MANUAL FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

in

MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Version Aug 2018

Dear Graduate Student,

We are pleased that you have chosen the MIE Graduate Program and Montana State University! We don't mind sharing that we have great expectations for our graduates, and endeavor to inspire their superior performance. Consequently, we try to enroll only the best. If you have already been accepted into the program, congratulations and keep up the good work!

We are most pleased to present you with our Manual for Graduate Students. This manual answers the majority of the questions that students ask, and we recommend its careful reading along with the online Graduate Catalog provided by the Graduate School (http://catalog.montana.edu/graduate/) and the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering Graduate Student handbook (http://www.coe.montana.edu/documents/PDFs/Graduate%20Student % 20Handbook-Jan08.pdf) These three publications provide guidelines for our program in terms of philosophy, policies, and procedures. The information will benefit you greatly. We encourage you to do your best, and we promise you will be well satisfied with your program when you finish.

So welcome! If you have any further questions, the staff in the MIE office can direct you to the right faculty member.

Sincerely,

Your Faculty Friends Department of Mechanical and Industrial

Engineering

Montana State University-Bozeman

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SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES The following three tables summarize the formal procedures required to complete the

Master of Science degree (Plans A and B) and the Ph.D. degree, for quick reference.

Graduate School forms can be found on the Graduate School website:

http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html

TABLE 1. M.S. DEGREE, PLAN A (THESIS)

What Procedure When

Apply for Montana residency for domestic students

File graduate program and establish committee

See MSU Catalog, Residency Requirements for Fee Purposes. Forms are available from the Registrar’s Office: http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?8#top8

Fill out Program of Study & Committee Form and submit for approval http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/polic y/degreq_masters.html

As soon as possible

By end of 2nd

semester

Application for Advanced Degree

Fill out Graduation Application and submit for approval Start of last semester

File changes in graduate program or committee, if necessary.

Fill out Committee Revision Form or Program Change and submit for approval.

1 month before end of last term

Draft of thesis given to committee

Make arrangements with committee chair 15 business days prior to defense

Thesis Defense (examination)

Schedule time with your committee chair and members, reserve a room (see MIE office); Committee chair responsible for obtaining and filing completed Report on Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense form.

14 calendar days prior to end of final term

Thesis Defense Announcement

Arrange to have defense announcement posted to the NACOE Graduate Student listserv, and sent to the department faculty

1 week prior to defense

Commencement See Graduate School website: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_commencement. html

End of fall or spring semester

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TABLE 2. M.S. DEGREE, PLAN B (NON-THESIS OPTION)

semester

students

Application for Advanced Degree

Fill out Graduation Application and submit for approval Start of last semester

Commencement See Graduate School website: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_commencement.html

End of spring or Fall semester

What Procedure When

Apply for

See MSU Catalog, Residency Requirements for Fee Purposes. Forms are

As soon as

Montana available from the Registrar’s Office: possible residency for http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?8#top8 domestic students

File graduate Fill out Program of Study & Committee Form and submit for approval By end of

program and establish committee

and http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_masters.html 2nd

Application for

Fill out Graduation Application and submit for approval

Start of last

Advanced semester Degree File changes in Fill out Committee Revision Form or Program Change and 1 month graduate submit for approval. before end program or of last term committee, if necessary.

Commencement See Graduate School website: End of

http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_commencement.html spring or Fall semester

TABLE 3. M.ENG. DEGREE

What Procedure When

Apply for

See MSU Catalog, Residency Requirements for Fee Purposes. Forms are

As soon as

Montana available from the Registrar’s Office: possible residency for http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?8#top8 domestic

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TABLE 4. PH.D. DEGREE

What Procedure When

Apply for Montana residency for domestic students

File graduate program and establish committee

See MSU Catalog, Residency Requirements for Fee Purposes. Forms are available from the Registrar’s Office: http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?8#top8

Fill out Program of Study & Committee Form and submit for approval and http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_doctoral.html

As soon as possible

By end of 3rd

semester

Qualifying Examination

The PhD qualifying exam is held on the 2nd Tuesday of February each year. Notify the PhD option co-ordinator at least 4 weeks prior to this date if you wish to take it that year.

within three semesters but typically within two semesters

Application for Advanced Degree

Fill out Graduation Application and submit for approval Start of last semester

File changes in graduate program or committee.

Fill out Committee Revision Form or Program Change and submit for approval.

1 month before end of last term

Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive examination is administered by the student’s graduate committee (including the Graduate Representative assigned by the Graduate School). Schedule time with your committee chair and members, Reserve a room (see MIE office). Committee chair responsible for obtaining and filing a completed Report on Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense-Master’s & Doctoral form.

Within two years of qualifying exam

Comprehensive Announcement

Arrange to have public research seminar associated with the comprehensive exam announced to the COE by posting to the COE Graduate Student listserv, and sending to faculty

1 week prior to defense

Thesis Defense Schedule time with your committee chair and members, Reserve a room (see MIE office); Committee chair responsible for obtaining and filing completed Report on Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense-Master’s & Doctoral form.

14 days prior to end of final term

Thesis Defense Announcement

Arrange to have defense announcement posted to the COE Graduate Student listserv, and sent to the department faculty and send an announcement to the MSU calendar system; http://www.montana.edu/calendar containing the following information:

• The name of the candidate. • The title of the dissertation/professional project. • The time and place of the defense. • The location to obtain a copy of the dissertation for inspection.

1 week prior to defense

Commencement See Graduate School website: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_commencement.html

End of spring semester

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1 INTRODUCTION Your performance record indicates that you have the ability to handle graduate work.

However, you will be challenged! The work will be harder and you must depend on your own initiative. Nonetheless, the work will be more interesting, and you will have more options. You will discover new and exciting things that will contribute to your career development. Remember, you are free to determine how much time to devote to learning, and even whether or not to graduate. Take advantage of seminars, talks, short courses, and other activities coming your way. Also, take time to enjoy the surroundings; we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

One of the first things you should think about once you arrive is forming your graduate

committee. The graduate committee advises the student on academic matters and is the examining committee for the comprehensive examination and dissertation defense. Your graduate committee typically includes three faculty members for an MS degree or four faculty members for a PhD degree. These faculty members should have interest and expertise in your areas of study. You must personally ask each professor if they are available and willing to serve on your committee. As part of this committee, you will have a major advisor (professor) who serves as committee chair (and thesis adviser if you are completing a Plan A degree option or a PhD). The committee chair should be someone with expertise in your area of emphasis and with whom you expect to have major contact through your course work. The minor field of study (if you choose one) must be represented by one member on the committee. Committee membership must be approved by the department head and the Dean of Graduate Education. You can ask a larger number of faculty members to be on your committee, but you should be aware that this may result in scheduling issues, as all your committee should be present for your comprehensive exam and your dissertation defense. Committees are revised only to accommodate change of emphasis or to replace a member that has become unavailable. Committee revision requests are made with Committee Revision Form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html) all new and former committee members to acknowledge the revision. When a committee is revised, the new committee should reexamine the overall plan of study and may require a different set of courses. All changes are subject to final approval by the Department Chair.

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1.1 IMPORTANT CONTACTS Graduate School: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/ Forms Necessary for Graduate Education: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html

International Programs: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/admissions/international_admissions.html

Engineering Graduate Programs: http://www.coe.montana.edu/graduate_programs.html English Language Academic Preparation: http://catalog.montana.edu/special-academic- opportunities/ English Writing Center: http://www.montana.edu/writingcenter/

MIE GRADUATE PROGRAMS COMMITTEE Sarah Codd Mechanical Engineering PhD Option Coordinator Bill Schell Industrial Engineering PhD Option and MS Program Coordinator Stephen Sofie Materials PhD Coordinator Doug Cairns Mechanical Engineering MS Program Coordinator

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2 ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Graduate School grants admission only if you have graduated from a four-year program with a grade average of B (3.0) or higher. Graduates from any ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) program in the area of the graduate degree are eligible for regular admission. Graduates from other engineering, technology, or non-ABET accredited programs (such as psychology, computer science, business, mathematics, statistics, physics, etc.) must take some other required courses, and are thus eligible for “provisional admission”. Under provisional admission, students may take graduate-level courses for which prerequisites have been met. Provisional status is removed after completing all other required courses.

2.1 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY If your first language is not English, you must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 80 on the iBT (or 213 on the CBT). However, your graduate committee may require that you take additional courses to improve English language proficiency even if you have achieved the minimum test score. This is because incorrect English grammar and spelling that appears in written assignments and reports may result in lower grades. Help for students whose native language is not English is readily available from the A.C.E. Language Institute. Additional assistance for all graduate students for writing skills is available through the MSU Writing Center.

2.2 OTHER REQUIRED COURSES Other required courses consist of engineering basics, and mathematics and computing requirements, depending on your academic background. The Graduate College will grant provisional admission to students requiring up to 15 credit hours for these required courses. Beyond 15 credit hours, your graduate application will be deferred until these deficiencies are reduced to 15 credits. During this period of deferment, we recommend enrollment in a second bachelor's degree program, preferably in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department so that you will have an advisor from our faculty that can later assist you in the graduate program

Industrial Engineering Graduate Programs All students (regardless of previous degree) must have a background in mathematics equivalent to M 171 (differential calculus) and M 172 (integral calculus), and must have some exposure to matrix algebra (or take M 221). Any doubt will be cleared by an evaluation from the Department of Mathematical Sciences. In addition, all students must have prior education in computing, including programming in at least one language (e.g., CSCI 111).

The following courses in industrial engineering basics are required for graduate students entering the industrial engineering master's program without a previous degree completed in Industrial Engineering.

EIND 313 Work Design and Analysis 3 EIND 325 Engineering Economy 3 EIND 354 Engineering Probability and Statistics I 3 EIND 364 Principles of Operations Research I 3 EIND 458 Production and Engineering Management 3

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Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programs All students (regardless of previous degree) must have a background in mathematics equivalent to M 171 (Calc I), M 172 (Calc II), M 273 (Multivariable Calc) and M 274 (Differential Equations), a background in physics equivalent to PHSX 220 (Physics I), PHSX 222 (Physics II), a background in Chemistry equivalent to CHMY 141 (Chem I) and a background in computer methods equivalent to EMEC 203

The following courses in mechanical engineering basics are required for graduate students entering the mechanical engineering master's program without a previous degree completed in Mechanical Engineering.

Engineering Science: *EGEN 201 (Statics), *EGEN 202 (Dynamics), EGEN 205 (Strength of Materials), EGEN 335 (Fluids), EMEC 320 (Thermo I), EMEC 326 (Heat Transfer) Materials: *EMAT 250 (Intro. Materials course) Engineering Design: EMEC 341 (Design of Machine Components), EGEN 310 (Intro. Engineering Design) Engineering Laboratory: *EMEC 360, *361 (Mechanical Engineering Laboratory) Depending on the previous undergraduate degree program, students may have already satisfied many of these requirements with other “equivalency” courses. i.e. students with a prior BS in Physics would not be required to take the courses with a *.

It may be possible to take some graduate courses while completing these undergraduate requirements.

2.3 GRADE REQUIREMENTS Graduate students are expected to be superior performers, and must maintain a cumulative average of B (3.0) or better overall courses listed on their graduate Program of Study (see below) in order to retain graduate standing. Provisional acceptance to the program that states a specific grade minimum may override this requirement. Only grades of C- or better will be counted toward the plan of study. Grades lower than C- mean the course must be repeated. However, if you receive a C- or lower in more than one course (including other required courses), you will be asked to explain to your graduate committee why you should be allowed to continue in the program. The student may be placed on probation at the discretion of the student's committee and/or the Graduate School. Continued poor performance will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.

