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Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (ME) offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in traditional, new, and emerging technologies of mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineering is a versatile and broadly-based engineering discipline. Basic sciences and mathematics form the foundation of mechanical engineering, which requires an understanding of such subject areas as solid and fluid mechanics, thermal sciences, mechanical design, structures, material selection and processes, mechanical systems and control, and instrumentation.

The three main specialized areas of study within mechanical engineering are: (1) thermal and fluid systems; (2) mechanical systems and design; and (3) mechanics and materials. Through required coursework, the mechanical engineering curriculum provides educational training in all specializations. Through the selection of technical elective courses to augment required courses, students may develop a degree of specialization and depth in one of the specialized areas of study. Design experience is integrated throughout the program. Development of open-ended problem solving skills is a part of many mechanical engineering courses. Design projects with formal report writing are included in many courses. A substantial portion of each technical elective course is devoted to design of systems and components. A capstone design sequence at the senior level provides an opportunity to apply and integrate the knowledge gained throughout the curriculum to the development of an instructor-approved project.

The laboratory requirements are designed to provide the hands-on experience of application of classroom theory. The required laboratories expose undergraduate students to modern measurements and instrumentation techniques. The design of experiments is integrated in both the mechanical systems and control, thermal, and fluid laboratories. Students may receive additional hands-on experiences by selecting technical elective courses with laboratory components.

In addition, opportunities exist for students to participate in research and design projects. Those students eligible for honors may work on more individualized projects. Students also have an opportunity to participate in an approved co-op program and may receive up to 3 semester credit hours for their experience.

The educational objectives of the Bachelor of Science degree in the Mechanical Engineering program are to provide students with opportunities to:

  • acquire the ability to apply the fundamentals of mathematics, sciences, and engineering to quantitatively analyze problems
  • develop innovative design skills, including the students’ ability to formulate problems, to think creatively, to synthesize information, and to communicate effectively
  • develop the ability to use modern experimental techniques; collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data; and effectively communicate the results
  • develop diverse skills needed to be successful engineers.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 129, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level. All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements, the general engineering requirements, and the degree requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students will need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.

Core Curriculum Component Area Courses that Satisfy Core Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Communications English Rhetoric/Composition (6 semester credit hours)
All students must take the following six hours to meet this core requirement:
WRC 1013, Freshman Composition I
WRC 1023, Freshman Composition II
Mathematics Mathematics (3 semester credit hours)
Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
Note: MAT 1214, Calculus I, may be used to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for mathematics, as well as for one of the General Engineering requirements.
Natural Sciences Science (6 semester credit hours)
Three hours from Level One and three hours from Level Two will satisfy this core requirement.
Note: CHE 1103, General Chemistry I, and PHY 1903, Engineering Physics I, may be used to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements for science, as well as two of the General Engineering requirements.
Social and Behavioral Sciences United States History and Diversity (6 semester credit hours)
Any six hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
Political Science (6 semester credit hours)
POL 1013, Introduction to American Politics, plus three additional hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 semester credit hours)
COR 1203, Freshman Seminar
Economics (3 semester credit hours)
Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts Literature (3 semester credit hours)
Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
The Arts (3 semester credit hours)
Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.
World Society and Issues (3 semester credit hours)
Any three hours listed under this section in the list of core courses will satisfy this core requirement.

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General Engineering Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in engineering must complete the following 21 semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and major requirements:

CHE 1103 General Chemistry I
EGR 2323 Applied Engineering Analysis I
MAT 1214 Calculus I
MAT 1223 Calculus II
PHY 1903, 1911 Engineering Physics I and Laboratory
PHY 1923, 1931 Engineering Physics II and Laboratory

Degree Requirements

All degree-seeking candidates in Mechanical Engineering must complete the following semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and General Engineering requirements:

  1. 31 semester credit hours of required foundation and general mechanical engineering courses:

    EE 2213 Electric Circuits and Electronics
    EGR 2103 Statics
    EGR 2513 Dynamics
    EGR 3323 Applied Engineering Analysis II
    MAT 2213 Calculus III
    ME 1301 Introduction to Engineering Design
    ME 1402 Engineering Graphics
    ME 3113 Measurements and Instrumentation
    ME 3173 Numerical Methods
    ME 4811 Senior Design I
    ME 4813 Senior Design II

    3 semester credit hours of approved mathematics or science electives. A list of acceptable courses is available in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Center.

  2. 14 semester credit hours of required courses in the specialized area of study “thermal and fluid systems”:

    ME 3293 Thermodynamics I
    ME 3663 Fluid Mechanics
    ME 4293 Thermodynamics II
    ME 4313 Heat Transfer
    ME 4802 Thermal and Fluid Laboratory

  3. 11 semester credit hours of required courses in the specialized area of study “mechanical systems and design”:

    ME 3513 Mechanism Design
    ME 3823 Machine Element Design
    ME 4523 Dynamic Systems and Control
    ME 4702 Mechanical Systems and Control Laboratory

  4. 10 semester credit hours of required courses in the specialized area of study “mechanics and materials”:

    ME 3241 Materials Engineering Laboratory
    ME 3243 Materials Engineering
    ME 3323 Mechanical Vibration
    ME 3813 Mechanics of Solids

  5. 9 semester credit hours of mechanical engineering elective courses. The combined course selection must contain a minimum of 4 engineering design credits. Students are encouraged to choose courses from a specific concentration.

    Concentration: Thermal and Fluid Systems

    Engineering Design Credits
    ME 3593 Alternative Energy Sources 1
    ME 4183 Compressible Flow and Propulsion Systems 1
    ME 4323 Thermal Systems Design 2
    ME 4343 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Design 2
    ME 4613 Power Plant System Design 2
    ME 4623 Internal Combustion Engines 2
    ME 4663 Fluid Systems Design 2

     

    Concentration: Mechanical Systems and Design

    Engineering Design Credits
    ME 4133 CAD/CAE 2
    ME 4553 Automotive Vehicle Dynamics 2
    ME 4673 Mechanical Systems Design 2
    ME 4723 Reliability and Quality Control in Engineering Design 1
    ME 4773 Fundamentals of Robotics 2

     

    Concentration: Mechanics and Materials

    Engineering Design Credits
    ME 3263 Materials Processing 1
    ME 4243 Intermediate Materials Engineering 1
    ME 4603 Finite Element Analysis 2

     

    Concentration: General Mechanical Engineering

    Engineering Design Credits
    Courses selected from any of the previous areas
    *EGR 4993 Honors Research
    0-1 (depending on topics)
    *ME 4953 Special Studies in Mechanical Engineering
    0-2 (depending on topics)
    †Graduate Courses in Mechanical Engineering
    0-1 (depending on topics)

     

    *With prior approval, these courses may be used as a technical elective. †Graduate courses typically have no engineering design credit. Approval forms are available in the College of Engineering Advising Undergraduate Center.

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