What is Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is the application of the laws of solid and fluid mechanics and the thermal sciences to the analysis, design and/or manufacturing of systems and products. Mechanical engineers play a key role in national, state and local economies by bringing their expertise in the development of power generation systems (such as steam turbines, jet engines and internal combustion engines) which provide mechanical power to all segments of society. They also bring essential expertise to manufacturing processes, efficient production methods and automation vital to the well-being of the national economy. Their expertise and involvement in the analysis, design and development of new products and materials for new devices and systems produce economic activity and provide employment opportunities which sustain high standards of living. The mechanical engineering program at UT offers fundamental education in the engineering sciences and engineering design. The engineering science component educates students in the fundamental principles of engineering, while the engineering design component emphasizes design methodology, enhances creative skills and develops student ability to solve open ended problems of the type common to industry.
The undergraduate experience is broad-based and includes, in the first two years, general education in mathematics, sciences and preliminary design courses that are common with curricula in other engineering programs. The discipline of a rigorous technical program along with education in the humanities and social sciences provides a good foundation for a rich and rewarding career in a dynamic marketplace.
The objectives of the mechanical engineering degree program are:
• to prepare students for professional careers by developing their skills in problem formulation, problem solving, analysis, computation, synthesis, teamwork and effective communication
• to teach students the underlying principles of mechanical and thermal systems and the application of these principles in the design process
• to instill in students an appreciation for the importance of lifelong learning, individual professionalism and ethical practice
• to prepare capable students for graduate study at major universities
The university’s engineering programs are fully accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Program.
Career Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering
Because of the broad-based education received in mechanical engineering, mechanical engineers play a vital role in a wide variety of industries (e.g., aerospace, automotive, electronics, power utilities, chemical, petroleum, textile, manufacturing); federal agencies (e.g., NASA, DOE, DOD, FAA); consulting firms, national laboratories (e.g., ORNL, SANDIA). In these different sectors, mechanical engineers are involved in analysis and design of systems and products; manufacturing, automation and control of production and processes; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; and research. Mechanical engineers are also found at every level of management. Mechanical engineers have been and will continue to be in great demand in all of the areas listed above. A good resource is the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm.
High School Preparation
The College of Engineering has established admissions criteria for incoming freshmen based on several performance criteria, including completion of core academic subjects, GPA scores on these subjects and standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores. A Success Prediction Indicator (SPI) number of 60 and a math ACT of 25 or a math SAT of 620 are minimum standards used for admission to the College of Engineering. The admitted class may also be limited by space available in the College. The SPI is calculated by adding an individual’s ACT mathematics score to 10 times their core high school GPA (based on a 4.0 scale). For information on what constitutes core high school courses, please consult admission website http://admissions.utk.edu/undergraduate/apply/requirements.shtml.
SPI EXAMPLE: A student with a high school core GPA of 3.5 and an ACT mathematics score of 28 would have an SPI of 63 using the formula (3.5 X 10) + 28 = 63. SAT scores are converted to an equivalent ACT score to perform this calculation.
Students who wish to pursue a degree in the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, but do not meet the college admission criterion may enroll as University Undecided students and complete appropriate mathematics, science, and other courses before applying again for admission to the College of Engineering.
How to Major in Mechanical Engineering
The mechanical engineering degree program is administered by the UT Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering (MABE). Students applying to the university should specify mechanical engineering as their chosen major when completing the admission form. Students transferring from other departments within UT or from other educational institutions should contact the department for more information regarding the appropriate entry level and any additional required courses.
Requirements for Mechanical Engineering
The MABE department currently does not have any special requirements for admission to the mechanical engineering program, other than the general admission requirements for the university and the college.
Special Programs, Co-ops, and Internships
All UT freshman engineering students are automatically enrolled in the innovative Engage Engineering Fundamentals Program, designed to help students learn basic engineering concepts and teamwork skills through a series of hands-on projects and activities: www.engr.utk.edu/efd
The College of Engineering’s Office of Professional Practice (EPP) provides income-generating opportunities for engineering students to experience realworld engineering challenges through cooperative education (co-op) and internship programs. Both programs offer structured learning environments where students develop increasing responsibilities by holding full-time paid positions in a professional environment related to their academic and career goals: www.coop.utk.edu
In addition to financial and scholarship programs available to all students, the college also provides special scholarships and support programs to minority students, including:
• Diversity Engineering Scholarship Program (DESP) www.engr.utk.edu/desp
• Engineering Diversity Programs Office (EDP) www.engr.utk.edu/edp
• Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) www.engr.utk.edu/tlsamp.
The College of Engineering also participates in the University Honors Program, which is designed to give academically outstanding students a unique undergraduate experience consisting of special courses, seminars, mentoring and research projects: http://www.utk.edu/honors/. All majors in Engineering have Honors Concentrations http://www.engr.utk.edu/academics/honors.html.
The UT Center for International Education collaborates with Engineering to create opportunities for engineering students to study in other countries: http://studyabroad.utk.edu/.