2.3.1 Pass/Fail Courses or individual study projects (excluding thesis) taken on a pass/fail basis may not be used to meet minimum credit requirements of the graduate program, although, up to three credits may be included in the program of study. A grade of B- is taken as the threshold for pass/fail for other required courses taken on the pass/fail basis.

2.4 TRANSFER OF CREDITS The student may receive transfer credits (up to the limit allowed by the Graduate School:

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http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/policy/degreq_general.html#degreq_general_othercredits for courses completed at other accredited colleges or universities only if: (1) s/he was formally admitted to the Graduate College of the institution offering the course or was admissible to Montana State University when the course was taken, (2) the course was approved for graduate credit, (3) the student’s graduate committee determines which courses are applicable to the plan of study, (4) if the course was not used to satisfy B.S. requirement, and (5) you must receive a B or better in order to use transfer credits on a graduate program of study.. Transfer credits must be clearly identified on the plan of study for final approval by the Dean of Graduate Education.

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3 THE M.S. PROGRAMS Two Master’s of Science degree plans are offered in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department. Masters of Science Plan A (Thesis) leads to a research and design oriented degree requiring a 10-credit thesis. Masters of Science Plan B (Non-Thesis) requires only coursework, with the option of completing a professional paper/project – this plan is offered only in Industrial Engineering. Section 2.5 describes the course requirements for each plan. These plans included regular course offerings as well as individual study.

3.1 FORMULATING A MS GRADUATE PROGRAM OF STUDY

The Program of Study formalizes the student’s graduate committee and the courses to be taken for the degree. The coursework identified on the Program must meet all of the degree requirements, plus any additional requirements stipulated by the graduate committee or the conditions of provisional admission. In addition, the committee composition must conform to Graduate School regulations.1

Once a Program is approved, it can only be modified by filing the appropriate revision request (explained below). The Program is in essence a kind of contract between the student and the University; it says, “If you successfully complete these courses, and pass the examinations given by this committee, we will grant you the stated degree.” So the Program should be given careful consideration in its creation.

This program must be approved and filed by the end of the second semester of study.

3.1.1 Approval Process

The student should select an advisor (graduate committee) and file a Program of Study by the start of their second semester (see http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html and http://catalog.montana.edu/graduate/engineering/mechanical-industrial-engineering/).

To prepare the Program of Study, the student should meet with his/her advisor and decide (1) on the remaining membership of their graduate committee composition, and (2) the courses that will be taken to satisfy the requirements of the selected degree option

The Program of Study must then be approved by completing the required form, which is then circulated to the advisor and committee members for approval. Finally, the Program of Study must then be approved by the Department Head and Dean of the Graduate School. YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE WORKING TOWARD A DEGREE UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL HAS BEEN OBTAINED.

1 Faculty shall not enter into relationships with graduate students that may impose a conflict of interest with respect to thesis supervision, assignment of grades, or provision of examinations.

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3.1.2 Changes and Revisions From time to time, changes to the Program of Study become necessary or desirable. Changes must be discussed and approved by the student’s graduate committee before registering for classes not appearing on the graduate program. The student should present a memo to the committee clearly stating the requested change and reasons for the request. After obtaining approval from the committee, the student will complete the Graduate Program Change form (then http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html and submit for the appropriate approvals.

3.2 PLAN A – THESIS Plan A requires the student to research and write a Master’s thesis as a major component of the degree program. Thesis research may consist of making creative application of existing or new methods to substantive old or new problems (the most usual approach to a Master's thesis), or it may expand the body of knowledge in a particular area (a minimal requirement for a Ph.D. thesis). Since research may not follow a prescribed timetable, it may be necessary to extend your stay until it is completed (i.e., it’s difficult to say when you’ll be done).

3.2.1 Course Requirements The course requirements for each Plan A degree and the required credits as described below.

Mechanical Engineering

32 Credits total to include:

• EGEN 505: Advanced Engineering Analysis I (3 cr) • EGEN 506: Numerical Solutions to Engineering Problems (3 cr) • EM 525: Continuum Mechanics (3 cr) • EMEC594: Seminar (1 Cr)

Plus, 3 Graduate course credits outside the student's emphasis: Thesis: EMEC590 (10 Cr)

The remaining 9 credits must be 400 and 500-level courses. No pass/fail credits will be counted towards the degree.

Note: A maximum of 11 credits of 400-level courses can be applied to the Program of Study (i.e., a minimum of 2/3 of the total 33 credits must be at the 500-level or above). Any 4XX course used for the undergraduate degree or not reserved for the graduate degree is not allowed on the Program of Study. 100, 200, or 300-level courses are not eligible to be applied toward the MS degree.

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Industrial Engineering

Table 4 indicates the minimum credit requirements for Plan A. Note that EIND 590 (Thesis) is a restricted entry course. The student will obtain and complete for approval Form 4, Restricted Entry Request to Register for Graduate Research (available from MIE office), which is signed by the graduate committee chair and department head, before being permitted to register for thesis credits.

TABLE 4: CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAN A

IE Undergraduate

Degree Non-IE Undergraduate

Degree EIND 5xx2

Minimum 12 credits Minimum 12 credits EIND 4xx3

Maximum 9 credits Maximum 9 credits EIND 592 Non EIND 4xx/5xx EIND 590 (Thesis) 10 credits 10 credits Total 31 credits 31 credits

3.2.2 Thesis Proposal Plan A requires the student to research and write a Master’s thesis as a major component of the degree program. Whereas collaboration with the thesis supervisor and committee is part of the graduate research learning process, the student is expected to engage in a component of independent research defined as research question and methodology development, collection and analysis of data, and writing of the thesis report.4 In all cases, the thesis research must demonstrate an original (“something that has not been done, found, proved, or seen before”) and significant contribution (“something that is useful and will have an impact” in application or in the development of theory).5 As a good evaluation metric of originality and significance, consider if the expected results could be presented at a high quality conference in the domain area.

