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Advanced Manufacturing Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Tennessee is an opportunity to obtain graduate-level education focused on topics in advanced manufacturing. Courses in this certificate are taught by the world-class faculty of the Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering department within the Tickle College of Engineering. Topics in the certificate program include additive manufacturing (polymers, metals, and hybrids/composites), robot-assisted applications including welding, micro/nanoscale fabrication, and more. Major learning outcomes for successful students include:

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of conventional manufacturing techniques, particular benefits of each, and their shortcomings to guide adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.
  • Students will apply knowledge of how the mechanics of materials affect product properties and influence manufacturability, including in advanced manufacturing technologies.
  • Certificate holders will have accomplished coursework in electives focused on particular, focused segments of the broad field of advanced manufacturing.

Who Should Apply

This certificate program is open to practicing professionals as a stand-alone credential or to current graduate students as an add-on program. All courses will be available online via Distance Education. Applicants are expected to have earned a B.S. degree in an engineering discipline with a GPA of 3.0; students from other disciplines may be admitted but expected to take prerequisite courses to improve student success. Expected background knowledge includes mathematics (through calculus and differential equations), mechanics of materials, heat transfer, and materials science.

Certificate Program of Study

The certificate program includes four graduate-level courses: two prerequisite courses and then two electives as described below. Students who complete the certificate and wish to pursue a Master of Science degree can do so using all credits earned in the certificate program.

Required Courses (6 credit hours)

3 Credit hours

Elasticity in three dimensions: equations of equilibrium, strain-displacement relations, compatibility, constitutive equations. Energy methods. Beams on elastic foundation, unsymmetrical bending, shear center, beam-columns, buckling, plastic collapse.

Cross-listed: (Same as Aerospace Engineering 559)
Recommended Background: 321.

3 Credit Hours

Fundamental principles of the major classes of manufacturing processes, developing first order mathematical descriptions for selected processes. Comparison of advantages and limitations across various processes in terms of process quality and productivity. Application toward process selection, impact on product design, and quality control.
Recommended Background: mechanics of materials, heat transfer, materials science.

Electives (6 credit hours)

3 Credit Hours

Fundamentals of nanotechnology and nano fabrication, experimental methods of nano science and technology, advanced manufacturing overview, additive manufacturing (3D printing), electromechanical device fabrications, printable sensors and energy devices, biomedical printing.

Recommended Background: Engineering Mechanics (ME202), Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering (MSE201), Introduction to Chemical Research (CHEM 200).

3 Credit Hours

Fundamentals of additive manufacturing processes within the context of traditional manufacturing life cycle including the basics of product design, processing mechanics and materials science to highlight the advantages of additive manufacturing.

Credit Restriction: Students cannot receive credit for both 469 and 569.
Recommended Background: Computer-aided design, materials science.
Registration Permission: Consent of Instructor.

3 Credit Hours

Fundamentals of robotic manipulator mechanics: kinematics and dynamics, sensors and actuators, manipulator mechanical design, and joint-level control.

(DE) Prerequisite(s): 451 and 533.
(DE) Corequisite(s): 529.

Including Composites Manufacturing, Hybrid Materials

1-3 Credit hours

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Program Cost

The 12 credit hour program will cost in-state students $9,180; out-of-state student cost is $10,080 (in-state tuition plus $75 for each credit hour).

How to Apply

Application and admission can be accomplished through the University of Tennessee Graduate School.
Apply online

Contact information:

Doug Aaron
Assistant Head of Undergraduate Programs
Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering
daaron@utk.edu
865-974-8211

Jeffrey Reinbolt
Associate Head and Director of Graduate Programs
Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering
reinbolt@utk.edu
865-974-5308