Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering

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

The five areas of concentration within the Mechanical Engineering program are:

1. General Mechanical Engineering
2. Energy, Thermal and Fluid Systems
3. Manufacturing Engineering and Systems
4. Mechanical Systems and Design
5. Mechanics and Materials

The Mechanical Engineering curriculum provides education and basic engineering training in all specializations through the required coursework. Students may develop a degree of specialization and depth in one of the concentration areas through the selection of technical elective courses. The 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. In addition, a substantial portion of all technical elective courses is devoted to the 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 hands-on experience in basic measurement and instrumentation equipment and the application of classroom theory. Students may receive additional hands-on experiences by selecting technical elective courses with laboratory components.

Opportunities exist for students to participate in research and design projects. All students are eligible to participate in undergraduate research, through the independent study courses. 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.

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

1. Have engineering careers in industry or government and/or pursue advanced graduate or professional degrees.
2. Apply their engineering skills to their careers.
3. Continue to advance their knowledge, communication and leadership skills by using technology, continuing education, solving problems, and serving in technical or professional societies.
4. Apply their understanding of societal, environmental, and ethical issues to their professional activities.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree is 128, 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, listed below.

Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering must fulfill the University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements, see pages 3-5 of this catalog.

MAT 1214 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Mathematics, as well as one of the General Engineering requirements. CHE 1103 and PHY 1903 may be used to satisfy the core requirement in Natural Sciences, as well as two of the General Engineering requirements. COR 1203 should be used to satisfy the core requirement in Social and Behavioral Science.

General Engineering Requirements

Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering must complete the following 22 semester credit hours:

CHE  1103  General Chemistry I
EGR  2323  Applied Engineering Analysis I
MAT  1214  Calculus I
MAT  1224  Calculus II
PHY  1903, 1911  Engineering Physics I and Laboratory
PHY  1923, 1931  Engineering Physics II and Laboratory

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering must complete the following semester credit hours, as well as the Core Curriculum requirements and General Engineering requirements:

1. 61 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
   ME   1302  Mechanical Engineering Practice
   ME   1402  Mechanical Engineering Practice and Graphics
   ME   2173  Numerical Methods
   ME   3113  Measurements and Instrumentation
   ME   3244  Materials Engineering and Laboratory
   ME   3263  Manufacturing Engineering
   ME   3293  Thermodynamics I
   ME   3543  Dynamic Systems and Control
   ME   3663  Fluid Mechanics
   ME   3813  Mechanics of Solids
   ME   3823  Machine Element Design I
   ME   4293  Thermodynamics II
   ME   4313  Heat Transfer
   ME   4543  Mechatronics
   ME   4733  Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
   ME   4812  Senior Design I
   ME   4813  Senior Design II
   
   
2. 9 semester credit hours of Mechanical Engineering elective courses. Students are encouraged to choose courses from a specific concentration listed below.
   
   
3. 3 semester credit hours of approved mathematics or basic science elective courses. A list of acceptable courses is available in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Center.

Concentration: Energy, Thermal and Fluid Systems
ME  4183  Compressible Flow and Propulsion Systems
ME  4323  Thermal Systems Design
ME  4343  Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Design
ME  4593  Alternative Energy Sources
ME  4613  Power Plant System Design
ME  4623  Internal Combustion Engines
ME  4663  Fluid Systems Design

Concentration: Manufacturing Engineering and Systems
ME  4563  Computer Integrated Manufacturing
ME  4573  Facilities Planning and Design
ME  4583  Enterprise Process Engineering

Concentration: Mechanical Systems and Design
ME  3323  Mechanical Vibration
ME  4133  CAD/CAE
ME  4433  Machine Element Design II
ME  4553  Automotive Vehicle Dynamics
ME  4673  Mechanical Systems Design
ME  4723  Reliability and Quality Control in Engineering Design
ME  4773  Fundamentals of Robotics

Concentration: Mechanics and Materials
ME  4243  Intermediate Materials Engineering
ME  4603  Finite Element Analysis
ME  4963  Mechanical Engineering Applications to Biomedical Systems

Concentration: General Mechanical Engineering
Courses selected from any of the previous areas
EGR 4993  Honors Research*
ME   4953  Special Studies in Mechanical Engineering*
Graduate Courses in Mechanical Engineering†

*With prior approval, these courses may be used as a technical elective.
†Graduate courses require approval. Forms are available in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Advising Center.

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering – Recommended Four-Year Academic Plan

First Semester		Second Semester
CHE 1103 (core and major)	3	MAT 1224	4
COR 1203 (core)	3	ME 1402	2
MAT 1214 (core and major)	4	PHY 1903 (core and major)	3
ME 1302	2	PHY 1911	1
WRC 1013 (core)	3	WRC 1023 (core)	3
		U.S. History & Diversity core	3
Total semester hours	15	Total semester hours	16
Third Semester		Fourth Semester
EGR 2103	3	EGR 2513	3
EGR 2323	3	EGR 3323	3
ME 2173	3	ME 3244	4
PHY 1923	3	ME 3293	3
PHY 1931	1	Math/Science elective	3
U.S. History & Diversity core	3
Total semester hours	16	Total semester hours	16
Fifth Semester		Sixth Semester
EE 2213	3	ME 3113	3
ME 3543	3	ME 3263	3
ME 3663	3	ME 3823	3
ME 3813	3	ME 4313	3
ME 4293	3	POL 1013 (core)	3
Literature core	3	Visual & Performing Arts core	3
Total semester hours	18	Total semester hours	18
Seventh Semester		Eighth Semester
ME 4543	3	ME 4813	3
ME 4733	3	ME Technical elective	3
ME 4812	2	ME Technical elective	3
ME Technical elective	3	Economics core	3
POL 1133 or 1213 (core)	3	World Society & Issues core	3
Total semester hours	14	Total semester hours	15

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