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Mechanical Engineering

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For the undergraduate curriculum in mechanical engineering leading to the degree Bachelor of Science. The Mechanical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Mechanical engineers apply the principles of motion, energy, and force to create mechanical solutions to technological problems, thereby realizing devices and systems that make life better. About one-fifth of all engineers practicing today are mechanical engineers. Their skills are used in research, development, design, testing, production, technical sales, technical management, as well as medicine, law, and business. Mechanical engineers are characterized by personal creativity, breadth of knowledge, and versatility. For these reasons they are found to function and thrive as valuable members and leaders of multidisciplinary teams. Mechanical engineers are employed in a wide range of industries; examples include agricultural/heavy equipment, biomedical, consulting, energy and power, manufacturing, product design and transportation.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum should have at the time of graduation:

  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 judgments, 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 judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Educational Objectives:

The mechanical engineering curriculum is organized to provide students with a broad foundation in mathematics, science, engineering, social science and humanities. Areas emphasized in the curriculum are design and optimization, dynamic systems and control, materials processing and mechanics, and thermo-fluid sciences. Elective courses provide additional emphasis in terms of the student’s unique educational goals, whether they include immediate entry into industry or further professional or graduate study.

The mechanical engineering curriculum at Iowa State University is dedicated to preparing students for productive careers in the state, nation, and the world and has the following objectives:

  1. Graduates will have utilized a foundation in engineering and science to improve lives and livelihoods through a successful career in mechanical engineering or other fields.
  2. Graduates will have become effective leaders, collaborators, and innovators solving social, technical, business, and global challenges. 
  3. Graduates will have engaged in life-long learning and professional development through self-study, continuing education, or graduate and professional studies in engineering, business, law, medicine, or other fields. 
  4. Graduates will have fostered inclusive and diverse environments and functioned effectively in inclusive and diverse environments.

A major focus throughout the mechanical engineering curriculum is a series of experiences that emphasize engineering design, culminating in a capstone design experience in the senior year. Students will develop engineering judgment through open-ended problems that require establishment of reasonable engineering assumptions and realistic constraints. Development of skills needed to be independent, creative thinkers, effective communicators, and contributing team members is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students also develop an understanding of the societal context in which they will practice engineering, including environmental, legal, aesthetic, and human aspects.

Students are encouraged to participate in the cooperative education program or to obtain engineering internships, both domestically and abroad. Study abroad is encouraged, and the department has exchange programs with several universities around the world. These experiences help students to round out their education and to better prepare for careers in the increasingly global practice of engineering.

Curriculum in Mechanical Engineering

Administered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Leading to the degree Bachelor of Science.

Total credits required: 129 cr.

Any transfer credit courses applied to the degree program require a grade of C or better (but will not be calculated into the ISU cumulative GPA, Basic Program GPA or Core GPA). See also Basic Program and Special Programs.

International Perspectives: 3 cr.1

U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.1

Communication Proficiency/Library requirement:

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
Choose one of the following communication courses (minimum grade of C)3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication
Fundamentals of Public Speaking

General Education Electives: 15 cr.

No more than three 1000-level courses for this set of courses can be applied to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Choose one course from the following:3
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Social Science 23
Humanities6
Humanities or Social Science 23
Total Credits15

Basic Program: 24 cr.

A minimum GPA of 2.00 is required for this set of courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Basic Program GPA). See Requirement for Entry into Professional Program in College of Engineering Overview section.

CHEM 1670General Chemistry for Engineering Students4
or CHEM 1770 General Chemistry I
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
Engineering Orientation
ME 1600Mechanical Engineering Problem Solving with Computer Applications 33
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 1650Calculus I4
MATH 1660Calculus II4
PHYS 2310Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 2310LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Mechanical Engineering Foundations: 25 cr.

A minimum GPA of 2.00 for the complete group of Foundations courses is required before students are permitted to enroll in the following Mechanical Engineering Core courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the ME Foundations GPA): ME 3240, ME 3250, ME 3320, ME 3350, ME 3700 and ME 4210.

MATH 2650Calculus III4
4 credits from the following:4
Elementary Differential Equations and Laplace Transforms
Elementary Differential Equations
and Laplace Transforms
PHYS 2320Introduction to Classical Physics II4
PHYS 2320LIntroduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory1
EM 3240Mechanics of Materials3
MATE 2730Principles of Materials Science and Engineering3
ME 2310Engineering Thermodynamics I3
CE 2740Engineering Statics3
Total Credits25

Mechanical Engineering Core: 38 cr.

