Staff

Dean

Newhook, J., BEng, MASc (TUNS), PhD (Dalhousie), PEng

Associate Dean

Little, T., BSc (Eng) (UNB), MEng (Memorial), PhD (UNB), PEng, Undergraduate and Associated Universities
Plucknett, K., BSc, PhD (Warwick), Research

Assistant Dean

El-Sankary, K., BEng (LU), MASc (Quebec), PhD (Ecole Polytechnique), Student Affairs
Ghanem, A., BSc (Eng) (UNB), PhD (Cornell), Diversity and Inclusion

Graduate Admissions Officer

Hillyard, H., BA (Dalhousie)

Department Head

Doman, D. A., BASc, MASc (Waterloo), PhD (Dalhousie), PEng

Graduate Co-ordinator

Taheri, F. BEng, MASc, PhD (TUNS), PEng

Administrative Assistants

Phone: (902) 494-3989
Email: mech.admin@dal.ca
Website: www.dal.ca/faculty/engineering/mechanical.html

Professors

Allen, P. L., BSc (Mt. A), BEng (TUNS), MESc (UWO), PhD (TUNS), PEng. Solar thermal energy utilization, heat exchangers, heat transfer.
Bauer, R. J., BSc (Waterloo), PhD (Toronto), FEC, PEng. Dynamics and control, grinding
Bishop, D. P., BEng, MASc, PhD (TUNS), PEng. Additive manufacturing of metallic materials, powder metallurgy, powder forging, design/development of aluminum alloys, and metal matrix composites.
Corbin, S. F., BEng, MASc (TUNS), PhD (McMaster), PEng. NSERC/Pratt and Whitney Canada Industrial Research Chair in Structural Brazing and Processing of Powder Metallurgy Superalloys.  Sintering, brazing, aerospace materials, structure and properties of engineering materials, physical metallurgy, materials characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM) and materials and manufacturing.
Farhat, Z., BASc, MASc, PhD (Windsor), PEng. Wear, friction, tribology, advance materials and coatings. .
Groulx, D., BSc, PhD (Sherbrooke), PEng. Phase change and applied heat transfer, energy storage, temperature control, tidal energy and fluid mechanics, numerical modeling.
Hubbard, T., BSc (Dalhousie), BEng (TUNS), PhD (CalTech), PEng. MEMS - Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Undergraduate Coordinator.
Kalamkarov, A. L., BSc, MASc, PhD (Moscow State), DSc (Acad Sci., USSR), PEng. Stress and strength analysis, modeling, design and optimization of composite materials and smart structures.
Pan, Y. J., BEng (Yanshan) MEng (Zhejiang), PhD (NUS, Singapore), PEng. Advanced Control, Intelligent Robotics, Cyber Physical Systems, Teleoperation, Collaborative Robots, Haptics.  
Plucknett, K. P., BSc, PhD (Warwick). Structural and functional ceramics, intermetallics, fibre-reinforced composites, electron microscopy, material processing, mechanical properties, biopolymers.
Swan, L., BSc (Cal Poly), MASc, PhD (Dalhousie), PEng. Energy storage, renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy demand analysis, building performance modeling and simulation, building controls.
Taheri, F., BEng, MASc, PhD (TUNS), PEng, Advanced composite materials, finite element methods (linear & nonlinear), fracture mechanics and fatigue, impact and stability of structures, Graduate Co-ordinator.
Ugursal, V. I., BSc (Bogazici), MEng, PhD (TUNS), PEng. Modeling of residential energy consumption, energy conversion and conservation. Recruitment Coordinator.
Warkentin, A., BEngMgt, MEng (McMaster), PhD (Waterloo), PEng CAD/CAM grinding, 5-axis machining, Graduate Seminar Coordinator.
Yemenidjian, N. B., BEng, PhD (Concordia), PEng. Electronic materials, hard materials, ceramics and glasses.

Associate Professors

Doman, D. A., BASc, MASc (Waterloo), PhD (Dalhousie), PEng. Solid mechanics, powder metallurgy compaction, finite element modeling.
Johnston, C. R., BSc, MSc (Alberta), PhD (Calgary), PEng, FCEEA. NSERC Chair in Design Engineering.
Seto, M., BASc, MASc, PhD (UBC), PEng. Irving Chair in Marine Engineering and Autonomous Systems. Autonomy for robotic systems, localization and mapping, multi-robot collaboration, fault tolerance, embedded programming, vehicle dynamics and control.

