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Graduate Courses

Core Mechanical Engineering Graduate Courses (for credit)

To view GS/MECH courses offered for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025, please visit Coursework Requirements page.

MECH 6101, 3 Credits

Topics include: Low Reynolds number fluid dynamics; liquid and gas flows; surface tension, wetting and capillarity; thermal effects; lubrication theory; experimental methods; biofunctionalization; fabrication techniques; fluids in nanochannels.
MECH 6102, 3 Credits

Topics include: Interfacial thermodynamic principles; equilibrium conditions; contact angles; capillarity and wetting; surface forces and tension; drop-surface interactions; introduction to fluid mechanics involving interfaces; interfacial measurement techniques; special topics on applications.

Pre-requisites: MECH 2201, 3202, or consent of the Instructor
MECH 6103, 3 Credits

Topics include: Governing conservation equations; examples of formulation and solution; laminar boundary layer; integral method; turbulent heat transfer.

Pre-requisites: MECH2201, MECH2202, MECH3202; and MECH3203 (or equivalent).
MECH 6104, 3 Credits

This course covers Advanced Heat Transfer and its applications. Topics covered include: generalized governing equations, heat conduction, forced and natural convection, condensation, evaporation, boiling, radiation, advanced computational heat transfer and advanced characterization of thermal properties.

Pre-requisites: Consent of the Instructor.
MECH 6105, 3 Credits

This is a first graduate level course in fluid dynamics with an introduction to turbulent flow and modeling. This course builds from an assumed undergraduate knowledge of fluid mechanics. The course begins with review of tensor notation, flow kinematics and derivation of the equations of fluid motion. Following this, the course covers exact solutions to Navier-Stokes equations, circulation and vorticity, potential flow, boundary layers, turbulence, modeling and closure methods.

Prerequisite: undergraduate level fluid mechanics.
MECH 6106, 3 Credits

This course is a complete treatment of Radiation Heat Transfer and its applications, covering: fundamentals of thermal radiation; calculation methods for surface-to-surface and volumetric radiative exchange; advanced modelling techniques including Monte Carlo; and applications including: solar energy, space, atmospheric transport, sustainability, advanced energy technologies, and high temperature processes.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
MECH 6107, 3 Credits

This course covers theoretical foundations for microscale computations and introduces several tools with emphasis on molecular dynamics. Applications in engineering will also be emphasized so that students can perform sample simulations according to their research interests. The course involves 3hrs lecture per week and registration requires the instructor consent.
MECH 6201, 3 Credits

Topics include: Indicial notation and tensor calculus; kinematics of a continuum: material and spatial descriptions, infinitesimal strain and rotation tensors, Lagrangian and Eulerian strain tensors, etc.; conservation laws; isotropic and anisotropic linearly elastic solids under small normal, torsional and bending deformations; Newtonian viscous fluids: properties interpretation, Navier-Stokes equation, analysis of special cases, etc.

Prerequisites: LE/MECH 2301, LE/MECH 2302 3.00, LE/MECH 2503 3.00, LE/MECH 3202 3.00, LE/MECH 3501 3.00, LE/ MECH 3502 3.00.
MECH 6202, 3 Credits

Topics include: Dynamic system; rigid body kinematics; rigid body kinetics; D’Alembert principle; Lagrange’s Equation; variational principle, Hamilton’s principle; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; stability of dynamic systems; applications to a variety of engineering problems.

Pre-requisites: MECH 2302, 3501 and MATH 2270 (or equivalent)
MECH 6203, 3 Credits

Topics include manufacturing methods for composite materials, micro-mechanics of composite lamina, macro-mechanics of composite lamina, analysis of composite laminates (Classical Laminate Plate Theory), failure analysis of composite laminates, design of laminated structures.
Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor
MECH 6204, 3 Credits

This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts of linear and nonlinear fracture mechanics in materials by helping students to obtain a thorough understanding on how cracks initiate and affect engineering materials. This includes when an existing crack in a material may start to grow till catastrophic failure ensues. Considerations in design of engineering materials against failure will be discussed.

