Plan II (Non-Thesis) - Coursework Only Track

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs

M.S. Degree Policy and Procedures

Plan II (Non-Thesis) / Coursework-Only Track

Track Intent, Requirements, and Procedures

This degree Track is intended for engineering (i.e., working) professionals. As such, no financial aid (RA/TA/PA) is available to individuals pursuing this degree Track. Students following this Track will not be required to take Seminar courses.

The student should carefully study the section in the UNM Graduate Catalog under "Master’s Degrees." It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to see that these requirements are satisfied.

Time Limit for Completion of Degree

All work used to meet degree requirements for a master's degree, including transfer credit, must be completed within a seven-year period immediately preceding the granting of the degree. Course work older than seven years cannot be used to meet requirements for the master's degree.

The following are the course requirements for the M.S. Degree, Plan II - Coursework Only Track. Some of these requirements are dictated by the UNM Graduate Catalog and additional ones are required by the ME department.

Two semester hours of Master's Independent Study (Problems) are required; no more than three (3) hours of ME 551 or 552 Problems may be included in the Program of Studies. ME 559 course is not allowed for this Track.

A maximum of 12 hours of graduate level courses in non-degree status may be applied to the course requirements.

At least 24 hours must be completed in residence at the University of New Mexico.

The student must meet with the ME Graduate Programs Director before the initial registration, and work out a program of studies for the first semester. Any courses that do not receive prior approval of an academic advisor may be disallowed. During the first semester, the student must obtain the agreement of an ME faculty member to serve as Academic Advisor, and submit an Advisor Approval Form to the ME Program Advisement Coordinator. This faculty member normally, but not always, becomes the Chair of the Committee-on-Studies.

Each student’s program shall be guided by a Committee-on-Studies. The Committee-on-Studies shall be composed of at least three members; at least two members shall be full-time, UNM Mechanical Engineering faculty members. It is to the student's benefit if the Committee-on-Studies is selected and approved no later than the second semester of residence or before completing 12 hours. Approval of the Committee must be obtained using the Committee-on-Studies Proposal Form.

The student should select a Committee-on-Studies Chairperson as early as possible, preferably during the first semester in residence. The Committee Chairperson must be a full-time, tenure-stream, UNM Mechanical Engineering faculty member. The Chairperson will also serve as the professor in charge of the student’s Independent Study course (ME 551 or 552 Problems).

The remainder of the Committee should be chosen by consultation between the Chairman of the Committee-on-Studies and the student. Approval for non-UNM faculty committee members must be obtained from the ME Graduate Director and Office of Graduate Studies.

The Committee-on-Studies shall have the responsibility to plan and approve the student’s program. Approval of the M.S. Program of Studies is then required by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs Director.

The Program of Studies Form should be submitted the semester following completion of 12 hours for the degree. At the latest, it must be approved by the ME Graduate Programs Director and Dean of Graduate Studies by July 1 for a Fall graduation, October 1 for a Spring graduation, and May 1 for a Summer graduation. The Committee should have input on the program submitted, and all members of the Committee must sign the Program of Studies form. Changes in an approved program must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies by a memorandum from the student with approval by the Committee-on-Studies chair and ME Graduate Programs Director.

The following aspects should be kept in mind in satisfying the Independent Study (Problems) course requirement:

The Nature of Independent Study (Problems) Course
The work can take many forms. Examples of common forms would be literature surveys, code development, creative work, design, etc. The student must register in at least two (2) credit hours of ME 551 or 552 Problems course to receive credit for the work.

The Committee-on-Studies
This committee must be formed prior to the initiation of work on the study so that Committee members may have input.

Project Proposal
The student shall prepare, with the assistance and advice of the professor in charge of the course, a project proposal and present it for approval to the Committee-on-Studies no later than the second week of the semester (or first week of the summer session) in which the independent study course requirement will be satisfied.

Report
The work shall be reported in written form and in English. A copy of the report shall be placed in the student’s file after all corrections are made.

Presentation and Master's Examination
The report shall be provided to the Committee-on-Studies at least two weeks before the scheduled evaluation, which normally serves as the UNM Master's Examination. The Mechanical Engineering Program Advisement Coordinator must also be notified of the time and location of the committee meeting at least three weeks prior to it. The Master's Plan II (Coursework-Only Track) examination shall usually consist of an evaluation of the student's written report. The evaluation may cover the student's technical as well as writing skills. Results of the evaluation must be reported to the Office of Graduate Studies, on the Report of Examination form provided, by November 15, April 15, or July 15, in order for the student to graduate in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semester, respectively.

The student must submit the Notification of Intent to Graduate Form to the Mechanical Engineering Program Advisement Coordinator by July 25th for a Fall graduation, by December 10th for a Spring graduation, and by May 10th for a Summer graduation. Students must be enrolled in a graduate course in the semester of graduation. If all other course work is completed, one (1) hour of ME 551 or 552 may be taken.

One copy of the student's report shall be submitted to the Mechanical Engineering Department after it is bound in a specified manner; contact the ME Program Advisement Coordinator for instructions.

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs

M.S. Degree Policy and Procedures

Table of Contents

Track Intent, Requirements, and Procedures

Time Limit for Completion of Degree