Assistant Professors

Nasiri, A., BASc, MASc (Sharif University of Technology), Ph.D. (Waterloo), Canada Research Chair II in Ocean Engineering. Metal additive manufacturing, wire arc additive manufacturing, corrosion, multi-scale characterization of microstructure, mechanical properties.

Adjunct (FGS)

Caley, W. F., Bsc (Eng), MSc (Eng) (Queen's), PhD (Toronto), PEng
Donaldson, I., BSc (Univ of Michigan), MSc (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Joseph, A.,BSc (St. FX), MSc (NSAC), PhD (Dalhousie)
Kipouros, G. J., DiplEng (NTU Athens), MASc, PhD (Toronto), PEng
Mahallati, A., BEng (Marine Eng), MASc (Dalhousie), PhD (Carleton)
Nolting, A.,BASc (Waterloo), MASc, PhD (Royal Military College)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Application Forms
Application forms may be obtained through the university's Admissions, Graduate Admissions website.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Admissions Officer for admission information. Send graduate application and all documents pertaining to admissions for Mechanical and Materials Engineering are to:

Heather Hillyard
Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator
Faculty of Engineering
5217 Morris Street, O'Brien Hall, 4th Floor
PO Box 15000
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada

Email: grs@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-1288

English Language Proficiency Requirement
Information pertaining to the English language proficiency requirements is given in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations Section 3.4.

Fees
Information pertaining to fees and expenses can be found online in the Admissions section of the Dalhousie Website.

Financial Assistance
Information pertaining to financial assistance and scholarships can be found online in the Funding Opportunity section of the Dalhousie – Faculty of Graduate Studies Website.

Health Insurance Requirement
Information pertaining to health insurance requirements is given in the Resources and Services section of the Dalhousie Graduate Calendar.

Graduate Student Program 
The graduate student's program, including supervisory committee composition, will be entered in the Graduate Student Information System (GSIS) by the department and approved by the supervisor, the graduate coordinator and FGS.  The details of the program should be submitted in the first month after initial registration.  The composition of the supervisory committee should be entered by the end of the second term. 

Course Requirement
At least three-quarters (75%) of the total course requirement for each graduate program must be taken at Dalhousie University.

Leave of Absence
Students may formally apply for a leave of absence in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations, Section 5.8.

MASTER'S DEGREES

A student's program of study for the Master's degree may be either a research intensive program (MASc) or a coursework intensive program (MEng). Note that a thesis-based research Master's degree is normally required to gain admission into the PhD program.

MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE (MASc)

Admissions Requirements
A candidate to be considered for the Master of Applied Science research program must have obtained, with a high scholastic standing, an undergraduate degree in engineering or a degree in science with honours, or the equivalent, from a recognized university.

Candidates must also be recommended for admission by a faculty member in the Program in order for their application to proceed.  Please note a recommendation for admission is not a formal acceptance.

Candidates for the above degree may be required to take additional undergraduate subjects as a preparation for advanced courses or to give the candidate a suitable engineering background.  Such subjects are seldom considered as part of the graduate program.

Academic Regulations

Program Requirements
A MASc graduate program consists of not less than 12 credit hours of coursework, the graduate seminar and thesis selected upon the advice of the thesis supervisor. Not more than one senior level undergraduate course may be taken as part of the 12-credit hour requirement.

Graduate Seminar
The seminar requirement involves attending, and participating in, all Graduate Seminars held in the department throughout the duration of the student’s residency period, as well as making at least one seminar presentation.

Supervisor and Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee will consist of the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor), at least one other member of the department, and at least one other member from outside the department with special interests in the proposed area of study. The supervisor will be the chair of the Supervisory Committee.

Examination Requirement
All courses required to meet the degree requirements are considered essential courses and will be so designated by the Supervisory Committee. Essential courses can include any required undergraduate or prerequisite courses.

Any courses taken in excess of the requirements are subject to approval by the supervisor. These courses will appear on the student’s transcript as regular courses.

All Master’s degree candidates must pass all graduate-level courses and any approved undergraduate course, with a grade of at least B-.  Graduate students are permitted to repeat only one course during their program in the Faculty of Engineering. Graduate students are not eligible to write supplementary examinations. Transfer credits from other universities will be considered on a case by case basis.

As well, all Master’s degree candidates must pass an oral examination of their thesis or project after it has been submitted in satisfactory form.