2 EIND 575 (Research or Professional Paper / Project) may not be used as part of the Plan A MS Degree. Similarly, any course similar to EIND 575 from other departments also may not be used as part of the Plan A MS Degree.

3 A maximum of three credits of EIND592 may be applied to a Plan A MS Degree. EIND592 cannot be substituted

for other 500 level requirements. Form 5, Request for Offering Graduate Individual Problems (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html must be completed by the student and approved by the department head along with the written proposal (developed with the advisor) before you will be permitted to register.

4 It is therefore important for research linked to faculty funded projects that the study develops some additional research question or dataset to demonstrate independence. Moreover, it is necessary for collaborative projects (multiple students) sharing some common content that each student produce a distinct and independent written theses while clearly acknowledging areas of shared effort and collaboration.

5 http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/writing/forms/Writing%20Theses%20and%20Dissertations.pdf

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A Thesis Proposal is required of all students choosing Plan A. The chair of your graduate committee will have explicit instructions and requirements for your proposal. It is your responsibility to determine the requirements of your chair and to get the consent of other committee members. As a minimum, you must provide a written proposal to your chair and committee to review and approve. In addition, your chair may also require that you make an oral presentation of your proposal to the committee. Once the thesis has been approved, obtain a memo from the chair of your graduate committee that indicates approval was made (and any stipulations) and take this memo to the MIE office to be placed in your student file. 3.2.3 Thesis Defense It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the format and delivery of the written thesis satisfies the requirements of the committee and the Graduate School http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html#forms_etd. Thesis writing manuals are available at the MSU Bookstore and additional assistance for all graduate students for writing skills is available through the MSU Writing Center.

Plan A candidates must “defend” their thesis as part of the comprehensive examination. A draft of the thesis must be submitted to the student’s graduate committee at least 7 business days before the examination, to allow time for reading by the graduate committee. At the thesis examination, the candidate will make an oral presentation on the thesis in a seminar format open to the public. This will be followed by a closed-examination where only committee members ask questions of the candidate on topics pertaining to the thesis.

The candidate must (1) schedule a minimum two-hour block of time at least 14 calendar days before the last day of classes of the final term for his or her presentation and comprehensive oral exam, (2) reserve a room and equipment, and (3) notify the committee. It is recommended that the candidate establish a personal review schedule beginning at least 90 days prior to the exam.

At the conclusion of the exam, each committee member will report a pass or fail evaluation of the candidate. Majority rule will determine the outcome. All members and the department head must sign the Graduate School examination form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html). The student’s advisor, as committee chair, is responsible to provide the appropriate form and submit it. A committee member may sign the examination form as a dissenter, in which case the Vice Provost of Graduate Education may request further information before acknowledging majority rule.

A failed examination may be repeated only once. At least 60 calendar days must elapse between the first and second examinations.

3.3 PLAN B - NON THESIS Mechanical Engineering: The Plan B option substitutes an archival journal submission paper (3-4 credits) and additional coursework in lieu of the 10 thesis credits. This option is reserved for students enroute to a Ph.D. Students seeking a non-thesis Master’s degree in mechanical engineering are able to pursue the Master of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Industrial Engineering: For many, the Master’s degree is their terminal degree, or represents a change in career path. In these cases thesis research is not necessary, and a larger breadth of

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coursework is often desirable. A Plan B in Industrial Engineering is offered to accommodate these students. Table 5 displays the minimum credit requirements for Plan B.

TABLE 5: CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAN B

IE Undergraduate

Degree

Non-IE Undergraduate

Degree EIND 5xx Minimum 21 credits Minimum 21 credits EIND 4xx6

Maximum 12 credits Maximum 12 credits EIND 592 Non EIND 4xx/5xx Total 33 credits 33 credits

In fulfilling the EIND 500 level requirements, students may elect to complete a maximum of six credits with a “Research or Professional Paper/Project” (EIND575). The student researches a problem of mutual interest to him/her and the supervising professor. The resulting paper or project report must demonstrate creativity and synthesis of engineering methodologies at the graduate level. The graduate committee chair is normally the student's advising professor for EIND575. However, another committee member can provide supervision, and for valid reasons the committee may be revised, naming that member as chair. The final paper/project report will be submitted to the advising professor for grading at the end of the semester. An oral defense of the project to the student’s committee may also be requested at the discretion of the supervising professor. Together with an advisor, the student will file a written proposal and a Form 4, Restricted Entry Request to Register for Graduate Research (available from MIE office), which is signed by the advisor, student graduate committee, and department head, before being permitted to register for EIND 575.

3.3.1 Switching Plans Switching plans will require adding and removing courses from the Program and Study, and may require revision of the committee (see Changes and Revisions under Program of Study below). Note that if a student switches from Plan A to Plan B, then thesis credits may be counted as EIND575 credits. However, if a student switches from Plan B to Plan A, then EIND575 credits will not be counted towards thesis credits (EIND590).

4 THE M. ENG PROGRAM

The Master of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering is a new effort where students can acquire a Master’s degree by taking 30 course credits. The program was designed for currently-

6 A maximum of three credits of EIND592 may be applied to a Plan B MS Degree. EIND592 cannot be used to satisfy the 500-level requirements. Form 5, Request for Offering Graduate Individual Problems (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html must be completed by the student and approved by the department head along with the written proposal (developed with the advisor) before you will be permitted to register.

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enrolled undergraduate students in an engineering discipline or people who want to continue their education post-graduation from an accredited engineering degree program.

