Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers are broadly concerned with the engineering systems used to control and transform energy to meet the needs of humanity. They design, develop, and produce devices and systems from space probes to washing machines, from turbojet engines to lawn mowers, from automatic machine tools and vending machines to computer-controlled systems. Because mechanical engineering is one of the broadest-based fields of technical study, it is also an excellent foundation for further education in business, law, medicine, and other professions that require a good working knowledge of science and technology.
The mechanical engineering department is dedicated to graduating mechanical engineers who practice mechanical engineering in the general stems of thermal/fluid systems, mechanical systems and design, and materials and manufacturing in industry and government settings; pursue advanced education, research and development, and other creative efforts in science and technology; conduct themselves in a responsible, professional, and ethical manner; and participate as leaders in activities that support service to and economic development of the region, state, and nation.
The mechanical engineering faculty has defined ten educational outcomes that students in the program are expected to achieve by the time of graduation. These outcomes are
- Knowledge of and ability to apply engineering and science fundamentals to real problems
- Ability to formulate and solve open-ended problems
- Ability to design mechanical components, systems, and processes
- Ability to set up, conduct, and interpret experiments, and to present the results in a professional manner
- Ability to use modern computer tools in mechanical engineering
- Ability to communicate in written, oral, and graphical forms
- Ability to work in teams and apply interpersonal skills in engineering contexts
- Ability and desire to lay a foundation for continued learning beyond the baccalaureate degree
- Awareness of professional issues in engineering practice, including ethical responsibility, safety, the creative enterprise, and loyalty and commitment to the profession
- Awareness of contemporary issues in engineering practice, including economic, social, political, and environmental issues and global impact
The mechanical engineering curriculum meets these outcomes by providing breadth and depth across a range of topics.
- A combination of college-level mathematics and basic science courses (some with experimental work) that includes mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, physics, and chemistry
- Engineering courses that develop a working knowledge of graphics and computer-aided design, engineering mechanics, thermodynamics, kinematics, dynamics and control of mechanical systems, computational methods, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials science and engineering, electric circuits and electronics, technical communication, and engineering economics
- Mechanical engineering project and laboratory experiences that develop competence in measurements and instrumentation, interpretation of data, reverse engineering analysis of mechanical systems, use of computational tools for engineering analysis, integration of multidisciplinary topics in design of complex systems, teamwork and project planning, and written and oral communication
- A sequence of engineering design courses, culminating in a major capstone design experience in collaboration with an industrial sponsor, that draws on the knowledge and skills students have acquired in earlier coursework and incorporates modern engineering standards and realistic constraints
- Core curriculum courses, including social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and visual and performing arts electives, that complement the technical content of the curriculum
- A variety of senior elective options that provide a career gateway to further study and lifelong learning in the practice of engineering and other professions
PROCEED (Project-Centered Education)
The undergraduate curriculum in mechanical engineering is built on the principle of project-centered education, or PROCEED. A number of courses throughout the curriculum are structured to motivate the study of engineering science by challenging students with in-depth analysis of real mechanical components and systems. In proceed, students address real-world projects based on current industrial methods and practices, and have opportunities to discuss the projects with engineering experts from both inside and outside the University. Undergraduate laboratories and computer facilities are integrated into the curriculum to connect theory with practice, and a Web-based portfolio system, Polaris, has been developed to provide a mechanism for students to showcase project-based work to prospective employers and graduate schools.
Portable Computing Devices
Students entering Mechanical Engineering are expected to have a portable computing device (e.g., a laptop, netbook, or the equivalent) at their disposal. The use of such computing devices will be necessary in many required courses, and individual instructors may require that a laptop be brought to class or lab sessions. For a list of minimum system requirements see: http://www.me.utexas.edu/meter/laptopreq.php .
Curriculum
Course requirements are divided into three categories: basic sequence courses, major sequence courses, and other required courses. In addition, each student must complete the University’s Core Curriculum . In some cases, a course required as part of the basic sequence may also be counted toward the core curriculum; these courses are identified below. To ensure that courses used to fulfill the social and behavioral sciences and visual and performing arts requirements of the core curriculum also meet ABET criteria, students should follow the guidance given in ABET Criteria .
In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one course with a quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics and leadership flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the US flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics and leadership flag, and one writing flag are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Students are advised to fulfill the second writing flag requirement with a course that meets another requirement of the core curriculum, such as the first-year signature course. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule.
Enrollment in major sequence courses is restricted to students who have received credit for all of the basic sequence courses and have been admitted to the major sequence. Requirements for admission to a major sequence are given in Admission to a Major Sequence . Enrollment in other required courses is not restricted by completion of the basic sequence.
| Courses | Sem Hrs |
| Basic Sequence Courses | |
|
3 |
| 6 | |
|
12 |
| 15 | |
|
8 |
|
3 |
| Total 47 | |
| Major Sequence Courses | |
| 38 | |
| Other Required Courses | |
| 6 | |
|
6 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Total 18 | |
| Remaining Core Curriculum Requirements | |
|
3 |
|
6 |
|
6 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Total 24 | |
| Minimum Required 127 | |
Bridges to the Future Certificate Program
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers highly qualified senior-level undergraduate students an opportunity for in-depth study and research in an emerging area of mechanical engineering through the Bridges to the Future Certificate Program. Upon completion of a prescribed series of technical electives and an independent research study under the direction of a faculty member and a doctoral student mentor, students receive a certificate and a letter from the department chair that describes the program and the work completed. The certificate and its supporting documentation, plus supporting letters from supervising faculty and mentors, can be valuable assets for students applying to graduate school or pursuing competitive job opportunities. This certificate will not appear on the student’s transcript.
Certificate programs are currently available in the areas of advanced materials engineering, nuclear and radiation engineering, sustainable energy systems, advanced design and manufacturing, biomechanical engineering, micro- and nanoscale engineering, and management science and engineering. The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides each certificate candidate with a small project grant, and in some cases, with scholarship support.
Students must apply for admission to a certificate program during the junior year; they must have completed all basic sequence courses and must have been admitted to the major sequence in mechanical engineering. Students admitted to the program must begin the required coursework early in the senior year; six hours of undergraduate coursework may be used to fulfill the career gateway elective requirement described below. In some cases, the coursework may include a graduate course, which may be credited toward a University graduate degree.
Details on course offerings and admission procedures are available from the Department of Mechanical Engineering undergraduate office
Career Gateway Elective Options
The mechanical engineering curriculum includes six hours of career gateway electives, which are to be selected by the student to support his or her career goals. These courses must be chosen carefully and must be pertinent to each other and to the student’s career goals.
Before registering for any potential career gateway elective courses, students must prepare a career statement and a list of relevant, related courses, and a mechanical engineering faculty mentor must provide preliminary approval. Ultimately, the faculty undergraduate adviser in mechanical engineering must provide final approval before the student’s first degree audit for graduation.
By the beginning of the semester in which he or she will take the first potential career gateway elective, the student must have completed all basic sequence courses with a grade of at least C- in each and must have been admitted unconditionally to the major sequence in mechanical engineering.
Career gateway electives must include approved upper-division technical courses from mechanical engineering and other engineering departments, approved advanced courses in natural sciences, and preparatory courses for graduate study in the health professions. Highly qualified students are encouraged to fulfill career gateway elective requirements as part of the Bridges to the Future Certificate Program described above.
Career gateway elective options may include a total of three hours of special topics coursework (Mechanical Engineering 179M, 279M, 379M) without special approval, or projects coursework (Mechanical Engineering 177K, 277K, 377K) with special approval by the undergraduate adviser. Students who wish to count additional topics or projects for credit must petition for consent by the undergraduate adviser. Options may also include either Mechanical Engineering 325L or Mechanical Engineering 225M.
With special approval of the Engineering Honors Program director, a mechanical engineering student in the honors program may include Mechanical Engineering 679H in the career gateway elective option.
Some possible career gateway elective options and related courses are listed below.