A minimum GPA of 2.00 is required for this set of courses, including any transfer courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Core GPA):

ME 3450Engineering Dynamics3
EE 4420Introduction to Circuits and Instruments2
EE 4480Introduction to AC Circuits and Motors2
ME 2700Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design3
ME 3240Manufacturing Engineering3
ME 3240LManufacturing Engineering Laboratory1
ME 3250Mechanical Component Design3
ME 3320Engineering Thermodynamics II3
ME 3350Fluid Flow4
ME 3700Engineering Measurements3
ME 4210System Dynamics and Control4
ME 4360Heat Transfer4
One Senior Capstone Design course from the following3
Mechanical Systems Design
Heating and Air Conditioning Design
Total Credits38

Other Remaining Courses: 27 cr.

Complete 15 cr. Technical Electives 215
ME 1700Engineering Graphics and Introductory Design3
Mechanical Engineering - Professional Planning
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
STAT 3050Engineering Statistics3
Complete one of the following communication courses with a minimum grade of C.3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Total Credits27

Co-op/Internships (Optional)

  1. These university requirements will add to the minimum credits of the program unless the university-approved courses are also approved by the department to meet other course requirements within the degree program.
    U.S. diversity and international perspectives courses may not be taken Pass/Not Pass.
  2. Choose from department approved list of technical electives and general education electives. Note: electives used to meet graduation requirements may not be taken Pass-Not Pass (P-NP).
  3. See Basic Program for Professional Engineering Curricula for accepted substitutions for curriculum designated courses in the Basic Program.

Transfer Credit Requirements

The Mechanical Engineering Department requires a grade of a C or better for any transfer credit course that is applied to the degree program. The degree program must include a minimum of 15 credits taken from courses offered through the Mechanical Engineering Department at Iowa State University. Of these 15 credits, 3 must be from one of the senior capstone design courses. The remaining 12 credits may be from the core curriculum program (if a student is deficient in these courses) or from 4000-level ME technical electives. No more than 3 credits of independent study shall be applied to meet the 12-credit requirement.

See also: A 4-year plan of study grid showing course template by semester.

Mechanical Engineering, B.S.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 16704ENGL 15003
ME 16003ME 17003
MATH 16504MATH 16604
ENGR 1010RLIB 16001
General Education Elective3PHYS 23104
 PHYS 2310L1
 14 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 27403EM 32403
MATE 27303MATH 26704
MATH 26504ME 23103
PHYS 23204ME 27003
PHYS 2320L1General Education Elective3
ENGL 25003ME 2020R
 18 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EE 44202ME 32503
EE 44802ME 33504
ME 34503ME 37003
ME 33203ME 32403
STAT 30503Communication Requirement3
ME 3240L1 
General Education Elective3 
 17 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Gen Ed Elective (Intl Perspective)3Gen Ed Elective (US Diversity)3
ME 42104Technical Elective3
ME 43604Technical Elective3
Technical Elective3Technical Elective3
Technical Elective3Capstone Design3
 17 15

Energy Systems Minor

The Energy Systems minor is administered by the mechanical engineering department and is open to all undergraduates in the College of Engineering. The minor may be earned by completing 15 credits from the following courses. The complete list of approved elective courses can be found below. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

