Undergraduate Curriculum

At the University of Delaware, our undergraduate mechanical engineering program is design-focused and collaborative. We bring first-year students together as a cohort, and they advance through the program together.

Our mechanical engineering curriculum emphasizes both breadth and depth.

In the freshman year, we provide a solid, broad science and math foundation while introducing our students to the career of mechanical engineering. The sophomore year is a continuation of science and math along with the foundation engineering science courses. We also begin the sequence of design experiences, which culminates in the senior year. The core mechanical engineering science and design courses are included in the junior year. The senior year is characterized by the capstone design course along with many flexible technical electives to allow for concentration and specialization. Throughout all four years, the general education requirements automatically emphasize non-technical breadth and depth as well, so students develop the soft skills they need to excel in the professional world.

To learn more about the curriculum go to the UD Course Catalog.

Flowchart for this curriculum.

2017 & After Curriculum

Undergraduate curriculum for ME students entering after Fall 2017:

First Year
FALL SPRING
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
EGGG101 Intro to Engineering 2 MEEG102 Computer-Aided Engineering Design 3
CHEM103/CHEM133 General Chemistry* 4 MEEG104 Analysis & Communication of Technical Information 2
CISC106 General Comp Sci for Engineers 3 PHYS207/PHYS227 Physics I* 4
MATH241 Calculus A 4 MATH242 Calculus B 4
ENGL110 Critical Reading & Writing* 3   Breadth 1* 3
TOTAL CREDITS 16 TOTAL CREDITS 16
Second Year
FALL SPRING
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
MEEG210 Statics 3 MEEG211 Dynamics 3
MEEG241 Thermodynamics 3 MEEG215 Mechanics of Solids 3
MATH243 Calculus C 4 MEEG216 Mechanics of Solids Lab 1
MATH351 Engineering Math I 3 MSEG201 Materials Science for Engineers 3
PHYS245 Intro to Electricity & Electronics 4 MATH352 Engineering Math II 3
      MATH353 Engineering Math III 3
TOTAL CREDITS 17 TOTAL CREDITS 16
Third Year
FALL SPRING
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
MEEG301 Machine Design – Kinematics & Kinetics 3 MEEG304 Machine Design – Elements 3
MEEG311
MEEG312
Control Systems
Vibration and Controls Lab
3
1
MEEG332 Fluid Mechanics II 3
MEEG321 Materials Engineering 3 MEEG342 Heat Transfer 3
MEEG331
MEEG333
Fluid Mechanics I
Fluid Mechanics I Lab
3
1
MEEG346 Thermal Design Lab 1
        Technical Elective 1 (science) 3
    Breadth 2 3
TOTAL CREDITS 14 TOTAL CREDITS 16
Fourth Year
FALL SPRING
Course # Course Name Credits Course # Course Name Credits
MEEG401
or
MEEG402
Senior Design
or
Senior Design – FSAE
6   Technical Elective 4 3
  Technical Elective 2 3   Technical Elective 5 3
  Technical Elective 3 3   Breadth 4 3
  Breadth 3 3   Breadth 5 3
        Breadth 6 3
TOTAL CREDITS 15 TOTAL CREDITS 15

Notes:
CHEM 107 can be taken instead of CHEM103
* can be switched with appropriate course in the other semester

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

The required coursework in mechanical engineering establishes the fundamental knowledge required of mechanical engineers in engineering science and applied mathematics. With a solid technical foundation students are exposed to the breadth of mechanical engineering in areas of solid mechanics, dynamics, materials, fluid mechanics, thermal sciences and engineering design. For information on these courses please consult the course/class information.

  • EGGG 101 – Introduction to Engineering (First Year Experience)
  • MEEG 102 – Computer-Aided Engineering Design
  • MEEG 104 – Analysis and Communication of Technical Information
  • MEEG 210 – Statics
  • MEEG 211 – Dynamics
  • MEEG 215 – Mechanics of Solids
  • MEEG 216 – Mechanics of Solids Laboratory
  • MEEG 241 – Thermodynamics
  • MEEG 301 – Machine Design – Kinematics/Kinetics
  • MEEG 304 – Machine Design – Elements
  • MEEG 311 – Control Systems
  • MEEG 312 – Vibration and Control Lab
  • MEEG 321 – Materials Engineering
  • MEEG 331 – Fluid Mechanics 1
  • MEEG 332 – Fluid Mechanics 2
  • MEEG 333 – Fluid Mechanics Lab
  • MEEG 342 – Heat Transfer
  • MEEG 346 – Thermal Lab
  • MEEG 401 – Senior Design
  • MEEG 402 – Senior Design (FSAE)

TECHNICAL ELECTIVES

Technical electives in the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering curriculum provide the student with an opportunity to pursue areas of particular interest. Because of the breadth of technical areas in which mechanical engineers work, at least 3 of these credits must be in a basic science. The remaining technical electives demonstrate technical depth and are typically courses at or above the 400 level which are taken after much of the basic engineering science has been mastered and comprise a minimum of 12 credits. Although the majority of the technical depth electives are typically drawn from the Mechanical Engineering department, courses from other departments and colleges can also be selected. Students may always discuss focusing their technical electives with their academic advisor.

