Graduate Degrees - Application Process

Students must meet Departmental, College, and University requirements to gaining admission to, and to complete a graduate degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering. This web page describes the MME admissions process and requirements.

To get more general information about PSU Admissions Requirements for graduate students, follow these links.

• Starting point for information on graduate admissions
• Application instructions for US citizens
• Information for international students
• Application instructions for international graduate students

Application Deadlines for Admission

• Fall Term: April 1
• Winter Term: September 1
• Spring Term: November 1
• Summer Term: February 1

Application Checklist

Applicants must submit two application packets -- one to PSU Admissions, and one to the Department as described below. The admission process will be delayed if incomplete applications are submitted.

Return the following items to Office of Admissions as a complete packet:

1. PSU Application for Admission.
2. $50.00 non-refundable application fee (do not send cash). The fee is good for one year.
3. One official transcript, in its unopened envelope, from each post-secondary institution attended. (PSU transcript is not required for Office of Admissions.)
4. International applicants must also submit the following:
1. Those students whose first language is not English and who do not have a U.S. degree are required to take the TOEFL. An Official TOEFL score report must be sent directly to PSU from the Educational Testing Service. Required minimum for paper-based test is 550 and minimum for computer-based test is 213.
2. Declaration of Finances form. This is for F-1 and J-1 visa holders only. International applicants must show proof of adequate finances for at least the first year of study at PSU.
3. Transfer Clearance form. This is for F-1 and J-1 visa holders only. This is only required for international students who are transferring from another U.S. school. If applicants are not transferring from a U.S. school, this form does NOT need to be submitted.
4. It should be noted that the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department does not usually offer financial assistance to international students during their first term at PSU. Assistantships are offered on a competitive basis, often only after at least one full term of successful graduate coursework. International students must demonstrate financial status to the PSU Admissions Office, and should contact them for financial criteria. They can be contacted directly at admissions@pdx.edu.

Return the following to the Department as a complete packet:

1. One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
2. Three letters of recommendation. It is preferred that at least one of the recommendations should be from a faculty member or an academic advisor. These recommendations should come directly from the evaluator to the Department in sealed/signed envelopes or via email.
3. Ph.D. applicants must also submit a Statement of Purpose and resume or curriculum vitae. It is strongly recommended that applicants discuss research opportunities with faculty in advance of applying and they should specify a specific area of interest or desired advisor within their statement of purpose.
4. Ph.D. applicants must submit GRE general test scores (this may be waived in the case of a student who has received their B.S. from an ABET-accredited school and their M.S. from PSU.
5. M.S. applicants with Bachelor's degrees from non-engineering disciplines or from non-ABET accredited engineering programs are strongly encouraged to submit GRE general test scores. Students intending to continue on for Ph.D. and applying with only a B.S. degree must enter the program as a Masters candidate.

When the Department has received all of the above, the student's application will be reviewed by the MME graduate admissions committee. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Since the Ph.D. student must have a supervising advisor for admittance, all prospective Ph.D. students must contact one of the faculty members in their research area of interest prior to submitting their Ph.D. application.

If you do not register for the term to which you are admitted, your admission will be automatically cancelled unless you notify PSU Admissions and the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering of your intent to change the date of enrollment. Notification must be given prior to the term for which you are admitted. Failure to supply complete and accurate information will subject a student to the University's policies governing academic dishonesty.