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USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
(Computational Fluid & Solid Mechanics)

Master of Science
Program Description Course Descriptions
Application Criteria How to Apply
Graduation Requirements Contact Information


Program Description [back to top]

The current design practice in aerospace and mechanical engineering relies on a number of numerical tools to simulate structures, heat transfer, and fluid flows (e.g., NASTRAN, FLUENT, etc.) as well as mathematical packages for analyzing data (e.g., MAPLE, MATLAB, etc.). Similarly, the availability of advanced computers has resulted in the development of new approaches in research where the computational techniques are used to explain and predict fundamental physical phenomena important in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

In an environment of a typical large aerospace company, usually different engineers specializing in one of the core areas (structures, fluids, heat transfer, combustion) will handle different aspects of designing a product before their inputs are combined. The students graduating from the USC M.S. in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics) program will be prepared to:
  • Interact with engineers across all core disciplines because the program prepares them in both solid and fluid mechanics; this also offers greater flexibility in job placement and advancement within a company.

  • Pursue higher degrees (Engineer and Ph.D.) in areas of computational mechanics and heat transfer
The coursework in the Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics Program (CFSM) is designed to provide a necessary background in the core aerospace and mechanical engineering disciplines (solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer), the engineering mathematics, and the numerical techniques employed by computational packages and practical examples of their use.



Application Criteria [back to top]


  • B.S. degree in engineering, math, or hard science from a regionally-accredited university

  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

  • Satisfactory scores on the general portion of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) with a minimum score of 650 on the quantitative portion and 350 on the verbal portion

  • Two Letters of Recommendation (optional)

  • Statement of Purpose

  • For international students whose first language is not English, in order to be excused from the mandatory International Standard English (ISE) placement exam, applicants must score at least:
    • 250 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL
    • 600 or higher on the paper-based TOEFL
    • 100 or higher on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) with no less than 20 on each of the four individual sections

 


Graduation Requirements [back to top]

A minimum of 27 units is required for the M.S. in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid & Solid Mechanics) degree:


  • Required core courses (24 units)

  • Technical elective (3 units)

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation
Note: One core class requirement may be waived at the discretion of a faculty advisor if a student documents that he or she completed or is enrolled in an equivalent course. The waived class must be replaced by a technical elective. Credit for one course of not more than 4 units from another accredited institution may be approved by a faculty advisor.

Thesis Option: With the approval of a supervising professor, qualified students may be allowed to pursue a thesis option. For more information, please refer to the USC Catalogue.


Course Descriptions [back to top]

Required Core Courses (24 units)
Students can choose either AME 509 or CE 507 and either AME 535b or CE 551.

Course Units
  • AME404 - Mechanical Engineering Problems
    		• 3
  • AME509 - Applied Elasticity
    		• 3
  • AME525 - Engineering Analysis
    		• 3
  • AME526 - Engineering Analytical Methods
    		• 3
  • AME530a - Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids
    		• 3
  • AME535a - Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics
    		• 3
  • AME535b - Advanced Computational Fluid Mechanics
    		• 3
  • CE507 - Mechanics of Solids I
    		• 3
  • CE529a - Finite Element Analysis
    		• 3
  • CE551 - Computer Aided Engineering
    		• 3


    Technical Electives (3 units)

    Course Units
  • AME511 - Compressible Gas Dynamics
    		• 3
  • AME516 - Convection Processes
    		• 3
  • AME599 - Special Topics
    		• 3
  • CE529b - Finite Element Analysis
    		• 3
  • CE541a - Dynamics of Structures
    		• 3
  • CE542 - Theory of Plates
    		• 3


    Please note that the courses listed above are those available via DEN. Additional course choices are available on campus. Please consult the department website for a complete list of options.

    How To Apply [back to top]

    In order to evaluate any application for admission, application materials must be submitted by the deadlines listed:


    June 1st Fall admission
    October 1st Spring admission
    February 15th Summer admission

    Please submit the following to the USC Office of Graduate Admission via the online application system by clicking here.

    • Statement of Purpose
      • The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

    • Two Letters of Recommendation (optional)
      • Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. They should be written on official letterhead.

    Please arrange to have the following sent to the USC Office of Admission as a hard copy (USC Graduate Office of Admission, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA  90089-0915):

    • Official Transcript(s) from all post-secondary schools you have attended, and official translations if they are not in English.

    • General GRE scores (no older than 5 years). Official scores must be sent through ETS to the University of Southern California, ETS code 4852)

    • TOEFL scores (required for international students)


    NOTE:  If you meet our minimum qualifications, you can get started BEFORE you are formally admitted to USC, as a "LIMITED" student! Click here for more information.


    Contact Information [back to top]

    For the USC Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Department:

    Samantha Graves
    Student Services Advisor
    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
    Tel: 213-740-1735
    Fax: 213-740-7774

    Email: smgraves@usc.edu



    Faculty Contacts:

    Professor J.A. Domaradzki
    Tel: (213) 740-5357
    Fax: (213) 740-7774
    Email: jad@usc.edu

    Professor M. Dravinski
    Tel: (213) 740-0493
    Fax: (213) 740-8071
    Email: mdravins@usc.edu


    For the USC Distance Education Network (DEN):

    Ray Fujioka
    Master's and Professional Programs [MAPP]
    Tel: (213) 740-4488
    Fax: (213) 821-0851
    Email: info@den.usc.edu
     
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