In addition to meeting the grade requirements, failure to maintain an acceptable academic standing will result in a student being asked to withdraw from the program. Failure to achieve the minimum mark as noted above shall be considered grounds for dismissal.

Time Requirement
The minimum time required for completing a Master’s program is twelve months. All students are required to register each term to maintain eligibility to continue a program of studies. Students are required to be on campus for at least two terms in the first year of their program. See Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations, Section 7, for policies regarding the maximum length of time for degree completion and extensions.

MASTER OF ENGINEERING (MEng)

Admission Requirements
A candidate to be considered for the Master of Engineering course work program must have obtained an undergraduate degree in engineering or its equivalent with high scholastic standing from a recognized university.

Candidates must also be recommended for admission by a faculty member in the Program in order for their application to proceed.  Please note a recommendation for admission is not a formal acceptance.

Academic Regulations

Program Requirements
A MEng graduate program consists of not less than 21 credit hours coursework, the graduate seminar, and the 6 credit hours project. Undergraduate courses, in the area of a student’s interest, not taken by the student for previous credit, may be included in the program, subject to prior approval. Not more than 6 credit hours may be undergraduate credit hours.

A project is required as a part of the program (six credit hours out of the required 27 credit hours). Projects require the appointment of a supervisor and one supervisory committee member.

Graduate Seminar
The seminar requirement involves attending, and participating in, all Graduate Seminars held in the department throughout the duration of the student’s residency period, as well as making at least one seminar presentation.

Supervisor and Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee will consist of the project supervisor (and co-supervisor) and at least one other member with special interests in the proposed area of study. The supervisor will be the chair of the Supervisory Committee.

Examination Requirement
All courses required to meet the degree requirements are considered essential courses. Essential courses can include any required undergraduate or prerequisite courses. Any courses taken in excess of the requirements are subject to approval by the supervisor. These courses will appear on the student’s transcript as regular courses.

All Master’s degree candidates must pass all graduate level courses, and any approved undergraduate courses, with a grade of at least B-.  Graduate students are permitted to repeat only one course during their program in the Faculty of Engineering. Graduate students are not eligible to write supplementary examinations. Transfer credits from other universities will be considered on a case by case basis.

As well, all MEng degree candidates must pass an oral examination of their project after it has been submitted in satisfactory form.

In addition to meeting the grade requirements, failure to maintain an acceptable academic standing will result in a student being asked to withdraw from the program. Failure to achieve the minimum mark as noted above shall be considered grounds for dismissal.

Time Requirement
The minimum time required for completing a Master’s program is twelve months. All students are required to register each term to maintain eligibility to continue a program of studies. Students are required to be on campus for at least two terms in the first year of their program. See Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations, Section 7, for policies regarding the maximum length of time for degree completion and extensions.

Procedures and Guidelines for Master’s Theses and Projects
1. The thesis/project report is to be prepared to conform with the standards of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
2. To initiate the thesis/project defence, the form “Appointment for an Oral Examination & Thesis Submission Form – Master’s Programs” must be submitted to the departmental Office at least 10 business days prior to the date of the oral defence. The department will coordinate the scheduling of the presentation and examination and assign a chair/moderator. The oral presentation and examination will not be scheduled until the following requirements for the student’s program of studies have been met:
    i) Course work completed;
   ii) Seminar completed;
  iii) Supervisory committee approved.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)

Admission Requirements and Procedures
A candidate to be considered for entrance into the PhD program must meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and must have:

  • A research Master’s Degree in engineering from Dalhousie University or any other recognized university, or a Master of Science Degree or its equivalent from a recognized university, acceptable to the Faculty of Engineering (in which case, a candidate may be required to take extra subjects to provide a suitable engineering background); or,
  • Acceptance for registration as a candidate for a research Master’s degree at this University.

An application for admission to the graduate program leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy should have a superior academic record and previous training or experience which indicates that the candidate should be able to do independent research.

Candidates must also be recommended for admission by a faculty member in the Program for their application to proceed.  Please note a recommendation for admission is not a formal acceptance.

Doctoral candidates are not admitted without appropriate funding to support the student and the program of research.

Admission from Master’s Degree
A candidate registered in a MASc Degree in the department may be transferred to a PhD Degree on the recommendation of their supervisory committee, according to the Regulations of the Faculty of Engineering. The recommendation will be reviewed by the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and transmitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Academic Regulations
All doctoral programs are developed under the regulations and procedures of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (see Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations) and each program must be approved by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Program Requirements
A PhD graduate program consists of a minimum of 12 credit hours coursework, the graduate seminar, comprehensive exam and thesis selected upon the advice of the thesis supervisor. No undergraduate courses are allowed for credit in a Doctoral Degree program.

