Mechanical Engineering PHD
Program Purpose
The purpose of the PhD program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to provide a world-class education to students pursuing a doctoral degree, in an atmosphere enlightened by the principles of the gospel. Specifically, the purpose of this program is to produce graduates who:
- Eagerly pursue lifelong learning through study and faith in professional, religious and personal aspects of life.
- Understand the fundamental principles of mechanical engineering, and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the principles related to the specific sub-discipline of mechanical engineering related to their thesis topic.
- Implement the fundamental principles of engineering through hands-on design and analysis, using modern engineering tools and practices, to solve complex, real-world engineering problems with high standards of personal and professional ethics.
- Demonstrate leadership in a specific sub-discipline of mechanical engineering through the development of new knowledge and practices.
- Confidently present their intellectual efforts in a national or international technical forums of professionals in their area of expertise.
- Express faith in God and a desire to serve Him through lifelong service to family, church, profession and community.
These purposes are aligned with the four major educational goals listed in the mission statement of Brigham Young University and are consistent with the aims of a BYU education. The stated purposes are designed to be spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building, and to lead to lifelong learning and service.
Curricular Structure
The PhD degree typically requires 4.5 years beyond the BS degree and must be completed within 8 years of enrollment in the PhD program.
For students with an approved MS, a minimum of 36 credit hours beyond the MS is required, which includes 18 hours of dissertation credit and 18 hours of graduate-level coursework. For students entering directly from the BS, a minimum of 54 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required, which includes 18 hours of dissertation credit and 36 hours of graduate-level coursework.
In consultation with his or her advisor, PhD students develop a program of study during their first semester of PhD work. The program of study is selected from advanced courses offered in engineering, mathematics, physics, or other approved areas. The program of study is approved by each member of the student's graduate committee. Comprehensive qualifying exams must be taken within the first year of the PhD program. PhD students must submit and orally defend a written prospectus. PhD students must present an oral defense of their dissertation work, and it is expected that this work will result in peer-reviewed archival publications. Additional requirements include two semesters of residency and graduate seminar attendance for two semesters.
Research activities associated with the PhD dissertation provide some of the most important learning experiences in graduate studies. Because research requires documentation and dissemination of results, it is a powerful means of maturing students in writing and other aspects of technical communication. Research offers students an exciting opportunity to make technological contributions to society as they extend the boundaries of knowledge. Graduate students work closely with faculty to present their work in the form of peer-reviewed publications and technical presentations.
This curricular structure is aligned with the mission of Brigham Young University and is consistent with the aims of a BYU education. The program objectives are designed to provide PhD students with the opportunity to engage in activities that are spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building, and to lead them to develop habits of lifelong learning and service.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering will develop themselves both spiritually and intellectually and demonstrate:
Subject Mastery (PhD)In-depth understanding of a sub-discipline of mechanical engineering, combined with understanding of related subjects sufficient to practice as an influential mechanical engineer.
The ability to independently study and learn new information that increases depth and breadth of technical knowledge.
The ability to plan, perform and assess research which creates new knowledge or advances the state-of-the-art.
Persuasive technical writing and oral presentation skills evidenced by presentation and publication in peer-reviewed venues.
An understanding of how their work technically and ethically affects their sponsor, sub-discipline, and society.
The ability to clearly guide, advise, teach and work with others in technical endeavors.
The desire, faith and persistence to seek out and solve meaningful technical and societal challenges
Evidence of Learning
A variety of assessment tools based on both direct and indirect evidence are used to demonstrate that students who earn a PhD in Mechanical Engineering have achieved the stated outcomes.
- GPA -Students must complete 24 credit hours of coursework (+ 6 credit hours of thesis research) related to mechanical engineering with a B average or better. Each student's courses must be approved by their committee. Student GPA in these courses is used as a direct assessment tool.
- Biannual Evaluations - Twice per year faculty members provide a written evaluation for each graduate student that they advise. Specific program milestones and performance are evaluated and feedback is provided to the student.
- Thesis - The thesis, which documents the contributions made by the student, is approved by their graduate committee and publicly defended. The ability of the student to contribute to research and creative activity within the chosen sub-discipline of mechanical engineering is assessed by his or her committee immediately after the thesis defense. The technical writing of each student is assessed by his or her committee. The thesis is critically reviewed and the thesis defense is evaluated by the committee. The graduate's oral presentation skills are assessed by his or her committee immediately following the thesis defense. Additional assessments by the student's committee chair are performed following presentation at technical conferences, department seminars, and/or graduate research competitions.
- Publications & Presentations - The percent of MS theses that result in archival journal publications and the percent of graduates who present their work at national and international conferences are tracked.
- Ecclesiastical Endorsement - Compliance with the honor code is verified by the annual ecclesiastical endorsement.
- Prospectus - Each student is required to complete their prospectus early in their degree program. The prospectus, which outlines the anticipated creation of new knowledge and/or advancement of the state of the art in a specific sub-discipline of mechanical engineering, is approved by the graduate committee.
- Exit surveys & Exit Evaluations– Each graduating student completes an exit survey that provides information to the University and department to improve the program. Questions include rating themselves on their program outcome attainment and brief future career or educational plans. As students complete their defense, faculty advisors complete an Exit Evaluation rating the student on their program outcome attainment.
- External advisory board visits, surveys, and feedback (MEAC) - The external advisory board consists of highly respected mechanical engineering professionals from both industry and academia. The advisory board meets periodically with ME faculty, staff and students. A report summarizing their insights and recommendations is submitted to the department chair following each visit.
- Alumni surveys - University alumni surveys are collected periodically. In addition to specific questions related to department goals, the surveys ask open ended questions concerning recommended improvements, activity level of alumni in professional organizations.
- Academic Unit Review - An academic department review is conducted every 6 years according to procedures established by the Office of Institutional Assessment and Analysis. In these reviews, the effectiveness of the MS program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is measured based on the achievement of faculty and students relative to program goals. The review involves both internal and external reviewers, including external reviews of recently completed theses.
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
The graduate coordinator and department chair select areas from the assessment feedback, in which improvement is needed. Items of major significance are presented to the department and solutions are sought through department graduate committee meetings, faculty meetings or ad-hoc committee assignments.
Examples of Recent Improvements
Graduate program visibility has been enhanced through increased attention to social media, improvements in the department website, and updating of printed literature.
Personal Development Videos have been sent to graduate students as a fun, collaborative way to add to their program as they are able. Topics include leadership & self-leadership, ethics, AI (and ethics in AI), spirituality, wellness & mental health, and diversity.
OMEGA (The Official Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association) surveyed graduate students on their strengths and challenges of our program and of being a graduate student and the OMEGA presidency reported the results of that survey to faculty. This report was relayed back to the students, impressing on the students the care of the faculty.
An assessment of graduate student salaries was presented to faculty for awarenesss of financial difficulties or dispcrepencies of student income as compared with each other and other departments at BYU to better understand student need.
Data was presented to faculty from regarding utilizing the GRE on applications compared to local university and flagship university application requirements. This resulted in faculty voting to make the GRE optional in applications to BYU's Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs.