Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs Mechanical Engineering Department Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 Fall 2010

Table of Contents Page Introduction...1 MSME Degree Program...8 PhD Degree Program.... 14 Appendix A... 21 The first edition of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs adopted by the Mechanical Engineering faculty was published in January, 1984. Revised editions incorporating policy changes approved by the Faculty were published in January, 1985, September, 1986, June, 1990, April, 1991, July, 1992, July 1993, September, 1994, March 1995, October, 1995, October 1996, May 1997, June 1999, August 2000, August 2001, January 2005, Fall 2005, and Spring 2007. This edition was published in Fall 2010. ii

Introduction The Mechanical Engineering Department offers, as a member of the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas, the following degrees: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME), thesis option, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME), non-thesis option, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering. This document describes the admission requirements, degree requirements, and calendar that the student is expected to follow while working for one of these degrees. Information in this document supplements the Graduate School's regulations with information and rules concerning mechanical engineering graduate students. If you do not find the information needed here, on the Graduate School website (http://grad.uark.edu/), or in the Graduate School catalog, contact your advisor. The website contains links to the graduate student handbook and Graduate School catalog as well as many other useful links. Paper correspondence between the Mechanical Engineering Department and its graduate students is placed in mailboxes located in the Mechanical Engineering Academic Office, Room ME204. Each student has a mailbox, and it should be checked regularly. The objective in graduate education is the development of one's analytical and experimental abilities in order to work independently in the field of mechanical engineering. At the doctoral level such abilities are directed toward independent and original research. This document has been formulated to support this goal. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies Committee (MEGSC) The MEGSC is appointed and given a charge by the department head, who also serves as an ex-officio member of the committee. It is responsible for developing and interpreting the policies under which the department's graduate degree programs operate. The Mechanical Engineering graduate faculty members approve these policies. The MEGSC administers those policies described herein and also has the authority to make admissions decisions and to dismiss students from the ME graduate program after consulting the student's major advisor. Appeals of MEGSC decisions are initiated by the student, preferably with the support of the major advisor or thesis/dissertation director. Such appeal must be made in the form of a letter to Chairman, MEGSC within four weeks of when the student is notified of the decision. Questions concerning policy should be directed to the MEGSC chairman. Advisors Students entering the MS or PhD program should select a major advisor during their first semester of attendance. The MEGSC chairman usually acts as their initial advisor until a major advisor has been selected and approved by the Graduate School. Orientation An orientation session for new Mechanical Engineering graduate students is conducted early each fall and spring semester. All new graduate students are expected to attend, but all graduate students may attend. 3

Annual Review Every MS and PhD student is reviewed annually for progress toward his/her degree, typically late in the spring semester, by his/her advisory committee. At a minimum, the review covers progress: a) in completing courses with an adequate grade point average; b) in completing thesis/dissertation/ project requirements; c) in completing required examinations; d) toward completing other requirements for the degree. The review includes a face-to-face interview with the student's major advisor. If the interview is impractical or impossible, the results of the review will be transmitted by email or regular mail. After the review, a "Graduate Student Annual Review" form is signed by the student, the major advisor, and the department head. The form indicates whether the student is making normal progress toward the degree. If the student is not making normal progress toward the degree, the form indicates if the student is making adequate progress and an explanation of this progress. If the student is making neither ordinary nor adequate progress toward the degree, an explanation is provided. In this case, the department head provides a statement about how the situation will be remedied. If the situation cannot be remedied, the student is dismissed from the degree program. Students who refuse to participate in the review process are dismissed from the degree program. Seminar Graduate students are expected to attend all seminars in the M.E. Department. Every graduate student must register for MEEG 6800, Graduate Seminar, every semester enrolled. One's grade in MEEG 6800 will be based on attendance at seminars. Students in the graduate program must give annual seminars. Their first seminar usually describes the student's proposed thesis/project. The date of each student's seminar is determined by the date of enrollment in the program. A schedule is published at the beginning of each semester. After the student gives a seminar, the student s advisory committee conducts an oral exam intended to familiarize the student with the oral exam format and prepare the student for the final comprehensive examination. Academic Standing In order to retain regular graduate standing, an MSME student must maintain a GPA of 3.0, the minimum for which the MSME degree is awarded, on courses included on the program of study and 2.85 on all graduate coursework. When a student drops below this GPA he/she receives an academic warning. See http://grad.uark.edu/dean/governance/probationpolicy.html for more details. In addition, no more than six hours of C and no courses for which a grade of D or lower is obtained may be counted toward graduation. Research Compliance Committees A research activity that involves any of the following requires review and approval by an institutional compliance committee prior to starting the research project. The researcher cannot decide that his/her research is exempt. 4

