Mechanical Engineering, BS

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (460000BS)

The undergraduate mechanical engineering program is designed to provide a student with comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental principles of Mechanical Engineering. This includes fluid-thermal systems and mechanical sciences, and the application of these principles to engineering problems. 

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering can be combined with the "Cooperative Education, College of Engineering and Polymer Science" certificate, for a nominal five-year plan of study that includes four total years of coursework and one full year of relevant work experience.  Alternatively, the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering can be earned without the certificate, with a nominal four-year plan of study.

The undergraduate curriculum can be divided into four main areas: general education (or Honors) requirements, mathematics and science requirements, engineering requirements, and ME program electives.

Whether it’s rockets, race cars, bicycles, airplanes, or robots, our students compete with engineering schools from across the nation. The design competitions are sanctioned by professional engineering societies like SAE, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Students from incoming freshmen to seniors are encouraged to participate.

The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Akron is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

Requirements for Admission

All students who meet the minimum requirements for admittance into The University of Akron and intend to major in engineering or engineering technology are accepted into the College of Engineering and Polymer Science and welcome to begin study towards their intended major.  Students must show success in key classes early in the program curriculum before gaining approval to take classes in the third year of the curriculum and beyond.

Cooperative Education

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering can be combined with the Cooperative Education, College of Engineering and Polymer Science certificate, for a nominal five-year plan of study that includes four total years of coursework and one full year of relevant work experience.  Alternatively, the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering can be earned without the certificate, with a nominal four-year plan of study. 

Accelerated BS/MS program

The department offers B.S. Mechanical Engineering students at The University of Akron a BS/MS program that allows them to earn the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with one additional year of study. Applications are accepted in the Spring before the senior year.

The following information has official approval of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and The College of Engineering and Polymer Science, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor. 

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements *21
Program-Specific General Education15
Math and Natural Science18
Probability and Statistics2-4
Engineering Core10
Mechanical Engineering Core54
Mechanical Engineering Technical Electives9
Capstone Design4
Total Hours133-135
*

Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements. 

General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

Program-Specific General Education

The program-specific courses also satisfy General Education requirements.

MATH:221Analytic Geometry-Calculus I4
CHEM:151Principles of Chemistry I3
CHEM:152Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory1
PHYS:291Elementary Classical Physics I4
ECON:244Introduction to Economic Analysis 13
Total Hours15
1

While ECON:244 is preferred, students who have both taken both ECON:200 Principles of Microeconomics and ECON:201 Principles of Macroeconomics also meet the program-specific Economics requirement for the degree. 

Math and Natural Science

CHEM:153Principles of Chemistry II3
MATH:222Analytic Geometry-Calculus II4
MATH:223Analytic Geometry-Calculus III4
MATH:335Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
PHYS:292Elementary Classical Physics II4
Total Hours18

Probability and Statistics

STAT:401Probability and Statistics for Engineers2-4
or STAT:461 Applied Statistics
Total Hours2-4

Engineering Core

CIVE:201Statics3
CIVE:202Introduction to Mechanics of Solids3
ELEN:307Basic Electrical Engineering4
Total Hours10

Mechanical Engineering Core

MECE:165Tools for Mechanical Engineering2
MECE:166ME Freshman Design Project2
MECE:203Dynamics3
MECE:260Engineering Analysis I2
MECE:300Thermodynamics I3
MECE:301Thermodynamics II2
MECE:310Fluid Mechanics I2
MECE:311Fluid Mechanics II3
MECE:315Heat Transfer3
MECE:321Kinematics of Machines2
MECE:336Analysis of Mechanical Components3
MECE:337Design of Mechanical Components3
MECE:340Systems Dynamics & Response3
MECE:360Engineering Analysis II2
MECE:380Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering2
MECE:400Thermal System Components3
MECE:402Senior Seminar1
MECE:431Fundamentals of Mechanical Vibrations3
MECE:441Control Systems Design3
MECE:460Concepts of Design3
MECE:483Measurements Laboratory2
MECE:484Mechanical Engineering Laboratory2
Total Hours54

Mechanical Engineering Technical Electives 

Mechanical Engineering Electives9
Total Hours9

Capstone Design 

MECE:461ME Senior Design Project I2
MECE:471ME Senior Design Project II2
or MECE:497 Honors Project in Mechanical Engineering
Total Hours4

