HomeField RulesTAM MS/PhD Field Rules

TAM MS/PhD Field Rules

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Field Rules

Adopted by Field Vote 2/12/2021
Amended by Field Vote 3/26/2021

Description of the Field

The Graduate Program in the Field of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics offers students a broad education in the mechanics of rigid and deformable bodies, applied mathematics, nonlinear dynamical systems and modern experimental techniques.

Research in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at Cornell is focused on the fundamental  development and analysis of mechanical and mathematical models for a wide variety of scientific applications. Current research topics focus on the mechanics and dynamics of fluids and solids in a broad range of  physical and biological systems. Examples include complex systems and networks, planetary rings and asteroids, fracture mechanics, contact mechanics, adhesion and friction of bio-inspired surfaces, soft material mechanics, granular mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, mechanics of cellular and bio-molecular structures, ballistic impact of fibrous systems, animal locomotion and cardiac dynamics and mechanics of soft materials, design of multifunctional, active and polymeric materials, biological interfaces and pattern surfaces, membrane fusion, rheology of complex fluids, suspension mechanics, micro-hydrodynamics, stability of capillary surfaces, and capillary adhesion devices.

TAM is the study of Engineering Science. TAM research often tends more toward science and engineering concepts and applied mathematics than direct engineering applications. Research tools include experiments, analytical mathematical solutions and computer simulations.

A list of TAM field faculty is available at: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/theoretical-and-applied-mechanics

Subjects and Concentrations

Major Subject and Concentrations

The major subject for all students in the field of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics is Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The major concentration must be one of the following:

  1. Dynamics and Space Mechanics
  2. Fluid Mechanics
  3. Mechanics of Materials
  4. Solid Mechanics

The graduate school has specific definitions for subjects and concentrations, which do not exactly match common usage.  Typically, what are referred to as subjects or subject areas map to the graduate school’s concentrations (as listed above in the case of TAM). For the majority of fields, there is only one subject, and so graduate school ‘subjects’ can usually be treated as synonymous with graduate fields.  The remainder of this document will adopt the graduate school’s nomenclature.

Minor Subjects

All students are required to minor in at least one other subject from a field outside of TAM. Frequently selected minors fields include aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, applied physics, astronomy, electrical and computer engineering, geophysics, materials science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, and structural engineering. A student may also elect to take a second minor subject in any field. The concentration studied for each minor subject must be distinct from that of the major subject. The student’s special committee (see below) must reflect three distinct concentrations.

Time-to-Degree

All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within seven years. Students usually take four to five years to earn the Ph.D. degree.

University Registration

University registration is the official recognition of a student’s relationship with the university and is the basic authorization for a student’s access to campus resources. You must be registered each semester until you finish your degree or withdraw from the program. You do not register if you are granted a leave of absence.  For further details see here: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/requirements-milestones/registration/

Special Committee

The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) is the committee chair for all students before the establishment of a Special Committee. 

Timetable for the Selection of the Special Committee

A committee chair (major advisor) must be selected by each Ph.D. student before the end of the first term. The committee chair will aid the graduate student in selecting the Special Committee, which shall consist of a minimum of three faculty members and which will directly supervise the graduate study and research of a student. This committee must be formed before the end of the third term for all students.

Special Committee

The Special Committee consists of a minimum of three members, each representing a distinct concentration.  The Chair of the committee represents the major subject and concentration, and each minor subject is represented by an additional committee member.  All minor subjects from outside of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics must be represented by a member of the minor subject’s field.  All students are required to minor in at least one other subject from a field outside of TAM. 

At least two members of a student’s committee should be able to assess expertly the technical content of the student’s research. In consultation with the Chair of the Special Committee, the DGS may add a field-appointed member to the student’s committee if the DGS believes that the committee, as constituted, does not represent this level of expertise.

After  its  selection,  the  Special  Committee directly supervises all academic activities of the graduate student and sets specific course requirements for the major and minor subjects. Students are encouraged to meet with their Special Committees at least once each year to review progress toward their degree.

Selection of a Special Committee (including the major advisor) is a mutual agreement between a student and the chosen faculty members. During the pursuit of their degree, changes in circumstances may cause the student and/or faculty members to desire the termination of this commitment. In such cases, changes to the special committee should be made as soon as possible.  Changes should be initiated by notifying the DGS.  Barring unusual events, it is expected that such changes should take place rarely, and early in the student’s graduate career.

Course Requirements

All incoming Ph.D. students with a Bachelor’s degree must register for credit and do satisfactorily (B- or better in each course, with a 3.0 overall GPA) in: 

  1. Two graduate courses in Applied Mathematics
  2. One graduate course in Dynamics and Space Mechanics
  3. One graduate course in Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics or Mechanics of Materials

These basic requirements (four graduate courses) are expected to be completed by an incoming Ph.D. student within the first two terms at Cornell. An up to date list of courses in each area will be maintained by the DGS and made available to all students. Courses not appearing on the list can be used but must be approved by the DGS. 

