ME Tech Electives
All B.S.E. Candidates in Mechanical Engineering are required to take 12 credits of advanced technical electives (a grade of at least "D" must be obtained in each course). It is the intent of the advanced technical elective requirement that students take a number of "core technical electives" to develop a deeper technical knowledge in specific areas of mechanical engineering.
The following guidelines for selecting advanced technical electives show how to take a set of technical electives that are routinely approved. These guidelines allow students flexibility to specialize in areas of interest or to develop a broad base of technical knowledge.
Guidelines for Selecting Advanced Technical Electives
The 12 credits of advanced technical electives that you must take are broken down into 3 categories. 9 of the 12 credits must be taken in the ME Department. The categories are:
1. One class (at least 3 credit hours) must be 400-level or higher in ME. This may include core courses but does not include ME490 or ME491.
2. Two core classes (totaling at least 6 credit hours) must come from the following list:
| Area | Core Technical Electives |
|---|---|
| Design & Manufacturing | ME452, ME481, ME483, ME487 |
| Dynamics, Systems, & Controls | ME424, ME440, ME461* |
| Materials & Solid Mechanics | ME305, ME311, ME406, ME412, ME451 |
| Thermal & Fluid Sciences | ME336, ME420, ME432, ME433 |
| General | ENGR350** |
*EECS460 may be elected under item 3B but students may not take both courses.
**ENGR350 is offered at Tübingen in Germany during the summer only. For ENGR350 to be counted as an ME Technical Elective, the required sophomore-level ME courses (ME211, ME235, ME240, ME250) must be taken before ENGR350. Otherwise, ENGR350 counts as a general elective.
A. Any other ME technical elective (including letter-graded 500-level ME courses).
B. Any non-ME class within the College of Engineering. Must have a 300-level or higher prerequisite or approval must be granted by the ME Undergraduate Program Committee. (Consult with the Instructor to determine whether or not you have the appropriate background).
C. ME490 or an equivalent senior-level independent study/research course in another engineering department that is approved by the ME Undergraduate Program Committee.
Technical Electives - Courses Offered Fall 2009
Mechanics/Materials
| Title | Cr | Description | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME 305 | 3 | Introduction to Finite Elements in ME | ME 311 |
| ME 311 | 3 | Strength of Materials | ME 211 & MA 216 |
Manufacturing/Design
| Title | Cr | Description | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME 481 | 3 | Manufacturing Processes | ME 382 |
| ME 483 | 3 | Manufacturing System Design | ME 250 |
Fluids/Thermo
| Title | Cr | Description | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME 336 | 3 | Thermodynamics II | ME 235 |
| ME 433 | 3 | Advanced Energy Solutions | ME 235 |
| ME 456/BME 456 | 4 | Biofluid Mechanics | ME 320 |
Other
| Title | Cr | Description | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME 490* | 3 | Experimental Research in ME | Senior standing |
| ME 499-06 | 2 | Vehicle Electrification: Battery Systems & Control (1st half of semester) | ME 360 |
| ME 499-07 | 2 | Vehicle Electrification: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (2nd half of semester) | ME 382/MSE 360 & ME 360 |
| ME 599-02 | 3 | Nanomanufacturing | ME 320 & Senior Standing |
| ME 599-05 | 3 | Hybrid Electric Vehicles | See flyer |
*You should take this class if you are interested in gaining research experience. Contact a faculty member with whom you are interested in working. Alternatively, you may propose your own project and ask a faculty member to be your advisor. Research experience is encouraged if you are considering graduate school. See the Research/ Independent Study webpage for details.
u 500 level courses for advanced knowledge of a particular subject. Consult instructors for details about the course and/or consult the ASO as to its applicability as a Technical Elective.