Students can choose, typically towards the end of sophomore or early junior year, to pursue the Aerospace Engineering concentration, Automotive Engineering concentration, or the Manufacturing Systems concentration. A student can also choose one of the many minors offered including the Biomechanical minor that are offered through the Mechanical Engineering department. Students are encouraged to peruse the undergraduate catalog. For those pursuing the degree without a concentration or minor, there are certainly other opportunities to focus the technical electives. One suggestion is to look at the faculty research interests and projects as those often provide opportunities for undergraduate students. The technical elective program can also be structured to meet individual interests and students are encouraged to discuss their educational objectives with their advisor early in the junior year to develop an appropriate selection of technical electives.

Look at the UD Course Catalog to see a list of the technical electives offered.

Spring 2023 Technical Electives

MEEG 413/613 Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

MEEG 417/617 Composite Materials * **

MEEG 425 Automotive Powertrain Theory **

MEEG 433/633 Rocket Propulsion *

MEEG 435/635 Wind Power Engineering *

MEEG 442/642 Introduction to Fuel Cells **

MEEG 454/654 Additive Manufacturing ***

MEEG 467/667 – 010 Mechanobiology +

MEEG 467/667 – 013 Mechatronics

MEEG 467/667 – 016 Sustainable Manufacturing ***

MEEG 482/682 Clinical Biomechanics +

*Aerospace Concentration
**Automotive Concentration
***Manufacturing Systems Concentration
+Biomechanical Engineering Minor

MINORS AND CONCENTRATIONS

A minor or a concentration is a cohesive set of courses in a sub-specialty that differs from one’s major. Minors normally require completion of five to seven courses in the subject area, and can be awarded to students from different majors. Students may double-count courses for credit against both majors and minors. If electives are chosen carefully, minors can often be integrated into the program requirements. Nearly half of all engineering students have at least one minor, many have two or three. Concentrations may only be awarded to students within a specific major; for mechanical-engineering students, the concentrations are achieved through careful selection of courses satisfying the technical elective requirement.

Within the Department of Mechanical Engineering we offer concentrations in Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering and Manufacturing Systems. There are many minors offered throughout the University of Delaware and then within the College of Engineering that could be of interest to mechanical engineering students. The minor specifically housed in mechanical engineering are in Biomechanical Engineering. Please see the appropriate information in the University of Delaware catalog.

Popular minors outside the Mechanical Engineering Department include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Integrated Design
  • Materials Science & Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Sustainable Energy Technology
SENIOR DESIGN – MEEG 401

Senior Design is the 6-credit capstone design course structured to imitate the scenario a young engineer will experience in a design team in industry.

Advisement

As students complete the first few years of required coursework they begin thinking more about the future directions in the program and in career advising, including which areas of mechanical engineering they find particularly interesting. Faculty/student mentoring becomes increasingly important, and students are offered the opportunity to be assigned to a faculty advisor who better aligns with their interests. In the winter of their sophomore year, (prior to registration for junior-year fall classes) sophomores receive an email asking them to indicate areas of interest and are assigned an advisor with expertise in those areas. Areas of interest include:

Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs
Biomechanics Industry
Biomedical Engineering Manufacturing Science
Composite Materials Materials and Nanotechnology
Design Mathematics
Dynamic Systems Robotics and Control
Environmental and Bio-Fluid Mechanics Solid Mechanics
Fluids Thermal Sciences
Fuel Cells Undecided

Assignments are made by the department based upon student interest and to keep the number of advisees per faculty at a reasonable level. Students can ask to be re-assigned to a different advisor at any time simply by contacting the Main Office, Mechanical Engineering. If there is an emergency or an advisor is not available, students can always contact the Department’s Associate Chairperson for Undergraduate Education, or the College of Engineering’s Assistant Dean for Advising.

Students are further encouraged to contact the Career Services Center to assist in the development and implementation of career and educational plans.

Have questions about advisement? See the Frequently Asked Questions.

Accelerated Joint BS/MS Degree Programs (4+1)

Earn more. Choose one of our 4+1 programs and earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years. The accelerated degree programs allow students to apply for graduate programs during their junior year. If granted provisional acceptance, you may take graduate-level courses during the final year of your undergraduate program. Because some undergraduate courses are waived under an accelerated degree program, you’ll be able to complete both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in only one additional year.

Programs:

  • Mechanical Engineering 4+1 (BME/MSME)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Business Administration 4+1 (BME/MBA)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science 4+1 (BME/MS)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Data Science 4+1 (BME/MS)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BME/MMSE)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Robotics 4+1 (BME/MS)
  • Mechanical Engineering/Secondary STEM Education 4+1 (BME/MS)

Learn more about these programs on our 4+1 page.

AcademicsUndergraduate ProgramUndergraduate Curriculum