Graduate Program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Certificate Programs

The Graduate Program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering participates in two certificate programs offered by Rutgers University.

Certificate in Engineering Geophysics
Engineering geophysics is a new field which applies geophysics to engineering with reference to a broad spectrum of societal and industrial environmental problems. The certificate program offers students the opportunity to broaden and strengthen their backgrounds with emphasis on environmental applications by taking selected courses from graduate programs in engineering, geological sciences, and oceanography, in conjunction with existing M.S. and Ph.D. Programs.

For MAE students, the program can provide training in geophysical methods and a geological and marine context for engineering applications. This multidisciplinary training can provide a competitive edge in research and in the job market.

MAE graduate students who participate in this certificate program must, as part of the courses that count toward their degree, take three courses in the participating graduate programs outside MAE, including at least one course in geophysics. These courses are selected by the student and the graduate director, in consultation with the director of the certificate program, Prof. Peter Rona.

More information is available from the Engineering Geophysics web site.

Operations Research Option in Design Optimization
Operations Research (OR) is an interdisciplinary science, based on the use of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and economics for the analysis and solution of problems in business, industry, government, etc. Mechanical and aerospace engineers frequently rely on OR to analyze complex real-world problems, their formulation as mathematical models, development of mathematical and statistical methodologies for the solution of such models, as well as development of computer algorithms and software for the determination of optimal solutions.

The Operations Research Option is a program through RUTCOR (Rutgers Center for Operations Research) aimed at introducing MAE graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D) to the basic methodologies and applications of operations research, and preparing them for work on the practical and theoretical aspects of OR.

Requirements of the Option in OR are:

1) Completion of all MAE requirements,

2) Two required courses:

3) Plus, two courses from the following list: These courses can be counted towards the program of study of the student leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. It is anticipated, but not required, that the M.S. Thesis Committee or the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee have one member from RUTCOR. A student graduating with an M.S. or Ph.D. in MAE and an Option in OR will receive a Certificate signifying that he or she has completed a prescribed course of study in Operations Research as Applied to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Note: The Option in OR is different than receiveing a minor in Operations Research. For more information on a minor in Operations Research click here.

Rutgers Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program Home Page