In contrast to existing Master of Science which can lead to Ph.D. programs, the M. Eng. degree is the terminal degree for practicing professionals. This degree program will serve a recognized need for post-baccalaureate education for engineers and satisfy the proposed requirement for 30 credits post-graduation for professional licensure (P.E.).

4.1 PROGRAM DETAILS Two major curricular/program components distinguish the M. Eng. from the M.S. degree:

• No professional paper or thesis is required for the M. Eng:

M. Eng. students are likely to either be practicing engineers or continuing students who wish to acquire credits required for professional licensure. In the first case, the students have experience in practical engineering and the concepts involved in a capstone experience. In the latter case, all senior engineering students at Montana State University have completed a senior design project that is of the same depth as most professional papers, and this is also true of practically all accredited undergraduate engineering programs. Eliminating the thesis or professional paper requirement provides students the opportunity for more coursework in an area of interest.

• The M. Eng. has no comprehensive examination:

Because this is a courses-only degree that requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA, there will be no further proof of proficiency. This is consistent with similar programs across the country, where the intent is to provide education for practicing professionals.

Admission requirements will be equivalent to the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and align with the Division of Graduate Education’s general provisions, with the exception that the GRE is required for admission.

Students will be supervised by the Mechanical Engineering M.S. coordinator, not by a three- member committee typical for the M.S. degree.

4.2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 30 Credits total to include:

• EGEN 505: Advanced Engineering Analysis I (3 cr) • EGEN 506: Numerical Solutions to Engineering Problems (3 cr) • EM 525: Continuum Mechanics (3 cr)

Plus, a Mechanical Engineering course in each of the following areas: • Materials (3 cr) • Thermo/Fluids (3 cr) • Solid Mechanics (3 Cr)

The remaining courses must come be 400 and 500-level courses approved by the mechanical engineering M.S. coordinator. No pass/fail credits will be counted towards the degree.

In addition:

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• At least 18 of the total credits required for degree must be at 5xx level • 3xx and lower level courses are not allowed • 4xx level courses may be used • Courses with grades below C- cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements • Three credits (min.) registration required during term of graduation (1 credit with in

absentia graduation request on file) • A maximum of six credits of individual problems courses (592) are allowed

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5 THE Ph.D. PROGRAM The College of Engineering offers a Ph.D. in Engineering, and the following options are administered by the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department:

• Industrial Engineering • Mechanical Engineering

The MIE department administers the qualifier exam for the mechanical engineering option and the industrial engineering and most students in these options have a home in the Mechanical and Industrial engineering department. The program requirements for these two options are provided in detail here. The details for other options can be found on the COE website http://catalog.montana.edu/graduate/engineering/engineering-phd/. The PhD program is intended to prepare students for a research career in academia or industry.

Students in the Ph.D. program must identify an advisor as soon as possible after

acceptance into the program, and definitely by the end of the third semester. A request can be made to Graduate Studies to append the requirement for a one year probationary period (with the conditions specified by the identified advisor) to the admission letter for a PhD candidate.

5.1 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS To satisfy the requirements for the Ph.D. in Engineering, the student will take a minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree according to the table below.

For students entering with a Masters degree, up to 24 graded credits may be applied (see below). However, the EGEN 694 and ENGR 610 requirements and a minimum of 13 additional graded course credits must still be taken at Montana State University. Students have the option (with approval of the student’s graduate committee) of using some of their M.S. credits toward any of the course requirements listed below. Credits applied from a prior Masters degree must:

• be graded course credits (e.g., not M.S. thesis or independent study credits), • have a grade of B or higher (or equivalent), and

• be approved by the student’s graduate committee. ENGR694should be taken the semester prior to scheduling the comprehensive exams as this seminar class helps the student to prepare the written proposal for their comprehensive.

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Industrial Engineering The requirements for the IE Option of the Ph.D. in Engineering degree are summarized below:

Course(s) Requirement Credits

ENGR 610 Research and Methods in Engineering

3

ENGR 694 Seminar (Comprehensive Exam Preparation)

2

EGEN 505, EIND554, EIND557 Advanced Mathematics 3

EGEN 506, EIND 558, EIND509 Numerical Methods 3

EIND 5XX Courses 15 min.

EIND 4XX*, Other 4XX/5XX*, EIND 592 12-16

EIND 690 Dissertation 18 min.

Total 60 min. *The total number of 400-level course credits taken must comply with Graduate School policies.

EIND 490, EIND 492, EIND 499, EIND 575 and EIND 590 cannot be used towards the PhD course requirements. EIND 592 may be counted as an EIND 4XX level course. Double counting is not allowed; that is, each course can be applied only to fulfill one requirement. Other courses may qualify pending approval in writing from the student’s graduate committee.

Mechanical Engineering

ENGR610 Research and Methods in Engineering 3

ENGR694 Seminar (Comprehensive Exam Preparation) 2

EGEN 505 Advanced Engineering Analysis 3

EGEN 506 Numerical Sol to Engr Problems 3

EM 525 Continuum Mechanics 3

Thermo-fluids Mechanics 3

Solid Mechanics 3

Other Graded Courses 15

Dissertation 18

Additional Dissertation or Course Credits

7

Total 60

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A maximum of six credits of independent study EIND592 or EMEC592 may be applied to a PHD Degree. Independent study credits cannot be substituted for other 500 level requirements. Form 5, Request for Offering Graduate Individual Problems (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html) must be completed by the student and approved by the department head along with the written proposal (developed with the advisor) before you will be permitted to register. Students are expected to attend the NACOE Seminar Series presentations.

Note for Students Entering Without a Prior Degree in Engineering If a student enters the Ph.D. program without a prior degree in engineering from an accredited program and is interested in pursuing registration as a professional engineer, they should consult with their department head and major professor to determine what coursework and other requirements may need to be fulfilled for them to seek licensure. These requirements vary with discipline and the state where licensure is sought.