Human subjects - Institutional Review Board (IRB). Live vertebrate animals - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Human pathogens - Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Recombinant DNA - IBC Biological agents and/or toxins - IBC. Human tissues, cell lines, and/or bodily fluids - IBC Radioisotopes - Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) Where the research involves a combination of these research activities, as is often the case, it may be necessary to secure the approval of two or more committees, e.g. Biosafety Committee and the Institutional Review Board for a study involving the collection and analysis of blood from human subjects. For more information, definitions of each of these committees, instructions on how to apply for committee approval, the required forms, and the appropriate contact people, please see http://www.uark.edu/admin/rsspinfo/compliance/index.html. Forms A list of forms referred to herein is given in the appendix. Forms may be obtained online or in the Mechanical Engineering Office, ME 204. 5

Financial Aid Financial aid is available in the forms of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Fellowships. A number of fellowships awarded by the university are described at http://grad.uark.edu/recruit/funding/index.html along with links to fellowships offered by others. Teaching Assistantships. The department typically hires several graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) each year. Teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis according to a number of criteria including: academic ability language skills willingness to pursue the thesis option. To be considered for a teaching assistantship, international students must submit a score on the GRE general test. International students whose native language is not English must demonstrate language skills by submitting a Test of Spoken English (TSE) score of 50 or more and a TOEFL score exceeding the 550 (paper-based)/79 (internet-based) or IELTS of 6.5 minima required for admission. Specific duties are at the discretion of the faculty in charge of the courses or other activities and can involve a variety of tasks from grading to preparing materials for distribution to students and supervising lab sections. Normally, initial offers of a GTA are made when the student is admitted; however, a GTA is often not awarded until after the student has been enrolled for one or more semesters. Apply by submitting an "Application for Assistantship" to the ME Department. Research Assistantships. Graduate research assistantships (GRAs) are also available within the department and are awarded to graduate students by the department upon recommendations of individual faculty who are principal investigators on research grants and contracts. These assistantships enable the student to gain work experience on current research problems, and the student's work typically serves as the basis for a thesis. An "Application for Assistantship" should be submitted to the ME Department, and you should contact faculty members to discuss assistantships they may be able to offer. The number available varies but typically exceeds ten (10). Guidelines Governing GTAs and GRAs. The following guidelines are applicable to graduate teaching and research assistants and will be relaxed only under extremely special circumstances. 1. A student on conditional standing is usually not granted an assistantship. 2. Students enrolled in the MS program are usually supported on a GTA for only two semesters. The student is expected to find support on a GRA thereafter. 3. Any graduate assistant who fails to maintain satisfactory progress towards the degree for which he/she is registered will lose his/her assistantship. Unsatisfactory progress means falling below a GPA of 3.0 or failure to meet other requirements (such as qualifying 6

examinations; see PhD section). 4. Half-time graduate assistants must carry at least 6 semester hours but may not carry more than 12 during each regular semester. At least 3 hours must be carried each summer. 5. Current GTA and GRA stipends are $1300-$1500/month for MSME students and $1800- $2000/month for PhD students with all tuition, but not fees, waived for half-time assistantships. Non-resident tuition is waived for quarter-time assistantships. 6. Half-time graduate assistants are offered the student health insurance plan with a 60% discount. Spouse and dependents may enroll in the plan, but only the student receives the discount. For more information, go to http://health.uark.edu/insurance1/index.htm. Travel Grants. PhD students are eligible for one $1000 grant per year to present a paper at a professional meeting, and MS students are eligible for $600. Go to Travel Grants for application forms and more information. 7

