STANFORDUNIVERSITY

MECHANICALENGINEERINGDEPARTMENT

GRADUATESTUDENTHANDBOOK
AcademicYear
20062007

MechanicalEngineeringStudentServices
Building530,Room125
(650)7257695
FAX(650)7234882

Revised9/06

MECHANICALENGINEERINGGRADUATESTUDENTHANDBOOK
20062007
TABLEOFCONTENTS (Clickable)

Page
AbouttheMechanicalEngineeringDepartment .....................................................2
GraduatePolicy....................................................................................................13
Enrollment............................................................................................................13
TuitionSchedule...................................................................................................15
UnitRequirements ................................................................................................16
ChangeorAddaDegreeProgram.........................................................................16
AcademicProgressPolicy.....................................................................................17
FinancialAid.......................................................................................................18
HowtoObtainPayment.......................................................................................22
TaxesandTaxReporting......................................................................................23
PartTimeEmployment.........................................................................................24
InformationforMSCandidates.............................................................................25
HowtoObtaintheMS..........................................................................................25
DegreeConferral(alldegrees)...............................................................................26
MSTimeLimits ...................................................................................................26
MSMERequirements ...........................................................................................27
MSMEDepthandBreadthAreas..........................................................................29
MSinBiomechanicalEngineering.........................................................................37
MSinProductDesign...........................................................................................39
MSinEngineering................................................................................................40
DegreeofEngineer ...............................................................................................41
PhD.....................................................................................................................42
PhDQualifyingExam...........................................................................................45
HonorCode..........................................................................................................48
PlacestoGetHelp ................................................................................................49

September2006

Hello!
WelcometoStanfordUniversity.WearepleasedthatyouhavechosenStanfordforyourgraduate
study.Thisbookletwillacquaintyouwiththedepartment,academicpoliciesandprocedures.In
additionto thisbooklet,youareexpectedto stay informed oftheregulationsandpoliciesgoverning
financialaid,degree,andcourserequirementsbyconsultingtheStanfordBulletin,timeschedules
and universitywebsites.Ifuncertainabouttheprecisemeaningorapplicationofaregulationor
policy,youshouldseekclarificationfromtheStudentServicesOffice stafflocatedinbuilding530,
room125.Youmaystopby,orgiveusacallat
(650)7257695.
StudentsenrolledintheMSprogramhavebeenassignedto anacademicadvisor.Theassignment
wasbasedon availabilityofthefaculty,theirresearchinterestsandyourinterests. However,
pleaseknowthatyoumayseek theadviceofanyofourfacultythroughoutthedepartment
regardlessofwhoyourassigned advisoris. Ifyouwishaformalchangeofadvisor,please letme
know.
Iamalsoavailabletoansweranyquestionsthatyoumayhave.Theissuedoesnotnecessarilyhave
to beofanacademicnature.Iknowofmany onandoffcampusresourcesavailable toyouin
additiontothoselistedinthisbooklet. Pleasefeelfreetostopbytheofficeevenifjusttosay
hello! MystaffandIwouldappreciatetheopportunity togettoknowyou.
Sincerely,

IndraniGardella
StudentServicesManager
(650)7252075
indrani@stanford.edu

MECHANICALENGINEERINGADMINISTRATIVEOFFICE
Building530
TheDepartmentofMechanicalEngineeringisorganizedintofive groups:Biomechanical
Engineering,Design,FlowPhysics,Mechanics&Computation,andThermosciences.These
groupsarehousedinseparatebuildingsandhavelaboratoriesandcenterslocatedthroughoutthe
campus.Althougheach grouphasitsownadministrativeofficeandstaff,theheartofthe
departmentislocated inBuilding 530.
STUDENTSERVICESANDGRADUATEADMISSIONSOFFICE
Building530,Room125&126
(650)7257695
IndraniGardella,StudentServicesManager
PatrickFerguson,StudentServicesAdministrator
SueEmory,GraduateAdmissionsAdministrator
ProfessorMarkCappelli,CoAssociateChairmanofStudentServices(Building520)
ProfessorDrewNelson,CoAssociateChairmanofStudentServices(Terman)
ProfessorKennethGoodson,AssociateChairofGraduateCurriculum(Building530)
ProfessorThomasKenny,AssociateChairofAdmissionsCommittee(Building530)
Pleasecometo theStudentServicesOfficewithallofyourstudentservicesquestions,issuesand
concerns.The officeprocessesassistantshipsandStanfordfellowships,programproposals,leaves
ofabsence petitions,academicpetitions,and degree conferral applicationsand performsmany
moreduties.Inaddition,weorganizevariouseventsincluding orientationandthe annual
graduationceremony.Itprobably isnotpossibletoobtainadegreefromthedepartmentwithout
visiting thisofficeatleastonce!
OFFICEOFTHECHAIRMAN
Building530,Room113
(650)7237234023
ProfessorFriedrichPrinz,DepartmentChairman
ProfessorJohnEaton,ViceChairman
GailStein,DepartmentManager
LauraWalch,AdministrativeAssociate

TheChairmansOffice handlesissuesrelatedto faculty,staffand the operatingbudget.They

cannotansweranyadmissionorstudentservicesquestionsorsignacademicpetitions.However,
ProfessorsPrinzandEatonareveryopentodiscussingStanfordissueswithstudents,soifyoufeel
thatyouhaveaproblemorwanttobringsomethingto theirattention,please feelfreeto doso.

BIOMECHANICALENGINEERINGGROUP
Durand,Room223
(650)7233610
ThomasP.Andriacchi,ProfessorandGroupChairman
GaryS.Beaupre,ConsultingProfessor
DennisR.Carter,Professor
ScottL.Delp,ProfessorandChairmanBioengineeringDepartment
ChristopherJacobs,AssociateProfessor(Research)andofOrthopedicSurgery
R.LaneSmith,Professor(Research),bycourtesyandAssociateProfessor(Research)of
OrthopedicSurgery
CharlesA.Taylor,(ByCourtesy,AssociateProfessorofBioEngineering)
FelixE.Zajac,Professor(Emeritus)
PhoebeAbt,GroupAdministrator
TheBiomechanicalEngineering(BME)Groupoffersresearchandteachingprogramsthatfocus
primarilyonneuromuscular,musculoskeletal,andcardiovascularbiomechanics.Researchinother
areasincludinghearing,vision,oceanandplantbiomechanics,biomaterials,biosensors,and
imaginginformatics,areconductedincollaborationwithassociatedfacultyinmedicine,biology,
andengineering.TheBMEGrouphasparticularlystrongresearchinteractionswiththeMechanics
andComputation GroupandtheDesign GroupintheMechanicalEngineeringDepartmentaswell
astheDepartmentsofOrthopedics,Surgery,andRadiologyintheSchoolofMedicine.
ResearchintheBMEGroupisbasedupontheintegrationofbiologyandclinicalmedicinewith
engineeringmechanicsanddesign.Clinicalandbiologicalobservationsanddataprovidethebasis
ofinquiry.Mathematicalmodelingandcomputersimulationaremajortoolsforbetterorganizing
thesefindingsanddevelopingatheoreticalframeworktoprovidefurtherinsights.Experimental
biological,mechanical,andclinicalstudiesareconductedtoanswerkeyresearchquestionsandto
validatetheoreticalmodels.Designandevaluationofmedicalimplants,devices,andproceduresare
importantaspectsofmuchofthisresearch.Studentresearchprojectsreflecttheoverallresearch
programoftheBMEGroup.
Facilities
TheComputationalBiomechanicsLaboratorysupportsgraduateresearchincomputermodelingof
thehumanbody.TheCardiovascularBiomechanicsResearchLaboratorysupportscomputational
andexperimentalgraduateresearchincardiovascularbiomechanics.TheResearchBiomotion
Laboratorysupportsexperimentalresearchonhumanmovement.TheTissueEngineering,
SurgicalSimulation,andCellCulturefacilitiesare stateoftheart.
ManyBMEGroupactivitiesandresourcesareassociatedwiththeRehabilitationResearchand
Development(RR&D)CenteroftheVAPaloAltoHealthCareSystem.Thismajornational
researchcenterhousestheExperimentalMechanics,SkeletalBiomechanics,HumanMotor
Control,andRehabilitationDeviceDesignLaboratories. Inaddition,theRR&DCenterhas
computationalandprototypingfacilities.Thesefacilitiessupportgraduatecourseworkaswellas
studentresearchactivities.

ResearchisalsoconductedinvariousfacilitiesthroughouttheSchoolofEngineeringandSchoolof
Medicine.Particularlywellusedfacilitiesare theAdvanced BiomaterialsTestingLaboratoryof
theMaterialsScienceandEngineeringDepartment,andtheOrthopedicResearchLaboratoryinthe
DepartmentofFunctionalRestoration.Incollaboration withourMedicalSchoolcolleagues,
biologicallyandclinicallyorientedworkisconductedinvariousfacilitiesthroughouttheStanford
MedicalCenterandtheVAPaloAltoHealthCareSystem.
StudentOffices
Therearealimitednumberofstudentoffice spacesavailableintheMechanicalEngineering
ResearchLaboratory(MERL),theDurandBuildingandattheVARehabilitationCenter.Priority
isgiventopostmastersstudentsandstudentsholdingassistantships.Additionalofficeinformation
canbeobtainedfrom theGroupAdministrator,PhoebeAbt,atpabt@stanford.edu.

DESIGNGROUP
TermanEngineeringCenter,Room551
(650)7259131
JamesAdams,Professor(jointwithManagementScience&Engineering)(Emeritus)
DavidBeach,Professor(Teaching)
J.EdwardCarryer,ConsultingAssociateProfessor
MarkCutkosky,Professor
DanielDeBra,Professor(jointwithAero&Astro)(Emeritus)
ChrisGerdes,AssociateProfessor
KosukeIshii,Professor
DavidKelley,Professor
GeorgeKembel,Lecturer
ThomasKenny,ProfessorandAssociateChairofAdmissionsCommittee
LarryLeifer,Professor
CraigMilroy,SeniorLecturer
DrewNelson,ProfessorandCoAssociateChairofStudentServices
GunterNiemeyer,AssistantProfessor
R.MatthewOhline,Lecturer
FriedrichPrinz,ProfessorandDepartmentChairman
BernardRoth,Professor
SheriSheppard,Professor
KennethWaldron,Professor(Research)
DouglasWilde,Professor(Emeritus)
KristinBurns,GroupAdministrator
TheDesignGroupisdevotedtotheimaginativeapplicationofscience,technology,andarttothe
conception,visualization,creation,analysisandrealizationofusefuldevices,products,and
objects.Itisgovernedbytheconsensusoffacultyandstaffthrough weeklymeetingswhich
studentsarewelcome toattend.Coursesandresearchfocuson topicssuchaskinematics,applied
finiteelements,microprocessors,fatigueandfracturemechanics,rehabilitation,optimization,high
speeddevices,productdesign,experimentalmechanics,robotics,creativity,ideavisualization,
computeraideddesign,designanalysis,manufacturing,andengineeringeducation.
Facilities
TheDesignGroupislocatedonthefifthflooroftheTermanEngineeringCenter.Information
aboutfacilitiescanbefoundathttp://design.stanford.edu/facilities.html.Design Groupfacilities
andlaboratoriesavailabletoMechanicalEngineeringstudentsinclude:
TheProductRealizationLaboratory(PRL)offersdesignorientedprototypecreationfacilitiesto
studentsengagedincourseworkorresearch.Designreachesfruitioninthetestingofhardware.
Thecreationofphysicalartifactsoftenleadstodesignsolutionsthatwouldotherwisenotoccur.
Handsonexperienceengenderstacitknowledgeregardingdevices,materialsandprocesses.
Relationshipsbetweendesignandmanufacturingareclarifiedthroughprototypecreation.The
PRLislocatedinbuilding610atthecornerofSantaTeresaandDuenastreetsandisopenduring
theacademicyear.Visittheirwebsiteathttp://prl.stanford.edu.

