Mechanical Engineering 

Bachelor of Science

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Concentrations

Aerospace Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the aerospace engineering concentration recognizes the expertise of students in subjects related to aerospace applications and to the aerospace industry, which provides many career opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates. Students who meet the requirements of this concentration will have expertise in aerodynamics, propulsion, and structures, supplemented by other strengths in the core Mechanical Engineering degree program.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an aerospace engineering concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME 440: Aerospace Propulsion -  3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 441: Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME 423: Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids -  3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 426: Introduction to Composite Materials -  3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 456*: Mechatronic System Design 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures -  3 credits (Fall Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 433: Computational Fluid Dynamics -  3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Automotive Powertrain Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the automotive powertrain concentration attests to the interests and expertise of students in subjects that are of direct relevance to today’s automotive industry. This industry, which is currently dominated by vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, adapts rapidly to technological changes and environmental regulation and provides many career opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates. Students who meet the requirements of this concentration will have expertise in fundamentals of combustion, modern applications of computational fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and a range of technical aspects of today’s vehicle powertrains.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an automotive powertrain concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 444: Automotive Engines - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 445*:  Automotive Powertrain Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME  433: Computational Fluid Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery -  3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component).

Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Biomedical Concentration (16 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the biomedical concentration prepares students for both traditional mechanical engineering as well as biomedical engineering. Engineers trained in biomedical engineering find work designing, for example, prosthetics, artificial joints, automotive safety equipment, robotics for telemedicine, heart valves, left ventricle assist devices, and the whole range of medical devices. Research by biomedical engineers includes studying the strength of bones and soft tissues, the motion of cells, the kinematics of human motion, and the flow of blood.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a biomedical concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:

  • PSL 250: Introductory Physiology - 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
  • BS 161: Cells and Molecules - 3 credits (Fall, Spring and Summer)

Plus 9 credits from the following list:

  • ME 494: Biofluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 495: Tissue Mechanics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 496: Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement - 3 credits (Fall of Even Years)
  • ME 497*: Biomechanical Design 1 - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • BE 444: Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics 2 - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ECE 445: Biomedical Instrumentation - 3 credits (Fall of Even Years Only)
  • MSE 425: Biomaterials and Biocompatibility 3 - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Credit distribution: PSL 250 will be applied to the Bioscience requirement, and BS 161 will be applied to Other Electives. The nine engineering credits will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component if ME 497 is taken). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript. 1 Design Intensive. Note: The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive. 2 The prerequisites for this course are (BS 161), (CEM 141 or 151) and (ECE 345). 3 PSL 250 is Recommended Background for this course.

Computational Design Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the computational design concentration signifies the interests and expertise of students in computational techniques and approaches for the design and optimization of structural, thermal and fluid systems in engineering applications. To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a computational design concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME  416*: Computer Assisted Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 433: Computational Fluid Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Plus 3 credits from the following list:

  • ME 417: Design of Alternative Energy Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 445: Automotive Powertrain Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 456: Mechatronics - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 465*: Computer Aided Optimal Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Cryogenic Engineering Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the cryogenic engineering concentration signifies the interests and expertise of students in thermal and mechanical analysis and design techniques as applied to cryogenic engineering applications. To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an engineering mechanics concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following 12 credits:

  • ME 413: Cryogenic-Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 414*: Mechanical Design of Cryogenic Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 416*: Computer Aided Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will fulfill the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. Completion of the option will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Energy Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

Mechanical engineers contribute greatly to the development of technologies to convert energy from one form into another. Automobile powertrains convert the chemical energy of fossil or biofuels into the kinetic energy of a moving car. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy for the power grid. The fundamental courses of mechanical engineering (e.g., thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, vibrations) provide an essential understanding needed to model, analyze, and design many means of energy conversion. The energy concentration is designed to provide undergraduate students with a more thorough understanding of the analytical, computational, and experimental methods for developing means to convert energy to useful forms from various sources. These skills have applications beyond energy conversion for power generation and apply to many areas of mechanical engineering and other interdisciplinary fields. This concentration is well suited for preparing students for industrial careers, as well as for graduate study.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an energy concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:

  • ME 416*: Computer Assisted Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 417*: Design of Alternative Energy Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus two courses from the following list:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 440: Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 444: Automotive Engines - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Engineering Mechanics Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

Leonardo DaVinci reportedly described the study of mechanics as “the paradise, the Garden of Eden of mathematics, for therein it bears its fruit.” The engineering mechanics concentration is designed to provide undergraduate students with a more thorough understanding of analytical, computational and experimental methods for investigating the response of structures and fluids to external forces, pressures, thermal effects and other environmental loads. These skills have applications in all areas of mechanical engineering as well as in many interdisciplinary fields, and they are the key to modern mathematics-based design processes that are used by all major engineering firms. This concentration is also well suited for preparing students for graduate study in mechanical engineering or engineering mechanics.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an engineering mechanics concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following 12 credits:

  • ME 423: Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 425: Experimental Mechanics - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 464: Intermediate Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Semester)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will fulfill the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. Completion of the option will be noted on the final transcript.

