Mechanical Engineering and Computational Science (PhD) at University of Southern California

Programme overview

The PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Computational Science is a research doctorate requiring a minimum of 60 units, a screening examination, coursework and a dissertation. Students do not apply to it directly: they apply to the standard PhD in Mechanical Engineering and may later be approved to switch based on research topics and coursework.

Faculty: Viterbi School of Engineering | Department: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering | Duration: 60 units minimum | Study mode: full-time | Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

What you will study

The curriculum has 8 units of engineering mathematics (linear algebra, partial differential equations, probability and statistics), at least 8 units of research and dissertation, 12 units of computational science electives (for example finite element analysis, computational fluid mechanics, machine learning and computational physics) and a 0-unit practicum.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants apply to the standard PhD in Mechanical Engineering and may be approved to switch to this programme on the advice of faculty, based on research topics and coursework. Admitted students must pass the screening examination, which emphasizes fundamental graduate coursework. USC Graduate School (all graduate programmes): a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university. International applicants whose first language is not English demonstrate English proficiency; for PhD applicants, ISE-exam exemption scores are TOEFL iBT 100 with no less than 20 on each section (exams taken before 21 January 2026), IELTS Academic 7 with no less than 6 on each band, or PTE 68 with no less than 53 on each band. USC sets no university-wide minimum for admission and some departments set higher requirements.

Duration: 60 units minimum

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