Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.

The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University offers a Ph.D. and an M.S. in mechanical engineering designed to prepare students to address emerging challenges in the field. The curriculum integrates foundational mechanical engineering principles with current industry trends and immersive, experiential learning opportunities.

Students develop a strong technical foundation while engaging in cross-disciplinary collaboration. This approach prepares graduates to be effective problem solvers, ethical innovators and leaders who understand the broader environmental and societal impacts of engineering decisions.

Admission Requirements

Begin your application for this program at https://gradapply.slu.edu/apply/.

Most admitted students meet the following criteria:

• A four-year B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related engineering and science disciplines
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.
  • A GPA below 2.75 will automatically disqualify the applicant from consideration, while a GPA of 2.75 - 3.00 will require a detailed review by the Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Department and does not guarantee acceptance.

Application Requirements

• Application form

• Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended.

• Three letters of recommendation (preferably from recent instructors)

• Résumé or curriculum vitae

• Professional goal statement. The statement should clearly indicate students’ interest in Mechanical Engineering, identify professional/research goals, and describe students’ anticipated contributions to SLU.

Requirements for International Students

Along with the general admission requirements above, the following must be provided by prospective international students:

• Demonstration of English Language Proficiency (https://www.slu.edu/admission/international/english-proficiency.php)

• Proof of financial support that must include:

• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University.

• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University.

• Academic records, in English translation, for postsecondary studies outside the United States. These must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted. Both semester-wise as well as consolidated transcripts should be submitted.

Review Process

All applicants are admitted based on their research interests and openings in the research group. In cases where students come from a non-Mechanical Engineering background, the applications will be sent to the Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering department to review and determine fit and/or pre-requisite/concurrent classes that the applicant would need to take to qualify for the PhD program. Such applicants may receive provisional admission.

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1. Apply advanced mathematical and scientific principles, and computational and modeling tools to solve mechanical engineering problems.
2. Communicate complex technical information effectively.
3. Demonstrate a deep and integrated understanding of foundational and advanced principles in a specialized sub-discipline of mechanical engineering.
4. Conduct original and significant research that generates new knowledge and advances the theory or practice of mechanical engineering, contributing to the body of scholarly literature in the field.

All coursework must be completed with minimum grade of B. 

Non-Course Requirements

Graduate Seminar

The Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Department offers a Graduate/Research seminar each fall and spring semester. Graduate students are required to attend two semesters of seminar. Students are permitted to miss at most three seminar sessions each semester.

Additional Non Course Requirements

• Completion of qualifying exam
• Completion of written research proposal
• Completion of oral defense of research proposal
• Completion of written dissertation
• A public oral presentation and a private oral examination

Additional Academic Requirements

Saint Louis University has graduation requirements for all degree-seeking students. Students are responsible for understanding these Graduation Requirements. 

Academic Standing

Saint Louis University has undergraduate and graduate standards regarding a student's Academic Standing. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Standing policy. 

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

For more information about any School of Science and Engineering graduate program, email ssegrad-admissions@slu.edu.