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Mechanical Engineering Program

Undergraduate Program

The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program emphasizes both a broad education in mechanical engineering fundamentals and the opportunity for in-depth learning in an elective focus area. The elective focus areas are often of an interdisciplinary nature, and students have the choice of selecting one of the program-standard focus areas or of developing their own tailored focus area suited to their career aspirations.

Mission and Objectives

The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410)347-7700. The program's curriculum and academic activities are based on the principles expressed in our Mission Statement. We also maintain and adhere to a set of Objectives, which describe desired accomplishments of our recent graduates, and a set of Outcomes, which list characteristics of our students at the time of graduation.

Courses, Curriculum and Seminars

Photo of students workingFor information on the Mechanical Engineering Program curriculum, courses and seminars offered by the department, please click the links below:

ME Undergraduate Curriculum

ME Undergraduate Curriculum Course Map

Mechanical Engineering Courses

Seminars

2009-2010 General Catalog

 

Elective Focus Areas

Elective Focus Areas (EFA) consist of a minimum of 21 s.h. of coursework. All focus areas must include an approved math/science elective as part of the EFA. Students select an EFA by completing a Plan of Study Form for the standard EFAs or a Tailored Plan of Study Form for student-designed EFAs. The three standard EFA options maintained by the Mechanical Engineering Program are listed below:

Design

Energy and Environment

Manufacturing and Materials Processing

Students may also tailor an EFA based on individual interests. The EFA must include 21 semester hours of courses and satisfy criteria for classification as EFA courses. Students must consult with their advisor prior to choosing a tailored EFA. Possible tailored EFA's include:

Management (Business Minor)
Entrepreneurship
Bio-engineering

Here are the EFA Guidelines of the MIE Department. All non-standard EFA selections require approval of the Department Chair.

Program for Enhanced Design Experience

Photo of students workingThe Program for Enhanced Design Experience (PEDE) is a two-semester design sequence that is closely tied to actual industrial design projects. All PEDE projects have an industrial sponsor and are guided by an lead engineer from the industry and a faculty adviser from the home department, usually with the assistance of a dedicated teaching assistant. Admission into PEDE is done by submitting an application to the departmental office during the spring semester of the junior year. PEDE is a requirement for the Mechanical Engineering Design EFA.

BS/MS Joint Degree Program

A Bachelor of Science/Master of Science joint degree program is available for qualified Mechanical Engineering undergraduate students, which allows students to complete a Master of Science degree in two or three semesters after completion of the Bachelor of Science degree. Students in the joint degree program are allowed to take up to 12 semester hours of 100- or 200-level courses toward the M.S. degree and attend one of the Mechanical Engineering Program's graduate seminars in place of the undergraduate seminar before the conferral of the Bachelor of Science degree. Of these courses, 6 semester hours may be counted towards both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. The requirements for admission to the program are (a) completion of at least 80 semester hours of credits, (b) a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher, and (c) a letter of application submitted to the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Chairperson before the start of senior year. A student in the combined program receives a B.S. degree when all requirements for that degree have been completed, and then becomes a regular M.S. level graduate student in the department. Students in the program may work with a faculty member on a M.S. thesis project during the senior year of undergraduate study.

Recommendation Form - This form should be printed out and turned in along with the letter of application to the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Chairperson, LD Chen.

Student Organizations

The ME Program hosts active student chapters associated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and Pi Tau Sigma (the Mechanical Engineering honorary fraternity).

Undergraduate Handbook

Photo of students workingAdditional information on the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program is available in our Undergraduate Handbook.

 

The University of Iowa College of Engineering