Mechanical Engineering

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Bring ideas to life with a Mechanical Engineering degree that prepares you to tackle real-world challenges in energy, transportation, medicine, and national defense. Through hands-on experience in robotics, material science, and fluid dynamics, you’ll develop the technical expertise and problem-solving skills that make mechanical engineers in high demand.

You can also specialize in energy systems or biomedicine, opening doors to careers in engineering, IT, consulting, finance, law, or even medical school. With access to cutting-edge labs and expert faculty, you’ll be ready to innovate and lead in a rapidly evolving world.

Experiential Learning

From day one, mechanical engineering students put theory into practice through hands-on labs, machine shop experience, and real-world projects. You’ll build a strong foundation in math, science, and physics while preparing for careers in industries like aerospace, robotics, and biomedical engineering.
By graduation, you can:

Design and build innovative solutions through a yearlong senior design project with industry partners or cutting-edge vehicle teams.
Gain real-world experience through internships with top companies like Caterpillar, Deere & Co., and Siemens.
Conduct faculty-mentored research, tackling real engineering challenges.
Develop leadership and technical skills in organizations like the BU Motorsports Club, Engineers Without Borders, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Collaborate with business students to explore the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship.
Apply your skills to community-driven projects like Habitat for Humanity designs.

Degree Concentrations

Take your career any way you want! Explore the different degree concentrations that we offer for students to personalize their professional future.

Turn your passion for engineering and medicine into real-world impact. In this concentration, you’ll explore prosthetics, artificial organs, and medical imaging while working on hands-on labs, research projects, and a senior capstone with healthcare professionals or medical device companies.

You’ll also have the chance to intern with industry leaders like GE Medical and Baxter International, giving you experience in the field before you even graduate.

Mix engineering with chemistry to create new products and processes that shape industries like aerospace, environmental science, and pharmaceuticals. You’ll learn how to design and improve chemical systems while gaining hands-on experience in labs and real-world projects.

Whether you want to work in research, production, or pursue grad school, this concentration opens the door to exciting career opportunities.

Help power the future with innovative and sustainable energy solutions. This concentration dives into renewable energy, power generation, and energy management while giving you hands-on experience through labs, projects, and internships with companies like Caterpillar and Siemens.

You’ll even tackle real-world energy challenges in your senior capstone, preparing you for a career in sustainable energy or advanced power systems.

Bring robots and smart technology to life! This concentration lets you design and program intelligent systems that can sense, decide, and act on their own.

Through hands-on projects and labs, you’ll work with cutting-edge robotics and automation technology, preparing you for careers in robotics, self-driving cars, or industrial automation.

Career Opportunities

A mechanical engineering degree opens doors to diverse industries. Recent graduates have:

Designed innovative products for companies like Eli Lilly and Honda R&D Americas
Engineered solutions in energy, automotive, and manufacturing fields
Launched careers with starting salaries averaging over $60,000

Program Details

Required Courses – 96-97 hrs.

ME 101: Foundations of Mechanical Engineering (2 hrs.)
ME 102: Engineering Design Graphics (2 hrs.)
ME 272: Comp Tech in ME (3 hrs.)
ME 273: Computational Methods in ME (3 hrs.)
ME 301: Thermodynamics I (3 hrs.)
ME 302: Thermodynamics (2 hrs.)
ME 303: Instrumentation and Measurement (3 hrs.)
ME 308: Thermodynamics of Fluid Flow (4 hrs.)
ME 341: Engineering Systems Dynamics (3 hrs.)
ME 342: Design of Machine Elements (3 hrs.)
ME 344: Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines (3 hrs.)
ME 351: Engineering Materials Science I (3 hrs.)
ME 403: Mechanical Engineering Systems Lab (3 hrs.)
ME 415: Heat Transfer (3 hrs.)
ME 441: Mechanical Control Systems (3 hrs.)
ME 410: Mechanical Engineering Senior Project I (3 hrs.)
or ME 498: ME Senior Research Project I (3 hrs.)
ME 411: Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Project II – 2 hrs.
or ME 499: ME Senior Research Project II (3 hrs.)
CE 150: Mechanics I (Statics) (3 hrs.)
CE 250: Mechanics II (Dynamics) (3 hrs.)
CE 270: Mechanics of Materials (3 hrs.)
CHM 110: General Chemistry (3 hrs.)
CHM 111: General Chemistry Lab – 1 hrs.
ECO 100: Introduction to Economics (3 hrs.)
or ECO 221: Principles of Microeconomics (3 hrs.)
or ECO 222: Principles of Macroeconomics(3 hrs.)
ECE 227: Electrical Engineering Fundamentals (4 hrs.)
IME 301: Engineering Economy (3 hrs.)
MTH 121: Calculus I (4 hrs.)
MTH 122: Calculus II (4 hrs.)
MTH 223: Calculus III (4 hrs.)
MTH 224: Differential Equations (3 hrs.)
PHY 110: University Physics I (4 hrs.)
PHY 201: University Physics II (4 hrs.)

Elective Courses (choose five) – 15 hrs.

ME 448: Computer Aided Design in Mechanical Engineering (3 hrs.)
ME 501: Advanced Thermodynamics (3 hrs.)
ME 502: Problems in Advanced Dynamics (3 hrs.)
ME 503: Internal Combustion Engines (3 hrs.)
ME 507: Nuclear Energy (3 hrs.)
ME 515: Intermediate Heat Transfer (3 hrs.)
ME 520: Gas Dynamics (3 hrs.)
ME 521: Intermediate Fluid Dynamics (3 hrs.)
ME 533: Propulsion Systems (3 hrs.)
ME 536: Industrial Pollution Prevention (3 hrs.)
ME 537: Building Energy Management (3 hrs.)
ME 540: Advanced Mechanical Vibrations (3 hrs.)
ME 547: Fluid Power Control Systems (3 hrs.)
ME 549: Microprocessor Interfacing in Mechanical Systems (3 hrs.)
ME 556: Mechanics of Composite Materials (3 hrs.)
ME 557: Advanced Design of Machine Elements (3 hrs.)
ME 560: Principles of Robotic Programming (3 hrs.)
ME 561: Introduction to Robotics (3 hrs.)
ME 562: Analysis and Design of Robotic Systems (3 hrs.)
ME 573: Methods of Engineering Analysis (3 hrs.)
ME 577: Finite Element Methods in Engineering (3 hrs.)
ME 580: Biomechanics (3 hrs.)
ME 582: Medical Imaging (3 hrs.)
ME 591: Topics in Mechanical Engineering (3 hrs.)

Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering using:

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

Our alumni are becoming leaders and stewards in their chosen profession and in society through their contributions to professional practice, research, entrepreneurial initiatives, or policy.
Our alumni apply ethics and sustainability principles in their profession and commit to life-long learning, earn licensure and become experts and mentors in their chosen profession.
Our alumni have the needed awareness of relevant global issues and cultures in order to thrive in a complex and multicultural world.

Student Outcomes (SOs)

an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.