*Design intensive.

Manufacturing Engineering Concentration (13 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355- 3338.

Many mechanical engineers are involved in manufacturing as their primary work assignment. Many more will have at least some involvement in manufacturing during their careers. The mechanical engineering program provides an opportunity for students to enhance their degree with a concentration in manufacturing engineering.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a manufacturing engineering concentration, students must complete all requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:1

  • ME 372: Machine Tool Laboratory - 1 credit (Fall, Spring)
  • ME 477: Manufacturing Processes - 3 credits (Fall, Spring)
  • ME 478*: Product Development - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ECE 415: Computer Aided Manufacturing- 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • CHE 472: Composite Materials Processing - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 426: Introduction to Composite Materials - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • EC 201:  Introduction to Microeconomics - 3 credits (Fall, Spring, Summer)
  • ACC 230: Survey of Accounting Concepts - 3 credits (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Credit distribution: The nine 400-level engineering credits will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. The remaining 4 credits will apply to Other Electives. Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive. 1 Some courses on the concentration may require an override before enrolling. Contact the ME Advisor for information. 2 You must be at least concurrently enrolled in ME 451 to take ECE 415.

Concentrations

Aerospace Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the aerospace engineering concentration recognizes the expertise of students in subjects related to aerospace applications and to the aerospace industry, which provides many career opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates. Students who meet the requirements of this concentration will have expertise in aerodynamics, propulsion, and structures, supplemented by other strengths in the core Mechanical Engineering degree program.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an aerospace engineering concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME 440: Aerospace Propulsion -  3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 441: Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME 423: Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids -  3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 426: Introduction to Composite Materials -  3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 456*: Mechatronic System Design 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures -  3 credits (Fall Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 433: Computational Fluid Dynamics -  3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Automotive Powertrain Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the automotive powertrain concentration attests to the interests and expertise of students in subjects that are of direct relevance to today’s automotive industry. This industry, which is currently dominated by vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, adapts rapidly to technological changes and environmental regulation and provides many career opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates. Students who meet the requirements of this concentration will have expertise in fundamentals of combustion, modern applications of computational fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and a range of technical aspects of today’s vehicle powertrains.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an automotive powertrain concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 444: Automotive Engines - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 445*:  Automotive Powertrain Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ME  433: Computational Fluid Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery -  3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component).

Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Biomedical Concentration (16 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the biomedical concentration prepares students for both traditional mechanical engineering as well as biomedical engineering. Engineers trained in biomedical engineering find work designing, for example, prosthetics, artificial joints, automotive safety equipment, robotics for telemedicine, heart valves, left ventricle assist devices, and the whole range of medical devices. Research by biomedical engineers includes studying the strength of bones and soft tissues, the motion of cells, the kinematics of human motion, and the flow of blood.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a biomedical concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:

  • PSL 250: Introductory Physiology - 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
  • BS 161: Cells and Molecules - 3 credits (Fall, Spring and Summer)

Plus 9 credits from the following list:

  • ME 494: Biofluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 495: Tissue Mechanics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 496: Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement - 3 credits (Fall of Even Years)
  • ME 497*: Biomechanical Design 1 - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • BE 444: Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics 2 - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ECE 445: Biomedical Instrumentation - 3 credits (Fall of Even Years Only)
  • MSE 425: Biomaterials and Biocompatibility 3 - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Credit distribution: PSL 250 will be applied to the Bioscience requirement, and BS 161 will be applied to Other Electives. The nine engineering credits will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component if ME 497 is taken). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript. 1 Design Intensive. Note: The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive. 2 The prerequisites for this course are (BS 161), (CEM 141 or 151) and (ECE 345). 3 PSL 250 is Recommended Background for this course.