5.2 FORMULATING A PROGRAM OF STUDY

The Program of Study formalizes the student’s Doctoral Committee and the courses to be taken for the degree: http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html

The coursework identified on the Program must meet all of the degree requirements stated above plus any additional requirements of admission or of the Doctoral Committee. The student’s advisor will document in the student’s file how the program of study meets each degree requirement. Once a Program is approved, it can only be modified by filing the appropriate revision request (see Section 4.6.2).

5.2.1 Approval Process The approval process for the Program of Study begins with the student completing the required form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html) in consultation with the Doctoral Committee. This form is then circulated by the student for signature approval by the Doctoral Committee. Final approval is made by the Department Head and Dean of the Graduate School. The advisor should place a copy of the approved Program of Study with any supporting document in the Department file. YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE WORKING TOWARD A DEGREE UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL HAS BEEN OBTAINED.

The student must have an approved Program of Study on file by the end of their third semester.

5.2.2 Changes and Revisions From time to time, changes to the Program of Study become necessary or desirable. Changes must be discussed and approved by the graduate committee before registering for classes not appearing on the graduate program. The student should present a memo to the committee clearly stating the requested change and reasons for the request. After obtaining approval from the committee, student will complete the Graduate Program Change form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html) and submit for the

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appropriate approvals.

5.3 MATRICULATION The Ph.D. student is considered to have “matriculated” once all the requirements for full admission have been satisfied. Normally, this means successfully completing the “other required courses” (if any) as specified in the admission letter.

5.4 EXAMINATION REQUIREMNETS General information about forms required for completion of examinations can be found on The Graduate School’s website at http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html#forms_etd. Ph.D. candidates within the College of Engineering at Montana State University must pass a qualifying examination, a comprehensive examination, and a defense of dissertation.

5.5 QUALIFYING EXAMINATION The purpose of the qualifying examination is to determine whether the student has sufficiently mastered the core topics within their chosen area of study. It will be a written examination on undergraduate engineering topics determined by the student’s Ph.D. option area chosen by the student and administered by that option’s committee.

The qualifying examination will be completed within three semesters but typically within two semesters of matriculation into the Ph.D. program. Failure to take the examination in that time period may result in suspension of Ph.D. candidate status, including stipend.

If the student fails the exam the first time, a second opportunity shall be granted within 60 days of the first attempt but no less than two weeks following the first attempt. If the student fails the second attempt, the student shall be dropped from the program. The PhD Option coordinator will document the results of the examination in a letter to the student, and in the student’s file. Copies should be given to the student’s graduate committee and the graduate program coordinator as appropriate.

Mechanical Engineering Qualifying Examination: The exam will be administered on the second Tuesday in February of the Spring semester. The undergraduate Mechanical Engineering topics will include: Thermodynamics, Heat (energy) transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Structural Mechanics, Materials, Dynamics and Vibrations, and Mathematics. Students will solve problems in 4 of the 7 topic areas. The exam will be 5 hours duration in an open book, open notes format. Each problem set will be graded by the faculty member that submitted the set. The results will be analyzed by the Mechanical Engineering graduate studies committee, and each candidate will receive a grade of Pass (P), Fail (F) or Remediate (R). Students will not be given the test back in order to protect the questions from dissemination. In cases where remediation in certain topic areas is required, the Ph.D. advisor will develop a problem-solving-based plan with the Ph.D. candidate to prepare for a retest on the identified topic areas. The retest must occur prior to the next fall semester and will be overseen by the Ph.D. Advisor

Industrial Engineering Qualifying Examination: The exam will be administered on the second Tuesday in February of the Spring semester. Students will be examined on the following three Industrial Engineering topics: engineering probability & statistics (e.g. EIND 354), work design & analysis (e.g. EIND 313), and engineering economy (e.g. EIND 325). Additionally, students

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will choose from one of the following Industrial Engineering topics: principles of operations research (e.g. EIND 364), ergonomics and human factors engineering (e.g. EIND 413), or engineering management & ethics (EIND 300). The exam will be 5 hours duration in an open book, open notes format. Each problem set will be graded by the faculty member who most recently taught the course. The results will be analyzed by the Industrial Engineering Ph.D. Option Coordinator, and each candidate will receive a grade of Pass (P), Fail (F) or Remediate (R). Students will not be given the test back in order to protect the questions from dissemination. In cases where remediation in certain topic areas is required, the Ph.D. advisor will develop a problem-solving-based plan with the Ph.D. candidate to prepare for a retest on the identified topic areas. The retest must occur prior to the next fall semester and will be overseen by the Ph.D. Advisor.

5.6 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION The purpose of the Ph.D. comprehensive examination is to determine whether the student is ready for independent research in their chosen area of study. The comprehensive examination is administered by the student’s graduate committee (including the Graduate Representative assigned by The Graduate School), and must be completed within two years after passing the qualifying examination. It is also recommended that the student has taken 2/3 of their graded coursework. In addition, students should have completed EGEN 694 prior to taking the exam; the course is designed to assist the student in preparing their proposal.

The Ph.D. comprehensive examination is comprised of:

• A written proposal for the student’s Ph.D. dissertation, and • An oral presentation of the proposal and oral examination. The candidate will prepare a written proposal associated with the research topic for the Ph.D. dissertation, in a format designated by the Ph.D. Option. The successful proposal will include a significant literature review, preliminary research to date, and the research proposed to complete the Ph.D. The written proposal will be presented to the student’s graduate committee in advance of the oral presentation, by a date agreed to by the student and graduate committee.

The student will then present the dissertation proposal as a public research seminar that has been advertised to the College of Engineering. The public research seminar will include 40 minutes for the student’s presentation and 10 minutes for questions from the audience. This will be followed immediately by a closed-session oral examination by the student’s graduate committee on:

• the candidate’s current and proposed research; • the candidate’s graduate level understanding of option specific engineering principles; and • additional topics relevant to the proposed research, including fundamentals of other

disciplines drawn upon in the research. The candidate must (1) schedule a minimum two-hour block of time for his or her presentation and comprehensive oral exam, (2) reserve a room and equipment, (3) notify the committee.