Pre-requisite: Consent of the instructor
MECH 6301, 3 Credits

Topics include: variational formulations and approximation for continuous systems; stiffness matrix formulations of truss and beam elements; 2D & 3D isoparametric finite elements; shell elements; FEA static analysis; steady state thermal analysis (conduction only); mass matrix formulations; vibration eigen value problems; dynamic (time domain) problems; linear solvers; verification and validation in finite element procedures.
Prerequisites: LE/MECH 3502 3.00, SC/MATH 2270 3.00, LE/EECS 1021 3.00 and/or by Instructor’s permission.
MECH 6302, 3 Credits

This course covers Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Methods and its applications in the field of engineering. To create advanced and complex engineering systems that are competitive (both in performance and life-cycle value), today’s engineers need a rigorous, quantitative multidisciplinary design methodology that can integrate with the intuitive non-quantitative and creative side of the design process. Topics covered include: unconstrained and constrained gradient-based optimization; Gradient-free optimization, various optimization techniques such as sequential quadratic programming, simulated annealing or genetic algorithms and machine learning algorithms such as Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, or Reinforcement Learning.

Pre-requisites: Consent of the Instructor.
MECH 6401, 3 Credits

Topics include: advantages and problems of heterogeneous materials; structure, processing, and properties of composites and nanocomposites; material selections for filler, matrix, and additives; testing and properties of composites and nanocomposites; processing technologies of composites and nanocomposites; applications of composites and nanocomposites in traditional (e.g., automotive and aerospace) and emerging areas (e.g., biomedical and energy).

Pre-requisites: MECH2301 and 3502 (or equivalent)
MECH 6402, 3 Credits

Topics include: Shape memory materials; electrically activated materials; magnetically activated materials; optically activated materials; chemically activated materials; structure, processing and properties of smart materials; research, development, and applications of smart materials.

Pre-requisites: Consent of the Instructor
MECH 6403, 3 Credits

Covers advanced kinematics topics and their application to complex robotic systems such as redundant manipulators and parallel mechanisms. Topics include, but are not limited to: point, direction, line, and screw motion descriptions; homogeneous transformations; line and screw coordinates; inverse displacement solutions by analytic, hybrid, and numerical methods; appropriate frames of reference; screw systems and transforms; singularity analysis; and parallel manipulator kinematics.
MECH 6404, 3 Credits

This course is designed to be an introduction to advanced mechatronics and MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) and their applications. Topics covered include: introduction to MEMS and micro-systems; working principles of MEMS; design and fabrication of MEMS and micro-systems; microfabrication and micromachining; materials for MEMS; and applications of MEMS.
MECH 6405, 3 Credits

This course is designed to be an introduction to nanomaterials and metamaterials and their applications. Topics covered include the crystal structure of matter; the reciprocal lattice; phononic and photonic crystals; acoustic and optical metamaterials; semiconductor-based nanostructures; characterization and fabrication techniques for nanomaterials and metamaterials; and applications of nanomaterials and metamaterials.
MECH 6406, 3 Credits

This course covers the fundamentals of polymers and other soft matter, which are increasingly under consideration for emerging engineering applications such as light-weighting, soft robotics, biomedical devices, smart materials, and flexible electronics. It presents the various classifications (polymers, gels, foams, biological media etc) of soft matter, and their fundamentals, their common synthesis routes, their associated structure-processing-property relationships, and their engineering applications. Pre-/Co-requisites: None.
MECH 6501, 3 Credits

This core course provides mathematical techniques in the more advanced areas of mathematics that are of most relevance to engineering disciplines. Equations dealt with in the course include the Laplace equation, heat equation, wave equation, and Navier–Stokes equations. Knowledge of ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, and multivariable calculus is assumed.

Pre-requisites: MATH 2270 (or equivalent)
MECH 6504, 3 Credits

Introduction to contemporary and advanced research themes in bioengineering including: biological concepts for engineers; cell and tissue engineering; regenerative medicine and stem cells, bionanotechnology, biomaterials, drug screening, bioreactors, biotechnology, bioinformatics, genetic engineering, clinical trials and regulations.


Pre-requisites: Consent of the Instructor.
MECH 6505, 3 Credits

Topics include image processing and analysis with MATLAB, Python and OpenCV; theory and operation of cameras; particle image velocimetry, digital image correlation, tomographic imaging techniques.

Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor
MECH 6507, 3 Credits

This course is designed to teach students the operation principles, efficiencies, limitations, and environmental effects of a broad portfolio of sustainable energy technologies that are available to meet global energy demands. Topics covered include an overview of global energy demand and production, the environmental factors in energy generation systems, nuclear power, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar energy conversion, oceanic and wind energy conversion, energy storage and transport, and the technical, social, and economic factors involved with creating energy systems and policies.
MECH 6508, 3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to the design of experiments (DOE) statistical analysis method. Skills acquired by students are: an understanding Descriptive statistics; Sampling distribution; Testing hypotheses; Analysis of variance (ANOVA); Model adequacy checking; Experiments with blocking factors; Factorial experiments; Two-level and three-level factorial designs.

Pre-requisites: Background in undergraduate statistics, linear algebra, matrix calculations, and multivariate calculus.

Compulsory Graduate Courses (not for credit)

ENG 6000, 0 Credits

Topics include: Teaching Skills, Ethical responsibilities for engineering profession; academic and research integrity; technology impact on society; knowledge mobilization; equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI); and public health and safety.

Pre-requisites: None
MECH 6000, 0 Credits

The Graduate Seminar course is a full-year long research writing and presentation event that is conducted annually at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The main purposes of this course is to develop and improve graduate students writing and presentation skills and techniques for their future career paths and to widen the scope of their knowledge by exposing them to research topics in other areas of Mechanical Engineering to establish a sense of community. Participation in this course is required for all full-time graduate students and counts towards fulfilment of their degree requirements at York University.

Pre-requisites: None
MECH 9001, 0 Credits

Students enrolled in performing research towards completion of the thesis requirement for MSc degree.

Pre-requisites: None
MECH 9002, 0 Credits

Students enrolled in performing research towards completion of the dissertation requirement for Ph.D. degree.

Pre-requisites: None

Directed Reading Courses (for credit)

MECH 6900X, 3 Credits

MECH 6900A – Directed Study: Solid Mechanics
MECH 6900B – Directed Study: Manufacturing
MECH 6900C – Directed Study: Materials
MECH 6900D – Directed Study: Fluid Mechanics
MECH 6900E – Directed Study: Heat Transfer
MECH 6900F – Directed Study: Thermodynamics & Energy
MECH 6900G – Directed Study: Engineering Design
MECH 6900H – Directed Study: Dynamics, Control & Robotics
MECH 6900I – Directed Study: Biomedical Engineering
MECH 6900J – Directed Study: Microfluidics and MEMS
MECH 6900K – Directed Study: Other areas in Mechanical Engineering

Complimentary & Training Courses (for credit)

MECH 6502, 3 Credits

Market adoption of new technologies is of concern to researchers, interested in creating economic value from their research, and attracting research. However, technology utility, by itself, is not sufficient to achieve commercial success. This course helps technologists understand the complex issues around enhancing the value proposition of novel technologies, and overcoming barriers to adoption through strategic partnerships or venture creation.
MECH 6503, 3 Credits

Concepts in Disruptive and Exponential Technologies; impact on industries and society; broad overview of disruptive technologies including 3D Printing, drones, robotics, automation, sensors, AI, Big Data, Genomics Sequencing, nanotechnology, advanced materials, microfluidics, energy and sustainability and IofT. Incorporating several technologies into a tech project proposal able to disrupt an established industry and ultimately developing a foundational understanding of technology entrepreneurship opportunities.

Pre-requisites: Consent of the Instructor.
MECH 6506, 3 Credits

Students learn and implement practical strategies for teaching engineering tutorials and laboratories. Practice is guided by educational philosophy and the science of learning, as it applies to higher education in engineering. The course includes experiential education through microteaching exercises and structured reflection.

Lecture: 3 hours per week
Laboratory: N/A
Tutorial: N/A
Pre-requisite: Approval of the course director
Co-requisite: none
Max enrolment: 24
ENG 6001, 3 Credits

Topics include: intellectual property; insurance, directors’ liability, and business associations law; international/transnational governance; environmental law and basics of contract law.

Pre-requisites: None
ENG 6002, 3 Credits

Topics include: General aspects and rhetoric of scholarly writing; presentation of research findings; writing for readers with varying levels of technical knowledge; resources for finding out about funding opportunities; characteristics of successful and unsuccessful grant proposals; review and critique proposals of your peers.

Pre-requisites: None
EDUC 5414, 3 Credits

Topics include: This course examines traditional and emerging approaches to teaching and learning in post-secondary education. It explores the development of teaching methodologies in colleges and universities in Canada and other international venues. In particular students are encouraged to critically evaluate traditional methods and explore one or more selected methodology in the form of a review, group presentation and reflective paper.

Pre-requisites: None