When you're starting up the ladder in industry, a Master's Degree can be a big boost to your career. But who has the time? With a Professional Master's from Purdue University Mechanical Engineering, you can get a world-class education in your engineering focus area in just 1-2 years, sharpen your professional management skills, and join a network of more than 100,000 Boilermaker engineers around the world!
This full-time on-campus program from Purdue Mechanical Engineering blends 21 credits of technical specialties with 9 credits of management and professional development classes. It's perfect for:
- current undergrads who want a graduate degree, but still want to jump into industry quickly
- international students, who want the chance to work in a STEM field in the US
- busy professionals, who want specialized expertise to advance in their careers
How Does It Work?
Completion of the Professional Master's Program typically takes one to two years. While this is an on-campus program, up to 25% of your classes can be completed online, when available. Graduates receive an MSME (Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering). No thesis is involved, and it does not provide a path to a doctoral degree. Students are ineligible for teaching/research/graduate assistantships or fellowships that provide tuition remission.
You will take a total of 30 credit hours to complete the degree:
- 3 credit hours of applied math class
- 9 credit hours of professional development classes
- 12 credit hours of mechanical engineering classes
- 6 credit hours of technical electives
1. Core Courses in Applied Mathematics
Choose 3 credit hours of applied math course from these options:
MA 51100 - Linear Algebra
MA 52700 - Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Physicists I
MA 52800 - Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Physicists II
ME 58000 – Nonlinear Engineering Systems
ME 58100 - Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering
STAT 51100 - Statistical Methods
STAT 51200 - Applied Regression Analysis
STAT 51400 - Design of Experiments
STAT 52200 – Sampling & Survey Techniques
2. Core Courses in Professional Development
Choose 9 credit hours of professional development courses from these options:
AAE 59000 - Space Law Lab (1 cr)
ABE 62600 - Life of A Faculty Entrepreneur: Discovery, Delivery, Translation (Understand Technology Commercialization)
AGEC 52500 - Environmental Policy Analysis
ASEC 54800 - Communicating Science to the Public (1 cr)
ASEC 55100 - International Engagement and Development Strategies (8-week, online)
ASEC 58500 - Science Communication
BME 56400 - Ethical Engineering of Medical Technologies
CE 52400 - Legal Aspects in Engineering Practice
CE 52100 - Construction Business Management
CEM 59700 - High Tech Entrepreneurship
ECE 69500 - Communication for Engineering Leaders (1 cr)
ENE 55400 – Globalization and Engineering
ENE 59500 - Exploring Alternative Career Paths as an Engineering Educator
ENGL 51500 – Advanced Professional Writing
ENGL 60411 – Writing Proposals and Grants
ENGL 60511 – Editing and Publishing
ENTR 50000 - Technology Realization Program/Commercialization/Entrepreneurship (2 crs)
IE 55800 - Safety Engineering
IE 59000 - Project Management (only one project management course can be used in the plan of study)
ME 55400 - Intellectual Property for Engineers (1 cr)
MGMT 56200 – Project Management (2 crs) (only one project management course can be used in the plan of study)
MGMT 60000 - Accounting for Managers
MGMT 61000 - Financial Marketing
MGMT 62000 - Marketing Management
MGMT 65000 - Strategic Management I
MGMT 66000 - Operations Management
MGMT 67000 - Business Analytics
MGMT 68800 - Development of Global Business Strategy (2 crs)
MGMT 69000 - Change Management (2 crs)
MSE 53500 – Lean Manufacturing of Materials (taken after Summer 2023)
MSE 57400 - Sports (previously MSE 597 Sports Technology & Entrepreneurship)
NUR 69060 - Innovative Care and Innovations in Healthcare Delivery
3. Mechanical Engineering Classes
Choose 12 credit hours of mechanical engineering courses from this list. Please note that the "research interests" listed are just a guide; you are allowed to take any ME classes you want. You can select courses across areas, or stick to one area to get in-depth knowledge.
4. Technical Electives
You need to take 6 credit hours of technical elective courses. They must be technical and quantitative in content. These can be:
- graduate-level lecture-based engineering courses from ME
- approved courses from outside ME
You may also choose to conduct up to two research projects with a Purdue ME professor. It is your responsibility to find a ME professor that will oversee your independent study research project. Independent study projects are not automatically established in the semester course listing. Each research project can be counted for 3 credit hours.
ME59700 (3 credit hours) - Independent Study (Research Project)
Please see https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME/Graduate/OnCampus/Register for instructions on how to register for an independent study research project.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it a STEM program? Are international students eligible for CPT/OPT?
Professional Masters is a STEM program within the School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering. International students are eligible for applying CPT/OPT.
2. What degree will be awarded to Professional Masters students?
Professional Masters students will get the same Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree as MS thesis students.
3. What are differences between Professional Masters and traditional non-thesis program?
Students in both programs are on MS non-thesis track and need to complete 30 credit hours of coursework to be able to graduate. However, Professional Masters students have to take courses in professional development area. Professional Masters students will not get TA/RA funding support.
4. Can I defer admission?
Yes, students are allowed to defer admission once and up to 1 year from originally admitted term. You just need to accept admission and then send an email request to Xiaomin Qian to indicate which semester you’d like to start. Deferral request should be sent to us at least 1 week before your originally admitted semester starts.
5. Are there co-op or summer internship opportunities?
The College of Engineering has a co-op office to help connect students with industry and find co-op opportunities. Students are encouraged to apply for industrial internships. Please see the Internships, Co-Ops, and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) page for instructions on how to start the registration process once you receive an internship/co-op offer letter.
6. Do I have to take online courses?
No, you don’t have to take online courses. Professional Masters is on-campus program and all courses are available on campus. We do allow students to take up to 25% of their courses in a residential online section, and this can be helpful when on an internship. Please note: International students can take no more than 3 credit hours of a residential online course in a semester.
7. What is the length of the program?
Students usually can complete the program in 1 to 2 years. For international students, the I-20 is valid for 2 years.
8. Can I switch to MS thesis program?
The possibility for you to find a thesis advisor and switch to the thesis program is very low. We don’t encourage students who prefer research track to enroll in Professional Masters.
9. What is Professional Master’s tuition rate?
Please see the Bursar’s website for details.
10.Can I apply for PhD study after completing Professional Masters?
It is expected that students in Professional Masters will be on a career path of technical and engineering leadership, not in academia. Lacking research experience makes your PhD application less competitive.
Start here!
Apply online today! Make sure you select "Professional Masters in Mechanical Engineering."
Have any questions? Contact us!
ME Graduate Office
516 Northwestern Ave. (4th floor of Wang Hall)
West Lafayette, IN 47906
MEgradoffice@purdue.edu
(765) 494-5730
Virtual office hours available every Tues/Wed/Thurs