The student’s graduate committee will inform the student of the results of the comprehensive

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examination immediately following the oral examination and committee deliberation, and will document the results on the appropriate form filed with The Graduate School.

At the conclusion of the exam, each committee member will report a pass or fail evaluation of the candidate. Majority rule will determine the outcome. The committee chair is responsible to report the results of the examination using the Report on Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html), signed by all committee members and the department head. A committee member may sign the examination form as a dissenter, in which case the Dean of the Graduate School may request further information before acknowledging majority rule.

A student not passing the comprehensive will have one opportunity to retake the comprehensive after a span of six months has passed. Failure to pass the examination on the second attempt is grounds for dismissal from the PhD program.

5.7 SELECTING AN ADVISOR As part of the application process, Ph.D. students often have an identified advisor before acceptance into the program, and must definitely have an advisor identified by the end of the third semester. During this process, the student should discuss (1) a mutually agreed dissertation topic that matches the advisor expertise and research resources, and (2) funding available to the student (e.g., GTA, GRA) and the term of commitment. An advisor may stipulate a probationary period for the first year until the student has demonstrated the necessary knowledge and skills to complete a dissertation and/or function as a GTA or GRA.

5.8 DOCTORAL COMMITTEE The advisor serves as the chair of the student’s Doctoral Committee. To prepare the Program of Study, the student should meet with his/her advisor and decide (1) on the remaining membership of their graduate committee composition, and (2) the courses that will be taken to satisfy the requirements.

The Doctoral Committee composition must conform to Graduate School regulations (i.e., a doctoral committee must have a least five members, with at least three from the major. The student chooses the first four members (subject to approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Education) and the Vice Provost of Graduate Education appoints the graduate representative. In addition, the committee must have a majority of members from MSU, one of whom serves as chair. Committee members not holding faculty status at MSU must submit documentation of their qualifications including a vita.

The Doctoral Committee advises the student on academic matters and is the examining committee for the comprehensive examination and dissertation defense. The comprehensive exam is a report and oral presentation of the dissertation proposal (see Section 4.7).

For a PhD thesis, the dissertation should show student independence in the development and implementation of the research as well as a higher standard of originality and significance to justify to publication in high-tier journals within the relevant field.

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5.9 DISSERTATION DEFENSE It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the format and delivery of the written thesis satisfies the requirements of the committee and the Graduate School (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html). Thesis writing manuals are available at the MSU Bookstore and additional assistance for all graduate students for writing skills is available through the MSU Writing Center.

The last day to defend a thesis if you plan to graduate during the same semester is on or before the fourteenth (14 th) business day prior to the end of the semester. At the dissertation defense, the candidate will make an oral presentation of the thesis in a seminar format open to the public. This will be followed by a closed-examination where only committee members ask questions of the candidate on topics pertaining to the dissertation. Questions may also cover coursework related to the candidate’s doctoral research. The candidate must (1) schedule a minimum two- hour block of time, (2) reserve a room and equipment, and (3) notify the committee. A draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the student’s graduate committee at least 10 business days before the defense to allow time for reading by the graduate committee.

The student and the academic department are responsible for submitting an announcement to the MSU calendar system; http://www.montana.edu/calendar containing the following information:

• The name of the candidate. • The title of the dissertation/professional project. • The time and place of the defense. • The location to obtain a copy of the dissertation/professional project for

inspection. At the conclusion of the defense, each committee member will report a pass or fail evaluation of the candidate. Majority rule will determine the outcome. A committee member may sign the examination form as a dissenter, in which case the Vice Provost of Graduate Education may request further information before acknowledging majority rule. The committee chair is responsible to report the results of the defense using the Report on Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense form (http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/forms.html) signed by all committee members and the department head. Written notification of the results within one week of the defense must be delivered to the Graduate School and the student.

If failure occurs at the first attempt, a second defense must be held. At least six months must elapse before the second examination takes place, with the time period not to exceed nine months. Failure of the second exam will result in suspension from the program.

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6 GRADUATE PROGRAM POLICIES

6.1 ACADEMIC HONESTY Graduate students are expected to hold the highest standards of academic honesty. Adhering to a few simple guidelines should sufficiently meet this expectation:

• Do your own work. Any work submitted with your name on it should be of your sole, original authorship.

• Do not collaborate with others unless authorized to do so. When you do collaborate, note with whom and to what extent.

• Reference all external sources of information (books, journal articles, websites, etc.). Learn how to do this properly if you do not know how.

• Gain proper authorization before using any departmental equipment or facilities.

All graduate students will conform to the MSU Student Conduct Code, and if violated, will be subject to the sanctions outlined therein. All students should be familiar with the MSU Student Conduct Guidelines, which can be found at: http://www.montana.edu/policy/student_conduct/.

6.2 LABORATORY USAGE The MIE department has the following labs available to graduate students. The lab supervisors are listed and their contact information can be obtained from the MIE office (Rob220). Students should contact the lab supervisors to obtain lab usage policies and determine access and availability.

