2022-2023

Engineering - Mechanical Engineering, Master of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

Beginning in Fall 2022, this plan is available Online.

Beginning in Fall 2023, this plan will no longer be offered at the Flagstaff Mountain Campus.

The Master of Engineering (MENG) with an emphasis in Mechanical Engineering is a non-thesis professional degree that will help you advance your career objectives. We offer two specializations in Mechanical Engineering:  Thermal-Fluid Sciences and Solid Mechanics.

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Research Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Additional Fees/Program Fees Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan Optional

Purpose Statement

The MEng in mechanical engineering trains students to become engineers who are capable of finding solutions to complex mechanical and interdisciplinary engineering problems. This program is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or in a related field. Students in this program will have the opportunity to take courses and perform a practice-oriented design project in topics ranging from renewable energy to smart materials and structures to biomechanics to robotics.  Students will be trained in advanced applied mathematics, computational tools in engineering, evaluating of the literature in mechanical engineering, designing complex mechanical engineering systems or components, and communicating mechanical engineering theories, methodologies, and solutions.  Graduates of this program will be well prepared to work in a broad range of industries, including but not limited to aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, biomedical, etc., or pursue higher education.  


Student Learning Outcomes
Students will: 

  • Solve, analyze, evaluate, and interpret results to complex mechanical engineering problems.
  • Analyze and critically evaluate information from the scientific literature on mechanical engineering.
  • Apply mechanical engineering concepts and tools to a comprehensive design project in mechanical engineering.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively mechanical engineering theories and methodologies.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or completion of prerequisite courses. See department website for details.
    • GRE® Revised General Test
    • Three letters of recommendation
    • Personal statement or essay
Master's Requirements
  • This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:

    • Applied Mathematics Course Selection: 3 units
    • Engineering Management Course Selection: 3 units
    • Computational Techniques Course Selection: 3 units
    • Coursework in Mechanical Engineering or other areas, as approved: 15 units
    • Select from the following: 6 units
    • Practice-oriented project
    • Electives selected with advisory committee’s approval


    Take the following 30 units:

    • Coursework in applied mathematics with your advisory committee's approval. Examples include courses in linear algebra, partial differential equations, or applied mathematics modeling (3 units)
    • Coursework in engineering computational techniques, with your advisor's approval. Examples include ME 554 or MAT 563, or ME 525 or ME 599 - Advanced FEM and CFD (3 units)
    • Coursework in mechanical engineering with your advisor's approval. Up to 6 units outside of mechanical engineering, in a related engineering or interdisciplinary field, are allowed here. (18-21 units)
    • Select from (3-6 units): 
      • Up to 6 units of an optional practice-oriented project, developed and conducted under your advisor's approval, focused on a problem of interest to the practicing engineering community (3-6 units)  Or
      • Additional ME coursework, that includes a project, with your advisor’s approval.  Examples include ME 563, ME 573, ME 575, ME 580, ME 599 – Plates & Shells, ME 599 – Cardiovascular Fluid Mechanics. (3 units)
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Additional Information
  • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

  • PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION
  • Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee of $450 per semester has been approved for this program.