The energy conversion & transport graduate certificate program consists of 17 courses to choose from (listed below), which are delivered as part of the regular master's degree program in mechanical & aerospace engineering. Students are responsible for prerequisite knowledge as determined by course instructors. A total of four courses are required for successful completion of the certificate. At least two of the courses must be from core MAE graduate courses (5000-level) and at least one must be an advanced course (6000-level).

Core Courses (choose two of the following):

• Mech Eng 5570 / Aero Eng 5570 / Nuc Eng 4370 / Physics 4543: Plasma Physics 1
• Mech Eng 5830/Aero Eng 5830: Applied Computational Methods
• Mech Eng 5537: Fuel Cell Principles
• Mech Eng 5527/Aero Eng 5527: Combustion
• Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131: Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
• Mech Eng 5541: Applied Energy Combustion
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5139: Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Mech Eng 5566: Solar Energy Technology
• Aero Eng 5535: Aerospace Propulsion Systems(on campus only)
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5525 Intermediate Heat Transfer(on campus only)
• Mech Eng 5533: Internal Combustion Engines(on campus only)
• Mech Eng 5537: Fuel Cell Principles

Advanced Courses (choose at least one of the following):

• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6123: Viscous Fluid Flow (online and campus)
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6527: Heat Transfer by Convection (online and campus)
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6131: Gas Dynamics I (online and campus)
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6135: Turbulent Flows - Theory, Measurements and Modeling (online and campus)
• Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6137: Physical Gas Dynamics I (online and campus)

Please check the semester wise Schedule of Classes for a current listing of the courses available for distance students.

Return to Top

Mech Eng 5570 / Aero Eng 5570 / Nuc Eng 4370 / Physics 4543: Plasma Physics 1 (Lect 3.0) 
Single particle orbits in electric and magnetic fields, moments of Boltzmann equation and introduction to fluid theory. Wave phenomena in plasmas. Diffusion of plasma in electric and magnetic fields. Analysis of laboratory plasmas and magnetic confinement devices. Introduction to plasma kinetic theory.

Mech Eng 4001/Aero Eng 5830: Special Topics - Applied Computational Methods (Lect 3.0)
Detailed study of various computational methods for efficient numerical solution of selected fluid/structural mechanics, thermodynamics, and controls problems in aerospace and mechanical engineering. In addition to basic numerical method techniques, topics to be covered include gradient-based optimization techniques, response surface approximation, and uncertainty quantification involving spectral approaches.

Mech Eng 5537 – Fuel Cell Principles (Lect 3.0)
Fuel cell fundamentals including thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, mass transport, characterization, and modeling are discussed. Different types of fuel cells such as proton exchange membrane and solid oxide are covered together with subsystem design and system integration as well as environmental impacts. Prerequisite Mech Eng 3521.

Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5525: Intermediate Heat Transfer (Lect 3.0)
Analytical study of conduction; theory of thermal radiation and applications; energy and momentum equations in convective heat transfer and review of empirical relations. Current topics are included. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 3525.

Mech Eng 5527/Aero Eng 5527: Combustion Processes (Lect 3.0)
Application of chemical, thermodynamic, and gas dynamic principles to the combustion of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Includes stoichiometry, thermochemistry, reaction mechanism, reaction velocity, temperature levels, and combustion waves. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 3521.

Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131: Intermediate Thermo-fluid Mechanics (Lect 3.0)
Derivation of Navier-Stokes equations, analytical solutions of viscous flows; flow in pipes, flow networks; intermediate treatment of boundary layer theory; micro-fluidics & MEMS; introduction to numerical methods for solving fluid flows; and, preliminary treatise on turbulence. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 3131.

Mech Eng 5533: Internal Combustion Engines (Lect 3.0)
A course dealing primarily with spark ignition and compression ignition engines. Topics include: thermodynamics, air and fuel metering, emissions and their control, performance, fuels and matching engine and load. Significant lecture material drawn from current publications. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 3521.

Mech Eng 5541: Applied Energy Conversion (Lect 3.0)
The study of the principles of energy conversion. Specific applications include fuel cells and other direct energy conversion devices used in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Aero Eng 5535: Aerospace Propulsion Systems (Lect 3.0)
Study of atmospheric and space propulsion systems with emphasis on topics of particular current interest. Mission analysis in space as it affects the propulsion system. Power generation in space including direct and indirect energy conversion schemes. Prerequisite: Aero Eng 4535.

Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5139: Computational Fluid Dynamics (Lect 3.0)
Introduction to the numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, by finite difference methods, in both stream function-vorticity and primitive variable formulations. Course format emphasizes student development of complete computer programs utilizing a variety of solution methods. Prerequisites: Comp Sci 1570 or 1970 or 1971; one course in fluid mechanics

Mech Eng 5566: Solar Energy Technology (Lect 3.0)
Introduction to the nature of solar radiation and associated thermal energy transfers. Methods of collecting and storing solar energy. Analysis and design of systems for utilizing solar energy, including heating and cooling. Prerequisites: Mech Eng 3525 or consent of instructor. 

Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6122: Viscous Fluid Flow (Lect 3.0)
Fundamentals of viscous fluids for incompressible and compressible flows governed by Navier-Stokes equations; exact, approximate, and numerical solutions for steady and unsteady laminar flows; stability, transition, and turbulence, CFD simulations of internal and external flows. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131 or Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5139 or approval of instructor.

Mech Eng/ Aero Eng 6527: Heat Transfer by Convection (Lect 3.0)
An analytical study of convective heat transfer in laminar and turbulent flows; forced convection, natural convection, and mixed convection; combined heat and mass transfer; heat transfer with change of phase; instability of laminar flow; current topics in convection. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 5525 (325) / Aero Eng 5525 (325) or Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131 or approval of instructor.

Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6131: Gas Dynamics I (Lect 3.0)
A critical analysis of the phenomena governing the flow of a compressible fluid; introduction to flow in two and three dimensions; Prandtl-Meyer expansions; small perturbations in subsonic and supersonic flows; method of characteristics. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131 or approval of instructor.

Mech Eng 6135/Aero Eng 6135: Turbulence in Fluid Flow (Lect 3.0)
Fundamentals of statistical theory of turbulence; turbulence modeling for transport processes  of heat, mass, and momentum; closure schemes for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in free turbulence and wall turbulence; CFD simulations of turbulent flows. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131 or Mech Eng/Aero Eng 5139 or approval of instructor.

Mech Eng/Aero Eng 6137: Physical Gas Dynamics I (Lect 3.0)
Features of high temperature gas flows including the development of the necessary background from kinetic theory, statistical mechanics, chemical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium gas properties and gas flows are included. Prerequisite: Mech Eng 5131/Aero Eng 5131 or approval of instructor.

 * Curriculum is subject to change. Please contact the department for up-to-date information on courses. Other courses approved by the department may be substituted for any of the above listed courses on a case-by-case basis. The administrative coordinators must approve the substitution prior to enrolling in the course.

Return to Top

The energy conversion & transport graduate certificate program is open to all individuals holding a BS degree in an engineering or hard scientific discipline who have a minimum of two years of professional experience, or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program at Missouri S&T.

In order to receive a graduate certificate, the student must have an average graduate cumulative grade point of 3.0 or better in the certificate courses taken under this program. 

Students admitted to the certificate program will have non-degree graduate status, but will earn graduate credit for the courses they complete. If the four courses sequence approved by the graduate advisor is completed with a grade of B or better in each of the courses taken, the student will be admitted to the MS degree program in mechanical or aerospace engineering. The certificate courses taken by students admitted to the program will count toward the MS degree. 

Once admitted to the program, a student will be given three years to complete the program as long as a B average is maintained in the courses taken.

Click here for more information on admissions.

Return to Top

Graduate certificates were designed as a gateway to a master’s degree. If a student earns a B or better in each certificate course they may continue for the graduate degree (in the corresponding department), without needing to submit GRE/GMAT scores, or letters of recommendation. A student does not need to continue on for the graduate degree, however most do. Graduate certificates were designed for working professionals who have real life work experience and may not have time to take the GRE/GMAT. Admission requirements for the graduate certificate program are also more relaxed than the graduate degree. This graduate certificate may act as a gateway to the following master’s programs:

Aerospace Engineering (MS)
Mechanical Engineering (MS)

(Applicants must indicate which program they wish to use the certificate as a gateway for when initially applying for the certificate).

Return to Top