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Undergraduate Program

Breadcrumb

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.

Why Mechanical Engineering?

312,900
Number of jobs in 2018
4%
Projected growth from 2018-2028
$87,370
2018 Median Pay

Be at the forefront of technology

Mechanical Engineers

  • Bill Nye
  • Henry Ford
  • Leonardo da Vinci

BCOE Employment Partners

Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona

Abbott

Edwards Lifesciences

The ME department is an ABET-accredited program that prepares students for careers in academia, industry or as entrepreneurs. Here you will find information about courses offered, research opportunities, and various resources and tools to help you complete your undergraduate education.

  • 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.

  • Focus Areas
    • Materials and Structures
      Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 121, ME 122, ME 134, ME 153, ME 156, ME 180, ME 197
    • Energy and Environment
      Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 117, ME 136, ME 137, ME138, ME 197
    • Design and Manufacturing
      Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 121, ME 122, ME 130, ME 131, ME 133, ME 140, ME 144, ME 145, ME 153, ME 156, ME 175D, ME 176 , ME 180, ME 197
    • General Mechanical Engineering
      Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from selected from the following list, in consultation with an advisor: ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 117, ME 121, ME 122, ME 130, ME 131, ME 133, ME 136, ME 137, ME 138, , ME 134, ME 140, ME 144, ME 145, ME 153, ME 156, ME 175D,  ME 176,  ME 180, ME 197

     

  • Program Education Objectives

    ME at UCR is nationally recognized as an innovator in research and education in mechanical engineering. The foundation of the specific objectives of the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program has been guided by the strong belief that the program should provide an equivalent of liberal arts education for the 21st century. 

    The Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives are to prepare our graduates to make a positive impact on society by being successful in:
    •    careers as mechanical engineers and as engineering leaders
    •    graduate studies and research
    •    professional careers besides mechanical engineering
    •    advocating the engineering profession and inspiring others to develop a passion for engineering profession
    We prepare our students to attain these Program Educational Objectives through a curriculum which is designed to achieve these Student Outcomes
    (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

    (6) An ability to develop appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

    (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 create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.

    (7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies
     

  • Accreditation

    The Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of  ABET.

  • Undergraduate Advisor

    Malcolm Manuel
    Student Academic Advisor
    bcoeadvising@engr.ucr.edu
    951-827-3647

Freshman Dates & Deadlines

Aug. 1

Access the UC application 

Nov. 1–30

Submit your UC application

Nov. 30

Deadline to submit your official AP, IB and A-Level exam scores

March

Admission notifications begin

March 1

Housing contracts become available

May 1

Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)

May 10

Deadline to submit housing contract and first payment

June 8

Deadline to register for Highlander Orientation

July 1

Deadline to submit your final, official high school transcript

September

Fall quarter begins