Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2010-2011 
    
Undergraduate Record 2010-2011 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Mechanical Engineering


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines, providing opportunities for employment in industry, business, government, research, and education. The mechanical engineer is concerned with the development of machines and systems for diverse applications in our modern technological society. Talents and interests of a graduate M.E. include those required to plan, analyze, design, and improve components and systems. The practice of mechanical engineering is applied to manufacturing, energy conversion, transportation, construction, and environmental control. In the future, mechanical engineers must provide leadership in developing new sources of power and new systems to accommodate societal demands.

The curriculum begins with the study of chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and general engineering courses. As students progress, they take advanced analysis, design, and laboratory courses related to mechanical and thermal systems. One-fourth of the program is devoted to the humanities and social sciences, which broaden the student’s education and assist in developing communication and leadership skills.

Young engineers need relevant experiences to be competitive in the global economy. As indicated by discussions with recruiters and industry leaders, graduating students are now expected to have some practical and/or unique experience that they will be able to apply in an industry in the near term. These experiences may come from laboratory work, projects at the University, or a co-operative education (co-op) program.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering implemented a co-op program in 1996 that is currently placing students with 40 industries. This program builds self-confidence, helps define career goals. The co-op experience often helps students obtain senior thesis topics through industrial projects, eases transition to the industrial world, and enhances the student’s marketability. Salaries for co-op students are typically two-thirds of those for B.S. level engineers. It takes four and one-half years to complete the co-op program, including one extended stay (summer plus semester) in industry, with one or more summers possible. Requirements include third year academic standing and a grade point average of at least 2.000. Participation is optional and non-credit; details can be obtained from the school or department.

Program Objectives

Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Virginia have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow them to make tangible contributions, meet new technical challenges, contribute effectively as team members, and be innovators in the analysis, design, and implementation of mechanical devices and systems.  They communicate effectively and interact responsibly with colleagues, clients, employers and society.

Minor


A minor in mechanical engineering is comprised of five courses, and requires MAE 2000, as well as two courses from List A and two courses from List B. List A: MAE 2100, MAE 2300, MAE 2310, MAE 2320, MAE 3210. List B: MAE 3120, MAE 3140, MAE 3620, MAE 3710, MAE 4710, MAE 4730, MAE 4740, MAE 4760.

Mechanical Engineering Curriculum (128 credits)


Second Semester Credits: 17


  • Science elective I Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 3 below)
  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Third Semester Credits: 15


  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Fourth Semester Credits: 16


  • STS 2xxx/3xxx elective Credits: 3

Fifth Semester Credits: 18


  • Math/Science II elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)
  • Unrestrictive elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnotes 2 below)

Sixth Semester Credits: 16


  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Seventh Semester Credits: 16


  • MAE Design I elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 5 below)
  • MAE Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)
  • Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)
  • Unrestrictive elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 2 below)

 

Eighth Semester Credits: 15


  • MAE Design II elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 5 below)
  • MAE Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)
  • Technical elective Credits: 3
    (see footnote 1 below)
  • Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 2 below)

Footnotes


(1) Chosen from the MAE Department’s approved Technical Elective List of courses. Two of these technical electives must be MAE courses not required for the Mechanical Engineering Degree. See Department’s website.

(2) Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses   below MATH 1310 and courses that substantially duplicate any others offered for the degree, including PHYS 2010, 2020; CS 1010, 1020; or any introductory programming course. Students in doubt as to what is acceptable to satisfy a degree requirement should get the approval of their advisor and the dean’s office, located in A122 Thornton Hall. APMA 1090 counts as a three-credit unrestricted elective. 

(3)  Chosen from the approved list available in A122 Thornton Hall.

(4)  Chosen from the MAE Department’s Math Science II approved list or the Science Elective I list. See Department’s web site.

(5)  Chosen from MAE 4610, 4620, 4630, 4640, 4650, 4660, 4670, 4680, or prior approval by the MAE Undergraduate Affairs Committee.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs