Ph.D. in ME Program
Ph.D. in ME Program
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering Program
The Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering is a terminal degree program specifically designed to meet the changing needs of researchers, scholars, and scientists in academia, industry, and the government. The primary goal of this program is therefore to prepare students for careers in research and/or academics by providing an environment that closely reflects the realities and expectations encountered by today’s academicians, professional scientists, and research engineers. The program offers a highly flexible inter- and multi-disciplinary curricular structure, allowing specialization in any (or multiple) of the traditional or emerging areas of Mechanical Engineering. Graduates emerge with a strong foundation in research methodologies, technical expertise, and the ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, making them valuable assets to academic institutions, industry organizations, and government agencies.
For details about the program requirements see link:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Current Students
What information do I need to provide when contacting an instructor or graduate program coordinator?
Please always provide the following information:
- Banner ID
- In what semester of studies are you currently enrolled in? (e.g., is this your first, or fourth semester etc.)
- Full course name, number, and CRN
- Describe your problem in sufficient details
- Attach history of previous conversations/emails if relevant
Can I take a graduate level course at Rowan if I already took the same undergraduate level course that was offered as 400/500 level? (Applies to Rowan graduates.)
No, in general you cannot take the same course, unless there has been a significant change in the course content. If so, a student must provide a written approval and justification from the instructor that the student send via email to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
How do I choose my PhD committee members?
You need to propose and discuss the selection of your committee members with your research advisor(s). They must approve it, before you can proceed with asking them to serve on the committee.
How many Ph.D. committee members do I need?
You need to have at least 3 internal committee members and 1-2 external members. Your research advisor and 2 or more ME faculties will form an internal committee. It is up to you and your research advisor to determine the external committee members (from other departments, industry, etc).
How many PhD committee members do I need if I have two research advisors?
In that case you should have at least 5 committee members in total. Both of your research advisor and 3 or more internal committee members (ME faculty). It is up to you and your research advisors to determine the external committee members (from other departments, industry, etc).
What should I do if the course I am trying to register for is full?
You can contact the instructor and ask if there is some additional availability and request a capacity waiver. However, all classes have a maximum seat capacity and instructors cannot accommodate aHowever, all classes have a maximum seat capacity and instructors cannot accommodate any requests beyond a certain point. Note that it is up to the discretion of the instructor to decide based on the provided (strong) argument from the student, whether the request can be accommodated. If approved, the instructor will provide a capacity override that will allow you to register (assuming you have all prerequisites). Note that the Graduate Program Coordinator cannot provide you a capacity override.
Can I contact the Graduate Program Coordinator/Chair if the course I am trying to register for is at full capacity?
No, in most cases the Graduate program Coordinator will not be able to assist you.You must address this question to the instructor directly (see question above).
Can a Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) create a schedule for me due to my special circumstances (e.g., commute, etc)?
No, GPC can only help you with specific questions you may have; they cannot create an individualized schedule for you.
How can I plan for my course schedule?
To help you with the course planning, we suggest a few things.
- Please look at Section Tally for all graduate-level courses available in the upcoming semester. It is available at the following link:
https://sites.rowan.edu/registrar/services-resources/section-tally-info.html - Search for the desired semester. Check attributes as specified in the attached image. Please use both ENGR and MECH and choose Attribute GRAD as shown below.
- If you need to search for the previous semesters, you can use the old Section Tally. See below.
Where can I obtain a Certificate of Enrollment document (for visa renewal purposes)?
Certificate is issued by the Rowan’s Registrar Office.
Where can I find information about the tuition and fees for graduate courses?
Link: https://sites.rowan.edu/bursar/
Office of the Bursar Home
=> Tuition & Fees
=> Tuition and Fees for 202X-2X
=> Graduate Tuition and Fees for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
=> Glassboro Campus Programs
Please check the following link for Academic Year 2025-26: https://sites.rowan.edu/bursar/tuitionfees/2025-26-tuition-and-fees/
How can I register for my courses?
Please prepare a plan for the course you intend to take with your research advisor. Once you both agree on the selection, you can look up at Section Tally and identify CRNs of those courses for registration purposes. Then, go to the “Student” tab of Self-Service Banner and select Registration > Register for Classes > Select Term > Enter CRN > Add to Summary > Submit.
Where can I find the course registration deadline?
Course registration deadline can be found in this following link: https://sites.rowan.edu/registrar/registration-information/registration-dates.html
What are the processes I need to follow to get my payment as a Graduate Fellow or Graduate Research assistant?
Please contact Susanne Ferrin, Graduate Fellowship Advisor of Dean’s Office, who is in charge of contracts for Fellows. Her email address is ferrin@rowan.edu. Her room is located in Engineering Hall Room 129. You should also get your SSN as early as possible and open a checking account in a US bank.
