Program Overview

Degree Pathway for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering degree pathway is designed for students who entered fall 2025 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

The following courses are required in the fall semester of the freshman year:

• MECH.1100: Introduction to Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (1 credit)
• ENGL.1010 / HONR.1100: College Writing I / First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW) (3 credits)
• CHEM.1210: Chemistry I (SCL) (3 credits)
• CHEM.1230L: Chemistry I Laboratory (SCL) (1 credit)
• MATH.1310: Calculus I (MATH) (4 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Social Sciences Perspective (SS), (DCA) (3 credits) Total credits for the fall semester: 15

Spring Semester

The following courses are required in the spring semester of the freshman year:

• ENGL.1020: College Writing II (CW) (3 credits)
• MATH.1320: Calculus II (STEM) (4 credits)
• MECH.1200: Introduction to Engineering Design (3 credits)
• PHYS.1410: Physics I (SCL) (3 credits)
• PHYS.1410L: Physics I Lab (SCL) (1 credit)
• xxxx.xxxx: Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) (3 credits) Total credits for the spring semester: 17

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

The following courses are required in the fall semester of the sophomore year:

• IENG.2100: Engineering Design and Manufacturing (3 credits)
• ENGN.2050: Statics (3 credits)
• MECH.2960: Materials Science for Engineers (3 credits)
• MATH.2310 / MATH.2410: Calculus III / Honors Calculus III (4 credits)
• PHYS.2450: Physical Properties of Matter (3 credits)
• PHYS.2450L: Physics III Lab (1 credit) Total credits for the fall semester: 17

Spring Semester

The following courses are required in the spring semester of the sophomore year:

• ENGN.2060: Strength of Materials (3 credits)
• ENGN.2100: Professional Development Seminar (1 credit)
• ENGN.2070: Dynamics (3 credits)
• MECH.2420: Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• MATH.2340: Differential Equations (3 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Social Sciences Perspective (SS) (3 credits) Total credits for the spring semester: 16

Junior Year

Fall Semester

The following courses are required in the fall semester of the junior year:

• PHYS.1440: Physics II (3 credits)
• PHYS.1440L: Physics II Lab (1 credit)
• MECH.3810: Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
• MECH.3210: Kinematics of Mechanisms (CTPS) (3 credits)
• MECH.3610: Mathematical Methods for Mechanical Engineers (3 credits)
• PHIL.1030 / PHIL.2410: Introduction to Ethics / Engineering and Ethics (AH), (SRE) (3 credits) Total credits for the fall semester: 16

Spring Semester

The following courses are required in the spring semester of the junior year:

• MECH.3010: Technical Communication for Mechanical Engineers (1 credit)
• MECH.3020: Instrumentation and Measurement Laboratory (3 credits)
• MECH.3230: Control of Automated Systems (3 credits)
• MECH.3820: Heat Transfer (3 credits)
• MECH.3110: Applied Strength of Materials (3 credits)
• ECON.2010 / ECON.2020: Principles of Microeconomics / Principles of Macroeconomics (SS) (3 credits) Total credits for the spring semester: 16

Senior Year

Fall Semester

The following courses are required in the fall semester of the senior year:

• MECH.4410: Thermo-Fluid Applications (3 credits)
• MECH.4030: Thermal Fluids Laboratory (QL) (3 credits)
• MECH.4510: Dynamic Systems Analysis (3 credits)
• MECH.4250: Design of Machine Elements (3 credits)
• MECH.4730: Design Theory and Constraints (3 credits) Total credits for the fall semester: 15

Spring Semester

The following courses are required in the spring semester of the senior year:

• MECH.4230: Capstone Design (IL), (WOC), (AIL) (3 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective (3 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective (3 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective (3 credits)
• xxxx.xxxx: Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) (3 credits) Total credits for the spring semester: 15

Total Minimum Credits

The total minimum credits required for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering degree is 127. The minimum major credits required is 63. The maximum major credits that can be counted toward graduation is 72.

Technical Electives

Technical electives must be taken at the 4000 level or above in engineering (engineering courses with the following prefixes are allowed: MECH.xxxx, BMEN.xxxx, CHEN.xxxx, CIVE.xxxx, EECE.xxxx, ENGN.xxxx, ENGY.xxxx, ENVE.xxxx, IENG.xxxx, and PLAS.xxxx, with the exception of BMEN.4390). Technical electives may also be satisfied by courses at the 3000 level or above, in math (with the exception of MATH.3630, MATH.4100, MATH.4190, MATH.4350, and MATH.4660), physics, or other science discipline.

Grade Requirements

Students entering after fall 2009 must achieve C- (C minus) or better in MECH.2010, MECH.2020, ENGN.2050, ENGN.2060, ENGN.2070, MECH.2420, MECH.2960, MECH.3110, MECH.3210, MECH.3220, MECH.3230, MECH.3810, MECH.3820. Students entering fall 2014, and later, must achieve a C- in these courses before attempting a subsequent course in the pre-requisite chain.

Diversity and Cultural Awareness

Mechanical Engineering majors must take one course that meets the Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcome of Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA); students must select at least one Breadth of Knowledge course in either Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences that has been approved for DCA.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

• SS: Social Sciences Perspective (9 credits)
• AH: Arts and Humanities Perspective (9 credits)
• SCL: Sciences with Lab Perspective (6 credits)
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective (3 credits)
• CW: College Writing I and II (6 credits)
• MATH: Math Perspective (3 credits)

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

• AIL: Applied and Integrative Learning
• CTPS: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• DCA: Diversity and Cultural Awareness
• IL: Information Literacy
• QL: Quantitative Literacy
• SRE: Social Responsibility and Ethics
• WOC: Written and Oral Communication