Computational Design Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the computational design concentration signifies the interests and expertise of students in computational techniques and approaches for the design and optimization of structural, thermal and fluid systems in engineering applications. To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a computational design concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including:

  • ME  416*: Computer Assisted Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 433: Computational Fluid Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Plus 3 credits from the following list:

  • ME 417: Design of Alternative Energy Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 445: Automotive Powertrain Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 456: Mechatronics - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 465*: Computer Aided Optimal Design - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Cryogenic Engineering Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

A mechanical engineering degree with the cryogenic engineering concentration signifies the interests and expertise of students in thermal and mechanical analysis and design techniques as applied to cryogenic engineering applications. To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an engineering mechanics concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following 12 credits:

  • ME 413: Cryogenic-Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 414*: Mechanical Design of Cryogenic Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 416*: Computer Aided Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will fulfill the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. Completion of the option will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Energy Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

Mechanical engineers contribute greatly to the development of technologies to convert energy from one form into another. Automobile powertrains convert the chemical energy of fossil or biofuels into the kinetic energy of a moving car. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy for the power grid. The fundamental courses of mechanical engineering (e.g., thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, vibrations) provide an essential understanding needed to model, analyze, and design many means of energy conversion. The energy concentration is designed to provide undergraduate students with a more thorough understanding of the analytical, computational, and experimental methods for developing means to convert energy to useful forms from various sources. These skills have applications beyond energy conversion for power generation and apply to many areas of mechanical engineering and other interdisciplinary fields. This concentration is well suited for preparing students for industrial careers, as well as for graduate study.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an energy concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:

  • ME 416*: Computer Assisted Design of Thermal Systems - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 417*: Design of Alternative Energy Systems - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus two courses from the following list:

  • ME 422: Introduction to Combustion - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 440: Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 442*: Turbomachinery - 3 credits (Spring Only)
  • ME 444: Automotive Engines - 3 credits (Fall Only)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement (including the “design intensive” course component). Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive.

Engineering Mechanics Concentration (12 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355-3338.

Leonardo DaVinci reportedly described the study of mechanics as “the paradise, the Garden of Eden of mathematics, for therein it bears its fruit.” The engineering mechanics concentration is designed to provide undergraduate students with a more thorough understanding of analytical, computational and experimental methods for investigating the response of structures and fluids to external forces, pressures, thermal effects and other environmental loads. These skills have applications in all areas of mechanical engineering as well as in many interdisciplinary fields, and they are the key to modern mathematics-based design processes that are used by all major engineering firms. This concentration is also well suited for preparing students for graduate study in mechanical engineering or engineering mechanics.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with an engineering mechanics concentration, students must complete the requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following 12 credits:

  • ME 423: Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 475*: Computer Aided Design of Structures - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 425: Experimental Mechanics - 3 credits (Fall Semester)
  • ME 464: Intermediate Dynamics - 3 credits (Spring Semester)

Credit distribution: The 12 credits in the concentration will fulfill the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. Completion of the option will be noted on the final transcript.

*Design intensive.

Manufacturing Engineering Concentration (13 Credits)

IMPORTANT: 1) For the latest and most accurate version of this concentration, please refer to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering website. Earlier versions are invalid and will not be honored. 2) You MUST meet with the ME junior/senior advisor and arrange for the concentration code to be added to your record PRIOR to applying for graduation. This ensures that the concentration statement will appear on your final transcript. To make an appointment, call (517) 355- 3338.

Many mechanical engineers are involved in manufacturing as their primary work assignment. Many more will have at least some involvement in manufacturing during their careers. The mechanical engineering program provides an opportunity for students to enhance their degree with a concentration in manufacturing engineering.

To complete a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a manufacturing engineering concentration, students must complete all requirements for the B.S. degree, including the following:1

  • ME 372: Machine Tool Laboratory - 1 credit (Fall, Spring)
  • ME 477: Manufacturing Processes - 3 credits (Fall, Spring)
  • ME 478*: Product Development - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • ECE 415: Computer Aided Manufacturing- 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • CHE 472: Composite Materials Processing - 3 credits (Fall Only)
  • ME 426: Introduction to Composite Materials - 3 credits (Spring Only)

Plus one course from the following list:

  • EC 201:  Introduction to Microeconomics - 3 credits (Fall, Spring, Summer)
  • ACC 230: Survey of Accounting Concepts - 3 credits (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Credit distribution: The nine 400-level engineering credits will be applied to the Senior Elective requirement, including the “design intensive” course component. The remaining 4 credits will apply to Other Electives. Completion of the concentration will be noted on the final transcript.

The asterisk (*) signifies that the course is design intensive. 1 Some courses on the concentration may require an override before enrolling. Contact the ME Advisor for information. 2 You must be at least concurrently enrolled in ME 451 to take ECE 415.

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