Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
Specific Program Educational Objectives
One broad goal for the Erik Jonsson School is an excellent education for our students. Our Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) toward this goal are that students should:
- Have a successful, long-lived engineering-based career path.
- Meet the needs of industry.
- Contribute to, and lead, engineering-based teams.
- Actively pursue life-long learning.
High School Preparation
Engineering education requires a strong high school preparation. Pre-engineering students should have high school preparation of at least one-half year in trigonometry and at least one year each in elementary algebra, intermediate and advanced algebra, plane geometry, chemistry, and physics, thus developing their competencies to the highest possible levels and preparing to move immediately into demanding college courses in calculus, calculus-based physics, and chemistry for science majors. It is also essential that pre-engineering students have the competence to read rapidly and with comprehension, and to write clearly and correctly.
Lower-Division Study
All lower-division students in Mechanical Engineering concentrate on mathematics, science and introductory engineering courses, building competence in these cornerstone areas for future application in upper-division engineering courses. The following requirements apply both to students seeking to transfer to UT Dallas from other institutions as well as to those currently enrolled at UT Dallas, whether in another school or in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
ABET Requirements
All engineering degree plans must satisfy the requirements specified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The course work must include at least:
- One year (32 SCH) of an appropriate combination of mathematics and basic sciences
- One and one-half years (48 SCH) of engineering topics
- A general education component that complements the technical content
Although the Mechanical Engineering curricula that follow have been designed to meet these criteria, students have the responsibility, in consultation with an advisor, to monitor their own choice of courses carefully to be certain that all academic requirements for graduation are being satisfied. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in such subjects as accounting, industrial management, finance, personnel administration, and engineering economy.
Academic Progress in Mechanical Engineering
In order to make satisfactory academic progress as a Mechanical engineering major, a student must meet all University requirements for academic progress, and must earn a grade of C- or better in each of the major core courses. No "Major Requirement" course may be taken until the student has obtained a grade of C- or better in each of the prerequisites. If a higher grade requirement is stated for a specific class, the higher requirement applies.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Degree Requirements (127 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
- Communication (6 hours)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
- Science (9 hours)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
II. Major Requirements: 77 hours4
Major Preparatory Courses (26 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
- CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I3,4
- CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I3,4
- CS 1325 Introduction to Programming or ECS 1337 Computer Science I
- ECS 1200 Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science
- MATH 2417 Calculus I2
- MATH 2419 Calculus II2
- MATH 2420 Differential Equations with Applications
- MECH 1208 Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
- MECH 2120 Mechanical Measurements Laboratory
- ENGR 2300 Applied Linear Algebra for Engineers
- MECH 2310 Static Equilibrium and Rigid Body Dynamics
- MECH 2320 Strength of Materials
- PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I
- PHYS 2126 Physics Laboratory II
- PHYS 2325 Mechanics
- PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves
Major Core Courses (31 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
- ECS 3361 Social Issues and Ethics in Computer Science and Engineering 6
- ECS 3390 Professional and Technical Communication5
- MECH 3105 CAD Laboratory
- MECH 3115 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
- MECH 3150 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
- ENGR 3300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- MECH 3305 Computer-Aided Design
- MECH 3310 Thermodynamics
- MECH 3315 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
- ENGR 3341 Probability Theory and Statistics
- MECH 3350 Mechanical Component and System Design
- MECH 4110 Systems and Controls Laboratory
- MECH 4310 Systems and Controls
- MECH 4381 Senior Design Project1
- MECH 4382 Senior Design Project2
Prescribed Electives (20 hours)
Students pursuing the general program take 20 semester hours from the list below:
- MECH 3101 Materials Laboratory
- MECH 3120 Heat Transfer Laboratory
- MECH 3151 Mechanical Systems Laboratory
- MECH 3301 Mechanics of Materials
- MECH 3302 Intermediate Dynamics
- MECH 3320 Heat Transfer
- MECH 3351 Design of Mechanical Systems
- MECH 4330 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
- MECH 4340 Mechanical Vibrations
- MECH 4350 Applied Heat Transfer
- MECH 4360 Introduction to Nanostructured Materials
- MECH 4370 Introduction to MEMS
2 Six hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core, and two hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
3 One hour of Chemistry is counted under Science core, and three hours are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
4 Students must pass each of the EE, CS, Math and Science courses listed in this degree plan and each of their prerequisites, with a grade of C- or better.
5 Hours fulfill the communication component of the Core Curriculum.
6 Hours contribute to the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of the Core Curriculum.
III. Elective Requirements: 8 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours) All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites. Four of these hours may be satisfied with MATH 2420 counted under Major Preparatory courses.
Free Electives (6 hours) Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as free electives but students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation. Degree programs in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science are governed by various accreditation boards that place restrictions on classes used to meet the curricular requirements of degrees they certify. For this reason, not all classes offered by the University can be used to meet elective requirements. Please check with your academic advisor before enrolling in classes you hope to use as free electives.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
In response to the need for advanced education in Mechanical engineering, a Fast Track program is available to exceptionally well-qualified UT Dallas undergraduate students who meet the requirements for admission to the graduate school. The Fast Track program is designed to accelerate a student's education so that both a B.S.M.E. and an M.S.M.E. degree can be earned in five years of full-time study. This is accomplished by (1) taking courses (typically electives) during one or more summer semesters, and (2) beginning graduate course work during the senior year. Details of the requirements for admission to this program are available from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Honors Program
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers upper-division Honors for outstanding students in the B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree program. This program offers special sections of designated classes and other activities designed to enhance the educational experience of exceptional students. Admission to the Honors programs requires a 3.50 or better GPA in at least 30 hours of coursework. Graduation with Honors requires a 3.50 or better GPA and completion of at least 6 honors classes. These honors classes must include either Senior Honors (MECH 4399) or Undergraduate Research in Mechanical Engineering (MECH 4V98) and a Senior Honors Thesis must be completed within one of those two classes. While the topics may be related, the Senior Thesis does not replace the need for the student to complete a regular Senior Design Project. The other 5 honors classes can come from a mixture of Graduate level (up to a count of 4) classes and special honor sections of regular undergraduate ME classes (up to a count of 2).
Departmental Honors with Distinction may be awarded to students whose Senior Honors Thesis is judged by a faculty committee to be of exemplary quality. Only students graduating with Departmental Honors are eligible. Thesis/projects must be submitted by the deadline that applies to M.S. Theses in the graduating semester to allow for proper evaluation. Students interested in Honors with Distinction are encouraged to start working on their thesis/project a year prior to graduation.