WPI’s groundbreaking and comprehensive mechanical engineering program has been leading the industry for more than 150 years. As a student in the online Mechanical Engineering masters, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to push the boundaries of analysis, design, and manufacturing as you customize a program that leverages your professional expertise in mechanical engineering and meets career and lifestyle goals.
Students can earn their online master's degree in mechanical engineering in only two years. Working closely with their faculty advisors, will develop a customized and relevant plan of study for the MS in Mechanical Engineering online program, allowing them to:
- Perform detailed stress analysis to create designs that are both structurally robust and cost-effective
- Select materials to maximize functionality and performance while minimizing costs
- Model the kinematics and dynamics of complex multi-axial mechanical systems for more efficient and reliable designs
- Execute advanced analyses of fluid dynamics to improve process efficiency and properly size the components of a fluid system.
- Produce designs which are optimized for manufacturing so that they can be made more quickly at lower cost
Also available online: Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders (METL) Graduate Certificate. Take your managerial and technical skills to another level with our graduate certificate. This program is perfect for engineers looking to advance into leadership roles.
If you prefer to complete your master’s in mechanical engineering on campus, we invite you to explore our campus MS program. Our on-campus mechanical engineering masters enables students to connect with expert faculty and like-minded students.
This program is also available on campus
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What our students have to say
"The WPI online graduate program allowed me to pursue my career goals while working on a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. During my 5th year of a BS/MS program I was offered an internship opportunity at Apple that I couldn't refuse. The online graduate program allowed me to continue working on my degree, while providing an environment that made me feel as though I hadn't left the classroom. Participating remotely on a project team for SYS 501. Core Concepts of Systems Engineering, taught me how to be an effective member of an internationally distributed project team. "
Brad Mello
Senior Field Applications Engineer, Veo Robotics
Waltham, MA
"I’m more than halfway through the mechanical engineering graduate program at WPI and I’ve already seen an increase in my responsibilities at work and earned a job promotion… WPI is flexible and it’s been very worthwhile. I only wish I had started earlier."
Jim Daniel
Flow Engineer, ALDEN
"The WPI name speaks for itself and pursuing a graduate degree here has given me a competitive edge over other engineers….WPI has certainly led me down the path of career success with my employer."
John Courtney
Manufacturing Engineer
Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Massachusetts
"The WPI online graduate program allowed me to pursue my career goals while working on a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. During my 5th year of a BS/MS program I was offered an internship opportunity at Apple that I couldn't refuse. The online graduate program allowed me to continue working on my degree, while providing an environment that made me feel as though I hadn't left the classroom. Participating remotely on a project team for SYS 501. Core Concepts of Systems Engineering, taught me how to be an effective member of an internationally distributed project team. "
Brad Mello
Senior Field Applications Engineer, Veo Robotics
Waltham, MA
"I’m more than halfway through the mechanical engineering graduate program at WPI and I’ve already seen an increase in my responsibilities at work and earned a job promotion… WPI is flexible and it’s been very worthwhile. I only wish I had started earlier."
Jim Daniel
Flow Engineer, ALDEN
"The WPI name speaks for itself and pursuing a graduate degree here has given me a competitive edge over other engineers….WPI has certainly led me down the path of career success with my employer."
John Courtney
Manufacturing Engineer
Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Massachusetts
"The WPI online graduate program allowed me to pursue my career goals while working on a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. During my 5th year of a BS/MS program I was offered an internship opportunity at Apple that I couldn't refuse. The online graduate program allowed me to continue working on my degree, while providing an environment that made me feel as though I hadn't left the classroom. Participating remotely on a project team for SYS 501. Core Concepts of Systems Engineering, taught me how to be an effective member of an internationally distributed project team. "
Brad Mello
Senior Field Applications Engineer, Veo Robotics
Waltham, MA
Admissions Qualifications for MS in Mechanical Engineering Online
Applicants to the MS in Mechanical Engineering online should have a BS in mechanical engineering or a related field, such as other engineering disciplines, physics, or mathematics. Major GPA greater than 3.0 is preferred. Test scores, and other required application documents, can be found here.
For specific application requirements, visit application requirements page.
If you need to obtain your bachelor's first, check out WPI's BS in Mechanical Engineering.
Curriculum
Program Requirements
The online Master's in Mechanical Engineering is a non-thesis degree with a minimum of 30 credit hours, including:
- 18 graduate credits in mechanical engineering
- 3 graduate credits in mathematics
- 9 graduate credits of electives within or outside of mechanical engineering
Thesis option: Currently, WPI’s online graduate programs do not offer a thesis option, as theses cannot be completed online.
Courses
ME 500. Applied Analytical Methods in Engineering
ME 5001. Applied Numerical Methods in Engineering
ME 501. Robot Dynamics
ME 514. Fluid Dynamics
ME 516. Heat Transfer
ME 5202. Advanced Dynamics
ME 5205. Biomedical Robotics
ME 521. Legged Robotics
ME 5225. Fiber Optical Sensors
ME 5303. Applied Finite Element Methods in Engineering
ME 5311. Structures and Properties of Engineering Materials
ME 5312. Properties and Performance of Engineering Materials
ME 5332. X-Ray Diffraction and Crystallography
ME 5356. Smart Materials
ME 5358. Plastics
ME 5359. Biomedical Materials
ME 5371. Fundamentals of Surface Metrology
ME 5380. Foundations of Elasticity
ME 5381. Applied Elasticity
ME 5420. Fundamentals of Axiomatic Design of Manufacturing Processes
ME 5431. Computer Integrated Manufacturing
ME 5441. Design for Manufacturability
ME 593. ST: Design and Optimization of Thermal Systems
ME 593. ST: Printed Electronics and Sensors
To find the next offering of online Mechanical Engineering courses, visit the Registrar’s site.
To view a course description, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Subject to change based on availability.
Take a Course
Not sure if online learning works for you? Try a course to see if this program delivery is right for you.
Have questions?
WPI's dedicated graduate student support team can help.
From on-site recruiting events to live and on-demand webinars, learn more and stay connected with WPI’s Graduate & Professional Studies.
After Graduation
Graduates find opportunities in the manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services industries, as well as in government and academia. Alumni of WPI’s Mechanical Engineering program work for GE Aircraft Engines, Keurig, Wyman-Gordon Company, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Bose Corporation, Sikorsky, and more.
The Mechanical Engineering Department is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
