Engineering–Concentration in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, PhD

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering supports a PhD program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering as part of the PhD in Engineering degree. Students who are interested in research areas in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and would like to pursue the PhD in Engineering degree should contact the Department at (719) 255-3243.

Learning Outcomes 

• Demonstrate an ability to interpret and critically assess literature on advanced topics in engineering
• Be able to write coherent technical reports and other documentation reporting the results of fundamental investigations
• Be able to give professional oral presentations of the procedures used and conclusions reached in investigations
• Demonstrate the capacity to make fundamental and significant contributions to engineering using knowledge of science, mathematics, and engineering along with the tools of research to perform analysis and synthesis, and to envision potential areas of application

Degree Requirements

The PhD degree is awarded to students who have satisfied the requirements of duration of program, who have submitted an acceptable dissertation, and who have passed all prescribed examinations.

Students entering with a master’s degree must:

• Complete 30 semester hours of coursework-at least 15 semester hours must be MAE courses, at most 9 semester hours may be independent study courses.
• All 30 semester hours must be numbered 5000 and above.
• Cross-listed courses which are offered at the 5000/6000 levels must be taken at the 6000 level.
• Complete 30 semester hours of dissertation research in addition to coursework.
• Have an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 in order to graduate.
• Have a grade of B- or better in all courses applied toward the PhD degree.
• Pass Preliminary Examination, Comprehensive Examination

No foreign language is required.