MSME Degree Program Regular Admission Application for admission to the MSME degree program is made through the Graduate School subject to approval by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies Committee (MEGSC). For regular admission applicants should have a ABET accredited BSME degree with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.7/4.0 or a GPA of 3.2 or above on the last 60 hours of their BSME curriculum. International applicants must also submit a score on the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) general test and TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based)/79 (internet-based) or an IELTS score of 6.5 unless their native language is English. Applicants not meeting the requirements above must also submit scores on the GRE general test. Those with engineering degrees who have taken the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam must submit the results. The requirement for these applicants to submit GRE scores or FE results will be waived by the MEGSC only in very unusual circumstances. Based on GRE scores and other information, the MEGSC may grant regular admission to applicants in the following categories: 1. ABET accredited BSME with GPA < 2.7. 2. ABET accredited BS in general engineering or ABET accredited BS in another engineering discipline with GPA 2.7. 3. BS in a related science with GPA 2.7. Conditional Admission Applicants with an ABET accredited BSME with 2.5 < GPA < 2.7 are admitted on a 12-hr conditional basis. The student must make B or better on the first 12 hours of graded coursework. At least 6 of the 12 hours must be Mechanical Engineering courses at the 5000 level or above. All 12 hours must be ME or acceptable mathematics courses. Again, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam will be viewed favorably and may result in regular admission. Course Deficiencies for non-bsme Undergraduates Applicants with a non-bsme undergraduate background are usually required to take the following deficiency courses that provide the background preparation needed for graduate admission: * MATH 3403 - Differential Equations * MEEG 2703 - Computer Methods in ME * MEEG 2013 - Dynamics * MEEG 2103 - Introduction to Machine Analysis * MEEG 2303 - Introduction to Materials * MEEG 3013 - Mechanics of Materials * MEEG 3113 - Machine Dynamics and Control * MEEG 4104 - Machine Element Design 8

* MEEG 2403 - Thermodynamics I * MEEG 3503 - Fluid Mechanics * MEEG 4413 - Heat Transfer * MEEG 4483 - Thermal Systems Analysis and Design ELEG 3913 - Engineering Electronics MEEG 4202 - Mechanical Engineering Lab III Courses above not taken by the applicant are considered deficiencies which must be remedied before graduate admission is granted. However, admission can be granted if 6 or fewer hours of deficiencies remain. Deficiencies may be remedied in the following ways: 1. Take deficiency courses or their equivalent at an institution offering ABET accredited engineering degrees. Non-ABET schools whose courses are accepted for transfer are also acceptable. A 3.0 (out of 4.0) GPA on these courses must be presented. 2. Make an acceptable grade on a competency exam offered in the deficiency course. A competency exam is offered for the above courses indicated by an asterisk. The exams are taken at the University of Arkansas. 3. Present evidence of previous work in an academic or non-academic setting which is equivalent to coursework listed above. Transcripts, exams, course descriptions, etc. that will allow the work to be evaluated must be presented. It should be noted that remedy of deficiencies does not constitute a BSME degree, but it does provide adequate preparation for pursuit of the MSME degree. Major Advisor and Advisory Committee During the first semester in residence, a student not making up deficiencies selects a major advisor by mutual agreement, and with the advice and consent of the major advisor, the student recommends an advisory committee of two or three professors, in addition to the major advisor, from the graduate faculty. The committee members' area of specialization should be consistent with the student's area of interest. One member may be from another department. The committee recommendations are submitted to the MEGSC on the "Master's Program Advisory Committee Report" form. Usually, but not always, the major advisor later serves as thesis director, and the advisory committee serves as the thesis committee for students doing a thesis. The major advisor must be a full-time Mechanical Engineering graduate faculty member. The other members may be either full or part time graduate faculty members. Program of Study The proposed "MSME Program of Study" form should be prepared in consultation with the major advisor and advisory committee and submitted to the MEGSC during the first semester in the MSME program. The program of study should consist of a coherent plan of courses consistent with the student's educational objectives. It should be remembered that not all courses are offered every semester; frequency of course offerings is indicated in the Graduate School catalog. Considerable thought should be given to the program of study since the demand indicated by students is one factor considered in determining course offerings. Revisions to an approved program should be submitted as soon as possible and marked as a revised program. 9

