ESM Graduate Student Guide - Department of Engineering Science ...

opmental study involving at least one area represented in his or her course work. This report must
be comparable in the level of work and quality to a graduate thesis.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics has two stems: Engineering
Mechanics and Engineering Science. The student chooses a stem depending on his or her
interests. There are no strict course requirements for either stem; however, department and graduate
school requirements must be met. In general, Ph.D. students earn a minimum of 42 credits
in course work and five credits of graduate seminar after the B.S. degree. Acceptance into Ph.D.
candidacy is by examination and admission only. A student may be admitted to the Graduate
School and the department to begin working toward a Ph.D.; however, he or she has no assurance
of becoming a Ph.D. candidate until the candidacy examination has been passed and candidacy
admission has been granted. The candidacy examination must be taken for the first time within
two semesters of residency.
After admission to the candidacy, Ph.D. students have their work supervised by a committee of
the graduate faculty. This doctoral committee plays a major role in determining the candidate’s
specific course requirements. The committee also administers the candidate’s oral comprehensive
and final thesis examinations, and guides the candidate’s thesis work. The thesis must represent a
significant contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area.
The Graduate School requires the student to have a high level of competence in the reading,
writing, listening, and speaking of English before admission to candidacy. Proficiency is expected
at the time of admission to the Graduate School. Admission
1. 1 —Admission
Graduate students are admitted to the Graduate School by the University examiner, following
favorable recommendation by the graduate officer. Procedures to be followed are outlined in the
Penn State Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin.
The minimum departmental requirements for admission to graduate standing (for both master’s
and doctoral degrees) are:
1. A baccalaureate degree from an approved institution, either in an accredited engineering curriculum
or in some other program in mathematics, the physical sciences, or engineering sciences,
which is considered adequate to qualify the student for professional engineering activity.
1a.The Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) Department has cooperative agreements with
the undergraduate programs in Physics at the Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro
University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley College and
the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Students who successfully complete a Bachelor of
Science degree in Physics may elect to transfer up to six credits of 400-level courses in either
physics or mathematics towards a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in the ESM Department.
Credits subject to transfer must be additional electives that were not applied towards the applicant’s
undergraduate degree. These students may also undertake summer research in ESM for
credit which may be applied towards the M.S. degree in ESM.
Students are strongly encourageed to consult with the ESM Department during their junior year
of studies. For complete admission details please contact the ESM Graduate Officer, Akhlesh
Lakhtakia (814) 863-4319 akhlesh@psu.edu.
2. For regular admission, Engineering Science and Mechanics requires that the student’s grade
point average* for the junior and senior undergraduate years must be 3.00 or better.
2 General Information