Fluid and Thermal Sciences Area Specialization

Faculty: Drs. Hamid Rahai, Reza Toossi, and Jalal Torabzadeh

The thermal Sciences program emphasizes the understanding of various fundamental aspects of thermodynamics and heat transfer related to practical engineering problems, such as energy and materials processing and manufacturing. The core program is intended to provide a background and fundamental skills in thermal fluids engineering. Students take advanced classes depending on their area(s) of interest. Each student's program of study is developed individually and tailored to his or her background, talents, and objectives. Selection of courses is done in consultation with the student's advisor.

Undergraduate Background

Students must have the required background course or equivalents:

CE 335, Fluid Mechanics

MAE 305,Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering

MAE 330, Engineering Thermodynamics I

MAE 431, Heat Transfer Systems Design

Requirements  (Effective 2007/2008 Catalog Year)

Completion of a minimum of 30 (for PLAN I) or 36 units (for PLAN II) beyond the bachelor's degree in graduate courses approved by the Department's Graduate Studies Comittee, including:

1. A minimum of four (4) courses in the area of Fluids and Thermal Systems (4 x 3 = 12 units).
2. A minimum of two (2) advanced engineering mathematics courses beyong basic calculus, basic differential equations, and linear algebra (2 x 3 = 6 units).
3. A minimum of two (2) technical elective courses selected from approved upper division or graduate courses (2 x 3 = 6 units).
4. Completion of a thesis (6 units of MAE 698 for PLAN I) or a directed research project (6 units of MAE 697 for PLAN II).

	PROGRAM UNITS
Requirements	PLAN I	PLAN II
Math	6 units	6 units
Core	12 units	12 units
Electives	6 units	12 units
Thesis or Directed Research	6 units Thesis	6 units Directed Research
Total	30	36

Math: MAE 501 Engineering Analysis I

MAE 502 Engineering Analysis II

Core Courses: All are 3 units

MAE 531,Advanced Heat Transfer

MAE 532,Combustion I

MAE 537,Advanced Fluid Dynamics I

Electives: Core courses not taken:

MAE 533,Gas Dynamics

MAE 535,Computational Fluid Dynamics I

MAE 538,HVAC

MAE 631,Thermal Radiation

Thesis: MAE 698

Directed Research: MAE 697