Graduate students are encouraged to do research resulting in a thesis for their MSME degree. The thesis is an in-depth study which may be experimental, theoretical, or a design, supported by appropriate analysis, that is written in a specified format. Although the student may propose his own thesis research and seek an advisor, the usual procedure is for a student to work on a problem suggested by a faculty member. Students are encouraged to discuss possible thesis research topics with various faculty members. A non-thesis MSME option is available. The student may select this option when he submits his program of study. The non-thesis student is required to do a project and report under the direction of his major advisor. The project is an engineering design or an analysis of a typical engineering problem, either experimental or theoretical. The report describes the project work and is written in the same general format as a thesis. Thesis Option. A program of study for the thesis option must include a minimum of 24 hours, in addition to the thesis and any required deficiencies, consisting of At least 12 hours of Mechanical Engineering courses at the 5000 level or above. At least 6 hours of acceptable mathematics. No more than 3 hours of MEEG 591V, Special Project. New courses in development are often taught as MEEG 591V before they are assigned a course number. These are not included in the 3 hour maximum. A minimum of 6 semester credit hours of thesis, MEEG 600V, are required in addition to the coursework outlined above, but the hours should realistically reflect the effort expended. Hours of MEEG 6800, Graduate Seminar, are not included in the totals above. Once a thesis research topic is chosen, usually during the second semester in the MSME program, a "Master's Thesis Committee Report" and "Master's Thesis Title" forms are submitted by the student to the MEGSC along with a 300 word abstract describing the scope, objectives, and method of attack for the proposed work. A seminar describing the proposed work is scheduled at this time. After the seminar, the proposed "Master's Thesis Committee Report" and "Master's Thesis Title" forms are approved by the ME department head and forwarded to the Graduate School. After completing the necessary research, the student writes the thesis in the proper format and submits it to the thesis director for approval. Proper thesis format is described in the Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations published by the Graduate School. The approved thesis is distributed to the rest of the thesis committee at least two weeks before the final comprehensive examination. After passing this examination and negotiation of final matters with the thesis committee, the student prepares the final manuscript and obtains approval signatures from the thesis committee. Two copies are then delivered to the Graduate School for approval and finally deposited at the Library. In addition, the student must submit two unbound copies to the MEGSC, one for the thesis director and one for the Mechanical Engineering Library. Non-thesis Option. A program of study for the non-thesis option must include a minimum of 33 hours, in addition to any required deficiencies, consisting of At least 18 hours of Mechanical Engineering courses at the 5000 level or above. At least 21 hours in Mechanical Engineering. At least 6 hours of acceptable mathematics. 10

