Mar 29, 2024  
2013-2014 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Mechanical Engineering Major


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BS degree

The Mechanical Engineering program provides students with both a diverse, broad-based degree that is grounded in fundamental principles of science and engineering and the opportunity to specialize in a field of interest (such as energy, manufacturing, robotics, materials science, mechanical systems).

The program is characterized by hands-on design projects and the use of computer work stations to address complex problems and enable the design and manufacture of components and systems.  The program culminates in a senior project, solving a real-life engineering problem with realistic constraints of time as well as economic, aesthetic, safety, social and environmental considerations. The students defend their work in an oral presentation before their class, faculty, guests and an invited panel of judges from local industries.

The first two years of the program include basic courses in mathematics, chemistry and physics, together with introductory courses in applied science such as mechanics, materials, and electrical science. Specialization occurs during the last two years with courses available in the areas of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing processes and systems, control systems, materials behavior, energy, and mechanical design.

Calculation of GPA in the Mechanical Engineering Major

Students must have a 2.000 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken at the university in order to graduate. Students must also have a 2.000 cumulative GPA in the major. For purposes of GPA computation in the major the following are included:

  • All MNE courses
  • MTH, EGR, ECE courses at the 2xx level and above
  • Any course taken as a technical elective
  • ECO 231, 232 (only if electing the Manufacturing Option)

Requirements


First Year


Second Year


Third Year


Fourth Year


First Semester: 15 credits


  •  MNE Technical Electives - 3 credits

See footnote * below

  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credits

Second Semester: 14 credits


  • MNE Technical Electives - 3 credits
    See footnote * below
  • University Studies requirements - 6 credits

Footnote


* Usually taken from approved list (See Technical Electives below)

Total credits: 127 (or 126 if taking EGR 111)


Technical Electives


Technical electives are 400 and 500 level courses in mechanical engineering, except for those courses already required for the major (listed above). Students should confer with advisors before selecting technical electives to assure that they meet requirements in engineering science and engineering design. Students who wish to select technical electives from other departments must receive prior approval from the mechanical engineering department. Use of MNE 400 Engineering Internship as a technical elective requires that a proposal is first sponsored by a faculty member and then approved by the full department. An extraordinarily meritotious proposal may be approved for three technical elective credits only if it involves significant creatie technical design with a tangible product.

Areas of Concentration


Students looking to focus their technical electives in a particular area of concentration should consult with their advisor and use the following courses as a guideline.

Manufacturing Option


Requirements


The Option in Manufacturing utilizes a core of courses already in the Mechanical Engineering major—MNE 231, MNE 345, and a special selection of elective courses. Students in the Manufacturing option complete the requirements for Mechanical Engineering, at the same time making the following specific course selections:

Select both of the following courses:


Technical Electives for Manufacturing Option


 Select three courses from this list of MNE Technical Electives. These technical electives are taken in place of the technical elective requirements listed in the Mechanical Engineering (non-option) requirements above.

University Studies Requirements for Mechanical Engineering


Degree candidates for the BS degree in Mechanical Engineering must satisfy the University Studies requirements, as described in the Academic Policies section of this Catalogue.

  • University Studies requirements in Clusters 1, 2, 4B and 5 are automatically satisfied by the courses shown as required for this major.
  • The University Studies requirements in Clusters  3 and 4A and 4C may be fulfilled by selecting courses from the approved lists in each cluster.

University Studies Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Mechanical Engineering will meet their departmentally-controlled University Studies requirements as follows:

Alternative Paths Program Requirements


Depending on the results of placement testing, incoming first-year students may be placed into one of the following first-year curricula. Students following an alternative path program may have their program extended by up to one year.
 

First Year Courses for Precalculus-Ready Freshmen


First-Year Courses for Algebra-Ready Freshmen


First Semester: 12 credits


  • University Studies requirements - 6 credits

Second Semester: 13 credits


  •  University Studies requirements - 3 credits

Footnote


*** Students receive 3 administrative credits for Math 100. Administrative credits do not count towards the total credits required for graduation.

 

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