Incoming students with a Master’s degree are assumed to have already satisfied some of these basic course requirements, but may take additional coursework in their first term to refresh or augment their prior coursework, as needed. Each incoming student will meet with the DGS in their first term to make a plan for their first year coursework. 

Except for the above basic course  requirements,  other  course  requirements  for  the Ph.D. degree are decided by the student’s Special Committee. The field, however, recommends that a student should register for credit and do satisfactorily in a minimum of 9 courses, with multiple areas represented in depth (i.e., by 2 or more courses).

Teaching Experience

Two semesters of teaching experience are required of all Ph.D. students. This requirement is usually fulfilled through Teaching Assistantships (TAs). International students whose native language is not English are required to undergo screening by the International Teaching Assistant Development Program (ITADP) and may be required to take courses in English and pedagogy before assuming TA duties. The College of Engineering requires all teaching assistants to participate in TA Training offered by the College. In exceptional circumstances, students may petition the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for a reduction in the required amount of teaching experience.

PhD students on a three-year (or longer) fellowship may satisfy the teaching requirement by serving one semester as a TA and performing an additional qualified teaching activity. A qualified teaching activity shall be approved by the DGS and Special Committee chair, must involve teaching technical material to a group and involve at least 15 contact hours.

Examinations

The field of Mechanical Engineering requires the successful completion of three examinations for the Ph.D. degree.

Qualifying (Q) Examination

This examination is administered by the entire Faculty of the Field. For incoming students with a Bachelor’s degree, the examination is normally held at the end of their second term, and before the start of their third term.  For incoming Ph.D. students with a Master’s degree, the examination  is normally  held at the end of their first term, and before the start of their second term. Students may request waivers to this schedule directly from the DGS.

The examination involves three areas: continuum mechanics, dynamics, and applied mathematics. Each candidate must take a half-hour oral examination in each of the above areas. A candidate can choose between solid and fluid mechanics in the area of continuum mechanics. The examination for each of the three areas is administered by a faculty committee.

Questions asked in this examination are normally at the senior undergraduate and first year graduate level. The purpose of this exam is not to test the candidate’s breadth of knowledge, but rather their understanding of fundamentals and to estimate their potential as a doctoral student, particularly  with  regard  to  research. 

Q Exam Procedures

For each exam, the DGS appoints a Q committee and selects a committee chair for each area. Each committee has at least 3 members, including the chair. Prior to the exam, each committee generates a list of at least 3 questions in their area. Questions must be presented to students in written form on the day of the exam. All students in each area will receive the same sets of questions.

Each student taking the Q exam in a given term is examined by each committee in one day. 

After each student completes their exam, each committee member assigns the student a numerical score (from 1 to 10). After all students have completed their exams, all scores are recorded and presented to the whole field faculty during a regular field meeting.

During the field meeting, each committee chair presents the questions given to the students and there is a general discussion of student performance. All field faculty present at the meeting vote whether to pass or fail the student.  Pass condition is a 2/3rds vote to pass of all faculty present (given quorum).  This meeting will also typically include a review of all current student status.  Field members not present at the meeting, must submit, in writing, a status report on their students to the DGS prior to the meeting. 

The outcome of the exam is presented to the student by the DGS in an individual meeting where their performance is discussed.  At this time the DGS may recommend additional coursework or specific TA appointments.

A student failing the Q exam may be allowed to retake the exam in the following term.  Upon a second failure of the Q exam, the student will be required to withdraw from the program.

Expedited Q Exam Procedures

In the event where 3 or fewer students need to take a Q exam in a given semester, the DGS may choose to offer an expedited exam process, with the approval of the field.  In this case, a Q committee of at least 3 field faculty is appointed, with one or more representatives for each of the three exam areas.  Exams are administered as in the normal procedure save that the entire committee is present for the entirety of the exam for each student and the committee, in consultation with the DGS, makes the final determination of whether the student passes, requiring a 2/3rds vote of the committee to pass.

Admission To Candidacy (A) Examination

The A examination must be taken by a graduate student before the start of their seventh term, and at least two terms prior to the Defense of Dissertation Examination (B-Exam). This oral examination is administered by the student’s Special Committee and consists of two parts:

  • A public oral presentation
  • An oral examination by the candidates committee, open only to field members

The purpose of the A exam is to both test the student’s knowledge in their major and minor fields, as well as to test the student’s preparation for completing a dissertation. 

