Nov 22, 2024  
2020-2021 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2020-2021 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

Requirements

First Year

First Semester: 14 credits

Second Semester: 17 credits

  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Second Year

First Semester: 15 credits

Second Semester: 16 credits

Third Year

First Semester: 15 credits

Second Semester: 17 credits

  • Science Elective - 3 credits
    Must be on approved list

Fourth Year

First Semester: 15 credits

  •  MNE Technical Electives - 6 credits (see Footnote 2 below)
  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Second Semester: 14 credits

  • MNE Technical Electives - 6 credits (see Footnote 2 below)
  • University Studies requirements - 6 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Footnote

[1] See University Studies 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B requirements.

[2] Usually taken from approved list (See Technical Electives below). Up to two (2) Technical Electives may be taken from outside department if approved in advance by Department Chair.

Total credits: 123

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 400-level technical electives from other departments must receive prior approval from the mechanical engineering department. Use of EGR 490 Engineering Internship as a technical elective requires that the course be approved prior to the start of the internship. For this to occur a proposal is first sponsored by a faculty member and then approved by the Department Chair and Associate Dean. Up to three (3) credits of EGR 490 may count towards one Technical Elective requirement.

Focus Areas

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

Design
Energy
Manufacturing

Manufacturing Concentration

Requirements

The Manufacturing Concentration utilizes a core of courses already in the Mechanical Engineering major—MNE 231, MNE 345, a special selection of elective courses, and a senior design project focused on manufacturing (approved by the Chairperson).

Students in the Manufacturing Concentration complete the requirements for Mechanical Engineering, at the same time completing two of the following three specific course selections:

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 Catalog.

  • University Studies requirements in Clusters 1, 2, 4C and 5 are automatically satisfied by the courses shown as required for this major.
  • The University Studies requirements in Clusters  3 and 4A and 4B 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:

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 4C

Cluster 5

Math Placement

Students not starting in Calculus (MTH 153) will be placed in Precalculus (MTH 150) or Precalculus Enhanced (MTH 150E) in the first semester. This delays the start of Calculus to the spring semester, which may extend the program beyond four years.

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