Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Areas of Specialization

*For Students Entering Prior to Fall 2020*

The following is a list of suggested electives organized by topic. Students are encouraged to take courses and specialize in one or two areas.

Important!

  • Elective courses may not be offered every year.
  • Students may consider designing an independent study course, MEAM 099, with a MEAM faculty advisor in any area or across two or more areas.

Energy Engineering

Energy engineering is a field of engineering dealing with energy efficiency, the environment and alternative energy technologies. Energy Engineering expertise combines subjects from the fields of Mechanical, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Energy Engineering are:

  • MEAM 502 (Energy Engineering)
  • MEAM 570 (Transport Processes I)
  • MEAM 572 (Micro/Nanoscale Energy Transport)
  • ENGR 250 (Energy Systems, Research & Technologies)
  • EAS 401/501 (Energy and Its Impacts)
  • EAS 402/502 (Renewable Energy and Its Impact)

Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics

Fluid mechanics is the study of how move and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest, and fluid dynamics, the study of fluids in motion. Fluid mechanics, especially fluid dynamics, is an active field of research with many unsolved or partly solved problems. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics are:

  • MEAM 527 (Finite Element Analysis)
  • MEAM 513 (Modern Feedback Control Theory)
  • MEAM 530 (Continuum Mechanics)
  • MEAM 545 (Aerodynamics)
  • MEAM 570 (Transport Processes I)

Manufacturing

In manufacturing, an engineer works on the creation of things, processes, and technology in a very hands-on way. They have the task of making manufacturing processes better, faster, and more cost-effective.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Manufacturing are:

  • MEAM 101 (Introduction to Mechanical Design)
  • MEAM 201 (Fundamentals of Mechanical Prototyping)
  • MEAM 410/510 (Design of Mechatronic Systems)
  • MEAM 415 (Product Design)
  • MEAM 527 (Finite Element Analysis)
  • MEAM 454 (Mechanics of Materials)
  • MEAM 520 (Robotics)
  • MEAM 564 (Principles of Microfabrication Technology)
  • ESE 215 (Electrical Circuits and Systems)
  • ESE 522 (Process Management in Manufacturing)

Mechatronics

Mechatronics is centered on mechanics, electronics, computing, control engineering, and molecular engineering. A mechatronic system will include aspects of electronics, mechanics and computing all functioning to achieve a task.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Mechatronics are:

  • MEAM 410/510 (Design of Mechatronic Systems)
  • MEAM 516 (Advanced Mechatronics)
  • MEAM 520 (Intro to Robotics)
  • MEAM 564 (Principles and Practice of Microfabrication Technology)
  • CIS 120 (Programming Languages and Techniques I)
  • ESE 215 (Electrical Circuits and Systems I)
  • ESE 522 (Process Mgmt in Manufacturing)

Product Design and Innovation

In Product Design and Innovation, the engineer is at the forefront of creativity, applying his knowledge of mechanics to create the very best in new technologies and products.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Product Design and Innovation are:

  • MEAM 101 (Introduction to Mechanical Design)
  • MEAM 201 (Fundamentals of Mechanical Prototyping)
  • MEAM 410/510 (Design of Mechatronic Systems)
  • MEAM 415 (Product Design)
  • MEAM 514 (Design for Manufacturability)
  • EAS 545 (Engineering Entrepreneurship I)
  • EAS 546 (Engineering Entrepreneurship II)
  • ESE 400/540 (Engineering Economics)

Structural Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials

Structural mechanics is the computation of deformations, deflections, and internal forces or stresses within structures, either for design or for performance evaluation of existing structures.

Suggested courses for a concentration in Structural Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials are:

  • MEAM 527 (Finite Element Analysis)
  • MEAM 454 (Mechanics of Materials)
  • MEAM 519 (Elasticity and Micromechanics of Materials)
  • MEAM 530 (Continuum Mechanics)
  • MSE 220 (Structural and Biomatrials)