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About the Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Engineering Mechanics is designed to help working professionals expand their expertise and stay current with the rapidly evolving technologies and analytical methods used in modern engineering practice. This flexible program provides advanced education in the fundamental principles of engineering mechanics while allowing students to focus on topics that are most relevant to their professional interests and career goals. By combining theoretical foundations with practical applications, the certificate equips engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex challenges in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, energy, and structural engineering.

Coursework covers a broad range of subjects, including continuum mechanics, solid mechanics, structural stability, fracture mechanics, fatigue analysis, composite materials, plates and shells, and laminated composite structures. Students gain a deeper understanding of material behavior, structural performance, and advanced analysis techniques that can be immediately applied in the workplace. The program emphasizes both traditional engineering principles and emerging technologies, preparing graduates to contribute effectively to the design, analysis, and optimization of advanced engineering systems.

In addition to enhancing professional knowledge and technical capabilities, the Engineering Mechanics Graduate Certificate provides an opportunity for students to strengthen their academic credentials. Credits earned through the certificate may serve as a pathway toward further graduate study and can help qualified students prepare for admission to the Master of Science degree program in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering. Whether seeking career advancement, professional development, or preparation for a graduate degree, students will benefit from a rigorous and focused program of study that supports lifelong learning and continued professional growth.

This graduate certificate program is open to all individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering discipline with GPA ≥ 2.75, and who have a minimum of two years of professional experience, or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

The certificate program consists of four courses. In order to receive a graduate certificate, you must earn a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0 in the four certificate courses taken. 

Students admitted to the certificate program will have non-degree graduate status, but will earn graduate credit for the courses they complete.

Once admitted to the certificate program, you will have three years to complete the certificate, as long as you maintain a B average in the courses taken.

For online students applying to a graduate certificate program. (No GRE/GMAT required.)

Certificate Applicant 

The following are the courses offered in the program. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed. 

Total Courses: 4 (12 credit hours)

Choose four from the following:  
Introduction To Continuum Mechanics  
Introduction to Finite Element Analysis  
MECH ENG 5220/​AERO ENG 5220
Advanced Mechanics of Materials  
Stability of Engineering Structures  
Fracture Mechanics  
Fatigue Analysis  
Introduction to Composite Materials & Structures  
Advanced Finite Element Analysis  
Theory of Elasticity  
Theory and Design of Plate and Shell Structures  
Analysis of Laminated Composite Structures  

Course availability may vary by semester (see course listings). Students should consult their academic advisor for appropriate alternatives or substitutions if needed.

Please refer to the Mechanical Engineering section of the graduate catalog for more information.

This program is 100% online: no campus visits required.

Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and finish the program in one year.

  • Delivery: 100% online
  • Calendar system: Semester-based 
  • Typical program length: 1-2 years
  • Typical course load: 1-2 courses a semester (fall and spring)

Courses are offered asynchronously, meaning they do not have regular meetings. They may consist of various media and content — such as online discussions, videos, quizzes and recordings — that students review and complete at the time of their choice.

Learn more about our graduate programs at Missouri S&T by attending one of our virtual information sessions.

Attend Info Session

Pathway to a Master's Degree

Are you a working professional who wants to earn your master's degree, but you don’t have time to take the GRE/GMAT? Then start in a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificates were designed as a pathway to a master's degree.* The admission requirements are more relaxed and credit earned will count toward your degree. Once you successfully earn your graduate certificate, you can continue with the corresponding master's degree without having to take the GRE/GMAT.


Related Degrees

This graduate certificate may act as a pathway to the following master’s programs:

*Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply.

Questions?

Missouri S&T Online Education

We are here to answer any of your questions about Missouri S&T’s online education programs.

Email Us  Request Info

Sylvia Skouby
Associate Director for Online Admissions

573-341-6903  |  stgrad@mst.edu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Xiaodong Yang, PhD
Professor, Associate Chair of Graduate Affairs, and Director of Nanoscale Optics Laboratory

573-341-6273  |  yangxia@mst.edu
Department Website: mae.mst.edu

Karen Walberg
Administrative Assistant and Online Graduate Programs Support

573-341-4602  |   walbergk@mst.edu