A student works with a drone at Duke University

Master's Concentrations

Our flexible curriculum provides breadth and depth, allowing you to tailor your degree to your career goals

With close advising from the Director of Master's Studies, our master's students select courses from Duke MEMS' coursework and research strengths.

Pursue a Master of Science or Master of Engineering in these areas of concentration—or design your own.

Select your Concentration

Starting in Fall 2020, we are offering greater breadth and flexibility in our Duke MEMS master's degree programs with these concentrations:

Area of Concentration	Topics
Autonomous, Intelligent Systems and Machines	Robotic mechanisms, structures, and actuators Artificial intelligence, machine learning applications Control algorithms and operating systems Motion capture and planning Research: Controls and Dynamics Research: Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Energy, Propulsion, and Structures for Earth and Space	Thermal-fluid systems design, machinery Heat transfer, psychrometrics, and compressible flow Aerospace and aeroelasticity Vibrations and acoustics of structures Environmental implications Research: Energy and Fluids Research: Aerospace Engineering
Optimal Design for Virtual and Physical Systems	Simulation-based design synthesis and analysis Numerical design optimization, algorithm development Manufacturing tools and techniques Prototyping skills development 3D printing; microcontrollers; electronics; programming Research: Computational Mechanics and Scientific Computing
Multi-scale, Advanced, and Bio-Inspired Materials	Soft and bio-inspired materials research Nanoscale experimentation Machine learning for material discovery Research: Materials and Mechanics Research: Materials Science and Engineering Research: Biomechanics and Biomaterials
Design Your Path	You select the courses and projects you want and add them to your educational plan through regular advising sessions with the Duke MEMS Director of Master’s Studies.

Duke MEMS research Strengths

Duke's research in mechanical engineering and materials science addresses fundamental and applied engineering problems.

Our faculty maintain strong connections with industry and lead multi-university research efforts—providing opportunities for graduate students to pursue research at the forefront of their field, and develop career-relevant experience.

A defining characteristic of our research is an interdisciplinary approach that leverages Duke's strengths as a top research institution.

Master's Concentrations

Select your Concentration

Autonomous, Intelligent Systems and Machines

Energy, Propulsion, and Structures for Earth and Space

Optimal Design for Virtual and Physical Systems

Multi-scale, Advanced, and Bio-Inspired Materials

Design Your Path

Duke MEMS research Strengths

At a Glance: Duke MEMS Faculty Research Areas