Graduate Studies Information

Click Here for a Presentation of the Graduate Studies Program


The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University offers the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering. Enrollment in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs is open to students with degrees in physics, applied mathematics or any branch of engineering.

Admission to the Master's program in mechanical engineering at Clemson University typically requires that applicants have a minimum B+ average on their last 60 hours of undergraduate courses, a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of at least 1100 and two letters of recommendation. The requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program are higher than those for a Master's degree.

After being accepted, students may be offered support through fellowships or as graduate research assistants (GRA), graduate teaching assistants (GTA) or graders. A GRA is hired by a professor to work on that professor's research project and assist the professor in related teaching duties. A GTA is hired by the subject area group to work as a lab instructor or lecturer. Graders are occasionally hired during each semester by the graduate coordinator. They are selected from a group of on-campus students who have good academic credentials. To view a list of open assistantships in the department, please click here.

Students with assistantships enroll for 12 hours each semester (typically three courses in addition to credit received for research). Assistantships are usually available for only M.S. thesis option and Ph.D. students. Students in the M.S. program may choose the thesis or nonthesis option. In the thesis program, they must complete 30 hours of course work, including six hours of thesis research. In the nonthesis and the M.Engr. program, students must complete 33 hours of course work. In the Ph.D. program, students must complete 18 hours of dissertation research.

Application packages from U.S. citizens should be submitted at least four weeks prior to registration. International student application packages must be completed by May 1 and October 1 for registration in the fall and spring semesters, respectively. To be considered for assistantship support, the application package must be received by February and October respectively. Assistantships are limited and awarded on a highly competitive basis.