TheSmartProductDesignLaboratory(SPDL)supportsmicroprocessorapplicationprojects
relatedto thecourseseriesME218A/B/C/D.TheSPDLislocatedin the ThorntonCenteronSanta
TeresaStreet.
TheDynamicDesignLab (DDL)focusesontheuseofdynamicmodelingasameansof
integratingmechanicaldesignwithautomaticcontrolanddiagnostics.Manyofthesponsored
projectshaveanautomotiveapplicationandthelabhasasmallfleetoffullscaleand1:4scale
vehiclesforexperimentation.TheDDLislocatedinthe MechanicalEngineeringResearch
Laboratory(MERL),onPanamaMall,Room130.
TheTeleroboticsLab islocated inroom129ofMERL.Thelabexaminestheinteractionbetween
humansandrobots.Inparticular,itseekstoimprovethecontrolofrobotsoperatingunderhuman
command,withapplicationsrangingfrominorbitassemblytominimallyinvasivesurgery.
TheCenterforDesignResearch(CDR)providesanexcellentfacilityforCAE/CAD/CAM
researchdevelopmentandeducation.Resourcesincludehighperformancegraphicsworkstations,
highbandwidthnetworkingandadvancedinternetmediateddesignexplorationanddesign
collaborationtechnologies.CDRislocatedinBuilding560onPanamaMall.
TheManufacturingModelingLaboratory(MML)addressesvariousmodelsandmethodsthat
leadtocompetitivemanufacturing.Thelabservesastherepositoryforworldclassmanufacturing
modelsanddevelopskeytechnologiesinlifecycledesign,concurrentengineering,andsupply
chainmanagement.TheMMLislocatedintheThorntonCenteronSantaTeresaStreet.
TheMicroscaleEngineeringLaboratoryislocatedin(MERL),andissharedbyProfessors
Goodson,KennyandSantiagoaffiliatedwiththeThermosciencesandDesign Groups.Thislab
featuresfacilitiesforthermal,mechanical,andfluidmeasurementswithaunifyingemphasison
microscaleaspects.Inadditiontotheindividualresearchactivitiesofthesefaculty members,there
arealsoseveralshared Ph.D.projects,involvingamixtureofthermal,mechanicalandfluidsissues
insingleprojects.
TheProductDesignLoftisauniquefacilityinwhichstudentsintheProductDesignprogram
developtheirgraduatedesignprojects. ItislocatedinBuilding610atthecornerofSantaTeresa
andDuenaStreets.
TheRapidPrototypingLaboratory(RPL)consistsofsevenprocessingstationsincludingCNC
milling,plasmadeposition,laserdeposition,lowtemperaturedeposition,shotpeening,grit
blasting,andcleaning.StudentsuseACISandPro/Engineersolidmodelingsoftwareonsix
HewlettPackardworkstationsforprocesssoftwaredevelopment.TheRPLislocatedinBuilding
530onPanamaMall.
TheDesignTeamDevelopmentLoftprovidesspaceandtechnicalsupportforglobally
distributedproductdevelopmentteamsworkingoncorporatepartnerprojects.Teamsareassigned
adesktopdesignstationandlaptopcomputers.TheLoftislocatedintheTermanEngineering
Centeronthefifthfloor.

StudentOffices

Therearealimitednumberofstudentoffices.Priorityisgiventopostmastersstudentsand
studentsholdingassistantships.Additionalofficeinformationcanbeobtained fromKristinBurns
inTerman559(kristin.burns@stanford.edu).

FLOWPHYSICSANDCOMPUTATIONANDENGINEERINGGROUP
Building500,Room500A
(650)7252077
EricDarve,AssistantProfessor(jointlywithICME)
PaulDurbin,VisitingProfessor
SanjivaLele, Professor(jointlywithAeronauticsandAstronautics)
JohnEaton,ProfessorandDepartmentViceChairman
CharbelFarhatProfessor(jointlywithICME)
VadimKhyams,ConsultingAssistantProfessor
ParvizMoin,Professor(jointwithICME)andGroupChairman
HeinzPitsch,AssistantProfessor
EricShaqfeh,Professor(jointlywithChemicalEngineeringandICME)
DebMichael,GroupAdministrator
http://fpc.stanford.edu
http://ctr.stanford.edu
http://cits.stanford.edu
http://icme.stanford.edu
Fluidmechanicsisanimportantpartofengineering.Manydevicesandsystemsinvolveliquids
andgasesoraremanufacturedorrecycledusingfluidprocesses.Fluidmechanicsplaysamajor
roleinsuchdiverseareasasdispersionofpollutantsintheatmosphere,bloodflowinourbodies,
flowoveraircraftwings,mixingoffluidsandoxidizersincombustionchambersofengines,and
plasmaprocessinginsemiconductorequipmentmanufacturing.
Withrapiddevelopmentincomputertechnology,thefutureoffersgreatopportunitiesfor
computationalengineeringanalysisanddesign.TheFlowPhysicsandComputationGroup(FPC)
blendsresearchonflowphysicsandmodelingwithalgorithmdevelopment,scientificcomputing,
andnumericaldatabaseconstruction.FPCiscontributingnewtheories,modelsandcomputational
toolsforaccurateengineeringdesignanalysisandcontrolofcomplexflows(includingmultiphase
flows,chemicalreactions,acoustics,plasmas,interactionswithelectromagneticwavesandother
phenomena)inaerodynamics,propulsionandpowersystems,materialsprocessing,electronics
cooling,environmental engineering,andotherareas. Asignificantemphasisofresearchison
modelingandanalysisofphysicalphenomenainengineeringsystems.Inaddition,FPCstudents
andresearchstaffaredevelopingnewmethodsandtoolsforgeneration,access,display,
interpretation,andpostprocessingoflargedatabasesresultingfromnumericalsimulationsof
physicalsystems. ResearchinFPCrangesfromdevelopmentofadvancednumericalmethodsfor
simulationofturbulentflowstoactiveflowandcombustioncontrolusingcontroltheoryfor
distributedsystems.TheFPCfacultyteachgraduateandundergraduatecoursesinengineering,
computationalmathematics,fluidmechanics,heattransfer,thermodynamicsandpropulsion,
combustion,acoustics,aerodynamicsandcomputationalfluidmechanics.

TheFlowPhysicsandComputationGroupisstronglyalliedwiththeCenterforTurbulence
Research(CTR),aresearchconsortiumbetweenStanfordandNASA,theCenterforIntegrated
TurbulenceSimulations(CITS) (whichissupported bytheDepartmentofEnergy(DOE)underits
AcceleratedStrategicComputingInitiative),andtheInstituteforComputationalandMathematical
Engineering(ICME).CTRconductsfundamentalresearchaimedatunderstandingthemechanics
ofturbulentflowsleadingtopredictionmethodsandalgorithmsforturbulencecontrol.The
objectiveofCITSistodevelopadvancedcomputationaltoolsandmodelsnecessaryforsimulation
ofthemajorcomponentsofagasturbineengine.TheCenterforTurbulenceResearchhasdirect
advancedaccesstomajornationalcomputingfacilitieslocatedatthenearbyNASAAmes
ResearchCenter,includingmassivelyparallelsupercomputers.TheCenterforIntegrated
TurbulenceSimulationshasaccesstoDOEsvastsupercomputerresources.Theintellectual
atmosphereoftheFlowPhysicsandComputation Groupisgreatlyenhanced by interactionswith
CTRandCITSstaffofpostdoctoralresearchersanddistinguishedvisitingscientists.Group
facilitiesincludeseveralparallelsupercomputers,advancedworkstationswithcolordisplayand
reproduction facilitiesand experimentalandflowandheattransfermeasurementfacilities.
StudentsinterestedindoctoralresearchwithFPCfacultyareadvisedtoarrangefordirectedstudy
(ME391/392)withoneormoreoftheaffiliatedfacultyduringtheirmastersyear.

MECHANICSANDCOMPUTATIONGROUP
DurandBuilding,Room262
(650)7234133
HoltAshley,Professor(jointwithAero&Astro)(Emeritus)
DavidBarnett,Professor(jointwithMaterialsScienceandEngineering)
WeiCai,AssistantProfessor
EricDarve,AssistantProfessor(jointwithICME)
AdrianLew,AssistantProfessor
PeterPinsky,ProfessorandGroupChairman
BethPruitt,AssistantProfessor
SunilPuria,ConsultingAssociateProfessor
CharlesSteele,Professor(Emeritus)
DoreenWood,GroupAdministrator
Historically,thestudyofmechanicshasmadesignificantandfundamentalcontributionstothe
growthofscienceandtechnology.Itsroleisevenmorevitaltodayinviewoftherapid
technologicalandsocietalintricacy.Forinstance,themodernmechanicianmaybecalleduponto
designsafervehicles,tomodelhumanhearingmechanisms,todeterminethecauseofamechanical
failure,ortodevelopmodelsforsimulatingvascularsurgery.Todealwithsuchcomplexandoften
multidisciplinaryproblems,theengineermusthaveathoroughknowledgeofanalytical,
computational,andexperimentalmethodsandadeepunderstandingofunderlyingphysical
principles.Toachievethislevelofunderstanding,graduatecurriculainMechanicsand
Computationareofferedwhichincludecoreworkinsolids,fluidsandcomputationalmechanics,
dynamics,fractureandbiomechanics.Courseworkissupplementedwithresearchinthestudents
specializedareaofinterest.
Facilities
TheMechanicsandComputationGroupislocatedinthenorthwingoftheWilliamF.Durand
Building.Thebuildingiscentrallylocatedandprovidesoffices,computerfacilities,research
laboratories,andseminarroomsforfaculty,researchassociates,andgraduatestudentsofthe
Group.
StudentOffices
Therearealimitednumberofstudentofficespacesavailable.Priorityisgiventocourseassistants
andstudentsworkingwithfacultyonspecificresearchprojects.ContactDoreenWoodinDurand
foradditionalinformation.

10

THERMOSCIENCESGROUP
Buildings500,520and570
Group Office,Building530Room520F
(650)7231745
TomBowman,ProfessorandThermosciencesGroupChairman
PeterBradshaw,Professor(Emeritus)
MarkCappelli,ProfessorandcoAssociateChairofStudentServices
ChrisEdwards,AssociateProfessor
DavidGolden,ConsultingProfessor
KennethGoodson,AssociateProfessorandAssociateChairofGraduateCurriculumCommittee
RonaldHanson,Professor
JamesJohnston,Professor(Emeritus)
WilliamKayes,Professor(Emeritus)
CharlesKruger,Professor
ReginaldMitchell,AssociateProfessor
RobertMoffat,Professor(Emeritus)
GodfreyMungal,Professor
J.DavidPowell,Professor(jointwithAeroAstro)(Emeritus)
JuanSantiago,AssociateProfessor
CitaLevita,GroupAdministrator
Thermosciencesdealsprimarilywiththeengineeringsciencesassociatedwithadvancedenergy
systems,materialsprocessingandmanufacturingsystems.Thecourseworkandresearchcovera
broadspectrumofexperimentalandtheoreticalstudies,includingheattransfer,fluidmechanics,
appliedthermodynamics,plasmadynamics,combustion,diagnosticsandsensors,andthe
physics/chemistryofgases.
The Groupphilosophyistocombineaspectsofmolecular,solidstate,andfluidphysics,lasersand
electrooptics,physicalchemistry andelectromagneticphenomena,togetherwiththetraditional
mechanicalengineeringdisciplinesoffluidmechanics,heattransfer,andthermodynamics.The
interdisciplinarycharacterofthisprogramisofmajorimportancetothemechanicalengineerofthe
futureinadaptingtonewtechnologiesandwillgreatlyexpandprofessionaloptions,whether
involvedinresearch,teaching,engineeringapplications,ortechnicalmanagement.Thus,the
programisintendedtobebroadeninginnatureratherthanaimedatasinglediscipline.
Toachievetheseeducationalobjectives,wehavefocusedourresearchprogramonthefollowing
hightechnologyareas:plasmasciences,combustion andpropulsionsciences,pollutionsciences,
hightemperaturematerialsprocessing,spraydynamics,particleladenflows,turbulentflows,heat
transferinturbulentflow,microscalefluidicsandheattransfer,andadvancedopticaldiagnostics.
Plasmascience dealswithfundamentalplasmaprocesses,includingstudiesofplasmachemistry,
plasmadiagnostics,andplasmapropulsion.Ourcurrentresearchon combustion and propulsion is
distributedoverseveralareas,including: reactionkineticsofhydrocarbonpyrolysisandoxidation,
combustionandgasificationofcoolandbiomass,nonequilibriumhypersonicflows,turbulent
reactingflows,andprogramsonsupersonicreactingflowsandactivecontrolofcombustion,and
pulsedetonationengines.Ourworkon pollutionsciencesisconcernedprimarilywithfundamental
studiesofhightemperaturereactionkineticsassociatedwithformationandremovalofnitrogen

11

oxides(NOx)duringthecombustionofhydrocarbonfuels.Aspectsofmaterialsprocessing athigh
temperatureincludestudiesofthesynthesisofadvancedmaterialssuchasdiamondandcubic
boronnitrideinplasmaenvironments.Spraydynamicsfocusesonunderstandingthetemporaland
spatialstructureoftwophasesprayflowswithapplicationstocombustion,heattransfer,and
spraycoatings. Particleladenflowincludesthestudyofhowparticlesinteractwithand affectthe
propertiesofturbulentflows.Studiesinturbulentflowsincludeheattransfer,turbulentflow
control,andturbulentflowincomplexgeometries.Aspectsofmicroscaleheattransferinclude
studiesofthescatteringofheatcarriersinsubmicrometersemiconductorfilms,aswellasstudies
ofthethermalpropertiesandthermalfailureofmicroelectronicdevices.Microfluidicsresearchis
aimedatprovidingfundamentalunderstandingandimproveddesignoftransportprocessesinmicro
chemical/bioanalyticalsystems.Theareaofadvanceddiagnosticsisconcernedprimarilywiththe
developmentoflaserbasedmethodsforstudyingmany oftheprocessesdescribedabove,providing
spatiallyresolvedand/ortemporallyresolvedmeasurementsoffluidproperties,aswelldeveloping
methodsfornonintrusivesensingandcontrolofindustrialprocesses.Advancedlaserdiagnostics
arealsobeing usedforthestudyoftemperaturefieldsinmicrofabricatedtransistors,sensors,and
actuatorswithunprecedentedspatialandtemporalresolution.Athirdareaforwhichadvanced
laserdiagnosticsarebeingdevelopedisthestudyofthefluidmechanicsphenomenaassociated
withmicronscalebioanalyticaldevices.
Ourapproachistocombineexperimentalandtheoreticalinvestigationsoffundamentalproblems
thatweperceivetoberelevanttonewengineeringapplications,andtoprovideacontinuously
improvingstateoftheartforindustry.Afurthercommonemphasisintheresearchisonthe
developmentanduseofmodernexperimentalmethods.Dependingontheparticulartopics,the
workinvolveshightemperaturefluidmechanicsandheattransfer,applicationsofelectricityand
magnetism,variousaspectsofphysics,includingspectroscopy,lasers,andelectrooptics,aspects
ofphysicalchemistry,designofexperimentalequipmentandinstrumentation,andanalyticaland
numericalcalculations.
ThermosciencesGroupfacultyandstudentsarealsoinvolvedincollaborativeeffortswithother
departmentsandresearchgroupsatStanford,suchastheStanfordNASACenterforTurbulence
Research,theFlowPhysicsandComputation Group,theElectricalEngineeringDepartment,the
ChemistryDepartment,andtheMaterialsScienceDepartment.
ThefacultyandstudentsoftheThermosciencesGrouparehousedinbuildings500,520,570and
theMechanicalEngineeringResearchLaboratory(MERL).MScandidatesplanningtoproceedto
aPh.D.programareencouragedtoconsiderarrangementsforthreeormoreunitsofdirectedstudy
(ME391/392)duringtheirMSprogram.

12

GRADUATEPOLICY
Enrollment
Toretainyourstudentstatus,youmustbeenrolledfulltime(810units)duringAutumn,Winter
andSpringQuarters.Exceptionstothisrule:
HonorsCoop(SCPDstudents)areparttime
Inthefinalquarterofyourdegreeprogram,ifyourrequirementswillbefulfilledbytaking
lessthan8units,youmaypetitiontotake37units.
TGRstudentsmustenrollinthe0unitTGRcourse*
StudentsinGraduationQuartermustalsoenrollinthe0unitTGRcourse
Although SummerQuarterenrollmentisoptionalformost,therearesomeexceptions:
IfyouareworkingasasummerTAorRA,oryouarereceivingafellowshipduring
summer,youmustenroll
IfyouplantopetitionforyourGraduationQuarterforAutumnQuarter,enrollmentis
requiredforthe priorSummerQuarter.
EnrollmentiscompletedviaAxesshttp://axess.stanford.eduandmustbedonebythe2nd weekof
eachquarter.Theregistration (studylist)deadlinesare publishedintheUniversityAcademic
Calendar. Ifyoumissthedeadline,latefeeswillapply.IfInternationalstudentsmissthe
enrollmentdeadline,theDepartmentofHomelandSecuritymaygetinvolved.
Followthe onlinedirectionsinAxesstoregister. Ifacourseallowsyoutochooseagrading
option(lettergradeorS/NC),besure to electthecorrectgradingtyperequiredforyourdegree
requirements.Seethe sectionondegreerequirementsformoredetails.
* TGRisaspecialstatusthatPh.D.studentscanattainoncetheyhavecompletedalltheirformal
coursework.SinceTGRtuitionisalittlemorethanthe13unitrate,youmaytakeuptothree
unitsinadditiontotheTGRcourseandthe TGRtuitionwillcoverthem.However,ifyoutake
morethan3unitsduringaTGRquarter,youwillberesponsibleforpayinganyextratuition.By
definition,TGRstudentshavecompletedallcourserequirements,soanycoursestakenduring
TGRstatusmustnotbenecessaryforthedegreeconferral.Manystudentstakeadvantageofthis
opportunitytotakefunclasseslikeathleticsorart.
Units
GraduatestudentsintheSchoolofEngineeringmustenrollforaminimumof8unitsperquarter
(exceptin SummerQuarter,withsomeexceptionslistedabove). Atypicalacademicloadfor
studentsis910units,althoughstudentswhoarenotrestrictedbyafellowshiporassistantship
maychoosetodo1118units.Studentswhoseekexceptiontothe8unitminimumpolicymust
meetoneofthefollowing criteriatoenrollforaminimumof3units:
q

Youwill finish alldegreerequirementsandcomplete the program during thequarterfor

which 37unitsisrequestedandwillnotbeenrolledthefollowingquarter.Requestfor
TuitionAdjustmentmustbeapprovedbytheStudentServicesOfficeandtheRegistrar.

13

Youhave receivedapprovalfromthe DisabilityResourceCenterforspecial

accommodation.RequestforTuitionAdjustmentmustbeapprovedbytheStudentServices
OfficeandtheRegistrar.

YouareaPh.D.orENGstudentandhave completed allrequirementsexceptfortheoral

defenseanddissertation.Youmustenrollin the 0unitTGRcourse.PetitionforTerminal
GraduateRegistration(TGR)statusmustbeapprovedbytheStudentServicesOfficeand
theRegistrar.

Alldegreerequirementshavealreadybeencompleted.Sincestudentsmustbeenrolledinthe
quarterofdegreeconferral,youmaypetitionforaonetime$100tuitionquarterforthe
purposeofgraduating.Inthiscase,youmustenrollinthe0unitTGRcourse.Youmust
havebeenenrolledinthequarterimmediatelypriortotherequestedgraduationquarter.If
graduationquarterwillbeAutumn Quarter,summerenrollmentisrequired.

AllpetitionscanbedownloadedfromtheUniversityRegistrarsOffice:
http://registrar.stanford.edu/shared/forms.htm

14

20062007GraduateEngineeringTuitionSchedule
Units
1118*
810
7
6
5
4
13
TGR**

CostPerQuarter
$11,728
$ 7,620
$ 5,334
$ 4,572
$ 3,810
$ 3,048
$ 2,286
$ 2,760

*Tuitioncontinuestoincreasebytheperunitrateforeach unittakenabove18
**TGR:ApplicableonlytopostMSstudentswhohavecompletedallUniversityandDepartment
requirementsexceptfororalexamanddissertationsubmission.EnrollmentinTGRisrequiredto
completethedissertation.
AddCourses: Youmayaddcoursesthroughtheendofthe third weekofclasses.Checkthe
AcademicCalendarforspecificdeadlines:
http://registrar.stanford.edu/academic_calendar/index.htm
DropCourses: Youmaydropcoursesthroughtheendofthefourthweekofclasses,withoutany
recordofthecourseappearingon yourtranscript.No dropsarepermittedafterthispoint,
regardlessofthegrade orprogressinthecourse. Checkthe AcademicCalendarforspecific
deadlines.
Withdraw: Youmaywithdrawfromacourseafterthedropdeadlinethroughtheendoftheeighth
week.Ifthisisdone,thenotationWwillberecordedon yourtranscriptforthatcourse.
Studentswhodonotofficiallywithdrawfromaclassbytheendoftheeighthweekwillbeassigned
agradebytheinstructor.Wgradescannotbechangedbyretakingthecourse.
Incomplete: Ifyouwouldliketotakeanincomplete orIforacourse,youmustmake
arrangementswiththeinstructorbythelastdayofclass.Allcourseworkmustbecompletedand
theincompletemustbechangedtoacreditorgrade withinoneacademicyear.Failuretodosowill
automatically resultinafailedgrade thatcannotbechanged.
CourseRetakes: Generallyspeaking,completedcoursesmayberetakenonetime.Whenretaking a
course,youmustregisterforthesamenumberofunitsaswhen youoriginallytookthecourse.
Theunitsforthefirstattemptwillchangetozero,andthe gradeornotationwillchangeto RP.
The gradeforthesecond attemptwillincludeanindicationthatitisarepeatedcourse.Youmay
onlyretakeacourseforathirdtimeifanNC(nocredit)oranNP(notpassed)wasreceived
forthe secondattempt.

15

University UnitRequirement
Eachtypeofdegreehasaspecifictotalunitrequirement,setbytheUniversity (pleaseseethe
StanfordBulletinfordetails).Thisisnotbeconfusedwithdepartmentdegreeunitrequirements,
whichmaydiffer.StudentsindoctoralprogramsareeligiblefortheTGRtuitionratewhenthey
havecompletedthe unitrequirementaswellasallotherrequirementsestablishedbythe University
andtheDepartment.
StudentsCompletingMorethanOneGraduateDegreeProgram
Ifyouarepursuingmorethanonegraduatedegree,youmay notdoublecountunitstowardsthe
differentdegrees.Themajorexceptiontothepolicyisthatthe45unitsrequiredfortheMasters
degreeareincludedinthe135unitsrequiredforthedoctoraldegree.Thereforeitispossiblefora
studentwhodidanMSdegreeatanotheruniversitytotransferupto45unitstowardstheirPh.D.
degree.
UnitRequirementChart
Note:InadditiontomeetingUniversityrequirements,studentsmustalsomeetdepartmentunit
degreerequirements(seedegreesection).
DegreeRequirement
Masters
Engineer
Doctorate

Units
45
90
135

MaximumTransfer
0
45
45

TGRRequirement
N/A
90
135

ToChangeorAddaDegreeProgram
Tochangeoraddadegreeprogram,youmustcompletetheGraduateAuthorizationPetition
process.Thispetitionshouldbeusedinthefollowingsituations:
1.

AmatriculatedMSMEstudentwhowouldliketocontinuewithaPh.D.mustsubmitthe
completedpetitionanddepartmentalcoversheettotheStudentServicesOffice by the
beginningofthefinalMSquarter.ThestudentmustsecurefundingforthePh.Dprogram
throughafacultysponsoredassistantship.Thepetitionmustbefullyprocessedbyboththe
departmentandtheUniversityRegistrarbeforetheconferraloftheMSdegree.IftheMS
degreeisconferredpriortotheadditionofthePh.D.degree,thestudentwillberequiredto
applyforthePh.D.programasanexternalapplicantandadheretoapplicationdeadlines,
payapplicationfees,etc.

2.

Amatriculatedgraduatestudentchanging departments.

3.

AmatriculatedgraduatestudentintheMEDepartmentchangingfields(e.g.,MSin
BiomechanicalEngineering orProductDesign)

Note: Internationalstudentsarerequiredtosubmitproofofadequatefinancialsupportpriorto
obtainingdepartmentalapproval.ContacttheBechtelInternationalCenterfordetails.

16

AcademicProgressRequirement
Graduatestudentsenrollingatfulltuition (1118unitsperquarter)mustenrollforatleast11units
perquarterandpassatleast8unitseach quarterthoseregisteringat810unitsperquartermust
enrollforatleast8unitsperquarterandpassatleast6unitsperquarter.
LeaveofAbsence forGraduateStudents
GraduatestudentsmayfindthemselvesinneedofaLeaveofAbsence.Commonreasonsfor
interruptingschooltemporarily are familyemergencies,illness,financialdifficulties,oreven
employmentopportunitiesthatcouldfurtherprogressinresearch.
ProceduretoFileaLeaveofAbsence: Aleaveofabsencemustbeapproved inadvancebythe
studentsadvisorandthe department. Althoughthereisnosignaturelineforthegraduatestudents
advisor,an irrelevantsignatureline(i.e.thelineforundergraduatestudents)canbeusedforthis
purpose. Evidenceofgoodacademicprogressisarequirementtoobtainapproval.Theleaveform
mustbeapprovedbythe StudentServicesManagerandsubmittedtotheRegistrarsOfficefor
finalapproval andprocessing.InternationalstudentsmustalsoobtainapprovalfromtheBechtel
Centertoensurevisarequirementsaremet.
http://registrar.stanford.edu/pdf/leaveofabsence.pdf
Oncealeave ofabsence isgranted,therighttouseUniversityfacilities(i.e.libraries,athletic
facilities,etc.)ishalted asstudentstatuswillnotbeactive duringtheleave.Thisalsoappliesto
anyStanfordfunding(e.g.,fellowships,assistantshipsandloans).Therefore,astudentisadvised
tothinkcarefully beforerequesting aleave.Shouldonebenecessary,please consultwiththe
StudentServicesManager.

17

FINANCIALAID
Whatisan Assistantship: Assistantshipsare contractsforstudentstodoresearchorteachin
exchangeforsalaryandtuition.
ResearchAssistant:Amatriculatedandregisteredgraduatestudentwhoparticipatesina
researchprojectunderthesupervisionofafacultymember. Forthemostpart,research
assistantsareselectedbyindividualfacultywithavailableresearchfunding.Continuationofa
researchassistantshipdependsonthequalityoftheworkperformed andtheavailability ofresearch
funds.
TeachingAssistant:Amatriculatedandregisteredgraduatestudentwhoassistsafaculty
membertoteachhisorhercourse.Dutiesvaryandmayinclude:preparingforclasssections
and/orlabs,gradingexamsorpapersand holdingregularofficehours.Teachingassistantsarenot
expectedtoindependentlyassignfinalgrades.
CourseAssistant:Amatriculatedandregisteredgraduatestudentwhoassistsafacultymember
toteachhisorhercourse.Dutiesvaryandmayincludeassistingtopreparelecturematerials,
conductingreviewsessions,holdingofficehoursandgradingexams.CourseAssistantshaveless
independencethanTeachingAssistants.
POLICIES:STUDENTSWITHTEACHING/COURSE/RESEARCHASSISTANTSHIPS
Note:All individualswhoserveasCourseorTeachingAssistantsforcoursesofferedby
MechanicalEngineeringmustparticipateintheTAOrientationprogramofferedbytheCenterfor
Teachingand Learning.Sessionsaregiveneachquarterthroughouttheyear.Moreinformationcan
befoundontheCTLwebsite: http://ctl.stanford.edu/
Enrollment: Allstudentsholdingassistantshipsmustbe enrolledforcoursesduringthe quarter
forwhichtheassistantshipappointmentisheld (includingSummerQuarter).Although summer
enrollmentisoptionalforstudentswhoarenotholdingassistantships,itismandatoryforresearch,
teachingandcourseassistants.
Tuition: Thetuitiongrantthatispartofthecompensationpackage canbeused onlyfortuition
charges.Itisnottransferable forcash,cannotbeused by anotherstudent,andcannotbe usedfor
othercharges,suchasASSUfeesorhealthinsurance. Thetuitioncreditwillappearonthestudent
bill afterthestudenthasenrolled foraminimumof8units(studentswithapprovedTGRstatus
mustenroll fortheTGRcourse).
Tuitionpayment: Theamountoftuitionpaid isbasedonthetotalpercentageoftimeemployedin
anygivenquarter,asshown below.Thestudentmustbeappointedfortheentirequarterorthe
tuitionwillbechargedback tothestudent.Engineerand Ph.D.studentswhoareeligibleforTGR
willreceive onlytheTGRtuitionrateregardlessofthepercentageoftheappointment.
Studentsintheirfinalquarterwithanapprovedreducedtuitionratewillonlyreceiveatuition
grantforthenumberofunitstaken.

18

UseofallcreditWiththeexceptionofTGRstatusstudents,studentsonassistantshipsmust
enrollforaminimumof8units.Studentswith halftimeassistantships(50%timeor20hoursper
week)areentitledtoreceivetuitioncreditfor810unitsperquarter.Studentswith 25%
assistantships(10hoursperweek)receive5unitsoftuitioncreditandarerequiredto pay the
remainingtuitiondue.
Studentswith50%appointmentsaretypicallyexpectedtoworkamaximumof20hoursperweek
inadditiontocarryingan 810unitloadperquarter.Studentswith25%appointmentswork10
hoursperweekinadditiontocarryingaunitloadof810ormorequarter.Anacademicquarter
lasts12workingweeks,includingtheexamweek.Some assignmentswillrequiretheassistantto
startoneweek beforethequarterbegins.
Theassistantshipsalary andtuitioncreditbeginsandendsasfollows:
AutumnQuarter:October1December31(firstpaycheckavailable10/22andlastcheck1/7)
WinterQuarter:January1March31(firstpaycheckavailable1/22andlastcheck4/7)
SpringQuarter:April 1June30(firstpaycheckavailable4/22andlastcheck7/7)
SummerQuarter:July1September30(firstpaycheckavailable 7/22andlastcheck 10/7)
Thecheckcutonthe22nd ofthemonthcoversworkcompletedfromthe1st throughthe15th.The
checkcutonthe7th ofthemonthcoversworkcompletedfromthe16th throughthe31st oftheprior
month.Forexample,ifyoustartworkingonOctober1st,yourfirstpaycheck onOctober22will
coveryourpayperiodOctober115.Yoursecondpaycheck,forthepayperiodOctober1631,
willbecutonNovember7th.Thesearetheformalperiodsusedfordeliveryofsalarypayments.
Studentswhoarerequiredtostartworkbeforethequarterbeginsreceivenoextraallowance,but
the researchorteachingsupervisorshould adjustthe schedulesoitdoesnotexceedthenorm.
Assistantshipappointmentsareforafullquartertherearenopartialquarterassistantships
available.StudentsonassistantshipswholeavetheUniversityforanyreason mustcontactthe
StudentServicesOfficetoensurethattheappointmentiscanceled.Inthiscase,ifanassistantship
isnotcanceledandpaymentcontinues,thestudentwillberesponsibleforrepaymentofsalary,
plusanyfeesincurred.Ifyouknowinadvancethatyouwillnotbeabletoworkforthewhole
quarter,youmaybeabletoworkasanhourlyemployeeinstead.However,tuitionbenefitsarenot
partofhourlyemploymentagreements.
SummerQuarterRAappointments: During SummerQuarter,itmaybepossibleforyouto
workmorethan50%time ifyourresearchsupervisorhasadequatefundingandallowsforit.Itis
quitecommonforRAappointmentstobeincreasedto75%oreven90%time.A90%appointment
isthemaximumallowableforenrolledstudents.Pleasenotethatyoumustenrollifyouaregoing
toworkasanassistantduring SummerQuarter.Failuretoenrollwillresultinpaymentsbeing
withheld.During SummerQuarter,thetuitionbenefitisinreverseproportiontothenumberof
hoursworked.Forexample,50%appointmentspaythe810unitrate,but75%appointmentspay
only 5unitsand 90%appointmentspayfor3units.Youshouldenrollinthecorrectnumberof
unitsaccordingtohowmuchyourtuitiongrantwillbe.Ifyoudecidethatyoudonotwanttoenroll
during SummerQuarter,youmayaskyourresearchsupervisorabouttheoptiontoworkhourly.
However,notuitionbenefitisincludedforhourlywork.

19

NOTE:TGRstudentsmustenrollintheTGRcourse.SinceTGRtuitionisalittlemorethanthe1
3unitrate,youmaytakeuptothreeunitsinadditiontotheTGRcourseandthetuitionwillbe
paid.However,ifyoutakemorethan3unitsduringaTGRquarter,youwillberesponsiblefor
payinganyextratuition.(ThisappliestoallTGRquarters,notjustSummerQuarter.).
Aninfrequentbutnotunusual situationariseswhenastudentwhoisworkingasa90%RAduring
thesummerisalsoplanningtogoTGRduringthatSummerQuarter.Youshouldbeawarethatit
wouldsaveyourresearchsupervisorsomemoney ifyoudelaygoingTGRuntil AutumnQuarter,
sincethetuitiongrantfora90%RAappointmentwillcovereithertheTGRrateorthe3unitrate.
The3unitrateisactuallyafewhundreddollarslessthantheTGRrate.Sothebestsolutionisto
enrollin 3unitsforSummerQuarter,andthenapplyforTGRstatusinautumn.
WorkinAdditiontoanAppointmentorStanfordFellowship:Employmentinadditiontoa
50%assistantshipmustbeformallyapprovedbythefacultysupervisorand cannotexceedmore
than 8hoursperweek.ThispolicyismonitoredverycloselybytheSchoolofEngineering
StudentAffairsOffice.StudentsontheGraduateEngineeringFellowship,StanfordGraduate
FellowshipandNSFshouldconsulttheMEStudentServicesOfficepriortoaccepting
employment.ImmigrationregulationsprohibitInternationalstudentsonFandJvisastoworkin
additionto a50%assistantshipwhileenrolledfulltime. Internationalstudentsmustbe awareof
visarestrictions. InformationonvisasshouldbeobtainedfromtheBechtelInternationalCenteras
theyhavetheexpertiseonthese regulations.
Benefits: Studentsonassistantshipsdonotaccruesickleaveorvacation.Timeoffissubjectto
theapprovalofthefacultysupervisorandmustberequested wellinadvance.
HealthSubsidy:Studentswhohave RA/TA/CAappointmentsofatleast25%timeforanygiven
quarterareeligiblefortheuniversityhealthsubsidy,whichwillpayonehalfoftheCardinalCare
healthpremium.Youareresponsibleforpaying theotherhalf.Inordertoreceivethesubsidy,your
appointmentmustbefully approvedbythesupervisor,allpaperworkmustbesignedandsubmitted
ontime,andyoumustbeenrolledincoursesbytheStudyListDeadline.Ifyoufailtomeetanyof
theserequirementsduringanygivenquarter,youwillforfeityourhealthsubsidyforthatquarter.

20

Fellowships: Stanfordfellowshipsand outsidefellowshipsthatareprocessedbyStanfordare

paidonaquarterly basis.Thetuitioniscreditedtothestudentsaccountdirectly andthe Student
FinancialServicesoffice willdeductfeessuchashousingand healthinsurance from thestipend.
Theremainderwillbedepositeddirectlytoyourbankaccountifyouhaverequesteddirectdeposit,
ormailedtoyourmailingaddress. Wehighlyrecommenddirectdepositforthemostconvenient
andtimelyreceiptofstipendpayments.
Note:Ifyouare appointedto anassistantshipwhenyourfellowshipends,keepinmindthatthere
willbeatwoweekdelaybeforeyourfirstassistantshippaycheckisissued. Youalsomustfile
employmentpaperworkattheonsetofyourassistantship.PleasestopbytheStudentServices
Officeformoreinformation.
HealthSubsidy:Studentswhoreceiveatleast$2,000infellowshipstipends(nontuition)forany
givenquarterareeligiblefortheuniversityhealthsubsidy,whichwillpayonehalfoftheCardinal
Carehealthpremium.Youareresponsibleforpayingtheotherhalf.Inordertoreceivethesubsidy,
yourfellowshipmustbefully approvedontime,andyoumustbeenrolledincoursesbytheStudy
ListDeadline.Ifyoufailtomeetanyoftheserequirementsduringanygivenquarter,youwill
forfeityourhealthsubsidyforthatquarter.

21

HOWTOOBTAINPAYMENT
ResponsibilityofProcessingPayment: Studentspaid by mechanicalengineeringaccountsmust
ensure thatallnecessary documentationiscompletedandsubmitted appropriately.Delayswillnot
onlydelaypayment,butmay resultinthelossoftheUniversitysstudenthealthsubsidy.Itis
stronglyadvisedthatstudentsbe proactive tomake surethattheassistantshipisprocessed wellin
advanceoftheanticipatedstartdate.Studentswhoneed helpshouldcontacttheMechanical
EngineeringStudentServicesOffice and/ortheirgroupadministrator.
SocialSecurityNumber:Studentsreceivingresearch orteachingassistantshipsmustobtaina
socialsecuritynumber.InternationalstudentsonStanfordbasedfellowshipsaretoobtainan
IndividualTaxIdentificationNumber(ITIN)fromtheBechtelInternational StudentCenterin
ordertoreceivetheirfellowshipfunds.
Internationalstudentswhodo nothaveasocialsecuritynumbermustapplyforonethroughthe
SocialSecurityAdministrativeOffice. Asnationalsecurityconcernshaveincreasedoverthelast
fewyears,federalregulations,policiesandproceduresevolverapidly.Inordertoensurethatyou
havethemostupdatedinformationonhowtoapplyforand obtainasocialsecuritycard,pleasesee
theBechtelInternationalStudentCenterwebsite:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/new/orientation/SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER.htm
Note: Inaresponsetonationalsecurityandfraudconcerns,theSocialSecurityAdministration
hasimplemented policy thatrequiresverificationofcertaininformationonan Immigrationand
NaturalizationServices(INS)database. TheSocialSecurityAdministration stronglysuggeststhat
astudentwait1012daysafterarriving to theUnitedStatesbefore applying fortheSocialSecurity
Number.Thiswillallowadequatetimeforinformationverification.
TheclosestSocialSecurityAdministrationofficeislocatedat:
700EastElCamino,Suite350,MountainView,CA94040
Office Hours:MF9:00amto4:30pm
Phone: 18007721213
Youcanfindamapandotherinformationhere: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp
Note:Youmustapplyinperson.
Onceyouhaveappliedforthesocialsecuritynumber,bringyourreceipttotheMEStudent
ServicesOffice.We can use acopyofthereceiptforpayrollpurposes,butyoumustprovide a
copyofyoursocialsecuritycardonceyoureceiveit.

22

TaxesandTaxReporting:
a) The tuitionportionoffellowshipsandassistantshipsisexemptfromtax.
b) Allstipendsandsalariesaresubjecttotax. Theamountoftaxvariesaccordingtototal

income,dependencystatus,treatystatusforInternationalstudents,andindividual
circumstances.
c) Assistantshipsalariesaresubjectto taxwithholding.
d) FellowshipstipendspaidtoU.S.citizensandpermanentresidentarenotsubjectto
withholding,butarestilltaxableincome.Studentsareresponsibleformakingestimatetax
paymentsduringtheyear.
e) FellowshipstipendspaidtononUScitizensorpermanentresidentsaresubjectto 14%tax
withholding.
TheStudentServicesOfficeisunable provideadviceorassistancewithtaxes.Studentsare
encouragedtoseektheadviceoftaxconsultantsoraccountants. Pleasecheckthephonebookif
youneedtomeetwithone.
EligibilitytoWorkRequirement: Perfederalregulations,individualswhoarepaidonthe
Stanfordpayroll(assistantships,hourlyappointments,etc.)musthaveanI9(identificationand
workeligibilityform)onfilepriortocommencementofemployment.TheI9formrequiresthe
individualto provide appropriatedocumentation toprove eligibility forwork(socialsecuritycard,
birth certificate,currentdriverslicense).Studentsonvisasmustshowcurrentpassportand the
currentvisa. TheI9istoberenewedwhenthevisaisextended.ExpiredvisaswillcausetheI9
toexpireandthestudentsappointmentwillautomaticallybecanceled.Please stopbytheStudent
ServicesOfficetofileyourI9form,ifrequired.
PatentAgreement:Thepatentagreementformisrequired forall students.Ifyoudidnotreceivea
form,pleasecontacttheStudentServicesOffice.
EnglishPlacementExam: InternationalstudentsfromnonEnglishspeakingcountriesarerequired
totakeandpasstheEnglishPlacementExaminationpriortothestartoftheirTeachingorCourse
Assistantshipappointment.ContacttheMEStudentServicesfordetails.

23

PartTimeEmployment:Graders
Gradersarehired directly bytheinstructorofacourse,iftheinstructorhassecuredabudgetfora
grader.Gradersarepaidonanhourlybasisandthereisnotuitionbenefit. Thestudentmust
obtaininformation aboutthejobexpectationsandlimitationsonhoursfromthehiringinstructor
directly. StudentswhoacceptanMEgraderposition should workwiththeirgroupadministrator
forpayrollprocessing. Onlinetimesheetsshould besubmitted twiceamonth(by noonon the15th
and the lastdayofthemonth)andrequire approvalby the appropriateGroupAdministrator.
Note: ThegroupthattheinstructorisaffiliatedwithdetermineswhotheGroupAdministratoris.
PleaseseetheGroupdescriptionsatthebeginningofthishandbook.
Note:StudentsonForJvisasarenotauthorized(perINSregulations)toperform hourly
workforadditionalpayif theyalsoholda50%assistantshipappointment.International
studentsshouldconsultwithBechtelInternationalStudentCenterforvisaand employment
relatedquestions.

24

HOWTOOBTAINYOURMSDEGREE
ProgramProposal
Inaccordancewith University academicpolicy,MSstudentsarerequiredtofileaprogram
proposalbytheendofthe firstquarterofmatriculation(HonorsCoopStudentshave until the 4th
quarter).The departmental deadlinetosubmittheproposalforstudentsstartingtheirfirstquarter
inSeptember2006isNOVEMBER3,2006.Thisappliesto all nonHCPMSstudentsincluding
thosepursuingtheMSinProductDesignand MSinBiomechanicalEngineering.
Instructions
1. ObtaintheappropriateformfromtheMEStudentServicesOffice.
2. Typeorprintneatly. Coursetitlesandunitsmustbe included.Illegibleformswillnotbe

reviewedorprocessed.
3. Consultyouradvisorto obtainhis/hersignature.
4. SubmittheformtotheMEStudentServicesOfficeforreviewandfinalapproval.Keepacopy
foryourownrecords.
5. Proposalscantakeupto 14workingdaystobereviewedandprocessed.Axesswillindicate
theapprovalofyourproposalsundermilestones.Proposalsthatarenotapprovedwillbe
returnedtothestudentforrevision.
PleasedonotrelyonyouradvisortodelivertheproposaltotheMEStudentServicesOffice.
Allprogramsaresubjecttheapprovalofthestudentsadvisorand theAssociateChairofGraduate
Curriculum(viatheStudentServicesManager).
ProgramProposalRevision
StudentswhoaltertheirMSprogram duringtheircourseofstudy mustsubmitanewprogram
proposalbythe thirdweekoftheirfinalquarter. Thisisafirmdeadlineandthereareno
exceptions. Studentswhofailtosubmitarevisedprogram sheetbythethirdweekofthefinal
quartermay be forcedtodelaygraduation.
Allprogramrevisionsaresubjecttheapprovalofthestudentsadvisorand theAssociateChairof
GraduateCurriculum.
Petitions
Insomeinstances,youmaywanttosubstituteacourseforyourprogramthatisnotonthe
approvedlist.Also,somestudentsmaywanttowaivethemathrequirementbecausetheyhave
alreadytakenextensivegraduatelevelmathcourseselsewhere.Insuchcases,itmaybe
appropriatetofileapetition.PleasestopbytheStudentServicesOfficeformoreinformationon
thepetitionsprocess.Note:asuccessfulpetitiontowaivemathcoursesdoesnotreducethetotal
numberofrequiredunits.

25

DegreeConferral
Studentsmustapply tograduateviaAxess.Duedatesarelistedonthefrontofthetimeschedule
andinAxess.ThesedeadlinesarefirmandtheUniversitydoesnotmake exceptions.Ifyoumiss
thedeadline,youmaybeabletopetitionwiththeRegistrarsOfficetofileyourapplicationto
graduatepastthedeadline.Latefeeswillapply.
Registration isrequiredduringthedegreeconferralquarter.
TheStudentServicesstaffwillmakeevery efforttocontactastudentwhosedegreerequirements
(i.e.missingforms,missinggrades)arenotmetpriorto submittingthelistsofgraduatingstudents
totheUniversityRegistrar.However,duetotimeconstraintsandotherdemandsimposedonthe
staff,youare responsible toensure youmeetallgraduationrequirements. Ifyouhavequestions
aboutgraduationanddegreerequirements,pleasecontacttheMEStudentServicesOffice.
Commencement
Commencementisheld annually eachJune.Therearetwoceremonies: theUniversityceremony
(mainevent)andthe Departmental DiplomaDistribution Ceremony.Informationabout
commencementistypicallyavailablearoundmidtolateApril.
DegreeFields
StudentsadmittedtotheMSin MechanicalEngineering will nothaveafieldlistedonthediploma
(i.e.Thermosciences,Design,FlowPhysics,Mechanics&Computation etc.). However,students
admittedtotheMSinProductDesignorMSinBiomechanicalEngineering willhave afield listed
on the diploma.
TimeLimits
TheUniversityhassetthefollowingtimelimitsfortheMSdegree:
1) HCP(honorscooperativestudents):FiveyearsfromthefirstquarterofenrollmentintheMS

program.
2) Coterminalstudents:Threeyearsafterthequarterinwhich180unitsarecompleted.
3) Allotherstudents:ThreeyearsfromthefirstquarterofenrollmentintheMSprogram.
ExtensionsoftimelimitsaresubjecttotheapprovaloftheDepartmentandtheSchoolof
Engineering.Studentshavingdifficultymeetingtheabovetimelimitsshouldconsulttheiradvisor
and/orthe ManagerofStudentServices.

26

MASTEROFSCIENCEINMECHANICALENGINEERING
The followingrequirementsmustbemetfortheMSDegree inMechanicalEngineering:
1. Mathematicalcompetencein twoofthefollowingareas(6units):partialdifferential

equations,linearalgebra,complexvariables,numericalanalysisorstatistics,asdemonstrated
bycompletionoftwoappropriatecoursesfromthefollowinglist:ME300A,ME300B,
ME300C,MATH106,MATH109,CS205,CME302,EE263,EE261,STATS110or
ENGR155C.Coursestakenforthemathrequirementmustbetakenforagrade.
2. Depth inMechanicalEngineering: "Depth"referstoaclusterofcourseswiththematic

and/ortechnicalcontinuitythatenablesastudenttostudyapartofmechanicalengineeringin
moredepth,withmorefocus,andoveraperiodoftime.Adepthclusterorareatypicallyis
madeupof1012units(23courses).Thedepthareasdescribedonthefollowingpageshave
beenapprovedbythefacultyasprovidingdepth inspecificareasaswellasasignificant
componentofapplicationsofthematerialinthecontextofengineeringsynthesis.Courses
takeninthedepthareamustbetakenforagrade.
3. BreadthinMechanicalEngineering:"Breadth"referstograduatelevel MEcoursesoutside

ofthestudent'sdeptharea.Theintentisforstudentstoengageincourseworkinareasof
mechanicalengineeringoutsideofthe depthtobroadenunderstandingandcompetencyin a
widerrangeoftopics. TwobreadthcoursesarerequiredandaregenerallygraduatelevelME
courseslistedinadepthareaoutsideofthestudent'sdeptharea.Eligiblebreadthcoursesare
describedundereachdeptharea. Furthermore,thecombinationofdepthandbreadthcourses
mustbringthetotalnumberofMEunitstoatleast24(includingthemathrequirement).
Coursestakeninthebreadthareamustbetakenforagrade.
4. ApprovedElectives: Additionalgraduateengineering,mathandsciencecourseswill bringthe

totalnumberofunitsto atleast39. Alloftheseunitsmustbeapprovedbythestudents

advisor.Graduateengineering,mathandsciencecoursesarenormallyapproved. Ofthese39
units,nomorethan6unitsmaycomefrom independentstudy(ME391and392)andnomore
than3unitsmaycomefromseminars.AstudentplanningtocontinueforaPh.D.should have
adiscussionwiththeacademicadvisorabouttakingME391or392during themasters
program.Approvedelectivesmustbetakenforagradeunlessgradesarenotanoption(e.g.
seminars).
Note: StudentsparticipatinginME391or392shouldmakethenecessaryarrangementswitha
memberofthefaculty.Inaddition,thefacultymemberandthestudentshoulddeterminethe
numberofunitsandthegradingtypeforthecourse.
5. UnrestrictedElectives: Thesecourseswill bringthetotalnumberofunitssubmittedforthe

MSdegreeto45.Studentsarestronglyencouragedto take theseunitsoutsideofengineering,

mathematicsorthesciences.Studentsshouldconsulttheiradvisorforrecommendationson
courseloadsandonwaystousetheunrestrictedelectivestomakeamanageableprogram.
Unrestrictedelectivesmaybetakencredit/nocredit.

27

6. LaboratoryRequirement:Withinthecoursessatisfyingtherequirementsabove,theremustbe

atleastonegraduatelevelcoursewithalaboratorycomponent.Courseswhichsatisfythis
requirementare ENGR206,ENGR207B,ME218A,ME310ABC,ME317AB,ME318,
ME324,ME348,ME354,ME367,orME382AB.ME391/392willsatisfythisrequirementif
3unitsaretakenforworkinvolvinglaboratoryexperiments.Astudentwhohashad
substantiallaboratoryexperience inindustryoragovernmentresearch institutemaybe waived
fromthisrequirementbyhisorheradvisorandtheAssociateChairforGraduateCurriculum
(viathe StudentServicesOffice).
Coursesused tofulfill math,depth,breadth,laboratoryrequirementandapprovedelectives
requirementsmustbetakenforalettergrade exceptforcourseswhere apass/nocreditisgivento
allstudents.Upto3unitsofapprovedelectivesmaybetakenasseminars.
CandidatesfortheMSMEdegree areexpected tohaveaminimum GPA of2.75inthe45units
countedtowardsthedegree.

28

DEPTHANDBREADTHAREASFORTHEMSMEDEGREE
Note:CoursedescriptionsandavailabilityshouldbecheckedusingtheStanfordCoursebulletin
andtheQuarterlyTimeSchedulesascourseofferingsaresubjecttochange.
Instructions
Depth Selectoneareaasyourspecialty
Breadth Selecttwocourses(6units)fromarea(s)outsideyourdepth,asnotedineachdepth
areadescription.
1. AutomaticControls (oneofthefollowingsets):

SetA(allthreemustbetaken)
ENGR205
IntroductiontoControlDesignTechniques(Formerly ME305)
ENGR207A Modern ControlDesignI(FormerlyME307A)
ENGR207B ModernControlDesignII(FormerlyME307B)

3Units
3Units
3Units

OR
SetB(allthreemustbetaken)
ENGR105
ENGR206
ENGR209A

FeedbackControlDesign,3units,(FormerlyME105)
ControlSystemDesign(Formerly ME306A)
Analysis&Control ofNonlinearSystems(FormerlyME306B)

3Units
4Units
3Units

OR
SetC(allthreemustbetaken)
ENGR205
IntrotoControlDesignTechniques(Formerly ME305)
ControlSystem Design (Formerly ME306A)
ENGR206
ENGR209A Analysis&Control ofNonlinearSystems(Formerly ME306B)

3Units
4Units
3Units

OR
SetD(allthreemustbetaken)
ENGR205 IntrotoControlDesignTechniques(Formerly ME305)
ENGR207A ModernControlDesignI(Formerly ME307A)
ENGR206 ControlSystemDesign (Formerly ME306A)

3Units
3Units
4Units

Breadth: IfdepthisAutomaticControls(Area1),selectany twocourses(6units)fromoneor

twoofareas:2,3(excluding ENGR206)orareas412

29

2. BiomechanicalEngineering
SetA:BioDesign
ME382A
ME382B

BiomedicalDeviceDesign &EvaluationI
BiomedicalDevice Design&EvaluationII

4Units
4Units

PLUSONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
ME381
ME294
ME310A

OrthopaedicBioengineering
MedicalDeviceDesign
ToolsforTeamBasedDesign

3Units
3Units
34Units

OR
SetB:BioFluidMechanics
ME284A
ME284B

CardiovascularBioEngineering
CardiovascularBioEngineering

3Units
3Units

PLUSONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
ME484
ME351A
ME351B

ComputationalMethodsinCardio.Bioengineering
FluidMechanics
FluidMechanics

3Units
3Units
3Units

OR
SetC:BioDynamics(anythreeofthefollowing)
ME281
BiomechanicsofMovement
ME331A
ClassicalDynamics
ME331B
Advanced Dynamics
ME386*
NeuromuscularBiomechanics
ME485*
Modeling &SimulationofHumanMovement
*ME386andME485Notofferedin20062007

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

OR
SetD:MusculoskeletalMechanics(oneofthefollowing)
ME338
ME340

ContinuumMechanics
ElasticityinMicroscopicStructures

3Units
3Units

PLUSTWOOFTHEFOLLOWING
ME280
ME381

SkeletalDevelopmentandEvolution
OrthopaedicBioengineering
30

3Units
3Units

ME385

TissueEngineering Lab

12Units

Breadth:IfdepthisBiomechanicalEngineering(Area2),selectany twocourses(6units)from
oneortwoofareas1,312.

3.DesignAnalysisandTechnology(oneofthefollowingsets)
SetA(anyoftwoofthefollowing):
ME218A
ME218B
ME218C
ENGR206

SmartProductDesignFundamentals45units
SmartProductDesign Applications,45units
SmartProductDesign Practice,45units
ControlSystemDesign(Formerly ME306A)

45Units
45Units
45Units
4Units

SetB(anythreeofthefollowing)
CS223A
CS327A
ME322
ENGR206
ME330

IntroductiontoRobotics(Formerly ME320)
AdvancedRobotics(Formerly ME327A)
KinematicSynthesisofMechanisms
Control SystemDesign (Formerly ME306A)
AdvancedKinematics

3Units
3Units
3Units
4Units
3Units

SetC(anythreeofthefollowing)
MATSCI270* MaterialsSelectioninDesign(FormerlyME321)
ME345
FatigueDesignandAnalysis
ME348
ExperimentalStressAnalysis
ME309
FiniteElementAnalysisinMechanicalDesign
*MATSCI270NotOfferedin20062007

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Breadth: IfdepthisDesignAnalysis&Technology(Area3),selectany twocourses(6units)

fromoneortwoofthefollowingareas:1(excluding ENGR206ifdepthis3Aor3B),2,4
(excluding ME210ifdepth is3A),or512.
4. DesignMethodology(allthreemustbetaken)
ME310A
ME310B
ME310C

ToolsforTeamBasedDesign
DesignProjectExperiencewithCorporatePartners
DesignProjectExperiencewithCorporatePartners

34Units
35Units
34Units

OR
ME318
ComputerAidedProductCreation
MS&E264
ManufacturingSystemsDesign (FormerlyME317C)
ME210*
IntroductiontoMechatronics
*ME210andENGR207Bshouldnotbetakenconcurrently

31

4Units
4Units
4Units

Breadth: IfdepthisDesignMethodology(Area4),selectany twocourses(6units)fromoneor

two ofthe followingareas:13,512.

32

5. DesignforManufacturability(bothmustbetaken)
ME317A
ME317B

DesignforManufacturability:ProductDefinition
DesignforManufacturability:QualitybyDesign

4Units
4Units

PLUSONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
MS&E264
ME310A
ME417

ManufacturingSystemsDesign (FormerlyME317C)
ToolsforTeamBasedDesign
TotalProductIntegrationEngineering

4Units
34Units
4Units

Breadth:IfdepthisDesignforManufacturability(Area5),selectany twocoursesfromoneor
twoofthefollowingareas:14,612.
6. FluidMechanics(bothmustbetaken)
ME351A
ME351B

FluidMechanics
FluidMechanics

3Units
3Units

PLUSONEOFTHEFOLLOWING
ME355
ME361
ME457
ME453

CompressibleFlow
Turbulence
FluidFlowinMicrodevices
Introto ModelingandSimulationofFluidFlow

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisFluidMechanics(Area6),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthe
following areas:15,7(excluding352C),812.
7.EnergySystems(allthreeofthefollowing)
ME370A
ME370B
ME370C

EnergySystemsI:Thermodynamics
EnergySystemsII:ModelingandAdvancedConcepts
EnergySystemsIII:Projects

3Units
4Units
4Units

Breadth:IfdepthisEnergySystems(Area7),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthe
followingareas:16,812.
8. HeatTransfer(anythreeofthefollowing)
ME352A
ME352B
ME352C
ME358

RadiativeHeatTransfer
FundamentalsofHeatConduction
ConvectiveHeatTransfer
HeatTransferinMicrodevices

33

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisHeatTransfer(Area8),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthe
following areas:15,6(okayifdepth doesnotinclude352C),7,912.

34

9. HighTemperatureGasDynamics
ME362A

PhysicalGasDynamics

3Units

PLUSTWOOFTHEFOLLOWING
ME364*
OpticalDiagnosticsandSpectroscopy
ME362B
NonequilibriumProcessesinHighTemperatureGases
ME371
CombustionFundamentals,3units
ME372
CombustionApplications,3units
*ME364notofferedin20062007

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisHighTemperatureGasDynamics(Area9),selectany twocoursesfromone
ortwoofthe following areas:18,1012.
10. SolidMechanics
Anythreeofthefollowing
ME333
Mechanics
ME335A
FiniteElementAnalysis
ME335B
FiniteElementAnalysis
ME335C*
FiniteElementAnalysis
ME338A
ContinuumMechanics
ME338B
ContinuumMechanics,3units
ME340
ElasticityinMicrostructures,3units
*ME335CNotofferedin20062007

3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisSolidMechanics(Area10),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthe
following areas:19,1112.
11.Dynamics(Both mustbetaken),plusonemorecourseapprovedbytheadvisor
ME331A
ME331B

ClassicalDynamics
Advanced Dynamics

3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisDynamics(Area11),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthefollowing
areas:110,or12.

35

12.MEMS
Threecoursesrequired.
Two orthree ofthefollowing:
ENGR240
ENGR341
ME342
ME358
ME414
ME457

IntrotoM/NEMS
Micro/NanoSystemsDesign&FabricationLab
MEMSLabII
HeatTransferinMicrodevices
SolidStatePhysicsIssuesforMEExperiments
FluidFlowinMicrodevices

3Units
35Units
34Units
3Units
3Units
3Units

Plusoneofthefollowing(ifonlytwoweretakenfromabove)
EE312
MATSCI316

MicromachinedSensorsandActuators
NanoscaleScience,EngineeringandTechnology

3Units
3Units

Breadth:IfdepthisMEMS(Area12),selectany twocoursesfromoneortwoofthefollowing
areas:111.

36

MASTEROFSCIENCEINENGINEERING
FieldDesignation:BiomechanicalEngineering
TheMasterofScienceinEngineering:BiomechanicalEngineering(MSE:BME)promotesthe
integrationofengineeringmechanicsanddesignwiththelifesciences.Theeligibilityrequirements
forthisdegreeprogramarethesameasfortheMasterofScienceinMechanicalEngineering.
Applicantsareexpectedtohaveanadditionalexposuretobiologyand/orbioengineeringintheir
undergraduatestudies.Studentsplanningforsubsequentmedicalschoolstudiesareadvisedto
contactStanfordsPremedicalAdvisingOfficeinSweetHall.
Inadditiontotheaboveeligibilityrequirements,studentswishingtopursuethisprogrammust
completethe GraduateProgramAuthorizationandgetapprovalfrom theStudentServices
Office.Thisformservestoofficiallyaddthefieldtothestudentsrecord.Youmaydownloadthe
formfromtheUniversityRegistrarswebsite.
DegreeRequirements
1. Mathematicalcompetence(min6units)intwoofthefollowingareas:partialdifferential
equations,linearalgebra,complexvariables,ornumericalanalysis,asdemonstratedby
completionoftwoappropriatecoursesfromthefollowinglist:ME300A,B,CMATH106,
MATH109,MATH113,MATH131,MATH132STATS110,orENGR155CCME108,
CME302.
Studentswhohave completedcomparablegraduatelevelcoursesasanundergraduate,and
whocandemonstratetheircompetencetothesatisfactionoftheinstructorsoftheStanford
courses,maybe waived viapetition fromthisrequirementbytheiradvisorandtheStudent
ServicesOffice.Theapprovedequivalentcoursesshouldbeplacedintheapprovedelectives
categoryoftheprogramproposal.
2. GraduateLevelEngineeringCourses(minimum21units),consistingof
a) Biomechanicalengineeringrestrictedelectives(9units)to beselectedfrom:ME280,
ME281,ME284A,ME381(notofferedin0607),ME382AB,orME385.
b) Specialtyinengineering (912units): Asetofthreeorfourgraduatelevelcoursesin
engineeringmechanics,materials,controls,ordesign(excludingbioengineering courses)
selectedtoprovidedepthinonearea.SuchsetshavebeenapprovedbytheMechanical
Engineeringfaculty.Comparablespecialty setscomposedofgraduateengineeringcourses
outsidetheMechanicalEngineeringDepartmentcanbeusedwiththeapprovalofthe
studentsadvisor.ExamplescanbeobtainedfromtheBiomechanicalEngineering Group
Office(Durand223).
c) Graduateengineeringelectives(tobringthetotalnumberofgraduatelevelengineering
unitstoatleast21).Theseelectivesmustcontributetoacohesivedegreeprogram,andbe
approvedbythestudentsadvisor.Nounitsmaycomefrombioengineeringcourses,
mathematicscourses,coursesME389,390,394,395,396,397orotherseminars.

37

3. Lifescienceapprovedelectives(minimum6units):Undergraduateorgraduate
biological/medicalscience/chemistrycourseswhichcontributetoacohesiveprogram.
4. BiomechanicalengineeringseminarME289.
5. Generalapprovedelectives(tobringthetotalnumberofunitsto39):Thesecoursesmustbe
approvedbythestudentsadvisor.Graduatelevelengineering,math,physicalsciencecourses
andupperdivisionundergraduateorgraduatelifesciencecoursesarenormallyapproved.
6. Unrestrictedelectives(tobringthetotalnumberofunitsto45):Studentswithout
undergraduatebiologyareencouragedtousesomeoftheseunrestrictedunitstostrengthen
theirbiologybackground.Studentsshouldconsulttheiradvisorforrecommendationson
courseloadsandonwaystousetheunrestrictedelectivesto create amanageableprogram.

38

MASTEROFSCIENCEINENGINEERING
FieldDesignation:ProductDesign
TheJointPrograminDesignfocusesonthesynthesisoftechnologywithhumanneedsandvalues
tocreateinnovativeproductexperiences.Thisprogramisoffered jointly by theMechanical
EngineeringDepartmentandtheArtDepartment.Itprovidesadesigneducationthatintegrates
technical,human,aesthetic,andbusinessconcerns.Studentsenteringtheprogramfromthe
engineeringsideearnaMasterofScienceinEngineeringwithaconcentrationinProductDesign,
andthosefromtheartsideaMasterofFineArts. Studentscompletethecoreproductdesign
coursesintheirfirstyearofgraduatestudyatStanfordbeforeundertakingtheMastersprojectin
theirsecondyear.
DegreeRequirements
ME313

HumanValues&InnovationinDesign

3Units

ME203

ManufacturingandDesign

4Units

ARTSTUDI60

DesignI:FundamentalVisualLanguage

3Units

ME216A

AdvancedProductDesign:NeedFinding

4Units

ME312

AdvancedProductDesign:Form Giving

4Units

ARTSTUDI160

DesignII:TheBridge

3Units

ME216B

AdvancedProductDesign:Implementation

4Units

ME316ABC*

MastersDesignProject

12UnitsTotal

ARTSTUDI360ABC* MastersDesignProject
ApprovedElectives**

6Units
17Units

*ME316ABCandArtStudio360ABCaretaken concurrentlyforthreequartersduringthe
secondyear.
**Approvedelectivesfulfillcareerobjectives.Studentsmayfocustheirenergyinengineering,
business,psychology,orotherareasrelevanttodesign.Moststudentselectabroadbased
approachthatspansthesedomainsandincreasestheirculturalawareness.Approvedelectives
mustbediscussedwiththestudentsadvisor.
Note:Aleast21unitsmusthaveSchoolofEngineeringcoursenumbersof200orabove,andbe
takenforalettergrade.
CandidatesfortheMSinProductDesignwillbeexpectedtohavetheapprovalofthefaculty,and
aminimum GPA of2.75inthe 60unitspresentedintheprogram.

39

MASTEROFSCIENCEINENGINEERING(nofielddesignation)
AsdescribedintheSchoolofEngineeringsectionoftheBulletin,eachdepartmentintheSchoolof
Engineeringmaysponsorstudentsinamoregeneraldegree,theMasterofScience in Engineering.
SponsorshipbytheDepartmentofMechanicalEngineeringrequiresthatthestudentsubmita
petitionforadmissiontothisprogramandthatthecenterofgravityoftheproposedprogramlie
inMechanicalEngineering.Thepetitionmustbesubmittednolaterthanthe2nd quarteroftheMS
program,alongwithastatementexplainingtheobjectivesoftheprogram,howitiscoherent,
containsdepth,andfulfillswelldefinedcareerobjectives.Theproposedprogrammustincludea
minimumof9unitsofgraduatelevelworkintheDepartmentofMechanicalEngineering.The
graduationrequirementsarethesameasfortheMasterofSciencein Mechanical Engineering.
Ifyouchoosetogothisroute,pleasebesurethatyouareincludedintheemailliststhatare
managedbytheStudentServicesOffice intheMechanicalEngineeringDepartment.Sincestudents
followingthispathareconsideredstudentsoftheSchoolofEngineering(asopposedtothe
DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering)importantcommunicationsoriginatedfromthe
MechanicalEngineering Departmentmaynotreachyouifyouarenotproactiveinthisregard.

40

DEGREEOFENGINEER
ThebasicUniversityrequirementsforthedegreeofEngineerare describedinthe Degreesection
oftheStanfordBulletin.Theprogramisdesignedforstudentswhodesire toengageinmore
specializedstudythantheMSstudents,andwho plan totakeupprofessionalengineeringwork
upongraduation.
TheadmissionstandardsforthisprogramaresubstantiallythesameasfortheMastersdegree.
However,since thesissupervisionisrequired,thedepartmentcannotadmitastudenttothe
programuntilthestudenthaspersonallyarranged forafaculty membertosupervise theirresearch
project.Thiswillfrequentlyinvolveapaidresearchassistantshipawardedby an individual faculty
member(usually on asponsoredresearchproject).StudentsstudyingfortheirMastersdegreeat
Stanford whowish tocontinuefortheEngineersdegreeordinarilymakesucharrangementsduring
theirMSprogram.
Thedepartmentrequirementsforthedegreeinclude athesis,forwhich upto18unitsofcreditwill
beallowed(ME400).Inadditiontothethesis,27unitsofapprovedcourseworkinmathematics,
scienceand engineeringarerequiredbeyondtherequirementsfortheMasterofSciencedegree.
Thechoiceofcoursesissubjecttotheapprovaloftheadvisor.Studentswhohavenotfulfilledthe
StanfordMSdegreerequirementswillberequiredtodoso(upto45unitsmaybetransferred via
petition foran MSdegree received fromanotherinstitution).
AllcandidatesforthedegreeofEngineerwillbeexpectedtohavetheapprovalofthefacultyand
tohaveaminimumgradepointaverageof3.0forallcourses(exclusiveofthesiscredit)taken
beyondthoserequiredfortheMastersdegree.

41

DOCTOROFPHILOSOPHY
ThebasicUniversityrequirementsarediscussedintheDegreessectionoftheStanfordBulletin.
The Ph.D.degreeisintendedprimarilyforstudentswho planforacareerinresearch orteaching.
Fortheseendeavorsabroadbackgroundinmathematicsand engineering,along withintensive
studyandresearchexperience,isnecessary.
Sincethesissupervisionisrequired,admissionisnotgranteduntilthestudenthaspersonally
arrangedforfundingandsupervisionbyafacultymember.
MSStudentsinterestedincontinuingtowardsaPh.D.degreemustsecurefundingand faculty
supervision.Onceaccomplished,aGraduateAuthorizationPetitionanddepartmentalcoversheet
mustbecompletedandsubmittedtotheMEStudentServicesOfficewellinadvanceoftheMS
degreeconferral.FailuretosubmitthispetitionontimewillforcetheMSstudenttoapplyforthe
Ph.D.programthroughtheregularadmissionsprocess,payapplicationfees,etc.Pleasecontactthe
MEStudentServicesOfficewithquestions.
StepstoObtainthe Ph.D.Degree
1. Ph.D.QualifyingExamination:Duringthefirstyearofpostmastersstudy,astudentis
expectedtotakeandpassthe Ph.D.qualifyingexamination.Note:onoccasion,anoutstanding
MSstudentisencouragedbyfacultytopursuethePh.D.programandisrecommendedtotake
thequalifyingexam.Pleasebeawarethatpassingthequalifyingexamalonewillnotgainyou
admissiontothePh.D.program.Afterpassingthequalifyingexam,securingfundingand
programsupervision,youmustalso completethe GraduateAuthorizationPetition and
departmentalcoversheet,andsubmitthem priortoconferralofyourMSdegree.Detailsfor
theproceduresofthequalifyingexamfollowthissectioninthehandbook.
2. Ph.D.candidacy:Toachieve Ph.D.candidacystatus,thestudentmustfilethe Ph.D.
candidacyform(Universitypolicyrequiresthatthisformbefiledbytheendofthe6th quarter
ofthestudentspostmastersregistration).Stanfordfundingandfutureregistrationwillbe
placedonholduntilthestudentcomplieswiththepolicy.Thecandidacyformistobe
approvedandsignedbytheadvisorandtheAssociateChairofGraduateCurriculum(viathe
MEStudentServicesOffice).Studentsareexpectedto completetheirprogramwithinfive
yearsfromthedatethatcandidacyisgranted.
3. Readingcommittee: AfterattainingPh.D.Candidacy,inconsultationwiththeadvisor,the
studentmustformareadingcommittee.Thereadingcommitteeapprovestheprogramof
advancedcourseworkbeyondtheMS,includingthetechnicalbreadthrequirement.Aformal
readingcommitteeform mustbecompletedandfiledwiththeStudentServicesOffice priorto
thedissertationproposal presentation (Step5).Moststudentssubmitthe ReadingCommittee
Formatthesametimethecandidacypaperworkisfiled.
Readingcommitteeselection:Thedissertationreadingcommitteeconsistsofthreemembers:
theprincipaldissertationadvisorandtwootherreaders.Atleasttwomembersmustbe
StanfordAcademicCouncilmembers.
Onoccasion,permissionfortheappointmentofone nonAcademicCouncilreadermaybe
approvedbythedepartmentiftheproposedreaderisparticularlywellqualifiedtoconsulton
thedissertationproject.ApprovalisrequestedonaPetitionforDoctoralCommitteeMember
42

form (foundontheUniversityRegistrarswebsite).ThereadermusthaveaPh.D.orthe
foreignequivalentandthepetitionmustbeaccompaniedby acurriculumvitae.
4. Coursework: Ph.D.candidatesmustcompleteaminimumof135units(Ph.D.candidateswho
receivedtheirMSfromStanford maycountupto45unitstowardsthe135total).Outofthe
135units,astudentmustcompleteaminimumof27unitsofapproved coursesinadvanced
study (excludingresearch,directedstudy,and seminars)beyondtheMSdegree.Thecourses
shouldconsistofgraduatecoursesinengineeringandsciences.Inaddition,all Ph.D.
candidatesmustparticipateintheirareasresearchseminareachquarter.Studentswho
receivedanMSdegreeatanotherinstitutionmaypetitiontotransferupto45unitstowardsthe
135unitrequirement.
The MechanicalEngineering departmenthasabreadthrequirementforthe Ph.D.program.
Thismaybesatisfiedeitherbyaminorinanotherdepartmentorby atleastnineunitsof
courseworkcoveringphysicalprinciplesormethodologiesoutsidethestudentsprimaryarea
ofresearch.Candidateswithprimarilyexperimentalprojectsshouldincludeatleastthreeunits
onexperimentaltechniques(thisrequirementcanbe waivedifsuitablecourseshavealready
beentakenatthe MSlevel).IfchoosingtotakeaPh.D.minorinanotherdepartment,the20
unitsrequiredfortheminorprogrammaybeincluded withinthe135unitsrequiredforthe
Ph.D.
5. Dissertationproposalpresentation:Atleastoneyearbeforeanticipatedcompletionofthe
dissertation,awrittenproposal mustbesubmittedtothereadingcommittee.Thecommittee
willreviewtheproposalwithregardtothequalityofthetechnicalcontentandthewritten
exposition.Iftheproposalisacceptable,thecommitteewillaskthecandidatetomakeanoral
presentation. Thepurposeofthispresentationistoensurethereadingcommittee thatthe
candidatehasanadequateunderstandingofthe subjectarea,and itaffordsthestudentthe
opportunity to seek guidanceforthedissertationwork.
6. Universityoralexamination:Anytimeaftercompletinganacceptabledraftofthe dissertation,
withthe approval ofthe advisorandreadingcommittee,thestudentmayschedulethe
universityoralexamination (DissertationDefense).Todosorequirescompletionofthe
universityOral ExamSchedule form (availablefromtheUniversityRegistrarswebsite).The
form mustbesubmittedforapprovalatleasttwoweekspriortothedayoftheexam.Itisthe
studentsresponsibilitytoschedulethetimeanddayoftheexamandensurethatallexaminers
areavailabletoattend.
TheUniversityOralExaminationCommitteemustconsistofaChairandfourexaminers
includingtheprincipal dissertationadvisor.TheChairmustbeaStanfordAcademicCouncil
memberand maynothaveafullorjointappointmentinthesamedepartmentasthe
candidateortheprincipal advisor.Thepurposeofthisregulation istoensure thatthereisat
leastoneunbiasedcommitteememberwhocanmakesurethatallrulesandpoliciesare
followedduringtheexam.The Chairneednotbefamiliarwiththestudentsfieldof
specializationandemeritifaculty membersareeligibletoserve.Atleastthreeofthefour
remainingcommitteemembersmustbe onthe StanfordAcademicCouncil.
Oncethe OralExamSchedule hasbeenapprovedbythe StudentServicesManager,the
studentshouldpickuptheapprovedpetitionandaccompanyinginformation to give tothe
Chairoftheexamatleasttwodaysinadvanceoftheexamdate.IftheChairmanoftheexam
doesnothavetheapprovedpetitionpriortothestartoftheexam,theexamwillbeinvalid.
43