Recommended Sequence

Recommended Sequence with Co-operative Education Certificate

This plan of study shows the recommended schedule for students who are also earning the "Cooperative Education, College of Engineering and Polymer Science" certificate.  Together, the Bachelor of Science and certificate require a five-year plan of study.  The program recommends that students earn this certificate.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
CHEM:151 Principles of Chemistry I 1 3
CHEM:152 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1
ENGL:111 English Composition I 1,2,3 3
MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I 1 4
MECE:165 Tools for Mechanical Engineering 2
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CHEM:153 Principles of Chemistry II 3
MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II 1 4
MECE:166 ME Freshman Design Project 2
Writing Second Course 1,3 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours15
2nd Year
Fall Semester
CIVE:201 Statics 1 3
ECON:244 Introduction to Economic Analysis 3
MATH:223 Analytic Geometry-Calculus III 1 4
PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I 1 4
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CIVE:202 Introduction to Mechanics of Solids 3
MATH:335 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
MECE:203 Dynamics 1 3
MECE:260 Engineering Analysis I 2
PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II 1 4
 Hours15
Summer Semester
GNEN:300 Cooperative Education Work Period (possible) 0
 Hours0
3rd Year
Fall Semester
STAT:401 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 2
MECE:300 Thermodynamics I 3
MECE:310 Fluid Mechanics I 2
MECE:321 Kinematics of Machines 2
MECE:336 Analysis of Mechanical Components 3
MECE:360 Engineering Analysis II 2
 Hours14
Spring Semester
GNEN:301 Cooperative Education Work Period (for Cooperative Education certificate) 0
 Hours0
Summer Semester
MECE:311 Fluid Mechanics II 3
MECE:380 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering 2
MECE:431 Fundamentals of Mechanical Vibrations 3
 Hours8
4th Year
Fall Semester
GNEN:302 Cooperative Education Work Period (for Cooperative Education certificate) 0
 Hours0
Spring Semester
MECE:301 Thermodynamics II 2
MECE:315 Heat Transfer 3
MECE:337 Design of Mechanical Components 3
MECE:340 Systems Dynamics & Response 3
MECE:483 Measurements Laboratory 2
ELEN:307 Basic Electrical Engineering 4
 Hours17
Summer Semester
GNEN:403 Cooperative Education Work Period (for Cooperative Education certificate) 0
 Hours0
5th Year
Fall Semester
MECE:400 Thermal System Components 3
MECE:402 Senior Seminar 1
MECE:441 Control Systems Design 3
MECE:460 Concepts of Design 3
MECE:461 ME Senior Design Project I 2
MECE:484 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 2
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
MECE:471 ME Senior Design Project II 6 2
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours14
 Total Hours133

Recommended Sequence without Co-operative Education

If a student chooses not to earn the Cooperative Education certificate, the following four-year plan of study is used.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
CHEM:151 Principles of Chemistry I 3
CHEM:152 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1
ENGL:111 English Composition I 1,2,3 3
MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I 4
MECE:165 Tools for Mechanical Engineering 2
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CHEM:153 Principles of Chemistry II 3
MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II 4
MECE:166 ME Freshman Design Project 2
Writing Second Course 1,3 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours15
2nd Year
Fall Semester
ECON:244 Introduction to Economic Analysis 3
MATH:223 Analytic Geometry-Calculus III 4
PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I 4
CIVE:201 Statics 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
MATH:335 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II 4
CIVE:202 Introduction to Mechanics of Solids 3
MECE:203 Dynamics 3
MECE:260 Engineering Analysis I 2
 Hours15
3rd Year
Fall Semester
STAT:401 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 2
MECE:300 Thermodynamics I 3
MECE:310 Fluid Mechanics I 2
MECE:321 Kinematics of Machines 2
MECE:336 Analysis of Mechanical Components 3
MECE:360 Engineering Analysis II 2
 Hours14
Spring Semester
ELEN:307 Basic Electrical Engineering 4
MECE:301 Thermodynamics II 2
MECE:315 Heat Transfer 3
MECE:337 Design of Mechanical Components 3
MECE:340 Systems Dynamics & Response 3
MECE:483 Measurements Laboratory 2
 Hours17
Summer Semester
MECE:311 Fluid Mechanics II 3
MECE:380 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering 2
MECE:431 Fundamentals of Mechanical Vibrations 3
 Hours8
4th Year
Fall Semester
MECE:400 Thermal System Components 3
MECE:402 Senior Seminar 1
MECE:441 Control Systems Design 3
MECE:460 Concepts of Design 3
MECE:461 ME Senior Design Project I 6 2
MECE:484 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 2
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
MECE:471 ME Senior Design Project II 7 2
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
Mechanical Engineering Elective 5 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
General Education or Honors Distribution 4 3
 Hours14
 Total Hours133
1

Honors sections may be available; check the schedule of classes.

2

The Mechanical Engineering Department recommends that ENGL:111 English Composition I be used to satisfy writing course requirement but other choices are available. See the General Education Program for details.

3

Check General Education Program or Honors Distribution to find courses that satisfy the Writing Second Course requirement.

4

Credit hours shown for General Education or Honors Distribution are general guidelines only. These courses should be chosen in accordance with the appropriate General Education curriculum guide (for non-honors students) or Honors Distribution (for honors students). Honors students must also ensure that their course selections meet additional requirements not shown on this curriculum guide.

5

Mechanical Engineering program electives include six credits Mechanical Engineering electives, and a three credit technical elective.

6

Students following the Honors Track will complete MECE:497 Honors Project in Mechanical Engineering instead of MECE:471.