Highlights of Mechanical Engineering
Students in mechanical engineering are provided with many design experiences that build on previous exposure to elements of design and culminates in capstone project classes. This experience has resulted in numerous championships for UT teams in both regional and national competitions.
Ready for the World
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers study abroad programs in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, and North America. Program lengths vary from mini-term trips to the entire academic year, and students may choose to fulfill general education requirements, study a foreign language, or take courses within their majors. In addition, UTK offers students opportunities for international internships.
Students are highly encouraged to begin planning early in their academic career and to consult with an academic advisor about the best time to study abroad as well as what courses to take abroad. For more information about program options, the application process, and how to finance study abroad, please visit the Programs Abroad Office website.
In recent years engineering students have studied abroad through the Global Engineering Education Exchange (GE3), participated in short-term programs led by UTK engineering faculty, and completed summer research internships in Germany. For more information about opportunities for majors in the College of Engineering, please see the section of the Engineering Outreach Office website which highlights study abroad programs for engineering students.
Learn more about UT’s Ready for the World initiative to help students gain the international and intercultural knowledge they need to succeed in today’s world.
Sample Curriculum
Note
The information on this page should be considered general information only. For more specific information on this and other programs refer to the UT catalog or contact the department and/or college directly.
| Freshman Year | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118 *, ENGL 102 | 6 |
| CHEM 120 * or CHEM 128 * | 4 |
| MATH 141 * or MATH 147 *, MATH 142 * or MATH 148 * | 8 |
| EF 105 , EF 151 or EF 157 , EF 152 or EF 158 | 9 |
| ME 202 | 2 |
| Cultures and Civilizations Elective* | 3 |
| TOTAL | 32 |
| Milestones: Math 130 or higher; EF 151/157 or Physics 135/137 or higher | |
| Sophomore Year | Credit Hours |
| MATH 231 , MATH 241 or MATH 247 , MATH 251 or MATH 257 | 10 |
| EF 230 | 2 |
| PHYS 231 * | 3 |
| ME 231 , ME 321 | 6 |
| MSE 201 | 3 |
| ECON 201 * or ECON 207 * | 4 |
| Cultures and Civilizations Elective* | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities Elective * | 3 |
| TOTAL | 34 |
| Milestones : EF 152/158 or Physics 136/138 or higher; ME 202 or CS 102 or MSE 201 or CBE 201 | |
| Junior Year | Credit Hours |
| ME 331 , ME 344 , ME 345 , ME 363 or 367 , ME 366 , ME 466 | 18 |
| ECE 301 | 3 |
| Departmental Elective (Any 300-level or above course in aerospace, biomedical, or mechanical engineering) | 3 |
| AE 341 or 347 | 3 |
| ME 391 or 397 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 30 |
| Senior Year | Credit Hours |
| ME 410 (OC) *, ME 475 or 477 , ME 449 (WC) , ME 450 , ME 460 | 13 |
| EF 402 | 1 |
| ME 365 or ME 463 | 3 |
| Technical Elective (Must be pre-approved and petitioned by the advisor and department head) | 3 |
| Departmental Electives (Any 300-level or above course in aerospace, biomedical, or mechanical engineering) | 6 |
| Social Sciences Elective* | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Elective* | 3 |
| TOTAL | 32 |
| * Meets general education requirements | |
| GRAND TOTAL | 128 |
| *Meets University General Education Requirement . | |
| 1 Students receiving a grade of A or B in ENGL 118 will complete their first year composition requirement by choosing ENGL 102 , a sophomore literature course in the English Department, or ENGL 355 . | |
| 2 Choose any course from the University General Education list . | |
| 3 Any 300-level or above courses in aerospace, biomedical, or mechanical engineering that are not already required. | |
| 4 Must be pre-approved and petitioned by the advisor and department head. |
Honors Mechanical Engineering Concentration
In addition to satisfying the requirements for the mechanical engineering major, candidates for the honors mechanical engineering concentration must also complete the following requirements.
- First-year courses for honors concentrations in the engineering majors. (Note: Most of the honors requirements are course substitutions for the mechanical engineering major.)
- Two upper-division honors courses in mechanical engineering via Honors-by-Contract or Honors Independent study. If participating in only the Chancellor’s Honors Program, the Honors-by-Contract paperwork goes to the Chancellor’s Honors Office on campus during the first 10 days of the semester. If participating in Engineering Honors and not Chancellor’s Honors, the Honors-by-Contract paperwork is submitted the first 10 days of the semester to the engineering major department. If participating in both Chancellor’s and Engineering Honors, the Honors-by-Contract paperwork is submitted to both areas.
- A minimum of 3-credit hours of an honors senior design course. This requirement is normally satisfied as part of the senior capstone design course (ME 460 ).
Five-Year BS/MS Mechanical Engineering Program
The department offers a 5 year BS-MS program for qualified students. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Significant components of the program are:
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