Biomechanical Engineering
Biomechanical engineering is one of the most exciting emerging areas of engineering, and mechanical engineers will play an important role in this field. Areas of special interest include biomaterials, biomechanics, fluid flow, heat transfer, mechanical design, nuclear science, and systems analysis. This option also can be tailored to provide a background for professional education in medicine or dentistry or for graduate study in biomedical engineering. Courses supporting a career in biomechanical engineering include
Mechanical Engineering 354, Introduction to Biomechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 354M, Biomechanics of Human Movement
Mechanical Engineering 372J, Robotics and Automation
Mechanical Engineering 379N, Engineering Acoustics
Approved biomedical engineering and natural science electives
Dynamics and Control
The engineering of “intelligent machines” is a rapidly growing field, demanding an understanding of mechanical and electronic components, of software, and of the ways these elements interact in complex systems. Courses supporting career paths in this area include
Mechanical Engineering 348C, Introduction to Mechatronics I
Mechanical Engineering 348D, Introduction to Mechatronics II
Mechanical Engineering 355K, Engineering Vibrations
Mechanical Engineering 360, Vehicle System Dynamics and Controls
Mechanical Engineering 364L, Automatic Control System Design
Mechanical Engineering 372J, Robotics and Automation
Mechanical Engineering 379N, Engineering Acoustics
Approved electrical and computer engineering and natural science electives
Manufacturing and Design
Mechanical engineering is the focal point for design and manufacturing of components and systems ranging from automobiles to computer chips. The manufacturing and design option prepares students for leadership in this important field. Suggested courses include
Mechanical Engineering 350, Machine Tool Operations for Engineers
Mechanical Engineering 352K, Engineering Computer Graphics
Mechanical Engineering 364L, Automatic Control System Design
Mechanical Engineering 365K, Finite Element Method
Mechanical Engineering 368J, Computer-Aided Design
Mechanical Engineering 372J, Robotics and Automation
Mechanical Engineering 379M (Topic: Engineering Entrepreneurship)
Mechanical Engineering 379M (Topic: Solid Free-Form Fabrication)
Mechanical Engineering 379M (Topic: Statistical Methods in Manufacturing)
Mechanical Engineering 379M (Topic: Polymer Nanocomposites)
Approved engineering and natural science electives
Materials Engineering
The design and manufacture of most engineering devices and systems is heavily constrained by materials properties and the availability of materials. This option allows students to obtain a concentration in materials engineering as a basis for practice and graduate study in this field. Relevant courses include
Mechanical Engineering 349, Corrosion Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 359, Materials Selection
Mechanical Engineering 378C, Electroceramics
Mechanical Engineering 378K, Mechanical Behavior of Materials
Mechanical Engineering 378P, Properties and Applications of Polymers
Mechanical Engineering 378S, Structural Ceramics
Approved materials-related engineering and natural science electives
Nuclear and Radiation Engineering
Engineers with a background in nuclear and radiation engineering find opportunities providing electrical power in safe, efficient, and environmentally benign ways for commercial or defense purposes; extending nuclear reactor plant life; developing new ways of producing and using radioisotopes in medical physics for organ imaging or cancer therapy; developing new industrial applications for neutron or gamma-ray radiation use; developing long-term strategies for radioactive waste disposal; and developing systems to maintain the security of nuclear materials. They also work with nuclear-related national security issues and in nuclear chemical engineering. It is recommended that students interested in this area take one or more of the following courses
Mechanical Engineering 136N, Mechanical Engineering 236N, Concepts in Nuclear and Radiation Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 337C, Introduction to Nuclear Power Systems
Mechanical Engineering 337F, Nuclear Environmental Protection
Mechanical Engineering 361E, Nuclear Reactor Operations and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 361F, Radiation and Radiation Protection Laboratory
Operations Research and Industrial Engineering
Today’s industrial planners and managers commonly use quantitative decision-making techniques. This option melds traditional industrial engineering and its modern outgrowth, operations research. Emphasis is on mathematical modeling, applied statistics, and the use of the computer to assist the decision maker. Students interested in this option should consider courses such as
Mechanical Engineering 366L, Operations Research Models
Mechanical Engineering 367S, Simulation Modeling
Mechanical Engineering 373K, Basic Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 375K, Production Engineering Management
Approved engineering, business, or mathematics electives
Thermal/Fluid Systems Engineering
A traditional field of mechanical engineering is the design and manufacture of systems for the production, transmission, storage, and use of energy. This option is designed to prepare students for careers and graduate study in energy conversion, thermal system design, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. Suggested courses include
Architectural Engineering 346P, HVAC Design
Architectural Engineering 370, Design of Energy Efficient and Healthy Buildings
Architectural Engineering 371, Energy Simulation in Building Design
Aerospace Engineering 362K, Compressible Flow
Mechanical Engineering 337C, Introduction to Nuclear Power Systems
Mechanical Engineering 360L, Turbomachinery and Compressible Flow
Mechanical Engineering 360N, Intermediate Heat Transfer
Mechanical Engineering 361E, Nuclear Reactor Operations and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering 369L, Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
Mechanical Engineering 374C, Combustion Engine Processes
Mechanical Engineering 374D, Automotive Engineering Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering 374F, Fire Science
Mechanical Engineering 374R, Design of Air Conditioning Systems
Mechanical Engineering 374S, Solar Energy Systems Design
Mechanical Engineering 379M
(Topic: Renewable Energy and Systems and Sustainability)
Mechanical Engineering 379M
(Topic: Energy Technology and Policy)
Approved engineering and natural science electives