Mechanical Engineering Major

Notice of Addendum: The program description on this page was updated via an addendum. To see the update, visit ADDENDA TO THIS CATALOG.

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines. It is concerned with the design, manufacture, and operation of a wide range of components, devices, or systems.  The field comfortably encompasses applications ranging from micro-mechanical surgical systems to internal combustion engines for Formula One racecars or giant turbines for renewable energy wind farms. A fitting adage for the discipline would be turning ideas into reality.

Graduates of the program will possess the skills and the knowledge base critical for success in today’s marketplace, with the problem solving expertise and flexibility necessary to adapt as technology and society evolve.  Students must be proficient in the traditional fundamentals of mechanical engineering such as solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, transfer processes, materials engineering, electronic instrumentation and measurements, controls, and design.  However, they will also explore new/emerging areas through a variety of electives such as smart structures, machine learning, additive manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and medical robotics.

Attributes such as teamwork, ethics, and leadership are emphasized in the curriculum.  The program is designed to integrate out-of-classroom experiences, helping students explore career options and apply what they are learning in the real world.  Students can work with faculty on research projects, serve as teaching fellows, pursue leadership opportunities through clubs, and participate in national competitions such as the Formula SAE/Baja SAE teams or the DOE Solar Decathlon. The flexibility of the curriculum, and frequent offering of required courses, allows many of our students to participate in study abroad or cooperative education opportunities.   

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program at the University of Maryland is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical Engineering Program Criteria.

Courses offered by this department may be found under the following acronym: ENME 

Program Education Objectives

1. The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland is to provide a quality education, to conduct strong research programs, to foster a close partnership with industry and government, and to provide related service to the campus community and the community at large.  The mission shall be guided by a commitment to continuous improvement in the overall quality of teaching, research, and service in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
2. A major focus of the Department’s activities is to provide quality engineering education with sufficient scope to include the basic and specialized engineering training necessary for the current and emerging needs of a more diverse and inclusive society.
3. The Department has related responsibility to contribute to the advancement of knowledge by conducting research at the cutting edge of science and technology.  Since science and technology are rapidly advancing, the Department also has a professional responsibility to provide continuing education so the practicing engineer can remain effective.
4. The Department faculty and administration also see as part of the mission, an obligation to serve the needs of the campus community and the community at large in the spirit of collegial cooperation.
5. Graduates will provide value in their chosen career path, whether for mastery of the disciplines central to mechanical engineering or for the broader analytical skills, critical thinking, innovation and/or creative abilities provided by their engineering education. 
6. Graduates will utilize skills in teamwork, leadership, and communication gained in their program of study, and act in a professional, equitable, inclusive, and ethical manner in the area in which they apply their degree.
7. Graduates will show a commitment to on-going professional development, whether through graduate study, research programs, training courses, or leadership opportunities thereby adapting to an evolving, competitive, diverse global work environment.
8. Graduates will utilize the skills developed in their program of study to engender a diverse and inclusive work environment in the area in which they apply their degree, and to be sensitive to issues of social and environmental responsibility in the conduct of their work.

Student Learning Outcomes

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Can be taken 1st or 2nd semester

A minimum of 120 credits are required for a degree.

Sample Elective Topics

• Waste Technology
• Bio-Inspired Robotics
• Computer-Aided Design & Manufacturing
• Packaging of Electronic Systems
• Energy Conversion
• Engineering Management
• Environmental Engineering
• Flexible Macro-electronics
• Automotive Design
• Micro-nano Robotics
• Manufacturing
• Medical Robotics
• Fiber Optics
• Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
• Nuclear Reactor Engineering

Click here for roadmaps for four-year plans in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog