Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Major
The Mechanical Engineering program at NDSU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org ). The curriculum is designed to produce baccalaureate-level graduates who are well prepared to accept engineering positions in industry and government or to pursue advanced degree studies.
Mission
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at NDSU will contribute to the aspirations of a land-grant university in the three primary components of education, research, and service. In support of these endeavors the mission of the department is to:
- Educate undergraduate and graduate students in the fundamentals of the discipline, prepare graduates to effectively function in society in the field of their choice, and provide the learning skills to adapt to evolving personal and professional goals.
- Develop and maintain high quality research programs in traditional and emerging areas that build on the diverse strengths of the faculty, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and address national and global needs.
- Serve the needs of the profession, the state of North Dakota, and regional industries to promote and enhance economic development opportunities.
Educational Objectives
Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering Program will:
- Provide valuable contributions to the engineering profession in the field of their choice.
- Adapt to emerging technologies through continued professional development.
- Uphold high ethical and professional standards in the practice of engineering.
- Effectively function in a team environment and interact with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Be engaged and conscientious practitioners who understand the context in which their designs are implemented and the corresponding impact of their activities on society.
A complete listing of the student outcomes associated with these objectives can be viewed on the department’s web site .
Strong program emphasis is placed on engineering science, laboratory, and design. The use of modern computer tools and techniques in engineering practice also is incorporated throughout the curriculum. In addition, liberal arts education is included to prepare graduates for becoming concerned and productive members of society.
Students transferring into mechanical engineering from other departments or institutions are encouraged to do so no later than the beginning of the junior year if they wish to complete the degree requirements within two academic years.
Graduate programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Mechanical Engineering are offered by the department. For more complete details, see the Graduate Bulletin online.
Selective Admission
The Department of Mechanical Engineering has a selective admission policy. To be admitted to the basic program (freshman and sophomore level), freshman applicants must either rank in the top one-third of their high school graduating class or have received a score of 26 or higher in the math portion of the ACT (or a score of 590 or higher in the math portion of the SAT). Transfer students, whether from another university or from another department at NDSU, must have an institutional grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.80.
To enter the professional program (junior and senior level), students must complete the basic program with a minimum Engineering GPA of 2.80, a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.50 and no grades below 'C' in any one of the core courses.
A minimum institutional GPA of 2.50 is required for graduation from Mechanical Engineering. No course grades less than 'C' are acceptable to fulfill a degree requirement.
Curriculum
All Mechanical Engineering majors choose a minimum of five technical elective courses. These courses cover a wide range of topics and students may tailor their choices to reflect their special interests in solid mechanics and design, thermal sciences, materials and nanotechnology, injection molding, biomechanical engineering, or other areas as added in the future. For a complete list of technical electives available in each area, students should consult with their adviser, the department, or the curriculum guide.
Major Requirements
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Degree Type: B.S.M.E.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 129
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A list of approved general education courses is available here .
- General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering Requirements: | ||
| ME 212 | Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Engineers | 3 |
| ME 213 | Modeling of Engineering Systems | 3 |
| ME 221 | Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| ME 222 | Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| ME 223 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| ME 331 | Materials Science and Engineering | 4 |
| ME 351 | Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| ME 352 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| ME 361 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Profession | 1 |
| ME 412 | Engineering Measurements | 3 |
| ME 421 | Theory of Vibrations | 3 |
| ME 442 | Machine Design I | 3 |
| ME 443 | Machine Design II | 3 |
| ME 454 | Heat and Mass Transfer | 3 |
| ME 457 | Thermal Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| ME 461 | Design Project I | 3 |
| ME 462 | Design Project II | 3 |
| MATH 129 | Basic Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 259 | Multivariate Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| ECE 301 | Electrical Engineering I | 3 |
| ECE 303 | Electrical Engineering II | 3 |
| ECE 306 | Electrical Engineering Lab I | 1 |
| ENGL 321 | Writing in the Technical Professions (May satisfy general education category C) | 3 |
| ENGR 402 | Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility | 1 |
| IME 330 | Manufacturing Processes | 3 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| Technical Electives: Select 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| Engineering Materials II | ||
| Mechanics of Machinery | ||
| Thermodynamics II | ||
| Emerging Technologies in Mechanical Engineering | ||
| Intermediate Mechanics of Materials | ||
| Composite Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing | ||
| Engineering Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Biomechanics | ||
| Renewable Energy Technology | ||
| Experimental Stress Analysis | ||
| Fatigue and Fracture of Metals | ||
| Engineering with Polymeric Materials | ||
| Mechanics of Composite Materials | ||
| Automatic Controls | ||
| Mechatronics | ||
| ME Finite Element Analysis | ||
| Biofluid Mechanics | ||
| Fundmentals of Energy Conversion | ||
| Fuel Cell Science and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Gas Turbines | ||
| Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning | ||
| Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials | ||
| Internal Combustion Engines | ||
| Introduction to Aerodynamics | ||
| Vehicle Dynamics | ||
Approved technical electives from other departments - no more than two courses from the following: | ||
| Biobased Energy | ||
| Polymer Synthesis | ||
| Applied Polymer Science | ||
| Coatings' Materials Science | ||
| Corrosion and Materials | ||
| Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Cardiovascular Engineering | ||
| Cardiovascular Engineering II | ||
| Process Engineering | ||
| Production Engineering | ||
| Composite Materials Manufacturing | ||
| Engineering Economy | ||
| Evaluation of Engineering Data | ||
| Modern Physics | ||
| Electromagnetic Theory | ||
| Quantum Mechanics I | ||
Courses cross-listed with other departments: | ||
| Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing | ||
| Fluid Power Systems Design | ||
| Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials | ||
| Total Credits | 107 | |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college. Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.
- No grades less than 'C' will be accepted to fulfill a course requirement.
- No more than six credits of approved technical electives may be taken outside the ME department.
- Admission to the Mechanical Engineering Professional program requires a minimum 2.80 Engineering GPA and a minimum 2.50 Cumulative GPA.
- A 2.50 cumulative GPA is required for graduation requirements.
Plan of Study
Degree Total: 130
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 165 | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| ENGL 110 | 4 | ENGL 120 | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | 3 | CHEM 122 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective (Select from approved gen ed list) | 3 | ME 212 | 3 |
| Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | ME 221 | 3 |
| Wellness Gen Ed | 2 | ||
| 17 | 18 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 129 | 3 | MATH 266 | 3 |
| MATH 259 | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| IME 330 | 3 | PHYS 252 & 252L | 5 |
| ME 222 | 3 | ME 213 | 3 |
| ME 223 | 3 | ME 351 | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 | ||
| 18 | 17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECE 301 | 3 | ECE 303 | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | 3 | ECE 306 | 1 |
| ME 331 | 4 | ENGR 402 | 1 |
| ME 352 | 3 | ME 361 | 1 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | ME 442 | 3 |
| ME 454 | 3 | ||
| Technical Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ME 421 | 3 | ME 412 | 3 |
| ME 443 | 3 | ME 462 | 3 |
| ME 457 | 3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
| ME 461 | 3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | Social Science Gen Ed | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 131 | |||