No more than 6 or less than 3 hours of MEEG 591V, Special Project. New courses in development are often taught as MEEG 591V before they are assigned a course number. These and are not included. Upon completion of the project and preparation of the project report, the report is submitted to the major advisor for approval. The approved report is distributed to the rest of the advisory committee at least two weeks before the final comprehensive examination. After passing this examination and negotiation of final matters with the advisory committee, the student prepares the final version of the report and obtains approval signatures from the advisory committee. Two copies are then submitted to the MEGSC. All 4000 level and higher ME courses, except those required in the BSME curriculum, may be used for graduate credit. Graduate credit is granted for certain 3000 level math courses, but these can comprise no more than 20% of the graded coursework in one's program of study. The following courses are acceptable for fulfilling mathematics requirements: MATH 3423 Advanced Applied Math MATH 3443 Complex Variable for Application MATH 4353 Numerical Linear Algebra MATH 4363 Numerical Analysis MATH 4503 Differential Geometry and Vector Calculus MATH 4513 Advanced Calculus I MATH 4523 Advanced Calculus II MATH 5303 Ordinary Differential Equations MATH 5313 Partial Differential Equations MEEG 4703 Math Methods in Engineering MEEG 4733 Numerical Methods II MEEG 5003 Continuum Mechanics PHYS 5073 Math Methods of Physics I PHYS 5083 Math Methods of Physics II STAT 5103 Theory of Statistics Receiving graduate credit for MATH 3423 and/or MATH 3443 requires the "Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Course" form. This form must be signed by the instructor and submitted to the ME Department during the first week of class. Final Comprehensive Examination A final comprehensive examination determined and administered by the student's thesis or advisory committee is required at the completion of the student's coursework and thesis/project. The final examination is scheduled by the thesis director or major advisor in consultation with the student. The examination covers the thesis/project and/or other subjects. The examination results are reported to the MEGSC by the thesis director or major advisor on the "Record of Progress - Masters Degree" form. If the examination is failed, the student must petition the advisory committee for reexamination. Otherwise, the student is dismissed from the program. 11

Residence Residence is an arcane concept unrelated to how long one resides on or near campus. A student must accumulate residence hours by completing coursework on this campus or through Graduate Residence Centers. The student is encouraged to carefully read the section on residence in the Graduate School catalog. Completion of Requirements A timetable of events for the MSME degree is listed below. It is the responsibility of the student to see that all necessary actions are completed on time. Failure to comply with the deadlines given may result in disciplinary action and/or delay in graduation. Action Select major advisor Select Advisory Committee and submit "Master's Program Advisory Committee Report" form to MEGSC. Submit proposed "MSME Program of Study" to MEGSC. Submit change in approved "MSME Program of Study" to MEGSC. Students on conditional standing submit "Request to Change Graduate Standing" to MEGSC. Submit "Master's Thesis Committee Report" and "Master's Thesis Title" forms and abstract to MEGSC. Give seminar on proposed work. Apply to graduate in Graduate School Office and pay graduation fee. Submit thesis/project to thesis/advisory committee after preparation according to the Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations. Give seminar on thesis or project, pass final comprehensive examination, and have major advisor submit "Master's Degree" Deadline First or early second semester. Early in second semester. Early in second semester. Whenever changed; final revisions must be approved before beginning of last semester. End of semester following completion of conditional requirements. End of first year; no later than 3 months prior to final comprehensive examination. End of second week of last semester. Two weeks before final comprehensive examination. Seven days before graduation. 12

form to MEGSC. Deliver required number of approved thesis/report copies to Graduate School and MEGSC. Submit "Intellectual Property Disclosure" form to Graduate School with thesis. Seven days before graduation. All requirements for the MSME degree must be completed within four years from the beginning of the first semester enrolled as a graduate student in the ME Department. Requests for deviations from any of the above guidelines must be submitted in writing to the MEGSC for consideration after approval by the major advisor or thesis director. Any requests for deviations from Graduate School rules must be submitted to the Graduate Dean. 13

