Ph.D. Degree

The Graduate School at The Ohio State University specifies that at least 120 graduate credit hours are required after a B.S. degree for a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree. Students can pursue a Ph.D. one of two ways:

• After earning a Master’s degree (M.S.-Ph.D. Track)
  • If a master’s degree has been earned by the student, then a minimum of 75 graduate credit hours beyond the master’s degree is required.
• Directly after earning a Baccalaureate degree (B.S.-Ph.D. Track)

Students who have already acquired a M.S. degree must meet the following credit requirements in order to graduate with a Ph.D. degree: 

•  A minimum of 27 hours of total course credit is required.  ALL hours must be from College of Engineering, Bio/MAPS or College of Medicine courses.
•  6 - 8 credit hours of Math
  •  ALL hours must be 600-level and above Mathematics, Statistics or approved Math-Equivalency courses (Ph.D. level).
  • A minimum CPHR of 3.50 is required in all PhD-level Math credits
  • The Math requirement must be completed prior to Ph.D. Candidacy
• A minimum of 19 – 21 credits 700/800-level courses
  • Up to 11 credits of non-ME 600-level or above can count toward fulfilling this requirement 
• 48 credit hours of ME 999 (Research) or a combination of level-approved coursework and ME 999
• Students must take ME 888 (Seminar) in every quarter until Candidacy.

Students who have earned a B.S. degree and wish to pursue a Ph.D. directly must meet the following credit requirements in order to graduate with a Ph.D. degree: 

•  A minimum of 50 hours of total course credit is required.  ALL hours must be from College of Engineering, Bio/MAPS or College of Medicine courses.
• 8 – 9 credit hours of Math
  • 6 hours must be 600-level and above Mathematics, Statistics or approved Math-Equivalency courses (PhD-level).
  • A minimum CPHR of 3.50 is required in all PhD-level Math credits
  • The Math requirement must be completed prior to Ph.D. Candidacy
• A minimum of 33 hours of 700/800 level courses
  • Including at least 18 credits of Mechanical Engineering (or cross- listed). 
  • The remaining 9 hours may be 500 or 600 level courses if designated as Graduate level 
•  70 credit hours of ME 999 (Research) or a combination of level-approved coursework and ME 999
• Students must take ME 888 (Seminar) in every quarter until Candidacy.

Additional note regarding Math credits: Math credits cannot be double counted to meet other requirements.