Reliability Engineering (ENRE)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Engineering
Abstract
Reliability Engineering studies why systems fail, how they fail, when they fail, and how to prevent failure and mitigate consequences. The Reliability Engineering program offers a broad program in graduate studies leading to the degrees of Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy. The academic and research programs are based upon the recognition that the performance of a complex system is affected by engineering inputs that begin at conception and extend throughout its lifetime. Students may specialize in Assessment and Modeling (Quantitative or Probabilistic Risk Analysis, Prognostics and Health Management, Root-Cause Failure Analysis, Reliability Data Collection and Analysis); Testing and Operation (Accelerated Life Testing, Human Reliability Analysis, Physics of Failure, Software Reliability); Quality and Process Improvement (Statistical Process Control, Improved Manufacturing Methods, Reliability Management, Integrity Monitoring); Component and Structure Reliability (Microelectronics, Materials, Electronic Packaging, Mechanical Systems, Energy Systems).
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available to highly qualified students in the form of research and teaching assistantships. The most outstanding applicants are offered fellowships. Students seeking financial assistance are asked to submit with their applications a current resume or CV and a statement regarding their qualifications and/or past research or teaching experience. Students receiving external financial assistance are asked to include this information in their statement. All full-time applicants are automatically considered for fellowships and assistantships.
Contact
Katrina Groth
Professor, Director of Graduate Studies in Reliability Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
0151 Glenn L. Martin Hall
4298 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.5215
Email: kgroth@umd.edu
Peter Sandborn
Professor, Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies in Mechanical Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2174 Glenn L. Martin Hall
4298 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.3167
Email: sandborn@umd.edu
Kerri Poppler James
Director, Academic and Student Affairs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2180 Glenn L. Martin Hall
4298 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.8601
Email: kjames3@umd.edu
Megan Wells
Program Manager
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2170 Glenn L. Martin Hall
4298 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.4216
Email: mpetry@umd.edu
Segen Habte
Academic Program Specialist
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2172 Glenn L. Martin Hall
4298 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.8681
Email: shabte@umd.edu
Website: http://enre.umd.edu
Courses: ENRE
General Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
Program-Specific Requirements
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
- CV/Resume
- Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
- Writing Sample (optional)
- GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Applicants should have a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics and obtained a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from accredited programs. Admission to the program requires an academic record indicating promise of the high level of accomplishment required for the degree. Applicants with a marginal academic record may be conditionally approved for admission if other evidence of accomplishment is provided (i.e. publications or exceptional letters of recommendation).
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline | Spring Deadline | Summer Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |||
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | May 8, 2026 | October 10, 2025 | May 15, 2026 (MS Only) |
| International Applicants | |||
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants | March 6, 2026 | September 19, 2025 | N/A |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Program Website: http://enre.umd.edu
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
Reliability engineering faculty, researchers, and students leverage state-of-the-art research equipment, technology, and systems to develop new methods, create innovative tools, and find practical solutions to the most pressing societal concerns. More information about our research labs and centers can be found here: http://enre.umd.edu.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayyub | Bilal M. | Full Member | B.S., Kuwait University, 1980; M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1981; Ph.D., 1983. | Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Reliability Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Azarian | Michael | Adjunct Member | B.S., Princeton University, 1982; M.S. Carnegie Mellon University 1988; Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University, 1994 | Associate Research Scientist, Reliability Engineering |
| Azarm | Shapour | Full Member | BS. University of Tehran 1977; M.S. George Washington 1979; Ph.D. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 1984 | Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Baecher | Gregory | Full Member | B.S. University of California - Berkeley 1968; M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1970; Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1972 | Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Bensi | Michelle | Full Member | Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley | Associate Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Christou | Aristos | Full Member | B.A., Columbia University, 1967; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1971. | Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus, Reliability Engineering |
| Cukier | Michel | Full Member | Ph.D., National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse, France, 1996 | Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering Associate Professor, Systems Engineering Affiliate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Affiliate Associate Professor, Computer Science |
| Das | Diganta | Adjunct Member | B.S., Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur, 1987; M.S. Missouri University of Science and Technology, 1992; Ph.D. University of Maryland College Park, 1999 | Associate Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineering Associate Research Scientist, Reliability Engineering |
| Dasgupta | Abhijit | Full Member | B.S., Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, 1976; M.S., Villanova University, 1981; Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, 1988. | Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Gabriel | Steven A | Full Member | B.A., Middlebury College, 1981; M.S., Stanford University, 1984; M.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1989; Ph.D., 1992 | Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Groth | Katrina | Full Member | B.S., University of Maryland-College Park, 2004; M.S., University of Maryland-College Park, 2008; Ph.D., University of Maryland-College Park, 2009 | Director, Reliability Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering |
| Lee | Jay | Full Member | M.S. University of Wisconsin - Madison 1983; M.S. SUNY - Health Science Center - Stoney Brook 1987; Ph.D. George Washington University 1992 | Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| McCluskey | Patrick | Full Member | B.S., Lafayette College, 1984; M.S., Lehigh University, 1986; Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1991 | Chair, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Modarres | Mohammad | Full Member | B.S., Tehran Polytechnic Institute, 1974; M.S.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976; Ph.D., 1979. GCEN Academic Advisor for Nuclear Engineering GCEN Academic Advisor for Reliability Engineering | Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Mosleh | Ali | Full Member | B.S.,University of Technology-Tehran, 1975; M.S., University of California-Los Angeles, 1978; Ph.D., 1981. | Professor Emeritus, Reliability Engineering |
| Ni | Shuna | Full Member | M.S. Tongji University 2013; Ph.D. Texas A&M University 2018 | Assistant Professor, Fire Protection Engineering Assistant Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Osterman | Michael | Adjunct Member | Ph.D., University of Maryland - College Park, 1991 | Senior Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineering Senior Research Scientist, Reliability Engineering |
| Pecht | Michael G. | Full Member | B.S. Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976; M.S. Electrical Eng., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1978; MS Eng. Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1979; Ph.D. Eng. Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1982 | Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Sandborn | Peter A. | Full Member | B.S., University of Colorado-Boulder, 1982; M.S., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor,1983; Ph.D., 1987. | Professor, Mechanical Engineering Professor, Reliability Engineering |
| Zhao | Yunfei | Full Member | B.S. Shandong University 2011; D.Eng. Tsinghua University 2016 | Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor, Reliability Engineering |