Admission Requirements PhD Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering Application for admission to the PhD degree program is normally made through the Graduate School subject to approval by the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies Committee (MEGSC). Applicants currently enrolled in the University of Arkansas Graduate School should apply directly to the MEGSC using the "Application for Admission - PhD Program" form. Applicants seeking regular admission should have completed at least 24 hours on their MS program of study and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on that coursework. Applicants with only a BS degree may also be considered if their degree is from an ABET accredited institution and their GPA is at least 3.0 overall or 3.2 on the last 60 hours of technical courses. International applicants must also submit a score on the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) general test. All applicants must have demonstrated a potential for independent research and scholarship. Applicants admitted with a BS or MS degree in a field other than mechanical engineering may be required to complete a set of background deficiency courses in addition to other degree requirements. Applicants from non-english speaking countries must, in addition to the above requirements, demonstrate an ability to communicate fluently in English on both an oral and written basis. Scores of 600 (paper-based)/100 (internet-based) on the TOEFL or 7.0 on the IELTS and 50 or above on the TSE are required as a minimum to demonstrate communication ability in the English language. Applicants not granted admission to the PhD program may apply for the MSME program. Major Advisor and Advisory Committee Soon after entering the PhD program the student should arrange for a major advisor to supervise the dissertation research and remaining coursework. Because this involves a personal arrangement between the student and a Mechanical Engineering Department graduate faculty member, the Mechanical Engineering Department cannot guarantee that a student will be able to find a member of its faculty willing to act in this capacity. Once the student has made arrangements with a major advisor, the two of them select a doctoral advisory committee of four or five additional professors from the graduate faculty. The committee member's area of specialization should be consistent with the student's area of interest. At least one member must be from another department and at least two, in addition to the major advisor, must be from the Mechanical Engineering Department. Selections for major advisor and doctoral advisory committee must be submitted to the MEGSC on the "Doctoral Program Advisory Committee Report" form. Usually, the major advisor and doctoral advisory committee later serve as the dissertation director and dissertation committee, respectively. The dissertation director and committee are named when the dissertation proposal is submitted. Students not able to reach an agreement with a dissertation director within six months after passing the qualifying examination and filing a "Declaration of Intent" are dismissed from the program. The major advisor and dissertation director must be full time Mechanical Engineering graduate faculty members. Program of Study 14

The student's proposed program of study should be prepared in consultation with the prospective major advisor and advisory committee and submitted to the MEGSC for approval during the first semester in the PhD program. The program of study should consist of a coherent plan of courses consistent with the student's educational objectives. It should be remembered that not all courses are offered every semester; a projection of course offerings is included in the Graduate School catalog. Considerable thought should be given to the program of study since demand indicated by students is one factor used in determining course offerings. Revisions of an approved program should be submitted as soon as possible and marked as a revised program. After the BSME degree or its equivalent, the student's program of study must include 48 hours of graded coursework, of which o at least 30 hours is at the 5000 level or higher o o o o no more than 3 hours of MEEG 590V - Research or MEEG 591V - Special Problems. New courses in development taught as MEEG 591V before they are assigned a course number do not apply to this total. at least 12 hours of acceptable mathematics 30 hours of MEEG 700V - Dissertation. Six hours of MEEG 600V - Master's Thesis may be applied to this requirement. No more than 6 hours of 4000 level courses. Does not include 3000 level math courses that meet the math requirement. All 4000 level and higher ME courses in the Graduate Catalog, except those required in the BSME curriculum, may be used for graduate credit. Certain 3000 level math courses may be used for graduate credit, but these may comprise no more than 20% of the graded coursework in one's program of study. All of the following courses are acceptable for fulfilling mathematics requirements, but at least 6 of the required 12 hours must be taken in the Mathematics Department: MATH 3423 Advanced Applied Math MATH 3443 Complex Variable for Application MATH 4353 Numerical Linear Algebra MATH 4363 Numerical Analysis MATH 4503 Differential Geometry and Vector Calculus MATH 4513 Advanced Calculus I MATH 4523 Advanced Calculus II MATH 5303 Ordinary Differential Equations MATH 5313 Partial Differential Equations MEEG 4703 Math Methods in Engineering MEEG 4733 Numerical Methods II MEEG 5033 Continuum Mechanics PHYS 5073 Math Methods of Physics I PHYS 5083 Math Methods of Physics II STAT 5103 Theory of Statistics A student who has earned a MS degree may petition the MEGSC to apply up to 30 hours from his MS degree program of study to the coursework requirements. In courses from another 15

