B.S. in Mechanical Engineering University of California, Riverside

Welcome to the ME department, where students receive an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Engineering is a social enterprise and our curriculum is designed to include not only ethics, engineering economics, technical communication, and teamwork, but also a significant exposure to the humanities and the social sciences so students can appreciate and realize the impact of engineering on society.

All undergraduate students receive personal attention from staff advisors or faculty mentors throughout their academic careers. Most junior and senior undergraduates participate in cutting-edge research activities in faculty labs, at one of the College’s interdisciplinary research centers, or during internships with industry or agencies. In addition, our students have access to numerous resources through BCOE including academic assistance, study and time management workshops, career guidance, professional development training, membership in professional societies and social activities.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is structured so that most of the required courses in mathematics and the basic sciences (physics and chemistry) are completed during the first two years. In addition, two four-unit courses, an Introduction to Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Graphics & Design are offered in the first year. These classes focus on basic engineering concepts and computational engineering tools required for mechanical engineers. Engineering topics are covered primarily in courses offered during the second, third and fourth years. Additional science topics (Biology) are covered in the third year. Students may also take elective courses in specialized topics such as Applied Finite Element Methods, Transport Phenomena in Living Systems, Vibrations, Environmental Impacts of Energy Production, Mechatronics, Combustion and Energy Systems, Optics and Lasers in Engineering, etc., in the senior year.

Several ME courses, including laboratory courses, incorporate design. Design addresses real-world problems whose solution requires creativity and consideration of alternatives to achieve stated objectives. The design component can occupy a significant fraction of course time and is usually conducted in teams. The culmination of the students' design experience is a three-quarter capstone design course, in which students draw upon various aspects of their previous engineering science and design knowledge to address a meaningful design problem. The first quarter focuses on engineering economics, engineering/professional ethics, and review of fundamental design concepts. In the second quarter, project (concept) analysis, preliminary evaluation (economical and technical), data and literature collection, and preliminary process design and evaluation is carried out. The third quarter of the capstone design course focuses on the final detailed technical design of the process (equipment sizing and specification, etc.), followed by prototyping and construction of hardware, and detailed technical analysis of the final design. The course concludes with a formal oral presentation and written technical report.