Lab Name Lab Location and description Supervisor

Computer Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) Lab

BARNH 134 Bob Charlton

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Lab

BARNH 115 Durward Sobek

Decision Support Systems (DSS) Lab

ROBH 419 Bill Schell

Work Design (Ergonomics & Human Factors) Lab

ROBH 401 David Claudio

Measurements & Instrumentation Lab

ROBH 401 Robb Larson

Mechanical Design Lab BARNH 129 Keith Fisher

Ceramics Lab BARNH 248 Stephen Sofie

HVAC Lab BARNH 008E Kevin Amende

Cellular Mechanotransduction CBB 129 Ron June

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and Osteoarthritis Lab

Composites Manufacturing and Testing Labs

BARNH 130/BARNH 008C Doug Cairns/David Miller

Fluid Dynamics BARNH 009 Mark Owkes/Erick Johnson

Magnetic Resonance and Rheology Lab

COB 324 Sarah Codd

Machining Lab BARNH 136 Tom Jungst

Ragsdale Production Systems & Facilities Design Lab

ROBH 415 Durward Sobek

6.3 STUDENT OFFICES The Department has a number of graduate student offices. Normally, only students employed by the department (i.e., as a GTA, GRA, or grader) will be granted office space, but other students may acquire office space if any is left over. The staff in the MIE office ROB220 assign office space on a semester-by-semester basis. If you have office space needs, please contact the MIE office staff. If a student has desk space available elsewhere but needs desk space for offering office hours or for a few hours in between classes, then there is desk space that can be booked on an hourly basis each week, please see the MIE office staff

6.4 Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) The Department has a number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships available each year. A student’s advisor normally requests GTA support for continuing students.

Assignment:

A fulltime GTA will involve 19 hours of assigned work each week. The assigned work should allow adequate course study and preparation time so that GTAs have the ability to get up to speed on the course material before they have to grade assignments or tutor students. GTAs should expect to be assigned to no more than two separate courses. The GTA is offered with the understanding that the student will be working full-time towards the completion of a graduate degree, please see the external work policy for the department below.

Stipends and tuition

PhD students: $1500/month for ten months, , 6 credit tuition waiver per semester and fees. Additional credit tuition waivers can be requested from the MIE graduate program coordinator.

MS students: $1300/month for ten months, 6 credit tuition waiver per semester. Additional credit tuition waivers can be requested from the MIE graduate program coordinator.

NOTE: Tuition waivers can only be applied to credits that will be part of the graduate student’s Program of Study. All students MUST inform their advisor (GRAs) or the MIE Graduate

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Program Coordinator (GTAs) if they are planning to enroll for credits outside of their program of study. Students are responsible for arranging to pay for those additional credits themselves unless permission is obtained from their advisor (GRAs) or the MIE Graduate Program Coordinator (GTAs) for them to be covered another way.

6.5 EXTERNAL WORK POLICY Graduate students employed on a full-time full-year teaching or research assistantship administered by the department may not be involved in other paid employment outside the department unless prior signed approval is obtained from the department head and your main advisor outlining the agreement.

Consideration of Approval

Under certain conditions a student’s career development or research program may benefit from part-time involvement in outside professional activities closely related to their thesis work, or in other exceptional situations students may need to seek approval for compatible employment opportunities. In these cases approval may be considered only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1) The student’s advisor and department head are satisfied that the student will remain

on track to completion of the graduate program in a timely manner 2) the student will still be able to fulfill a full-time commitment to their teaching duties,

study and thesis work (ie: at least 40 hours per week) 3) the student will be available at the appropriate times in the week to perform the

activities necessary for their teaching duties, study and research activities. 4) The department head, advisor and student agree that compelling reasons exist for

consideration of approval In accordance with standard conflict of commitment policies, under no circumstance will approval be given for outside employment (either voluntary or paid) that exceeds either 20% of the student’s time, 1 day per week or 8 hours per week.

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APPENDIX I –Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Qualifying Examination

1. Student makes a request for a qualifying exam to their PhD Option Coordinator (ME and IE) at the start of the Spring semester in which the student intends to take the examination. This exam should occur before the end of the third semester after matriculation in the PHD degree program.

2. The PhD Option Coordinator solicits a 30 - 40 minute written undergraduate level exam for each of the topics

from the appropriate faculty members currently teaching related courses. Mechanical Engineering: Thermodynamics, Heat (energy) transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Structural Mechanics, Materials, Dynamics and Vibrations, and Mathematics OR Industrial Engineering: : work design and analysis (e.g. EIND 313), engineering economic analysis (e.g. EIND 325), probability and statistics (e.g. EIND 354), principles of operations research (e.g. EIND 364), and from the student-selected topic choice of principles of operations research (e.g. EIND 364), ergonomics and human factors engineering (e.g. EIND 413), or engineering management & ethics (EIND 300).

These exams may take any written format appropriate to the course such as essays, short answers, or problems (e.g., representative of final exams used in that course).

3. The exam will be open book (e.g., any texts, papers, course note) and exclude computers, cellphones, and

internet access. Students pick the exam up from the MIE office ROB220 at 9am and will be told the location of the exam at that time.

4. The total time to complete the qualifying examination is five hours. Students may use all or part of this time to

complete the examination. Individual course exams will not be timed.

5. The exam is typically held on the second Tuesday in February. However, if necessary, the PhD Option Coordinator will coordinate another common day in February for all students being examined in that semester.

6. After the exam, the PhD Option Coordinator distributes the student answers to the faculty members who wrote

the questions for evaluation. Each faculty member grades their questions and submits a pass/fail evaluation to the PhD Option Coordinator within one week of the schedule examination.

7. The PhD Option Coordinator then collates the evaluations to determine whether the student passed the exam.

The student must pass at least four of the topics. Each student will receive a final grade of Pass (P), Fail (F) or Remediate (R), but the student does not see the results for each individual topic. (P) A student must pass each of four topics with a grade of B or higher. (R) A student earned a grade of C or less in one topic, and must remediate that topic. (F) A student earned a grade of C or less in more than one topic.

8. The PhD Option Coordinator informs the student and his/her advisor in writing of the results of the examination

within two weeks of the time of examination. A copy of this letter is also placed in the student’sfile.

9. In cases where remediation in certain topic areas is required, the student’s Ph.D. advisor will develop a problem-solving-based plan with the Ph.D. student to prepare for a retest on the identified topic areas. The retest must occur prior to the next fall semester and will be overseen by the Ph.D. Advisor.