1. Major Subject: Each student must choose, in consultation with his/her advisor, a major subject or several subjects within the Field and a minor subject (or subjects) outside the Field.
The major subjects within the Field are: (1) Solid Mechanics, (2) Dynamics and Space Mechanics, (3) Fluid Mechanics, and (4) Mechanics of Materials.
In the case of a single minor advisor, it cannot be a so-called "special minor"- that is, it must be one in which a minor advisor lists the appropriate minor course requirements and participates in the student's examinations.
2. Thesis: A thesis is required for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. A bound copy of the thesis must be presented to the Graduate Field Coordinator before any degree can be granted.
3. Examinations:
(a) The only examination requirement for the M.S. degree is the "Final Examination", administered by the student's Special Committee.
(b) The following three examinations must be successfully passed for the Ph.D. degree:
(i) Qualifying Examination
This examination is administered by the entire Faculty of the Field.
For incoming students with a Bachelor's degree, the examination is usually taken after they have completed two semesters of graduate studies at Cornell.
For incoming students with a Master's degree, the examination is usually held after they have completed one semester of graduate studies at Cornell.
The Director of Graduate Studies is in charge of the examination.
The examination involves three subject 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 subject 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 his or her understanding of fundamentals and to estimate his/her potential as a doctoral student, particularly with regard to research.
(ii) Admission-To-Candidacy, "A" Examination
The "A" examination must be taken by a graduate student before the start of his/her seventh term. This oral examination is administered by the student's Special Committee and consists of two parts:
(a) Testing the student's knowledge in his/her major and minor fields;
(b) Testing the student preparation for writing a thesis
In the second part of the examination, it is recommended that the student give a brief oral presentation of the outline of his/her thesis topic as well as answer questions raised by the Special Committee on his/her thesis topic. It is recommended that each student prepare a written outline, of no more than five pages, of his/her 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.
(iii) Ph.D. Final, "B" Examination 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 a typed version of the dissertation has been prepared and distributed to the Special Committee. The first part of the "B" examination, consisting of a seminar, is open to the public. All students are invited to attend this exam.
4. Teaching Requirement:
(a) For the M.S. degree there is no teaching experience required.
(b) For the Ph.D. degree at least one semester of teaching experience as a TA at Cornell is required.
5. Recommended Courses for the Ph.D. degree:
All incoming Ph.D. students with a Bachelor's degree should register for credit and do satisfactorily in at least one graduate course in each of the following areas:
(a) Applied Mathematics
(b) Dynamics and Space Mechanics
(c) Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics or Mechanics of Materials
These basic courses are expected to be completed by an incoming Ph.D. student within the first three terms at Cornell.
Incoming students with a Master's degree have usually taken such courses already. If appropriate, The Director of Graduate Studies will recommend remedial courses related to the above areas in their first term. Advance credits for previous course work may be granted by the Field upon recommendation of the student's Special Committee.
The field, also, recommends the following guideline for course work.
Ph.D. Candidates entering with a Bachelor's Degree
A student having only one minor field should register for credit and do satisfactorily in a minimum of nine semester courses. At least two of the following three areas should be represented in-depth (i.e., by two or more courses): Solid Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials, Dynamics, and Fluid Mechanics. Mechanics-related courses offered by other departments are also acceptable.
Ph.D. Candidates Entering with a Master's Degree
Requirements are the same, but of the nine courses at least seven should be taken while a student is in-residence at Cornell University.