What is the process of getting a Social Security Number (SSN)?
You need to schedule an appointment at Social Security Administration through online. Then, you need to visit the SSA office according to your appointment with required documents. After successfully completing your appointment, you will get your SSN within the next 14 days.
How can I get my Rowan ID Card?
To obtain the Rowan Card, you need to visit the Savitz Hall Room 245. You are suggested to check their operational hours. Also, you must have your Banner number and NET ID & Password ready prior to visiting their office.
How to transfer credits from my Master’s degree?
Steps for transfer of credits:
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Fill out the following form:
NEW (use this one as it does not require signature from the Dean https://sites.rowan.edu/sgs/_docs/graduate-credit-transfer-evaluation-form-041422.docx Also available here under “Additional Forms/Information”: https://sites.rowan.edu/student-success/graduate-student-information/forms.html
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Obtain required signatures from ME graduate program coordinator (Dr. Mitja Trkov; trkov@rowan.edu), ME Department Head (Dr. Wei Xue, xuew@rowan.edu)
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Submit a syllabus of the course(s) you took and are trying to transfer.
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Specify which Rowan course is equivalent to this course (include course name and number)
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Submit an official transcript (may need to request if from your institution)
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This form should be submitted with your application and other supporting materials to: Rowan Global Academic & Student Services, Enterprise Center, 225 Rowan Boulevard, Suite 300, Glassboro, NJ 08028; faxed to 856-256-5638; or, emailed simultaneously to both registrar-transfercredits@rowan.edu (Theresa Wilson) and cc globalstudent@rowan.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Prospective Students
What is the deadline by which I must submit my application?
Application deadlines vary by different programs. You can find the deadline for your desired program here. Please note that the servers of our application system are at Eastern Time.
What are the application requirements?
You can find the application requirements here. However, individual programs may have some specific requirements. We encourage you to also look at if there are any specific requirements by your desired program of interest.
Can I apply while in progress for my Bachelor’s or Master’s degree?
Yes! Students can apply while completing their final year of undergraduate or Master’s study. For the unofficial transcript requirement, you should submit your transcripts/mark sheets from all completed semesters (3 years) for evaluation. We do not accept coursework in progress. Additionally, we require a Bonafide Certificate in place of the University-issued Provisional or Original Degree Certificate. The Bonafide Certificate will fulfill the Copy of Original Degree and Consolidate Transcript checklist requirements.
What is the application fee?
The application fee for Graduate programs is $65 (USD). Details can be found here.
Can the application fee be waived for international students?
Please see details here and talk with the admissions office directly.
Is there any need of Foreign Credential Evaluation?
International students are not required to submit foreign credential evaluations when applying to Rowan University. You can see the details here.
Is standardized testing, such as GRE required?
A GRE exam is not required but encouraged. GRE scores will be used in evaluating the applicant, should the applicant choose to provide these scores. Students are particularly encouraged to submit GRE scores if they believe their academic background is stronger than what their GPA suggests. Applicants for the Ph.D. program are particularly encouraged to submit their GRE scores.
What is the English Language requirement for admission?
Detailed instructions about English language requirement can be found in the following link: Rowan University English Language Policy
Do I need to submit an official transcript?
Rowan accepts unofficial transcripts for admission purposes only. If you get admitted, you need to submit an official transcript prior to registering for classes. You can get all the details by following this link. Scroll down to “Foreign Credential Evaluations” section and look for “Official Transcripts”.
How long will my admission decision take?
Admissions decisions typically take 1-4 weeks. This timeframe can change during the busy season. Please continue to monitor your applicant portal for an update. Your application portal will always have the most up-to-date status of your application.
What health records and immunizations are required prior to attending Rowan?
The Wellness Center of Rowan University provides all the necessary information about health records and immunizations. You can find the details here.
Note that the health requirements and policies may be updated every year. Therefore, it is recommended to contact them to ask about the requirements via their email: wellnesscenter@rowan.edu
Do I need health insurance while attending Rowan?
Yes, you need health insurance as a condition of full-time enrollment at Rowan University. You can find detailed answers here by looking at the FAQs. You can also look at the available plans for health insurance in the following link: Health Insurance Plan Options for International Students. For details, you can contact the Fellowship Coordinator (currently Susanne Ferrin) of Dean’s Office.
Importantly, if students do not present evidence of health insurance before the deadline, the cost for insurance through Aetna will be automatically added to the term bill.
How can I know about University Housing Information?
Rowan University features nine residence halls and six apartment communities. The link for housing options is given below: Residential Learning and University Housing