced Thermal Systems
Advanced treatment of steady & transient conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer with applications to various thermal systems such as electronic circuits & HVAC
ME531: Computational Fluid Dynamics
The course will present advanced computational methods for solutions of transient and steady-state problems in fluid mechanics and in transport phenomena, including incompressible flows, compressible flows, heat transfer, transport of suspended particles, etc. The course will require programming in Fortran or other languages. Post processing of data will include the use of computer graphics. Special projects in application of the course material to research-oriented problems in engineering will be emphasized.
ME557: Mechanics of Composite Materials
Nature of composite materials. Classification and characteristics of composite materials, mechanical behavior of composite materials. Macromechanical and micromechanical elastic behavior of unidirectional lamina. Constitutive and transformation relations. Strength of unidirectional lamina. Composite failure theory. Mechanics of multidirectional structural laminates. Lamination theory. Strength and failure analysis of multidirectional laminates. Effect of temperature and moisture.
ME590: Advanced Welding Metallurgy
Introduction to various aspects of welding processes. Weldability problems in ferrous, non-ferrous and metal-matrix composite materials will be discussed in detail. Solidification modes and their effects on the mechanical properties of austenitic and duplex stainless steel
weldments will be examined.
Application Procedure
Students in this program must have a BS degree in engineering or a related field. Application forms are available on line at www.clarkson.edu/admission/graduate/index.html
For more information contact: Professor David Morrison
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699
djm@clarkson.edu
315-268-6585
Professor Kenneth Willmert
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699
willmert@clarkson.edu