TheOralChairshouldsubmittheresultsoftheexamination totheStudentServicesOffice
immediatelyfollowingtheexam.Thestudentsadvisorwillnotifythestudentoftheoutcome.
Note:Studentsmustberegistered during thequarterinwhichtheexaminationistaken
7. DissertationPreparationandSubmission: Rulesgoverning formatofdissertation,fees,forms
anddatesofsubmissioncanbe found at:
http://registrar.stanford.edu/publications/#Dissertations

44

Ph.D.QualificationExamination
MechanicalEngineeringDepartment
StanfordUniversity
Revised March2006
ExamPurpose
Theexamevaluatesyourcapacitytoperformoutstandingresearch,andhasseveralgoals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Tomotivateyoutoreviewandsynthesizecourseworkandresearchmaterial.
Todetermineyourcreativepotentialtopursuedoctoralresearch.
Todetermineyourabilitytounderstandandapplyfundamentalconcepts.
Totestyouroralcommunicationskillsandyourabilitytorespondtoquestions.
Toidentifyareasthatneedstrengtheningasyouworktowardsthedoctorate.

ExamStructure
ExamsaregivenduringthesecondandthirdweeksoftheFall,Winter,andSpringacademic
quarters.Theexamlastsapproximatelytwohours.Itbeginswitha20minuteresearchlecture
followedbyquestionsaboutyourresearch,anddetailedquestionsinfourtechnicalsubjectareas.
AdministrativeProceduretoScheduleyourExam
1. ObtainaFacultySponsor.AnAcademicCouncilMemberfromtheDepartmentof
MechanicalEngineeringmustbewillingtosuperviseyourPh.D.programanddissertation.The
decisionbythefacultymembertosupervisetheprogramanddissertationisbasedonyourpotential
tobecomeanindependentscholar,aswellasmanyotherfactors,includingyourundergraduateand
graduatecourserecord,research,teaching,andprofessionalexperience.Themostimportant
factoristhedirectknowledgethefacultysponsorhasofyourresearchcapabilities.Youneeda
minimumgraduateStanfordGPAof3.5tobeeligiblefortheexam.Studentsareencouragedto
worktogethertopreparefortheexam.Typicallytheexamistakenshortlyafterearningthe
mastersdegree.
2. PrepareanApplicationFolder.Thefolderincludes:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Updatedtranscriptsofallundergraduateandgraduatecoursework.
Curriculumvitae.
UnofficialStanfordtranscriptandGPAcalculation.
Title and abstract for the research lecture given during the exam (less than 200
words).
Preliminary dissertation proposal (one to three pages) providing a rationale and
methodologyfortheproposedwork.

45

3. ChooseanAcademicQuarterfortheExamination.Examsmustbetakeninthesecondor
thirdweekoftheAutumn,Winter,orSpringquarters.Theapplicationfoldermustbesubmitted
firsttothefacultyadvisorforapprovalonthedateindicatedbelow.Approximatelytwoweeks
later,thefolderisduetotheOfficeofStudentAffairs.

FallQuarterExam
WinterQuarter
SpringQuarter

DuetoFacultySponsor
May15*
October15*
January15*

DuetoDepartment
June1*
November1*
February1*

*If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the material is due on the closest following
businessday.
Afterthecommitteehas beenidentifiedandyouhavereceiveddepartmentapproval,schedulethe
specificdateandtimeoftheexamwiththeexaminers.
4. ChooseFourSubjects.Togetherwithyourfacultysponsor,choosefourindependentsubjects.
Twoofthesubjectsmustbetakenfromseparatelinesinthelistbelow.Forexample,Solid
MechanicsandDesignsatisfythetwosubjectrequirement,whereasFluidmechanicsand
Heattransferdonot.
Thetworemainingsubjectsmaybedrawnfromthelistwithoutconstraint.Alternatively,oneor
bothoftheadditionalsubjectsmaynotbeonthelist.Subjectsnotonthelistneedtobechosen
togetherwithyourfacultysponsortoreflectthebreadthanddepthofyourknowledgeintopics
relevantforyourthesis.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Biomechanics
Controls
Design
FluidMechanics OR HeatTransfer
Manufacturing OR Materials
Mathematics OR ComputationalMethods
Thermodynamics OR ReactiveSystems
SolidMechanics

Notethattheserequirementsdonotprohibittheuseoftwosubjectsfromagiven lineintheabove
list,aslongasatleastoneotherlineisrepresented.Forexample,thefollowingfoursubjects
wouldbeallowed:Mathematics,ComputationalMethods,Manufacturing,andMaterials.
5. ChooseExaminers. Selectfourexaminerstogetherwithyourfacultysponsor.Atleastthree
examinersmustbemembersoftheacademiccouncil.Thefacultysponsormaybeoneofthe
examiners,butnotthechairofthecommittee.Atleastoneoftheexaminersshouldbefromoutside
thefacultysponsor'sgroup.
6. MeetwithExaminersandFocustheSubjectMaterial.Meetwitheachexamineratleasttwo
monthsbeforeyourexamtodiscussanddeterminethespecificsubjectcontent.Eachsubjectshall
beapproximatelyequivalenttothecontentoftwocourses,whichmayormaynotbeavailableat
Stanford.Youshouldmeetwiththemasearlyaspossibletohelpfocusyourpreparationinthe
subjectareas.

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7. PrepareaResearchLecture.Theexamwillstartwitha1520minutelectureonyour
research.Oneweekpriortothelecture,sendeachcommitteememberaremindercontainingthe
abstractofthelecture,aswellasthetimeandlocation.
Outcomes
Immediatelyaftertheexam,thecommitteewilldeliberateonalloftheinformationithasacquired
duringtheprocessandwilldecideonaresult(pass,conditionalpass,orfail)asdescribedbelow:
(a) UnconditionalPass
(b) ConditionalPass
Inthiscase,thecommitteewilloutlinetheweaknessesandconditionsthestudentmust
fulfill beforeattainingcandidacy.Examplesofconditionsincludecoursestobetakenwith
performanceataspecifiedlevel,improvedcommunicationskillsasevidencedbyacertain
activity,completingonequarterasaTeachingAssistantinarelevantcourse,orre
examinationinoneormoresubjectareas.Theseconditionsshouldberecordedonthe
appropriateformandsubmittedtotheStudentServicesOffice.Whentheconditionshave
beenmet,withthefacultysponsor'sendorsement,thestudentwillrequestachangein
statusfromConditionalPasstoPass.TheChairoftheGraduateCurriculum
Committeewillactontherequest.
(c) Fail(withorwithouttheoptiontoretake)
AmajorityvoteoftheExaminationCommitteeisrequiredforboththepassandtheconditional
pass.Theexamcannotbetakenmorethantwiceandmaynotberetakenduringthesamequarter.
TheChairoftheexamcommitteewillnotifythestudentandStudentServicesoftheresults.

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HONORCODE
Stanfordexaminationsarenotproctored.We expectstudentstobehaveasmatureadults,andtobe
judgedonthebasisofknowledgethattheyalonepossess.
Thisisnotthetraditionatmanyotheruniversities. We livebythehonorcode,andtodosowe
mustsupportit.Thismeansthatstudentsshould reportobservedhonorcodeviolations,andthe
facultyiscommittedtoaquickandjustresolutionofeachcaseofsuspectedviolationthrough
establishedadministrativepractices.
We dodealfirmlywithhonorcodeviolations.Studentshavebeensuspended,andhavehad degree
conferral delayed,followingconvictionsforhonorcodeviolations.
StanfordUniversityHonorCode
A. TheHonorCodeisanundertakingofthestudents,individuallyandcollectively
1. thattheywillnotgiveorreceiveaidinexaminationsthattheywillnotgiveorreceiveun
permittedaidinclasswork,inthepreparationofreports,orinanyotherworkthatistobe
usedbytheinstructorasthebasisofgrading
2. thattheywilldotheirshareandtakeanactivepartinseeing toitthatothersaswellas
themselvesupholdthespiritandletteroftheHonorCode.
B. Thefacultyonitspartmanifestsitsconfidenceinthehonorofitsstudentsbyrefrainingfrom
proctoringexaminationsandfromtakingunusualandunreasonableprecautionstopreventthe
formsofdishonestymentionedabove.Thefacultywillalsoavoid,asfaraspracticable,
academicproceduresthatcreatetemptationstoviolatetheHonorCode.
C. Whilethefacultyalonehastherightandobligationtosetacademicrequirements,thestudents
andfacultywillworktogethertoestablishoptimalconditionsforhonorableacademicwork.
FormoreadditionalinformationontheHonorCode:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/registrar/bulletin/bulletin0506/pdf/StudentAffairs.pdf

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PLACESTOGETHELP

Ifyoufindyourselfinanoverwhelmingsituation,ratherthanletting thingsbuildupuntilyoucan
nolongerhandleit,thereare severalindividualsandofficesthatcanhelp.Hereisjustasampleof
placesyoucanturn.Theyarenotlistedinanyparticularorder,so feelfreeto contactwhomever
youfeelmostcomfortablewith.
CAPSCounselingServices(TOTALLYCONFIDENTIAL): 2ND floor,Vaden Health
Center:CrisisCenter,stressmanagementcenter,supportgroups,individualcounseling
Youracademicadvisororanotherfacultymemberthatyoufeelcomfortablewith
IndraniGardella,StudentServicesManager,MechanicalEngineeringDepartment,
Building530,Room125
ProfessorMarkCappelli,CoAssociateChairofStudentServices,Building520,Room
520J,orProfessorDrewNelson,CoAssociateChairofStudentServices,Terman
EngineeringRoom517
ProfessorKennethGoodson,AssociateChairofGraduate Curriculum,Building530,
Room212
ProfessorTomKenny,AssociateChairofGraduateAdmissions,Building530,Room
214
SallyGressens,AssistantDeanofStudentAffairs,SchoolofEngineering,Terman
EngineeringCenter,Terman208A
FORADDITIONALASSISTANCE
CenterforTeachingandLearning SweetHall,room 110
Servicestostudents:
CoursestoImproveLearningEffectiveness
OneononeStudySkillsCounseling
TutoringandTutorTraining
BechtelInternationalCenter
583LagunitaDrive(behindTresidderUnion)
forassistancewithculturalandlanguageproblemsaswellasvisas/passportissues
REFERENCEGUIDES
StanfordUniversityGraduateHandbook: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/DoR/GSH/
ThisHandbookisacollection ofinformationaboutUniversitypolicies,requirements,and
resourcesrelevantto all Stanfordgraduatestudents
StanfordBulletin: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/registrar/bulletin/
Coursedescriptions,aswellasUniversityandSchoolpolicies
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