MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (M E)
Mechanical Engineering (M E) is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. In fact, almost all other engineering
disciplines have their roots in mechanical engineering. This breadth of mechanical engineering can be seen in the
wide spectrum of problems that mechanical engineers solve. From creating surgical instruments to designing theme
park rides to developing airport security devices, mechanical engineers help provide for our health, happiness, and
safety. Mechanical engineers are making a difference in the world. For instance, one core idea of mechanical
engineering is the conversion of energy from one form to another. For that reason, mechanical engineers are leaders
in conventional forms of energy, such as combustion of fossil fuels, as well as alternative energy forms such as fuel
cells.
Is Mechanical Engineering for You?
If you are interested in creating things that help improve our health, happiness, and safety, then mechanical
engineering may be for you. As a mechanical engineering major, you will take part in a dynamic course of study
involving teamwork and design projects that apply to current world problems. A degree in Mechanical Engineering
will prepare you for a secure career in rapidly developing technological fields. Mechanical Engineering is divided
into two broad areas: mechanical systems and thermal systems. Mechanical systems include the design of
mechanisms and the analysis of strength and wear of materials. These topics are studied in courses such as
Dynamics, Material Science, Engineering Mechanics, Vibrations, and Machine Design. Thermal systems include
methods of energy conversions, heat transfer, and fluid flow. Thermal systems are covered in Thermodynamics,
Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer. Today’s mechanical engineering majors use computers in nearly every aspect of their
study. From sophisticated computer simulations of motion and deformation, to three-dimensional “virtual”
prototyping, to computer aided design, mechanical engineers become proficient users of the latest technology.
Typical class assignments might include the use of design software to create virtual prototypes, stress analysis
software to quickly evaluate alternative designs or lab experiments to observe the behavior of a system under
varying external influences.
Due to the breadth of the mechanical engineering discipline, the following technical tracks have been developed.
Through proper selection of courses, students can gain a technical degree with an emphasis in any of the following
areas:
Biomedical Device Engineering
Combustion Based Energy Conversions
Control of Mechanical Systems
Machinery Dynamics & Design
Mechanical Engineering in Aerospace Applications
Global Engineering via Study Abroad
Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering
New Product Design and Manufacturing
Power Engineering
Turbomachinery Based Energy Conversions
Vehicle Engineering for the 21st Century
To learn more about the technical electives offered for these different tracks, visit:
http://www.mne.psu.edu/Current/UGrad/Curriculum/Section3.html
Each senior is required to complete a capstone senior design project. These projects are semester long, industry
sponsored team projects and involve the design of a product or process. The project involves the development,
design, prototyping, technical analysis, cost analysis, and presentation of the group’s final design.
Some example projects including anesthesia needle holder, the Shell Eco-Marathon car, which is an ongoing project,
and a Morphing Aircraft Wing.
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Career Opportunities
Mechanical engineers can work almost anywhere: in large companies, such as automotive and aerospace industries;
in smaller “high tech” companies; in specialized areas such as robotics, nanotechnology, and in research centers such
as government labs and universities. Within any company, mechanical engineers have many job opportunities
including the development, testing, manufacturing, reliability, packaging, and distribution of a product. Some
mechanical engineers pursue professional degrees in medicine or law. The need for mechanical engineers spans a
large segment of both the public and private sectors, making the job market for mechanical engineering graduates
very stable and diverse, as shown in the three examples below.
Janine Kowalczyk, Structural Analyst, Boeing
Janine graduated in December 2006. She works for the Boeing Satellite Development Center
in El Segundo, CA. As a structural analyst, she creates and analyzes finite element models.
She also supervises mechanical tests subjecting units to random vibration and pyroshock
environments. She has recently taken on a temporary assignment in Seattle, WA as a
structural analyst and is working on the Boeing 747-8I fuselage.
Brandon Rosati, Patent Examiner, United States Patent & Trademark Office
Brandon graduated in 2007 and now works for the Department of Commerce as a Patent
Examiner.“Being a Patent Examiner allows me to apply my knowledge of engineering with my
passion of law and help to preserve Intellectual Property rights for the United States.”
Kristin Culkar McInerney, Consultant, Accenture
After graduating in 2004 Kristin has gone on to work as an IT and Strategy Consultant in
Philadelphia and Washington, DC for a variety of clients. In addition to her consulting work
focusing in the area of business intelligence, she is currently organizing a worldwide
women’s event for her company, featuring female political figures from DC.
Visit the Department website for more information:
http://www.mne.psu.edu/
Or contact the Undergraduate Programs Office in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at undergrad@mne.psu.edu
or by phone at 814-863-1503.
Visit the Societies & Organizations website to learn more about student organizations!
http://www.mne.psu.edu/Directories/students.html
1. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
2. Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
3. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
Visit the Learning Factory website to learn more about senior design projects:
http://www.lf.psu.edu
Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700; www.abet.org.
Program Educational Objectives
The objective of the Mechanical Engineering program is to prepare students for a wide range of career paths that use
mechanical engineering principles and methodology. We will maintain and provide a curriculum that prepares our
recent graduates for:
1. working in industry and government including computer-aided design, simulation and analysis of products or
systems, experimentation and testing, manufacturing, and technical sales.
2. assuming increasing levels of responsibility in project, personnel, and budget management.
3. working and leading effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
4. communicating effectively and recognizing the global, societal, and ethical contexts of their work.
5. entering into graduate and professional studies.
ME Program Outcomes can be found at http://www.mne.psu.edu/Current/UGrad/Assessment/.
