Departments & Centers
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
The B.S.M.E. Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202, (410) 347-7700.
Mechanical engineering has its foundation in the basic sciences, including mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and requires an understanding of such areas as solid and fluid mechanics, materials, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, manufacturing processes, instrumentation, and control. Mechanical engineers are engaged in a variety of activities including design, manufacturing, research, development, testing, construction, operations, sales, management, consulting, and teaching.
The mechanical engineering curriculum provides a broad base on which to build an engineering career. Traditional subjects in mechanical engineering are complemented by extensive computer experience in such areas as computer-aided design and numerical problem solving. The program's flexibility allows students to specialize in their area of interest through choosing electives. Part-time employment is available to students in the research laboratories of the department. Such experience enhances course work and is particularly valuable to those who later undertake graduate study.
The Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives are:
1. Serve as competent mechanical engineering professionals that meet or exceed the expectations of their employers.
2. Pursue advanced degrees in Mechanical or other related fields of engineering. Pursue other professional degrees, such as law or business.
3. Assume leadership roles in government and industry, as well as in their communities and the global society.
The number of credit hours required for graduation is 130, distributed as follows for each discipline:1. Mathematics and Physical Sciences
- Calculus: MATH 16500, 16600, 26100: 12 credit hours
- Multidimensional Mathematics: MATH 17100: 3 credit hours
- Differential Equations: MATH 26600: 3 credit hours
- Chemistry: CHEM-C 105: 3 credit hours
- Physics: PHYS 15200 and 25100: 9 credit hours
- Science/TECH Elective (also listed under Technical Electives): 3 credit hours
2. Communications, Ethics and Contemporary Issues
- Speech: COMM-R 110: 3 credit hours
- Writing: ENG-W 131: 3 credit hours
- Communication in Engineering Practice: TCM 36000: 2 credit hours
- Engineering Ethics and Professionalism: ME 40100: 1 credit hour
- Seminar & Fundamentals of Engineering Review: ME 40500: 1 credit hour
3. General Education
- Engineering Economics: ME 32700: 3 credit hours
- Electives: 12 credit hours
- Free Elective 3 credit hours
4. Freshman Engineering Courses
- Introduction to the Engineering Profession: ENGR 19500: 1 credit hour
- Introduction to Engineering: ENGR 19600: 3 credit hours
- Introduction to Programming Concepts: ENGR 19700: 2 credit hours
- Computer Tools for Engineering: ENGR 29700: 3 credit hours
5. Mechanics and Materials
- Mechanics: ME 27000 and ME 27400: 6 credit hours
- Materials: ME 27200 and ME 34400: 7 credit hours
6. Design
- Mechanical Design: ME 26200 and 37200: 7 credit hours
- Capstone Design: ME 46200: 3 credit hours
- Thermal-Fluid Systems Design: ME 41400: 3 credit hours
7. Thermal-Fluid Sciences
- Thermodynamics: ME 20000: 3 credit hours
- Fluid Mechanics: ME 31000: 4 credit hours
- Heat and Mass Transfer: ME 31400: 4 credit hours
8. Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation and Control
- Electrical Engineering: ECE 20400: 4 credit hours
- Systems, Measurements and Controls: ME 33000, 34000, and 48200: 9 credit hours
9. Technical Electives
- TECH Electives: 9 credit hours
- Statistics Elective: 3 credit hours
- Science/TECH Elective (also listed under Mathematics and Physical Sciences): 3 credit hours
Semester by semester, the 130 total credit hours are distributed as follows:
Freshman Year
First Semester (14 credit hours)
- ENGR 19500 Introduction to the Engineering Profession: 1 credit hours
- ENGR 19600 Introduction to Engineering: 3 credit hours
- CHEM-C 10500 Chemical Science I: 3 credit hours
- COMM-R 110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication: 3 credit hours
- MATH 16500 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I: 4 credit hours
Second Semester (16 credit hours)
- ENGR 19700 Introduction to Programming Concepts: 2 credit hours
- ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition I: 3 credit hours
- MATH 16600 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II: 4 credit hours
- PHYS 15200 Mechanics: 4 credit hours
- MATH 17100 Multidimensional Mathematics: 3 credit hours
Sophomore Year
Third Semester (16 credit hours)
- ENGR 29700 Computer Tools for Engineering: 1 credit hours
- ME 20000 Thermodynamics I: 3 credit hours
- ME 27000 Basic Mechanics I: 3 credit hours
- MATH 26100 Multivariate Calculus: 4 credit hours
- PHYS 25100 Heat, Electricity, and Optics: 5 credit hours
Fourth Semester (16 credit hours)
- ME 32700 Engineering Economics: 3 credit hours
- ME 26200 Mechanical Design I: 3 credit hours
- ME 27400 Basic Mechanics II: 3 credit hours
- ECE 20400 Introduction to Electrical and Electronic Circuits: 4 credit hours
- MATH 26600 Ordinary Differential Equations: 3 credit hours
Junior Year
Fifth Semester (17 credt hours)
- ME 27200 Mechanics of Materials: 4 credit hours
- ME 33000 Modeling and Analysis of Dynamic Systems: 3 credit hours
- ME 31000 Fluid Mechanics: 4 credit hours
- Statistics Elective: 3 credit hours
- General Education Elective: 3 credit hours
Sixth Semester (17 credit hours)
- ME 34400 Introduction to Engineering Materials: 3 credit hours
- ME 31400 Heat and Mass Transfer: 4 credit hours
- ME 37200 Mechanical Design II: 4 credit hours
- ME 34000 Dynamic Systems and Measurements: 3 credit hours
- General Education Elective: 3 credit hours
Senior Year
Seventh Semester (17 credit hours)
- ME 41400 Thermal-Fluid Systems Design: 3 credit hours
- ME 48200 Control Systems Analysis and Design: 3 credit hours
- TCM 36000 Communication in Engineering Practice: 2 credit hours
- TECH Elective: 3 credit hours
- General Education Elective: 3 credit hours
- General Education Elective: : 3 credit hours
Eighth Semester (17 credit hours)
- ME 40100 Engineering Ethics and Professionalism: 1 credit hour
- ME 40500 FE Exam Preparation and Seminar: 1 credit hour
- ME 46200 Capstone Design: 3 credit hours
- TECH Elective: 3 credit hours
- TECH Elective: 3 credit hours
- Free Elective: 3 credit hours
The complete list of Approved Electives for the B.S.M.E. curriculum may be found by clicking here.