Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering)

Coursework

• MEC E 680  
• For students entering after a master’s degree:
  • Three 3-unit graduate-level courses which must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator, Thesis Supervisor(s) and/or Thesis Supervisory Committee.  At least two courses must be in the major field (i.e., MEC E courses).
    • A maximum of one MEC E 700- level course and no 500-level Mechanical Engineering courses can be credited towards the minimum course requirements
    • No reading courses can be credited towards the minimum course requirement
• For students entering after a bachelor’s degree:
  • Eight 3-unit graduate-level courses which must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator, Thesis Supervisor(s) and/or Thesis Supervisory Committee.  At least five courses must be in the major field (i.e., MEC E courses)
    • A maximum of two MEC E 700- level and one MEC E 500-level courses, OR a maximum of three MEC E 700-level and no MEC E 500-level courses can be credited toward the minimum course requirements
    • In exceptional cases students may petition the Graduate Coordinator to reduce the course requirements
    • No reading courses can be credited towards the minimum course requirement
• Additional coursework may be required

Thesis

• Registration in 900-level THES

Ethics Requirement

Engineering students must complete FGSR ethics requirements based on their programs.

Professional Development Requirement

Engineering students are required to:

1. complete FGSR’s professional development requirement, which includes an individualized career plan document called an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and eight hours of professional development activities inspired by their career plan;
2. complete professional development requirements specific to the Faculty of Engineering:
   1. students doing their first graduate degree in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta are required to complete an ENGG Grad PD 01 module; or,
   2. students doing their subsequent graduate degree in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta who have completed ENGG 600 and/or ENGG Grad PD 01 in a previous graduate degree are required to complete four hours of professional development in the areas of communication, networking, EDI, university teaching, and career development. These hours must be included in the student’s IDP and approved by their supervisor/advisor and the department graduate coordinator.

Candidacy Exam

Students registered as full‐time must complete the PhD candidacy exam within the first two academic years. Students registered as part‐time must complete the candidacy exam within the first three academic years. Any student transferring from a Master’s program to the PhD program must complete their candidacy exam on a timeline set case‐by‐case by the Associate Chair (Graduate) and within four years from the term of initial registration in the Master’s program as per FGSR regulations. For additional details, see the document Graduate Program Manual for MEng, MSc and PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management, available from the Department or on the Department’s home page.