Mechanical engineering program is a versatile engineering program, and is designed for students who are interested in applying their solid backgrounds and knowledge of mathematics, science, and general engineering to design and conduct experiments; analyze and interpret data; and design systems, components, and processes to meet desired needs for a long-lasting societal impact.
Mechanical engineers pursue careers in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, computer, communication, defense, energy, railroad and robotics industries, just to name a few. Mechanical engineers are also found in almost all manufacturing industries. Increasingly, mechanical engineers are needed in the environmental and bio-medical fields, and many of our graduates have pursued education in medicine and law. Without a doubt, virtually every product or service in modern life has probably been touched in some way by a mechanical engineer!
Accreditation
Information can be found on Department website.
Students earning the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BS) degree must complete all University, College and departmental degree requirements for a total of 130 credits. These include General Education requirements and the following major requirements and ancillary requirements. Additional information, including a semester-by-semester flowchart of degree requirements, can be found on the departmental website. Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BS) degree must comply with all College of Engineering academic policies and requirements and departmental policies.
| Major and Ancillary Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Major Courses | ||
| ENGR 101 | The World of Engineering | 1 |
| ENGR 104 | Fundamentals of Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 161 | Small-Scale Eng. Graphics | 1 |
| AEM 201 | Statics | 3 |
| AEM 250 | Mechanics Of Materials I | 3 |
| AEM 251 | Mechanics Of Materials I Lab | 1 |
| AEM 264 | Dynamics | 3 |
| AEM 311 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| ECE 320 | Fundmtl Electrical Engr | 3 |
| ME 215 | Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| ME 305 | Thermodynamics II | 3 |
| ME 309 | Heat Transfer | 3 |
| ME 349 | Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| ME 350 | Static Machine Components | 3 |
| ME 351 | Finite Element Lab | 1 |
| ME 360 | Contrl Instrumnt Components | 3 |
| ME 372 | Dynamic Systems | 3 |
| ME 383 | Modern Manufacturg Processes | 3 |
| ME 410 | Eng in Social & Global Context | 3 |
| ME 450 | Dynamic Machine Components | 3 |
| ME 460 | Energy Systems | 4 |
| ME 489 | Mechanical Engr Design I | 3 |
| ME 490 | Mechanical Engr Design II | 3 |
| MFE 290 | Capstone Exp: Found of Program | 3 |
| MTE 271 | Engr Matls: Struc Prop | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Elective (See table for course options) | 6 | |
| Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective (See table for course options) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 77 | |
| Ancillary Courses | ||
| CH 101 or | General Chemistry | 4 |
| CH 117 | Honors General Chemistry | |
| MATH 125 or | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 145 | Honors Calculus I | |
| MATH 126 or | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 146 | Honors Calculus II | |
| MATH 227 or | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 247 | Honors Calculus III | |
| MATH 238 | Appld Diff Equations I | 3 |
| PH 105 or | General Physics W/Calc I | 4 |
| PH 125 | Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus | |
| PH 106 or | General Physics W/Calc II | 4 |
| PH 126 | Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus II | |
| Approved Science (See table for course options) | 4 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 31 | |
| General Education Courses | ||
| The specific courses each student completes in order to fulfill the University of Alabama's general education requirements will depend upon the particular degree program in which the student is enrolled. To determine how these general education requirements are integrated into your program of study, review your semester-by-semester flowchart and discuss with your academic advisor. | ||
Mechanical Engineering (ME) Elective
The Mechanical Engineering (ME) elective requires a minimum of six credits from the following list of courses.