http://www.me.iastate.edu/energy-systems-minor/

Required courses
ECON 3800Energy, Environmental and Resource Economics3
EE 3510Analysis of Energy Systems3
or ME 4330 Alternative Energy
Electives: Choose from a list of approved courses9
Total Credits15
Approved Elective Courses
ABE 3250Biorenewable Systems3
ABE 3420Agricultural Tractor Power3
ABE 3630Agri-Industrial Applications of Electric Power and Electronics4
ABE 3800Principles of Biological Systems Engineering3
ME 4130Fluid Power Engineering3
ABE 4720Controlled Environments for Animals and Plants3
ABE 4800Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems3
ABE 5720Controlled Environments for Animals and Plants3
ABE 5800Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems3
AERE 3810Introduction to Wind Energy3
AERE 5700Wind Engineering3
CHE 3560Transport Phenomena I3
CHE 3570Transport Phenomena II3
CHE 3580Separations3
CHE 3810Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics3
CHE 3820Chemical Reaction Engineering3
CHE 4150Biochemical Engineering3
CHE 5150Biochemical Engineering3
CHE 5540Integrated Transport Phenomena4
CHE 5830Advanced Thermodynamics3
CHE 5870Advanced Chemical Reactor Design3
CONE 3520Mechanical Systems in Buildings3
CONE 3530Electrical Systems in Buildings3
CONE 3540Building Energy Performance3
EE 3030Energy Systems and Power Electronics3
EE 4480Introduction to AC Circuits and Motors2
EE 4520Electrical Machines and Power Electronic Drives3
EE 4550Introduction to Energy Distribution Systems3
EE 4560Power System Analysis I3
EE 4570Power System Analysis II3
EE 4580Economic Systems for Electric Power Planning3
EE 4590Electromechanical Wind Energy Conversion and Grid Integration3
EE 5520Energy System Planning3
EE 5530Steady State Analysis3
EE 5540Power System Dynamics3
EE 5550Advanced Energy Distribution Systems3
EE 5560Power Electronic Systems3
EE 5590Electromechanical Wind Energy Conversion and Grid Integration3
EM 5700Wind Engineering3
ME 3320Engineering Thermodynamics II3
ENSCI 3240Energy and the Environment3
ENSCI 4800Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems3
ME 3350Fluid Flow4
ME 4130Fluid Power Engineering3
ME 4360Heat Transfer4
ME 4370Introduction to Combustion Engineering3
ME 4410Fundamentals of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning3
ME 4420Heating and Air Conditioning Design3
ME 4440Elements and Performance of Power Plants3
ME 4480Fluid Dynamics of Turbomachinery3
ME 4490Internal Combustion Engines3
ME 5010Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources3
ME 5300Advanced Thermodynamics3
ME 5320Compressible Fluid Flow3
ME 5350Thermochemical Processing of Biomass3
ME 5360Advanced Heat Transfer3
ME 5380Advanced Fluid Flow3
ME 5420Advanced Combustion3
ME 5450Thermal Systems Design3
MSE 5200Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Multicomponent Materials3
MATE 3110Thermodynamics in Materials Engineering3
WESEP 5010Wind Energy Resources3
WESEP 5020Wind Energy Systems3

Concurrent Mechanical Engineering BS/MS Degree

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) provides B.S./M.S. concurrent degrees that allow well-qualified students to be admitted to the graduate program while still working on their undergraduate degrees during their senior year. Concurrent degrees allow well-qualified students to begin their graduate studies before completing their undergraduate degree to complete their graduate degree on an accelerated timeline. Students in concurrent status must be making good progress toward a bachelor’s degree. The minimum requirements for admission to concurrent-student status are the same as those required for admission to the Graduate College. Other aspects of concurrent status include:

  • Official enrollment and fee payment will be as a graduate student.
  • The graduate credential will be awarded at the same time or after the undergraduate degree is conferred.
  • Students may be appointed to graduate research assistantships.
  • With the approval of a student’s Program of Study (POS) Committee, up to 6 ISU credits taken while in concurrent status may be applied to a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree.

Details on the master's degree requirements and graduate admission in mechanical engineering may be found at: https://www.me.iastate.edu/graduate-admissions/.

Details on the graduate college policies on concurrent degrees may be found at: https://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/handbook/chapter.php?id=4#4.3.

Graduate Study

The department offers programs for the degrees Master of Engineering (M. Eng.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with a major in mechanical engineering. The M.Eng. degree is a coursework-only degree designed to improve professional expertise in mechanical engineering. The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are designed to improve the student’s capability to conduct research as well as their professional expertise. Although co-major and formal minor programs are not offered in mechanical engineering, courses may be used for minor work by students taking major work in other departments.

Well-qualified juniors and seniors in mechanical engineering who are interested in graduate study may apply for concurrent enrollment in the Graduate College to simultaneously pursue both the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, the Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration. Under concurrent enrollment, students are eligible for assistantships and simultaneously take undergraduate and graduate courses. Details are available in the Graduate Programs Office and on the department’s website (http://www.me.iastate.edu/).

The graduate program offers advanced study in a variety of thrust areas, including biological and nanoscale sciences, clean energy technologies, complex fluid systems, design and manufacturing innovation, and simulation and visualization.

The department offers students the opportunity to broaden their education by participating in minor programs in established departments, interdepartmental programs, or other experiences as approved by their program of study committees.

The requirements for advanced degrees are established by the student’s program of study committee within established guidelines of the Graduate College. Graduate students who have not completed an undergraduate program of study substantially equivalent to that required of undergraduate students in the department can expect that additional supporting coursework will be required.

Program requirements can be found on the department webpage (http://www.me.iastate.edu/) and in the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Handbook.