Granting of credits to a student’s program of studies for courses taken prior to commencement of the program requires the recommendation of the Department and approval of the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Studies Committee. A request for this transfer of credits must be made to the Department before the student’s first registration or in the first term.

Graduate Seminar
The seminar requirement involves attending, and participating in, all Graduate Seminars held in the department throughout the duration of the student’s residency period, as well as making at least two seminar presentation.

Supervisor and Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee will consist of the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor), at least one other member of the department, and at least one other member from outside the department with special interests in the proposed area of study. The supervisor will be the chair of the Supervisory Committee.

Thesis Subject Matter and Supervision
The thesis shall consist of an original investigation or design carried out under the immediate supervision of a member of the Faculty of Engineering who is also a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Thesis Requirement
A candidate will be required, as a major part of the program, to submit a satisfactory thesis embodying the results of original scholarship and independent research. See Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations for information pertaining to doctoral theses.

Examination Requirements
All courses required to meet the degree requirements are considered essential courses and will be so designated by the Supervisory Committee. Essential courses can include any required undergraduate or prerequisite courses. Any courses taken in excess of the requirements are subject to approval by the supervisor. These courses will appear on the student’s transcript as regular courses.

A PhD degree candidate must pass all graduate-level courses with a grade of at least B- and cannot carry a course failure. Graduate students are not eligible to write supplementary examinations. Transfer credits from other universities will be considered on a case by case basis.

PhD candidates are also required to pass a comprehensive examination which normally take place within the fourth study term.

As well, all PhD degree candidates must pass an oral examination of their thesis project after it has been submitted in satisfactory form, and in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations.

In addition to meeting the grade requirements, failure to maintain an acceptable academic standing will result in a student being asked to withdraw from the program. Failure to achieve the minimum mark as noted above shall be considered grounds for dismissal.

Comprehensive Examination
The Supervisory Committee shall be responsible for conducting the comprehensive examinations.

The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to ensure that the candidate has a thorough understanding of the chosen field of study as a whole, has attained knowledge to an adequate level in the discipline and evaluate their suitability to begin Ph.D. level thesis research.

The comprehensive examination consists of at least two written examinations and an oral examination conducted to meet the above objective. The comprehensive examination shall normally be started within the fourth session of study from first registration. A student shall be given at least three months notice of the examination. The topics and results of the examination will be conveyed to PhD Candidate Home Department’s Graduate Coordinator on the prescribed form and will indicate “pass”, “fail”, or “re-examination”. The results to be added to the student’s transcript.

Recommendation of the examining committee to re-examine shall only be permitted if the failure was marginal. The re-examination of marginal students must be carried out within six months of the initial examination. Students requiring re-examination shall not necessarily be required to rewrite both written examinations. Students given the opportunity to rewrite shall only be permitted to rewrite once.

Students receiving a recommendation of “fail” will be academically dismissed from the program (see FGS regulations about dismissal).

More details on Comprehensive Exams can be found in Appendix-B of Faculty of Engineering “Graduate Studies Handbook”.

Time and Residence Requirements
A student is required to register each term to maintain eligibility to continue their program of studies. See Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations, for policies regarding residency requirements and the maximum length of time for degree completion and extensions.

Procedures and Guidelines for PhD These Defences
An Examining Committee is appointed in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies procedures prior to the formal submission of the thesis. The Examining Committee consists of the Supervisory Committee and an external examiner recommended to FGS by the Supervisory Committee. The External Examiner will be approached and appointed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies according to Faculty procedures.

A copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least six weeks prior to the date of the oral defence. The copy will be sent to the External Examiner. The copy must be accompanied by the appropriate form. The oral presentation and examination will not be scheduled until the following requirements for the student’s program of studies have been met:

  • Course work completed;
  • The graduate seminar requirement completed;
  • Comprehensive examination passed;
  • Examining Committee established;
  • A written report has been received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies from the external examiner. 

Courses
Below you will find descriptions for courses offered in this field of study. You will find a general overview of the topics covered and any prerequisite course(s) or grade requirements, credit value and exclusions.

Some courses are listed as exclusionary to one another. This means that students may not take both courses as designated.

Not all courses are offered each year. Please consult the current timetable for this year’s offering. For further information please contact the department.