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) Elective | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AEM 313 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AEM 341 | Aerospace Structures | 3 |
| AEM 360 | Astronautics | 3 |
| AEM 368 | Flight Mechanics | 3 |
| AEM 408 | Propulsion Systems | 3 |
| AEM 413 | Compressible Flow | 3 |
| AEM 416 | Helicopter Theory | 3 |
| AEM 446 | Intermediate Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| AEM 453 | Multiscale Adv. Composites | 3 |
| AEM 455 | Nondestructive Evaluation | 3 |
| AEM 469 | Orbital Mechanics | 3 |
| AEM 470 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| AEM 484 | Space Environment | 3 |
| ECE 350 | Electric Power & Machines | 3 |
| ECE 380 | Digital Logic | 4 |
| ECE 383 | Microcomputers | 4 |
| ECE 439 | Thin Film Technology | 3 |
| ECE 451 | Power Electronics | 3 |
| ECE 452 | Power Electronics Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 453 | Power Systems | 3 |
| ECE 454 | Power Systems Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 466 | Fund of Nanotechnology | 3 |
| GES 320 | Eng Entrp. Idea. and Discovery | 3 |
| GES 400 | Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| ME 364 | Vehicle Dynamics | 3 |
| ME 377 | Noise Control | 3 |
| ME 380 | Engineering Leadership I | 1 |
| ME 406 | Thermal Power Systems | 3 |
| ME 407 | Heatg Ventilat Air-Condg | 3 |
| ME 411 | Cmp Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow | 3 |
| ME 414 | Principles of Combustion I | 3 |
| ME 416 | Energy Conservtn & Manag | 3 |
| ME 417 | Sustainable Energy | 3 |
| ME 420 | Gas Turbines | 3 |
| ME 421 | Reliability & Maint. Engr. | 3 |
| ME 424 | Automotive Manufacturing | 3 |
| ME 426 | Internal Combustion Engines | 3 |
| ME 430 | Fuzzy Set Theory & Application | 3 |
| ME 440 | Failure of Engr Materials | 3 |
| ME 442 | Multiscale Material Design | 3 |
| ME 446 | Atomistic Mod of Materials | 3 |
| ME 448 | Biomechanics of Human Movement | 3 |
| ME 452 | Fundamentals of Auto. Systems | 3 |
| ME 454 | Auto. Elec. and Electron. Sys. | 3 |
| ME 456 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ME 458 | Mode. and Sim. Auto. Sys. | 3 |
| ME 464 | Add. Manufac. of Metals Design | 3 |
| ME 470 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| ME 471 | Fundamentals Of Acoustics | 3 |
| ME 472 | Intro to Robotic Kinematics | 3 |
| ME 475 | Control Systems Analysis | 3 |
| ME 480 | Engineering Leadership II | 2 |
| ME 485 | Microfabrication | 3 |
| ME 491 | Special Problems | 1 to 6 |
| ME 492 | Automotive Experience | 1 |
| ME 493 | Automotive Experience Capstone | 1 |
| ME 497 | Mechanical Engineering Project | 1 to 3 |
| MFE 204 | Basics of Manufac. and Auto. | 3 |
| MFE 222 | Robotic Welding | 1 |
| MFE 224 | Industrial Auto with Robotics | 1 |
| MFE 226 | Instrumentation for Automation | 1 |
| MFE 232 | Flex Manufacturing Sys | 1 |
| MFE 262 | Intro Industrial Internt Thngs | 1 |
| MFE 290 | Capstone Exp: Found of Program | 3 |
| MFE 302 | Advanced PLC | 1 |
| MFE 303 | Adv Auto & Matl Handling | 1 |
| MFE 320 | Plant Engineering | 3 |
| MFE 326 | Process Monitoring and Control | 1 |
| MFE 332 | Quality Control In Manufac Sys | 3 |
| MFE 338 | Introduction to Industry 4.0 | 1 |
| MFE 342 | Fundamentals of Material Proc. | 3 |
| MFE 385 | Metrology | 4 |
| MFE 442 | Adv Mat Sci and Add Processes | 3 |
| MFE 473 | Dis Sim of Manufacturing Sys | 3 |
| MFE 483 | Computer Aided Manufacturing | 3 |
| MFE 485 | Mod Manufacturing Practices II | 3 |
| MTE 316 | Fundamentals of Metal Casting | 4 |
| MTE 362 | Thermodynamics Of Materials | 4 |
| MTE 373 | Physical Metallurgy | 4 |
| MTE 439 | Metallurgy Of Welding | 3 |
| MTE 481 | Analy Methods For Matls | 4 |
| MTE 487 | Corrosion | 3 |
Mechanical Engineering (ME) Technical Elective
The Mechanical Engineering (ME)Technical Elective requires a minimum of three credits from the following list of courses, or three credits from the Mechanical Engineering (ME) elective list.
