PhD Engineering – Mechanics & Materials Emphasis

Many new technology developments involve new materials with different properties than would be considered “typical.” This program provides the student with insight into methods for analyzing new materials and systems, and how they can be used to solve new and pressing issues.

Admission to the Emphasis

Program of Study

Requirements for the Ph.D. in Engineering with Emphasis in Mechanics and Materials further expand on those of the Ph.D in Engineering. These include a minimum of 72 credit hours in the student’s program of study beyond the B.S. degree. A thesis master’s degree from an approved university may be accepted for up to 30 credits hours, in which case a minimum of 42 credit hours of approved course work, research and dissertation beyond the M.S. degree would be required as follows:

  • A minimum of 16 semester hours of coursework, which must include
    • At least 15 hours of 8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research, dissertation writing, and directed study of which 9 hours must be selected from the Mechanics and Materials Course List (below).
    • 1 hour of Graduate Seminar ENGR 8950*
  • A minimum of 23 Doctoral Research hours (Doctoral research (9000) or Doctoral project-focused research (9010)) for students with an M.S. **
  • The Program of Study must include 3 hours of ENGR 9300 Doctoral Dissertation.

* Only 3 hours of Graduate Seminar may apply on the Ph.D. Program of Study. Students are strongly encouraged to continue regular attendance of speaker series presentations even if not formally registered in the seminar.

** A typical student’s total research hours will exceed these minimums.

As a requirement of the Ph.D. Engineering with an Emphasis in Mechanics and Materials, students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours selected from the Mechanics and Materials Course List below. Students work with their graduate advisor to select the most appropriate coursework to ensure breadth of understanding as well as mastery of knowledge in a specific subject area. In addition to completing 9 credit hours selected from the list below, students may work with their graduate advisor to develop an interdisciplinary plan of coursework drawing from the extensive graduate course offerings available at UGA.

Mechanics and Materials Emphasis Course List

  • BIOE 8210, Multiscale Biomechanics (3 credit hours)
  • BIOE 8490, Advanced Biomaterials (3 credit hours)
  • CVLE(MCHE) 8160, Advanced Fluid Mechanics (3 credit hours)
  • CVLE(MCHE) 8350, Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • CVLE(MCHE) 8640, Advanced Strength of Materials (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8130 Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8180 Advanced Mass Transfer (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8220, Microfluidic Transport Phenomena (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8270 Computational Nanomechanics (3 credit hours)
  • INFO 8750, Advance Programming for Data Mining (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8130, Statistical Learning and Data Mining in Engineering (3 credit hours)
  • ENGR 8910, Foundations for Engineering Research (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8170, Advanced Heat Transfer (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8250, Combustion Science (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8380, Continuum Mechanics (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8500, Technical Foundations of Energy for Policy Practitioners (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8650, Aerosol Science and Engineering (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8710 Engineering Properties of Animal and Plant Materials: Form and Function (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8850, Gas Dynamics (3 credit hours)
  • MCHE 8970, Combustion Science (3 credit hours)
  • PHYS 8601, Computer Simulation Methods in Physics (3 credit hours)
  • PHYS 8602 Computer Simulations of Materials (3 credit hours)


Join a cutting-edge engineering program at a time-honored university

Apply Today Make A Gift