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MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
1ST
SEMESTER
17 Credits
2ND
SEMESTER
17 Credits
3RD
SEMESTER
17 Credits
4TH
SEMESTER
16.5 Credits
5TH
SEMESTER
16.5 Credits
6TH
SEMESTER
15 Credits
7TH
SEMESTER
16 Credits
8TH
SEMESTER
16 Credits
(Option: 18 Credits)
(Option: 14 Credits)
CHEM 110
CHEM
112*
E MCH
211
E MCH 212
E MCH 315
M E 360
M E 450
M E 440W
(CAPSTONE
OPTION 1)
EDSGN 100
ECON
2, 4 or 14
MATH 220
E MCH 213
MATSE
259
M E 340
M E 410
M E 441W
(CAPSTONE
OPTION 2)
MATH 140
MATH 141
MATH 231
MATH
251
M E 320
M E 370
M E 442W
(CAPSTONE
OPTION 3)
M E 443W
(CAPSTONE
OPTION 3)
M E LAB
SEMINAR
ENGL 15
PHYS 211
AHS
PHYS 212
PHYS 214
M E 345
I E 312
M E LAB
CMPSC
200
M E 300
E E 212
ENGL
202C
M E Tech
Elective
ENGR Tech
Elective
AHS
CAS 100
GHA
Gen. Tech
Elective
AHS
GHA
* BIOL 141 may be substituted for CHEM 112
CAPSTONE OPTION 1 - M E 440W can be taken after completing M E 360, M E 340, M E 370, I E 312, and ENGL 202C. M E 440W can be taken 7th or 8th
semester.
CAPSTONE OPTION 2 - M E 441W can be taken after completing M E 340, M E 410, and ENGL 202C. M E 441W can be taken 7th or 8th semester.
CAPSTONE OPTION 3 - Both M E 442W and 443W must be completed if selecting this option to satisfy Senior Design (CAPSTONE) requirement.
US Cultures and IL Cultures requirements are satisfied in conjunction with AHS courses
= Prerequisite
ENGR Tech
Elective
AHS
AHS
= Prerequisite or Concurrent
Page 1
Mechanical Engineering
Starting at University Park
Go to www.engr.psu.edu/AdvisingCenter/StudyAbroadME.aspx for a sample scheduling plan that incorporates a semester of study abroad.
1st Semester
•CHEM 110
•MATH 140 or 140E
EDSGN 100
ENGL 15 or 30
First-Year Seminar
GA, GH or GS course
Chemical Principles
Calculus I
Engineering Design & Graphics
Rhet. & Comp. (or ECON 2/4/14)
MATH 231
MATH 220
PHYS 212
CMPSC 200
+E MCH 211
CAS 100A/B
Calc. of Several Var.
Matrices
Electricity & Magnetism
MATLAB
Statics
Effective Speech
2nd Semester
3
4
3
3
1
3
17
^CHEM 112
Chemical Principles
•MATH 141 or 141E Calculus II
•PHYS 211
Mechanics
ECON 2, 4 or 14 (GS) (or ENGL 15/30)
GA, GH or GS course
2
2
4
3
3
3
17
+M E 300
Engr. Thermodynamics I
MATH 251
Ordinary & Partial Diff. Eqns.
PHYS 214
Waves & Quantum Physics
+E MCH 212
Dynamics
Strength of Materials
+ E MCH 213r
Health & Physical Activity (GHA)
3rd Semester
4th Semester
5th Semester
+M E 320
+M E 345
Fluid Flow
Instrumentation, Measurements,
and Statistics
E MCH 315
Mech. Response of Engr. Materials
E E 212
Intro. to Elec. Measuring Sys.
MATSE 259
Prop. & Proc. of Engr. Materials
Health & Physical Activity (GHA)
7th Semester
Modeling of Dynamic Systems
Heat Transfer
+M E 450
+M E 410
*M E Lab Course
M E Technical Elective (METE)1
ENGR Technical Elective (ETE) 2
GA, GH or GS course
3
4
4
3
3
17
3
4
2
3
3
1.5
16.5
6th Semester
3
4
+M E 360
+M E 340
+M E 370
I E 312
ENGL 202C
2
3
3
1.5
16.5
Mechanical Components Design
Mech. Engr. Design Methodology
Vibrations of Mechanical Systems
Product Des. & Manuf. Processes
Technical Writing
8th Semester
M E 440W or 441W Design Project
*M E Lab Course
ENGR Technical Elective (ETE)2
General Technical Elective (GTE)3
GA, GH or GS course
GA, GH or GS course
3
3
1
3
3
3
16
Total Credits - 131
• Courses listed in boldface italic type require a grade of C or better for entrance into this major.
+ Courses listed in boldface type require a grade of C or better for graduation in this major.
r
E MCH 213D may be used instead, if offered.
* To graduate a student must take at least two of the following lab courses: M E 315, M E 325, M E 355, M E 375, E MCH 316. If M E 445(4) is taken
as a technical elective, one credit can be used as an M E Lab Course.
^ Students may substitute Biol 141 for Chem 112.
1
M E Technical elective - 3 credits of 400-level M E courses except M E 410, M E 440W, M E 441W, M E 450, M E 494 or M E 496.
2
Engineering Technical Elective is a 3-credit 400-level course in the College of Engineering including a non-required Mechanical Engineering course.
3
General Technical Elective is 3 credits of engineering, science, or math courses beyond the level required for the major. See department list. Three
credits of Co-op can be used for the General Technical Elective after completion of three Co-op rotations. Six ROTC credits may be substituted for 3
credits of GHA and 3 credits of General Technical elective upon completion of the basic ROTC program.
Only use this curriculum plan for first and second year course scheduling. Your degree requirements are defined when enter the major and
may be different than listed on this page. Please refer to the ME Planning Manual for your Entrance to Major year
(http://www.mne.psu.edu/undergrad/degree.htm).
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3
3
3
3
3
15
3
1
3
3
3
3
16