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) Technical Elective | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AEM 420 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| AEM 448 | Stochastic Mechanics | 3 |
| AEM 452 | Composite Materials | 3 |
| AEM 488 | Adv. Space Propulsion & Power | 3 |
| CE 320 | Intro Environmental Engineerg | 3 |
| CE 331 | Intro to Structural Eng. | 3 |
| CE 378 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CE 480 | Forensic Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 412 | Polymer Materials Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 341 | Electromagnetics | 3 |
| ECE 462 | Semiconductor Optoelectronics | 3 |
| GES 421 | Engineering Venture Launch | 3 |
| MTE 402 | Matls & Process Select/Design | 3 |
| MTE 450 | Plasma Proc of Thin Films | 3 |
| AY 421 | Theoretical Astrophysics | 3 |
| AY 433 | Observational Techniques | 3 |
| AY 450 | Stars & Stellar Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 300 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 303 | Field Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 304 | Field Botany | 3 |
| BSC 310 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 314 | Dendrology | 3 |
| BSC 315 | Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 320 | Freshwater Studies | 4 |
| BSC 325 | Tropical Plant Diversity | 4 |
| BSC 340 | Principles of Nat. Res. Cons. | 3 |
| BSC 360 | Plant Biology | 4 |
| BSC 371 | Biology of Lower Plants | 4 |
| BSC 373 | Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| BSC 380 | Intro Stats Biology | 3 |
| BSC 385 | Ecology and Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 393 | Biology Outreach | 2 |
| BSC 400 | Vertebrate Funct Morphol | 4 |
| BSC 412 | Limnology | 3 |
| BSC 413 | Cave Biology | 3 |
| BSC 460 | Human Developmental Biology | 4 |
| CH 223 | Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| CH 231 | Elem Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 232 | Elem Organic Chem II | 3 |
| GEO 355 | Invertebrate Paleontology | 3 |
| GEO 364 | Dinosaur Paleobiology | 3 |
| GEO 369 | Introduction Geophysics | 3 |
| GEO 403 | Petroleum System Analysis | 3 |
| GEO 405 | Introductory Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| GEO 407 | Seismology | 3 |
| GEO 470 | Introduction to Geochemistry | 3 |
| GY 302 | Climatology | 3 |
| GY 363 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| MATH 237 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 301 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 311 | Intro Scientific Computing | 3 |
| MATH 343 | Appl Diff Equations II | 3 |
| MATH 355 | Theory Of Probability | 3 |
| MATH 371 | Advanced Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 410 | Numerical Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 420 | Linear Optimization Theory | 3 |
| MATH 421 | Non-Linear Optimization Theory | 3 |
| MATH 441 | Boundary Value Problems | 3 |
| MATH 470 | Prin Modern Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH 485 | Intro Complex Variables | 3 |
| MATH 486 | Real Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 487 | Intro to Real Analysis II | 3 |
| PH 301 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| PH 302 | Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PH 331 | Elect & Magnetism I | 3 |
| PH 354 | Intermediate Modern Physics | 3 |
| PH 411 | Biophysics | 3 |
| PH 434 | Digital Electronics | 3 |
| PH 451 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| PH 471 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PH 481 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
Approved Science
The Approved Science requires a minimum of four credits from the following list of courses.
| Approved Science | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AY 101 & AY 102 | Intro To Astronomy and Intro Astronomy Lab | 4 |
| AY 203 & AY 204 | Observational Astronomy and Solar System Astronomy | 5 |
| BSC 108 | Intro Biology Non Maj I | 4 |
| BSC 109 | Intro Biology Non Maj II | 4 |
| BSC 114 & BSC 115 | Principles Of Biology I and Laboratory Biology I | 4 |
| BSC 118 | Honors General Biology I | 4 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry | 4 |
| CH 118 | Honors General Chemistry | 4 |
| GEO 101 | The Dynamic Earth | 4 |
| GEO 102 | The Earth Through Time | 4 |
| GEO 103 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 |
| GEO 104 | Hazardous Earth | 4 |
| GEO 105 | Sustainable Earth | 4 |
| GY 100 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| GY 101 | Atmospheric Proc & Patterns | 4 |
| GY 102 | Earth Surface Processes | 4 |
| GY 104 | Honors Earth Surface Processes | 4 |
| GY 202 | The Water Planet | 4 |
| GY 207 | Field Water and Climate | 4 |
| PH 253 & PH 255 | Intro Modern Physics and Modern Physics Lab | 4 |
Our graduates accept positions in aerospace, automotive, energy, railroad, manufacturing, food/forest products, appliances, robotics, electric power, electronics, automation, heating/air-conditioning, construction, mining, defense/ military, business, law and medicine.
Types of Jobs Accepted
Entry level engineering jobs in project engineering, production supervision, product design, process design, maintenance, plant layout, technical marketing/ sales, contract supervision, engineering consulting, graduate education in engineering, business, law, medicine and dentistry.
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Positions in project leadership, plant management, R&D management, contractors, technical sales/marketing executives, entrepreneurs, consulting firm executives/ owners, corporate executives/ managers/ owners, business management, physicians, attorneys, dentists, military officers, college faculty, and federal/ industrial researchers.
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center