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Undergrad Handbook

Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Student Handbook. The goal of this handbook is to provide information about services and activities that will enrich your undergraduate experience and facilitate the practical aspects of receiving an education at the University of Michigan. 

In the handbook, you can find information on student servicesdegree requirementsenrolling for coursestransferring creditinternship, co-op, and career guidanceresearch opportunitiesuseful formsgraduation informationcampus resources; and frequently asked questions.

Undergraduate Program Overview

Mechanical Engineering at Michigan builds its world-class undergraduate engineering curriculum on a foundation of science-based courses centered on a progression of team-based practicums. A boom of new faculty members and research funding has brought new opportunities in both traditional and emerging areas, and helps maintain our consistent leadership as one of U.S. News and World Report’s top five ranked ME programs in the country. Our flexibility electives enable students to leverage other top-ranked programs across the University (100 programs ranked top ten nationally) to create their own unique and customized degrees. Our program is made up of world-renowned faculty and facilities in areas such as future transportation, energy and environment, emerging manufacturing, and bio/health systems. Our students have unprecedented opportunities through programs such as Research, Innovation, Service and Entrepreneurship (RISE), Multidisciplinary Design, international experiences, and honors programs in the College of Engineering (CoE). At Michigan, ME is assembling the finest young undergraduate talent in the country, and we’re pleased that you have joined our team.

Review the Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

What’s Involved in an ME degree at the University of Michigan?

At the University of Michigan, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree (BSE) in ME provides students with an excellent foundation in the core technical competencies of the discipline: thermal and fluid sciences, solid mechanics and materials, and dynamics and control. Within each of these disciplines, students will complete rigorous coursework that follows the traditional classroom format of lectures, discussions, homework, projects and exams. In addition, an array of technical electives is offered to enable students to tailor their mechanical engineering education to best suit their career goals.

During the sophomore and junior year, ME students will participate in design courses where they will work together with a team and apply the knowledge learned in their core subjects to develop a product, design and model it, and physically build it in our machine shop. During their senior year, ME students will enroll in a senior capstone design course in which each team is required to complete a semester long design project developed for them by a company or researching faculty. The laboratory sequences are completed during a student’s junior and senior year and involve working on a team to conduct industry-related experiments and perform data analysis. During both the design/manufacturing and laboratory courses, students are further prepared for successful careers and leadership positions by building extensive teamwork, report writing and presentation skills.

In addition to the regular BSE degree in Mechanical Engineering, there are numerous other programs offered to enrich education, such as dual-degrees (ME degree and a second degree from another engineering program), Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (SUGS), the Engineering Global Leadership Program (EGL), Study Abroad (listed among CoE minors), and Independent Study opportunities with ME faculty.

Students who do well in their undergraduate program are encouraged to consider graduate work and may take some of their electives in preparation for graduate study. For more information please refer to the Graduate Handbook.