During the exam, it is recommended that the student give a brief oral presentation of the outline of their thesis topic as well as answer questions raised by the Special Committee on their thesis topic. It is recommended that each student prepare a written outline, of no more than five pages, of  their  proposed  research.  This  writeup should be approved by the student’s major advisor and submitted to members of the Special Committee one week prior to the “A” exam.

At least seven calendar days before the date of the exam, a ‘Schedule of Examination’ form, signed by each member of the special committee and the DGS, must be submitted to the Graduate School and an announcement of the exam made to the field faculty. Within three days after the exam, a ‘Results of Examination’ form, recording the outcome of the exam and signed by each member of the Special Committee and the DGS, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

A student failing the A exam may be allowed to retake the exam in the following term.  Upon a second failure of the A exam, the student will be required to withdraw from the program.

Defense of Dissertation Examination (B-Exam)

The  oral  examination  is  administered  by  the  Special  Committee  and  is based  on  the candidate’s dissertation and research. This examination is taken only after all other requirements for the degree have been fulfilled, and after the dissertation has been submitted to the committee. The first part of the B examination, consisting of a seminar, is open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend others’ exams.

At least seven calendar days before the date of the exam, a ‘Schedule of Examination’ form, signed by each member of the special committee and the DGS, must be submitted to the Graduate School and an announcement of the exam made to the field faculty. Within three days after the exam, a ‘Results of Examination’ form, signed by each member of the special committee and the DGS, recording the outcome of the exam, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Dissertation

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete a dissertation constituting an important and original contribution to knowledge. Dissertation formatting and submission must follow the Graduate School’s requirements and guidelines, which may be found here: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/thesis-dissertation/ 

Printed, bound copies of the dissertation are not required by the field. 

Department Colloquium

PhD students must pass MAE7999 at least twice before the completion of their degree.  The DGS may reduce this requirement at their discretion when student tenure is short or other classes, teaching requirements, or enrollment in absentia terms repeatedly preclude enrollment in MAE7999.  Students desiring a reduction should petition the DGS explaining why enrollment in six terms was impossible or onerous.

Requirements for Students with Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Minor Subject

Ph.D. candidates from other major fields with a Theoretical and Applied Mechanics minor subject representatives on their committees must register for credit and perform satisfactorily in a minimum of three courses, at least two of which are in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, or dynamics and represent two of the concentrations of the field.

M.S. Degrees

Non-Thesis M.S.

A Non-Thesis M.S. degree may be awarded, at the discretion of the student’s special committee, to a doctoral student who has earned at least four registration units and one of the following:

  1. Has successfully completed the A-Exam; or
  2. has withdrawn from the Ph.D. program after failing the A-Exam, but performed at a level commensurate to a passed Final Exam for an M.S. degree; or
  3. has successfully completed a Final Examination for the M.S. degree, but will not continue in the Ph.D. program.

M.S. with Thesis

An M.S. degree (with Thesis) may be awarded to a doctoral student who has earned at least two registration units, and either:

  1. With the approval of the Special Committee, writes an M.S. Thesis and successfully completes an M.S. Examination before continuing on with the Ph.D. program. (The M.S. Examination may be combined with the A-Exam.); or
  2. submits a “Change of Program” to an M.S. degree, submits a Thesis, and takes an M.S. Examination. The student does not continue in the Ph.D. program.

M.S. Examination

The structure of an M.S. examination will be equivalent to that of the A and B exams described above. The special committee for an M.S. examination needs to only include two members (including the committee chair). 

Parliamentary Structure of the Field

  • The field will hold at least one meeting per calendar year.  Typically this meeting will be devoted to voting on Q exam results and reviewing student status.  Additional meetings may be called by the DGS for votes on other field business.
  • All field meetings will provide access for all field members to participate remotely.  Faculty participating in meetings by teleconference and videoconference will be considered as attending.
  • Absentee voting (direct communication to the DGS of votes by field members who are unable to attend a field meeting) will be allowed for all field matters brought to a vote in regular field meetings, with the exception of Q exam results.  To facilitate voting, all matters to be voted upon during a field meeting will be advertised prior to the meeting.  The DGS will share the exact text of all items to be brought to a vote (with the exception of Q exam results) with all field members no less than seven days prior to the meeting. 
  • The DGS may call for an electronic vote on field matters in lieu of calling a field meeting.  In such cases, all field members will have a minimum of seven days within which to register their votes.  For purely electronic votes, the DGS will also provide a mechanism for field members to share their thoughts on the subject of the vote with the entire field.
  • Voting members are non-emeritus faculty members of the field.
  • The quorum for field meetings and electronic votes is one third of voting field members, rounded to the nearest integer.
  • Passage of all field votes requires a two thirds majority of all votes cast (including absentee votes and abstentions), in the presence of a quorum, rounded to the nearest integer.