Aug 17, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Mechanical Engineering Major

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 focus in a field of interest (such as energy, manufacturing, robotics, materials science, mechanical systems). Students pursuing the Mechanical Engineering major can elect a concentration in either Advanced Manufacturing or Sustainable Energy.

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.

Program Educational Objectives

The Mechanical Engineering program at UMass Dartmouth is structured to provide our graduates with a broad technical background that is grounded in fundamental principles as well as modern tools of engineering. In addition, the program educates students in ethical standards for the field and culturally broadening university studies courses. Students have the option of developing a specialized career plan by concentrating their field of study to focus on areas of interest through the selection of electives. Ultimately, the success of our program is best reflected by the success of our graduates after graduation as measured by the following program educational objectives (PEOs), which are available at: http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/mne/undergraduate/program-educational-objectives/.

I. Career and Advancement: Our graduates will be successfully employed and advance in professional careers or graduate education programs.

II. Lifelong learning: Our graduates will continue their professional and individual development through participation in activities such as: graduate education, self-study, membership in professional organizations, professional registration, and certifications.

Student Outcomes

The department has established student outcomes that are published in the Mechanical Engineering Department website at the following URL: http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/mne/undergraduate/studentoutcomes/.

The following are the Mechanical Engineering Program Outcomes.

UMass Dartmouth Mechanical Engineering graduates will have:

(1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

(2) 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

(3) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

(4) An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

(5) 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

(6) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions

(7) An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

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: 17 credits

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

Second Semester: 14 credits

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

Second Semester: 14 credits

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

Footnote

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

[2] CHM 153, PHY 111, and PHY 112 can be used in place of CHM 151, PHY 113, and PHY 114, respectively.

[3] 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.

Advanced Manufacturing Concentration

The Advanced Manufacturing Concentration (AMF) is offered to students who are interested in the broad area of manufacturing, and wish to expand their education on applications of advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing and manufacturing automation. The AMF concentration can be declared at any time but in order to graduate with the concentration, students are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.700 or better in all AMF courses, and a GPA of 2.000 in the Mechanical Engineering Major.

Requirements

Students in the Advanced Manufacturing Concentration complete the requirements for Mechanical Engineering and choose three of their four technical electives from the approved list of courses below. Courses listed in both AMF Core and AMF Elective categories can only be used to meet one requirement area.

Manufacturing Foundation Core Courses

Completed as part of the MNE major. All three courses are required.

Advanced Manufacturing Core Course

Completed as a technical elective. Complete one course from the following:

Advanced Manufacturing Elective Courses

Completed as a technical elective. Complete two courses from the following list:

  • EAS 531 - Advanced Materials and Applications Credits: 3

Sustainable Energy Concentration

The Sustainable Energy Concentration (EC) is offered to students who are interested in the thermal sciences. To declare the Sustainable Energy Concentration, students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.000 and have earned a B- or better in MNE 220, Engineering Thermodynamics. Students should declare the concentration no later than the fall of the junior year.

Requirements

Students in the Sustainable Energy Concentration complete the requirements for Mechanical Engineering and choose three of their four technical electives from the approved list of courses below. Students in the EC will be preferentially assigned to energy-related senior design projects. Courses listed in both EC Core and EC Elective categories can only be used to meet one requirement area.

Sustainable Energy Foundation Core Courses

Completed as part of the MNE major. All four courses are required.

Sustainable Energy Concentration Core Course

Completed as a technical elective. Complete one course from the following:

Sustainable Energy Concentration Electives

Completed as a technical elective. Complete two courses from the following list:

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

Depending on the results of the math placement assessment, students are placed into one of four courses in their first semester: (a) Calculus, MTH 153 (or 151); (b) Precalculus, MTH 150; (c) College Algebra, MTH 148; or (d) Introductory & Intermediate Algebra, MTH 100. In the first case, the students will follow the standard program shown. In cases (b), (c), and (d) the start of Calculus is delayed a semester or more, which may extend the program completion beyond four years. Students in cases (b), (c), and (d) may be able to improve their mathematics standing by taking courses during the summer.