Applied Mechanics for Computer Graphics - Which Schools To Aim For?

[shikeyou]

Hi,

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and I majored in Computer Graphics. It's been fun learning about all the graphics stuff and I've programmed quite a bit of simulations (rigid bodies, soft bodies etc). I find that I need to gain a lot more theoretical knowledge to get to the next level, thus I'm seeking for a graduate school.

Topics that I have particular interests in are simulation of fluids, fracturing of objects, elastic materials etc. I think they are all grouped under the Applied Mechanics field.

I just started looking through the grad schools that are available e.g. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cornell Theoretical and Applied Mechanics etc. Some of these courses are under the Mathematics department, and some under the Physics department. One of my concerns is that I might end up studying course work that I might not want to do. For example, if I were to join the PhD course in a Physics department, I might be asked to study nano physics etc, and my thesis has to be more Physics-based rather than graphics-based.

What I really want to do is to study Applied Mechanics subjects (and their relevant mathematical knowledge) and then start applying it to Computer Graphics research. As an example, I could research into ways to make a simulation faster using another paradigm.

Does anyone know of any suitable school/department that I should be aiming for?