Mechanical Engineering
Graduate program at Colorado School of Mines
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Select a program type below to learn more. What’s the difference? Read more about program types.
Mechanical Engineering Master’s Non-Thesis
The Master’s Non-thesis (MS-NT) degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 30 credits of coursework.
As stipulated by the Mines Graduate School, a candidate for a Masters degree must complete all requirements for the degree within five years of the date of admission into the degree program.
Both an on-campus and online modality are available for Master’s Non-Thesis.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
- Prior Math: for students with a degree other than mechanical engineering, the student must have completed a Differential Equations college course with a grade of “B-” or better; the course needs to be documented on a transcript.
Mechanical Engineering Master’s Thesis
The Master’s Thesis (MS-T) degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 30 credits. Requirements for the MS-T option are 24 credits of coursework and 6 credits of thesis research.
Students must have an Advisor from the Mechanical Engineering Department Faculty to direct and monitor their academic plan, research, and independent studies. The MS graduate Thesis Committee must have at least three members, two of whom must be permanent faculty in the Mechanical Engineering Department.
At the conclusion of the MS Thesis Option, the student will be required to make a formal presentation and defense of their thesis research to their Advisor and Thesis Committee.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Optional
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- Letters are optional for current Mines students or Mines alumni.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Mechanical Engineering Doctorate
The PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 72 credits of coursework and research credits. A minimum of 30 credits of course work and 30 credits of research credits must be completed. A minimum of 12 of the 30 credits of required coursework must be taken at Colorado School of Mines.
Students enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program will be required to pass a Qualifying Exam. PhD students with a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.0 are eligible to take the qualifying exam. Students must have completed at least four 500-level courses before taking the qualifier.
After passing the Qualifying Examination, the PhD student will prepare a written Research Proposal for the Dissertation and present it formally to the Dissertation Committee, which is selected by the student and the student’s advisor and approved by the department head.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Optional
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- Letters are encouraged but not required for current Mines students or Mines alumni.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Mechanical Engineering Certificate
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Professional Graduate Certificate
You’ve got a product or mechanization in mind, but it’s impractical to create a range of physical prototypes to run experiments and optimize the design. Instead, you turn to finite element analysis to help you determine the best design moving forward. The Mines FEA Professional graduate certificate teaches recent graduates or mid-career professionals advanced skills in finite element analysis for structural and thermal applications and can offer you career opportunities in design, product development or applied research. Leveraging industry-leading software, the program empowers students with the skills and experience to drive innovation in their chosen field.
- Program consists of 12 credits
- Participants learn industry-leading software
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Suggested if GPA is less than 3.0/4.0
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Colorado School of Mines offers a dynamic and innovative Mechanical Engineering graduate program for those who seek to embrace the challenges of tomorrow. If you’re looking for a graduate degree based on hands-on learning and one that turns theory into practice by solving real-world engineering problems, mechanical engineering at Mines is for you.
In our graduate program, you’ll be prepared to tackle a wide array of multidisciplinary technical engineering challenges. Under the leadership of our internationally renowned faculty, you’ll work directly with other institutions, industry partners and national labs.
Graduates will expand their skills and knowledge in biomechanics, robotics and automation, solid mechanics, materials, and manufacturing, thermal fluid and energy systems, and more to become leaders in their field and solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
A Top Tier University
Five main mechanical engineering research areas available
Top-ranked university for best return on investment
Top 30 best colleges in America for engineering
Credits and Deadlines
View the academic catalog to see the courses and credit requirements for this program.
Master's Thesis & Doctorate (PhD) Program Deadlines
Select a Term:
Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines
Spring Deadlines
Fall Deadlines
| Degree Program | Priority | International* | Domestic* | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Energy Systems | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Mathematics & Statistics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Computer Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Earth Resources Development Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Electrical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Engineering & Technology Management | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Environmental Engineering Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geochemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geological Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geology | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Humanitarian Engineering & Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Hydrology | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Materials Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mineral & Energy Economics | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mining Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Operations Research with Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Petroleum Engineering | March 1 | March 1 | ||
| Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Quantum Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Robotics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Space Resources | March 1 (International on-campus) | July 1 (Domestic on-campus) | August 1 | |
| Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 |
Residential (on-campus) Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines | |
|---|---|---|
| International Students* | October 1 | March 1 |
| Domestic U.S. Students | December 15 | August 1 |
| International students are not eligible to apply for residential certificate programs. We encourage you to check out our online certificate options | ||
Online Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| The following deadlines apply to online master's non-thesis and graduate certificate programs for domestic U.S. and International students. | |
| Spring I & II (January 6 start) | January 2 |
| Spring III*** (March 10 start) | February 17 |
| Fall I & II (August 19 start) | August 1 |
| Fall III*** (March 10 start) | October 1 |
| **The Fall III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Chemical Engineering Processes in Energy Transitions; Data Science: Computer Science; Data Science: Earth Resources; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
| ***The Spring III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Product Management (Offered for only session III in spring); Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
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Faculty Spotlight
John Berger
Joining Mines in 1994, Dr. Berger serves as a professor and as the Dean of Energy and Materials. He earned a BS in Civil (Structural) Engineering and an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Berger’s primary research interests include mechanical behavior and fracture of materials.
With numerous publications and awards to his name, Dr. Berger brings a wealth of experience and guidance to the department. He teaches courses in Advanced Engineering Analysis, Fracture and Fatigue, Boundary Element Methods and more.
You Are Ready
Contact Us
(303) 273-3247
grad-admissions@mines.edu
Career Connections
At Mines, your career goals are the focus. You will connect with world-class faculty and industry experts in your field, all while enhancing your knowledge through hands-on learning and research.
Why study mechanical engineering at Mines?
As the #1 STEM college in Colorado, Mines provides you with the faculty guidance, hands-on experience and unique research opportunities to excel in the world of mechanical engineering. Our interdisciplinary graduate program provides a comprehensive study and exploration into the world of mechanical engineering and its many applications.
By highlighting four specific divisions within mechanical engineering (biomechanics, robotics and automation, solid mechanics, materials and manufacturing and thermal fluid and energy systems) you’ll have the ability to pursue your passions.
Why study mechanical engineering at Mines?
- State-of-the-art research facilities
- Hands-on lab work and research
- Fully online master’s non-thesis so you can earn your degree from anywhere
- $12.5 million awarded research in 2023
- Professional certificates option to enhance your career
Mechanical Engineering careers
Mechanical Engineering Career Types
- Mechanical engineer
- Industrial engineer
- Aerospace engineer
- Control and instrumentation engineer
- Automotive engineer
FEA Career Types
- Consumer product design
- Medical device design
- Additive manufacturing process development/optimization
- Structural analysis/optimization in aerospace, oil/gas, automotive
For additional career resources and information, visit the Mines Career Center website.
Where to find our alumni
- Augean Robotics
- Composite Technology Development
- Johns Hopkins University
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Lunar Outpost
- Paragon Space Development Corporation
- NREL
- Oceana Gold Corporation
- Sandia National Laboratories
Engineer Your Future Today
Mines Online
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Mines Research Magazine
Innovation with impact
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