Graduate Certificates

Why obtain a graduate certificate from the 91¸£ÀûÉç's Department of Mechanical Engineering?

  • Working professionalsÌýcan obtain a credential in a focusedÌýarea of interest by taking only three or four graduate courses.
  • You'll receive customized guidance on curriculum selection from the professors who built these certificates.
  • You canÌýleverage your newly gained network and credential whenÌýseeking career growth opportunities.

Applying for a Certificate

Application deadlines
  • Fall deadline: August 1
  • Spring deadline: December 1

If you are not a degree-seeking student at the university, you may apply for a graduate certificateÌýby submitting aÌý. To be eligible, you must hold an undergraduate degree in engineering, sciences, or mathematics from anÌýinstitution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You will be asked to submit: 1) a one-page personal statement, 2)Ìýresume/CV, and 3)Ìýunofficial undergraduate transcript.ÌýInternational applicants must submit language scores. Our preferred minimum GPA is 3.0.

Tuition costs can be found on the Bursar's Office website. Certificate students pay Professional Master's tuition and fees.

Internal applicants who are currently-enrolled graduate students in graduate standingÌýat 91¸£ÀûÉç in engineering, sciences, or mathematics and have a 3.0 CGPA or higher are eligible to apply.ÌýBAM students must wait to apply until their first enrolled semester of their MS tenure and program to apply (for example, if beginning the MS term in Fall 2030, apply in Fall 2030). We accept applications on a rolling basis. Please completeÌýtheÌý.Ìý

Completing a Certificate

In the semester that you plan toÌýcompleteÌýyour certificate requirements, please emailÌýmegrad@colorado.eduÌýwith the list ofÌýcourses that you would like to be applied to your certificate. After graduation, you will receiveÌýa certificate at the address on your account.

Certificate Options

Advanced Mechanics & Failure Analysis

About the Program

The certificate provides training in engineering mechanics that goes beyond the typical undergraduate curriculum in several aspects.

  • Students who complete this certificate will have the necessary knowledge and skills for a broad range of industrial sectors that involve structural design and reliability assessment.
  • Students will have the opportunity to establish systematic fundamental knowledge in advanced engineering mechanics through the courses on solid mechanics, finite element analysis and continuum mechanics.
  • Students will be able to learn specialized methods in failure analysis, composite materials, soft materials, and vibration to address challenging problems in engineering design.Ìý

Contact

If you have questions about certificate admission, completionÌýor administration, please email megrad@colorado.edu.

If you have questions about coursework, please email faculty directorÌýFranck Vernerey atÌýfranck.vernerey@colorado.edu.

Coursework

Nine graduate credits (3 graduate courses)Ìýare required to complete the certificate program with grades of at least a BÌýin each course.ÌýA minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing. Courses offered each semester will depend on the availability of faculty. At least one relevant course will be offered each fall and spring semester to ensure that students are able to make progress toward completion of the certificate.

Required Courses

Students must take two of the following courses:

Treats the nonlinear mechanical response of a variety of engineering, biological and bio-inspired materials. The course will start by redefining key concepts of solid mechanics in the context of finite deformation and further explore the response of elastic and inelastic solids. The relationship between the micromechanics occurring at the level of a material’s structure and the emerging mechanical response during elasticity, viscoelasticity, plasticity, damage and fracture. Topics include: sources of nonlinearity in solid mechanics (material and geometric), hyperelasticity, damage and fracture, inelasticity, physical processes, and nonlinear constitutive relations.

Introduces stress, strain and motion of a continuous system. Discusses material derivative; fundamental laws of mass, momentum, energy and entropy; constitutive equations and applications to elasticand plastic materials.

Introduces the theory behind and applications of the finite element method as a general and powerful tool to model a variety of phenomena in mechanical engineering. Applications include structural mechanics, mechanics of elastic continua and heat conduction.

Electives

Examines the fundamental concepts regarding the failure of engineering materials. Case studies are used to integrate a basic understanding of material failure mechanisms with analysis techniques and tools. Topics include the elastic properties (isotropic and anisotropic materials) and the origin of elastic behavior, viscoelasticity, plasticity (dislocation mechanisms, yielding criteria, strengthening mechanisms), creep, fracture and fatigue.