Majors + Minors

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in MEAM

The Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, and is a broad based education that will allow you to adapt to changes in technology in our rapidly changing society.  At the same time, the curriculum offers the flexibility for you to specialize in one or more areas in mechanical engineering (for example, energy engineering, mechanical design, fluid mechanics, or structure mechanics) or even such cross disciplinary areas such as robotics, biomechanics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), or mechanics of materials.

Students follow a program which contains basic groundwork in all aspects of mechanical engineering, with the following core objectives:

• Educate students in the fundamental principles of mathematics science, and engineering and train them in modern problem-solving tools used by mechanical engineers
• Train students to apply their basic knowledge of mechanical engineering principles and techniques to analyze, synthesize and design engineering systems
• Offer students a flexible broad-based curriculum and a skill set that allows them to think critically and contribute to areas beyond the traditional boundaries of mechanical engineering
• Prepare students to be engineering professionals by training them to communicate and function effectively as members/ leaders of multi-disciplinary teams and by making them aware of social, ethical, and environmental issues that may be relevant to their work
• Support and prepare students who wish to pursue advanced degrees by providing opportunities for them to participate in research and mentoring interactions with faculty and graduates.

For more information, explore the degree requirements, options for this degree in the different areas of concentration, or find out about submatriculation into a graduate program.

Dual Degree Options

You may combine your engineering degree with a second degree in one of Penn’s other undergraduate schools. Penn’s specialized dual degree programs offer students the opportunity to pursue an integrated curriculum jointly offered by two schools within the University and incorporating interdisciplinary course work. Students receive two degrees upon completion of the specialized curricula. Of special interest to MEAM students is the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T).

For more information on dual degree programs, visit Penn Engineering Undergraduate Affairs.

Minor in MEAM

A minor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) requires the completion of at least six (6) approved course units with a grade of C or better. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis do not count toward the MEAM minor. The approved courses include all courses with the prefix MEAM except MEAM 4450 and 446 (Senior Design). At most two (2) course units may be at the 1000 level (i.e., MEAM 1XXX). Note: PHYS 0150 does not count towards the MEAM minor.

Up to two (2) cognate courses (see below) can be substituted for MEAM courses.

BE Cognate Courses:

• BE 2000 Intro to Biomechanics
• BE/MEAM 455 Continuum Biomechanics
• BE 510 Biomechanics and Biotransport

CBE Cognate Courses:

• CBE 4300/MSE 5300 Intro to Polymer Science
• CBE 535 Interfacial Phenomena

MSE Cognate Courses:

• MSE/BE 3300 Soft Materials: Colloids, Polymers, Gels and Crystals
• MSE 393 Materials Selection
• MSE/MEAM 405/505 Mechanical Properties of Macro/Nanoscale Materials

In addition to the MEAM minor, there are several minors available to all engineering students.

Submatriculation: Master’s Programs in Engineering

Penn undergraduates may begin an engineering master’s program while still completing their undergraduate program via the submatriculation application procedure. Learn more on the Undergraduate Affairs website.