institution are included in the proposed program, sufficient information, such as textbook and syllabi used, typical quizzes, typical problems, etc., may be required so that the courses may be evaluated by the MEGSC. Declaration of Intent A student who wishes to eventually become a candidate for the PhD degree must send a "Declaration of Intent" form to the Graduate School. This must be done upon registration for his first semester of graduate work beyond the MS degree or its equivalent, i.e., completion of 30 hours after admission to the PhD program with only a BS degree. A student cannot satisfy any part of the Graduate School residence requirement until after the "Declaration of Intent" has been filed. Qualifying Examination The purpose of the qualifying examination is to determine the ability to understand fundamental mechanical engineering principles and apply them to the solution of problems. When do you take the take examination? o Those who enter the PhD program with a BS degree take the exam at first opportunity after the 1 st year anniversary of entering the program. This allows those who fail to complete requirements for an MSME degree. o Those who enter the PhD program with a MS degree take the exam in the 2nd semester after entering the PhD program. o Those who fail all or parts of the exam may request to take the failed part(s) a second time. Examination Content and Format o Three written exams, each 2 hr long, in subject areas chosen by student. Each is followed by a ½ hr oral exam. o The student must choose exams from a list of traditional ME areas and special/emerging/interdisciplinary areas. At least 2 of the 3 areas must be traditional. o The exams are closed book/note on material through first year graduate level. o The areas are Traditional Mechanical Design Statics, Dynamics, Vibrations Mechanics of Materials Thermodynamics Fluid Mechanics Heat Transfer System Dynamics/Control Special/Emerging/Interdisciplinary Tribology Nano/Micro Engineering Materials Bioengineering 16

Finite Element Analysis Examination Evaluation. The graduate faculty evaluates the student's performance on the qualifying examination and notifies the student in writing, through the MEGSC, of the results. In some cases, the graduate faculty may give a student who has failed the examination on the first attempt one opportunity to retake all or part of the examination at its next offering. The qualifying examination results, together with the individual's academic record, engineering experience, evidence of ability to conduct independent research, and other material are used by the graduate faculty to determine if an applicant is allowed to continue in the PhD program. Passing the qualifying examination is an important step in the process of obtaining the PhD degree. However, passing the qualifying examination does not constitute admission to candidacy. Foreign Language Requirement The foreign language requirement, if any, is specified by the doctoral advisory committee. Dissertation Proposal A dissertation proposal is the first step in meeting the dissertation requirement. The proposal begins with a 300 word abstract of the research followed by a more detailed statement of the work to be undertaken, its objectives and expected significance, its relation to previous work and work in progress elsewhere, and a reference list. The general plan of work, including the broad design of experiments to be performed, if any, and the anticipated procedure are outlined. The proposal is first submitted to the proposed dissertation director and dissertation committee. The student gives a public seminar on the proposed work soon thereafter, and an oral examination on the merits of proposed work and the student's knowledge in the technical area of the proposal is conducted by the dissertation committee. The purpose of the exam is to approve the proposal and to determine if the student has the knowledge to do the proposed research. Final approval of the proposal and results of the oral exam rest with the dissertation committee. Candidacy Submission and defense of the dissertation proposal serve as the candidacy examination. After approval of the proposal and passage of the oral exam, the dissertation director submits the "Doctoral Dissertation Title", "Dissertation Committee", and "Candidacy Exam Notification" forms to the MEGSC along with a 300 word abstract of the proposal. These forms and the abstract must be submitted no later than one year after passing the qualifying examination and no later than one year prior to the final examination. Dissertation Submission and Final Examination It is the responsibility of the dissertation committee to follow the progress of the dissertation research. When it is determined that the necessary research has been completed, the dissertation is written in the proper format with the aid and guidance of the dissertation director. 17

Proper thesis format is described in the Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations published by the Graduate School. The completed dissertation must be a definite scholarly contribution which may be in the form of new knowledge of fundamental importance or of modification, amplification, and interpretation of existing significant knowledge. The following schedule should be followed: 1. After approval by the dissertation director, the dissertation is distributed to the dissertation committee for review. This must be done no later than six weeks before the final examination. 2. Upon approval of the dissertation committee, the dissertation director sends a dissertation abstract and a memorandum announcing the time and location of the final examination to the MEGSC and the Graduate School. This must be done no later than two weeks before the final examination. 3. The final examination is oral and open to the public. The final examination is primarily a defense of the dissertation, but it may also include other aspects of the candidate's graduate work. After a successful defense, negotiation of final matters, and passage of the final examination, the candidate prepares the final manuscript and submits it to the Graduate School for final approval. The dissertation director files the "Record of Progress - Doctoral Program" with the MEGSC no later than 7 days before graduation. If the examination is failed, the student must petition the dissertation committee for reexamination. Otherwise, the student is dismissed from the program. 4. Two copies of the approved dissertation and three copies of a 350 word abstract approved by the dissertation director must be submitted to the Library no later than 1 week before graduation. The student must also submit two unbound copies to the MEGSC, one for the dissertation director and one for the Mechanical Engineering Library. Each doctoral candidate must register for a minimum of 18 hours of MEEG 700V, doctoral dissertation. After the student has passed the candidacy examination, he must register (earlier registration permissible) for at least one hour of dissertation a semester for each semester and one hour for the 10 or 12 week summer session until the work is completed. Candidates working on the dissertation during the summer, either in residence or away from the campus, must register for a minimum of one hour. For each semester in which a student fails to register without prior approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, a registration of three hours will be required before the degree is granted. Residence The residence requirement for PhD students is even more arcane than for MSME students. The student is advised to carefully read the section on residence in the Graduate School catalog. Completion of Requirements A timetable of events for the PhD degree is listed below. It is the student's responsibility to see that all actions are completed by the deadline listed. 18

Action Submit "Declaration of Intent" to MEGSC. Select Prospective major advisor. Submit proposed "Doctoral Program Advisory Committee Report" form to MEGSC. Submit "Schedule of Study - Doctoral Program" to MEGSC. Submit changes in approved "Schedule of Study - Doctoral Program" to MEGSC. Submit "Request to Take Qualifying Examination" to MEGSC. Prepare proposal, give seminar on proposed work, and pass candidacy examination. Submit "Doctoral Dissertation Committee Report" and "Doctoral Dissertation Title" form and 300 word abstract to MEGSC. Advisor submits "Candidacy Exam Notification" to MEGSC and Graduate School. Apply to graduate in Graduate School Office and pay graduation fee. Submit dissertation to dissertation committee for review after preparation according to the Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations. Submit dissertation abstract and announcement of the final examination to MEGSC and Graduate School. Pass final examination and have dissertation director submit "Record of Progress - Doctoral Program" to MEGSC. Deliver "Intellectual Property Disclosure" form and required number of dissertation copies and abstracts to Graduate School and MEGSC. Deadline During first semester following completion of MS degree or equivalent. End of first semester. End of first semester. End of first semester. Whenever changed; final revisions must be approved before beginning of last semester. At least three weeks before the examination. One year after passing qualifying examination and no later than one year before final examination Beginning of last semester. Six weeks before final examination. Two weeks before final examination. Seven days before graduation. Seven days before graduation. 19

All requirements for the PhD must be completed within 7 years after the "Declaration of Intent" is filed. Requests for deviations from any of the above rules must be submitted in writing to the MEGSC after approval by the major advisor and doctoral advisory committee or the dissertation director and dissertation committee. Any deviation from Graduate School rules must also be submitted to the Graduate Dean. 20

APPENDIX LIST OF FORMS REQUIRED IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS All forms listed below except those with an asterisk are available online at http://grad.uark.edu/forms/degreeforms.html. Those with an asterisk can be downloaded at the ME Department website. General MSME PhD Graduate School Application for Admission Application for Graduate Assistantship Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Course (3000 level) Intellectual Property Disclosure Graduate Student Annual Review Proposed MSME Program of Study* Master's Program Advisory Committee Report Master's Thesis Committee Report Master's Thesis Title Record of Progress - Master's Degree Request to Take Qualifying Examination* Schedule of Study - Doctoral Program* Doctoral Program Advisory Committee Report Candidacy Exam Notification Doctoral Dissertation Committee Report Doctoral Dissertation Title Record of Progress (unofficial) - Doctoral Program* 21