Mechanical Engineering

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 129

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: None.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in MEE courses.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: MEE 487 and MEE 488

Contact Information:  Dr. Masoud Rais-Rohani, Mechanical Engineering Chair, 219 Boardman Hall, Tel: (207)581-4120.

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The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to educate students for success in the field of mechanical engineering by providing academic programs that promote engineering principles, experiential learning, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and outreach, and to pursue innovative research and scholarly achievement for advancing the State and developing technology solutions to societal needs.

Mechanical engineers work in transportation, energy, chemical, and biomedical industries, among many others. They work for small and large companies, consulting firms, laboratories, and government agencies. Many mechanical engineers are employed by manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding. Mechanical engineers solve problems by developing systems that involve moving parts, ranging from small biomedical devices to giant machines used in mining, agriculture, and construction. Mechanical engineers conduct research in solar and wind energy, advanced materials, computer modeling, additive manufacturing, jet and rocket propulsion, among many other topics.

The undergraduate program has been developed to enable the student to begin a professional career in engineering after graduation or to pursue advanced studies in graduate school. Additional information can be found online at https://umaine.edu/mecheng/.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years after graduation, those holding a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UMaine are expected to:

1. Successfully practice engineering in roles of increasing responsibility to serve local, state, national, and international industries and government agencies.
2. Demonstrate a spirit of lifelong learning by pursuing professional licensure, graduate education, short courses or other training programs in engineering or related fields.
3. Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility in their work and daily lives.
4. Participate in their community and in so doing advocate for the profession.

Student Outcomes

By the end of their undergraduate degree program in mechanical engineering, students will have:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Description

The undergraduate mechanical engineering program develops the student’s creative potential to meet the increasingly complex needs of industry, government and graduate education. It provides a foundation of knowledge in mathematics, basic physical sciences, thermal sciences, dynamic systems, materials science, fluid and solid mechanics and design of systems.

Since engineers must address problems requiring awareness of economical, ethical, political, social and legal issues, the curriculum includes an introduction to the humanities and social sciences as well as mathematics, science and engineering fundamentals.

In consultation with an academic advisor, the student plans a program based on the recommended curriculum. The format can be modified within the constraints of all the departmental, college, and university requirements and course prerequisites to satisfy scheduling needs or student preferences.

The curriculum has ten electives among the courses  required for the bachelor’s degree. Six electives (18 credits) must satisfy the Human Values and Social Context (HVSC) areas of the general education requirements. Students must also complete a course placing substantial emphasis on the discussion of ethics, if not part of the 18 credits in HVSC electives. The remaining four are technical electives (12 credits), with one accepted at 300-level or higher from the list of approved courses. By careful use of this flexibility in electives, students may pursue in some depth their particular interests in both technical and non-technical subjects.

In addition to meeting all university academic requirements, a mechanical engineering student must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all mechanical engineering (MEE designator) courses.

The bachelor’s degree program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 415 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201, telephone: (410) 347-7700.