University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Program: A Comprehensive Overview

Mechanical engineering at the University of Washington (UW) stands as one of the institution's largest and most sought-after engineering departments. It provides a world-class education, cultivating a broad range of skills and technological expertise among its students. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, collaborative problem-solving, and awareness of societal implications in the design, production, and implementation of mechanical and thermal fluid systems.

Mechanical Engineering: The Broadest Discipline

Mechanical engineering (ME) is the broadest of all engineering disciplines. It deals with understanding how things work, from the tiniest micro-particle to the largest spacecraft, and even the human body-one of our most complex machines. Mechanical engineers are at the center of technological and environmental advancements and work broadly in mechanical, environmental and material-based problems. Mechanical engineers seek new knowledge through research, creative design and development, and with the construction, control, management and sales of the devices and systems needed by society. The department applies fundamental research in areas such as advanced materials, biomechanics, data science, mechatronics and fluids to areas including manufacturing, robotics, the environment, energy and biomedical science and technology. In recent years, our research has increasingly expanded in energy and health technology. This focus has allowed us to diversify our curriculum and grow our leadership in national and international research.

ME is a core discipline that involves studying anything that moves. In undergraduate core classes, students learn about heat transfer, mechatronics, fluids, materials, system dynamics, machine design and manufacturing processes. Mechanical engineers have a broad enough understanding of engineering to converse with and understand issues within more specialized disciplines. For example, a foundation in dynamics could apply to biomechanics and gait analysis. The “systems engineering” aspect of ME touches on almost every other engineering discipline, as well as disciplines outside of engineering.

Degree Programs and Specializations

The Mechanical Engineering bachelor of science degree provides students with background in energy and fluid mechanics, dynamics, combustion, vibration, design, manufacturing processes, systems modeling and simulation, mechatronics, robotics, mechanics of materials, rapid prototyping, and composites, providing the students the background needed to pursue careers in Mechanical Engineering or to enter into graduate studies.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs in Mechanical Engineering explore fundamental principles of mechanical engineering and their application to modern technological problems. Students collaborate on interdisciplinary work where they research and design creative, leading-edge solutions to these problems. Undergraduate students have the option to choose a direct pathway: mechatronics, biomechanics or nano-science and molecular engineering.

The BSME curriculum is designed to meet requirements set forth by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The BSME curriculum emphasizes hands-on experience, collaborative problem solving, and societal implications in the design, production, and implementation of mechanical and thermal fluid systems.

A total of 180 credits are required for the BSME degree.

General Education Requirements

Basic Skills:
- Written and Oral Communication: 12 credits (one 5 credit English Composition course with a minimum 2.0 grade, and 7 credits met by coursework in the major).
- Reasoning (RSN): 5 credits (met by program requirements).
Areas of Inquiry:
- The College of Engineering requires that all degree programs include a minimum of 24 credits in the Areas of Inquiry: Arts and Humanities (A&H) and Social Sciences (SSc). Course selection to fulfill the A&H/SSc requirements must meet the following selection criteria: A minimum of 10 credits of A&H and 10 credits of SSc. Additional A&H or SSc courses to reach 24 credit total.
Diversity (DIV): 3-5 credits. University requirement varies from 3 to 5 depending on matriculation to university. Courses may also apply to an Areas of Inquiry requirement.

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ME Option Courses

The BSME requirements include a minimum of 19 credits of ME option courses (otherwise known as "senior technical electives"). These courses are designed for seniors and most require many of the 300-level courses as prerequisites. A maximum of 6 credits of ME 499 (Graded, Special Projects) may count toward the option course requirement. Additional credits of ME 499 are possible as CR/NC but will not apply to a students ME option courses. Occasionally students wish to substitute a 300 or 400 level course offered by another College of Engineering department for ME option course credits. By petition, up to 3 credits of a 300 or 400 level class offered by another engineering department may be applied to satisfy the 19 required option credits of ME.

Direct Pathways

Mechatronics: The Mechatronics option of the Mechanical Engineering bachelor of science degree focuses on the integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer technologies into the design of complex products.
Biomechanics: Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms. This field represents the broad interplay between mechanics and biological systems, from the nano scale to whole-body systems. Research in biomechanics enhances our understanding of health, function and disease in living systems and can also serve as inspiration for engineering innovations. Biomechanics can inform and improve the design of medical devices, robotics, athletic equipment, and other applications. Option specific credits (19 credits): ME 411 and ME 419; 6+ credits of biomechanics electives and remaining credits of supporting electives.
Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering: As of autumn quarter 2024, the option credential in Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering is no longer offered.

Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

Engineering Undeclared Students

See section on College of Engineering Admission for additional details on Direct-to-College admission and placement process for Engineering Undeclared students. The deadline to submit a request for placement in an engineering major occurs annually on July 1. If the number of Engineering Undeclared students requesting the major exceeds the department capacity for such students, a matching process is implemented. Factors considered include performance in prerequisite courses, quality of overall academic record, content of personal statement, applicable work or extracurricular activities, and other special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant. Students are encouraged to choose a course required for graduation in the majors they are considering. Minimum 2.0 grade in each course used to satisfy a placement requirement. Minimum 24 credits as a matriculated UW student. Students in good standing who do not meet the placement requirements by July 1 will be placed into a major on a conditional basis pending the completion of all placement requirements. Additional advising resources will be available to these students. See section on College of Engineering Continuation Policy for Engineering Undeclared Students for additional details.

Other Current UW Students and Transfer Students

Current UW students without Engineering Undeclared status and transfer students may apply. Admission is capacity constrained. Admission is for autumn quarter only. Application deadline: April 5 Minimum course requirements: MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136); CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145); PHYS 121, PHYS 122 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142); A A 210; 5 credits English composition. All courses completed prior to application deadline. In addition, CHEM 152 (or CHEM 153 or CHEM 155), CEE 220, and ME 230 completed with minimum 2.0 grades prior to autumn quarter. Minimum 60 credits completed by application deadline Grade requirements: Minimum 2.0 grade in each course required for application; minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA in courses required for application Students are encouraged to complete MATH 207 (unless MATH 135 is completed), MATH 208 (unless MATH 136 is completed), PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143), and ME 123 prior to autumn quarter.

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Graduate Programs

Graduate students can choose to specialize in biomechanics, controls, mechatronics & robotics, dynamics & vibrations, energy, fluid mechanics/microfluidics or mechanics, materials & manufacturing. Data science degree options are also available. Of the 383 graduate students enrolled in the department, 263 are master's students, and 120 are Ph.D. students. These classes are taught by the same expert UW faculty, but they provide the convenience of completing the master's degree from anywhere, at any time.

Master of Science (M.S.)

Students have the opportunity to take master's classes online, on a full- or part-time basis. Instruction focuses on the integration of technological systems to solve practical problems.

Completion Requirements:

42 credits May complete a thesis option or non-thesis option Thesis option: 30 credits of numerically graded coursework. Minimum 12 credits of 500-level numerically graded M E coursework. Max 9 credits 400-level numerically graded coursework excluding 498, 499; M E 598, 600 not allowed. Required courses (6 credits): M E 564, M E 565 Computational or Numerical Analysis (3 credits): Course list maintained internally by the program. Thesis (12 credits): M E 700 Additional courses (to meet required credit total): 400- and/or 500-level courses in M E or other approved departments. Non-Thesis option: Minimum 18 credits of 500-level numerically graded M E coursework. Max 12 credits 400-level numerically graded coursework excluding 498, 499; Max 9 credits M E 598, 600. Required courses (6 credits): M E 564, M E 565 Computational or Numerical Analysis (3 credits): Course list maintained internally by the program. Additional courses (to meet required credit total): 400- and/or 500-level courses in M E or other approved departments.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. ranks among the fastest-growing fields in engineering. Ph.D. degrees can open unexpected doors, with graduates starting their own company, working in academia and working in an R&D research lab, for example.

Ph.D. Pre-M.S. or post-M.S.

Curriculum and Research Focus

Courses in ME consider a wide range of conceptual and fundamental backgrounds, including but not limited to: thermodynamics to understand energy systems, manufacturing processes and material sciences to understand how to make things, and mechanics of materials to see how things break.

The sources of major grants for the Department of Mechanical Engineering illustrate the breadth and caliber of research being conducted. Students and faculty in UW Mechanical Engineering (ME) drive advancements in health and medicine, energy and the environment, transportation, manufacturing and more.

Departmental thrust areas for graduate and undergraduate research include: environment; healthcare; information technology; and manufacturing.

Instructional and Research Facilities: The department has well-equipped laboratories for pursuing research in various disciplinary fields in mechanical engineering and for fabricating specialized research equipment. These include experimental stress analysis; materials testing/characterization; synthesis and simulation of electromechanical control systems; foundry, welding, and other metal fabrication operations; computer facilities for CAD/CAM/CIM and CFD research; wind tunnels for boundary-layer and high-speed flow analysis; combustion systems performance, exhaust emissions control, and combustion engines; acoustics, vibration, and dynamic testing and measurements and modal analysis; radiation, conduction, and convection (including multiphase) heat-transfer analysis, and a bioengineering flow facility.

Data Science and Machine Learning

Data is increasingly gathered from both physical experiments and simulations, making it important to make sense of complex information, build more effective models and predict outcomes. That’s why data science and machine learning (ML) - a process of building models to manage and describe complicated data sets and automate their analysis - are increasingly important tools for mechanical engineers. ML and AI will be critical in engineering our future. However, in the coming decades, these advances will increasingly involve physical and mechanical systems, not just advances in software. In an ME degree, students can learn about the interface of classical physics-based engineering and emerging techniques in ML for engineering. These involve robotics, digital twins, reduced-order models, accelerating simulations with ML, and leveraging simulation and experimental data with ML. In ME, we focus on physics-informed ML, and ML for physical systems. This involves modeling for complex systems, as well as using known physics to improve machine learning for systems with limited and noisy data.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

The department's goal is success for its graduates in industry, research, and academic careers by virtue of skills and attributes learned in the program. Graduates succeed in their professional and academic positions by: using fundamental science and analysis to solve engineering problems, successfully executing engineering designs, and performing effectively in design teams, in the use of management tools, and through effective oral, written, and graphical communication. Graduates should be critical thinkers in the tradition of the broad liberal arts education. They succeed in this goal by being able to: think critically, in the sense of broadly educated individuals (i.e., be informed evaluators/consumers of information), perform independent, informed analysis on issues inside and outside of technology, and continue lifelong learning.

ABET Accreditation and Student Outcomes

The BSME program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the department has adopted the following student outcomes:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities
An ability to communicate effectively
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning
Knowledge of contemporary issues
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Each student's success is measured by demonstration of the following learning outcomes: Ability to apply this knowledge to the formulation and solution of mechanical engineering problems Ability to design thermal and mechanical components to achieve a desired goal. Ability to develop, conduct, and analyze experiments or tests that may aid in this design process. An understanding of the necessary professional abilities of a practicing engineer including ethical conduct, teamwork in the pursuit of a goal, and effective communication Ability to conduct computer-based design and analysis in engineering applications Exposure to a general education program that aids in the understanding of and increases the appreciation for the "non-technical" world Realization of the business environment in which engineering is practiced. Awareness and necessity of continuing education, graduate study, and other lifelong learning experiences

Hands-on Opportunities

Several on-going senior capstone design projects provide both undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on, interdisciplinary, team-driven opportunities that encompass such diverse topics as Formula SAE car; human-powered submarine, mechatronics, and fuel cell technology.

Students can get involved in various undergraduate research opportunities, including hands-on collaborations with clinicians through the Engineering Innovation in Health program.

Honors Options

Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors); With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.

Research, Internships, and Service Learning

The department participates in the College of Engineering Co-op Program. The Center for Career Services also lists internship opportunities.

Department Scholarships

The department offers approximately forty scholarships each year. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1. Sophomores may apply for scholarship consideration before being admitted to the department.

Career Prospects

Mechanical engineers are employed in nearly every kind of industry and business type, from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Mechanical engineers can work in various industries, from aerospace to automotive, energy, manufacturing, biomedical and beyond. Equipped with versatile skills, ME graduates can readily move from one field to another. Nearly 60% of recent graduates are employed full-time a few months after graduation. About 16% of recent BSME graduates pursue continuing education soon after graduation.

Working as an engineer before attending graduate school helps you identify the areas of ME that you are most interested in and where you need more skills or depth to progress in your chosen industry. Working as an engineer for a few years can also help graduates gain financial stability and some companies may help pay for graduate education.

Skills for a Variety of Fields

ME provides a strong technical foundation in mechanical engineering that students can customize to their specific interests and apply to many different industries, from aerospace to medical device design.

ME provides a broad and versatile foundation that is valuable for students interested in aerospace. ME students acquire a deep understanding of core engineering principles such as mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and materials science, all of which are crucial in aerospace applications.

ME and BioE are both useful disciplines for students interested in engineering new tools and treatments for the health field. BioE undergraduates receive more fundamental training in chemistry and biology, which may include chemically constructing a nanoparticle or working with biological samples. The strong fundamental skills in solids, fluids and robotics provided by an ME education are all needed in the medical field. An ME undergraduate class introduces biology fundamentals for engineers, covering mechanisms and biomechanics of DNA, proteins, cells, tissue and more.

ME vs. A&A

While ME and A&A share common ground in foundational engineering concepts, they diverge in specialization and application. A&A majors focus more specifically on the principles governing flight, both within Earth’s atmosphere and in space. In contrast, ME students might study these principles more generally, with applications spanning a broader range of industries. A&A students typically engage in more specialized courses where they learn about the intricacies of designing engines and structural components specifically for aerospace vehicles.

When deciding between ME and A&A, prospective students should consider their long-term career goals and interests. If a student is passionate about a broad range of engineering disciplines and wants flexibility in their career path, an ME degree offers diverse opportunities. However, if a student has a strong interest in the specific challenges of flight, spacecraft and propulsion systems, and envisions a career focused primarily on the aerospace sector, an A&A degree might be more appropriate.

ME vs. ECE

In both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, students will learn basic mechanics, basic electronics and measurement and actuator technology. ME focuses on a broader perspective of how mechanics, hydraulics and heat play into mechatronic systems. In ECE, there is less emphasis on physical moving systems, and more focus on properties of electrical components and signal processing considerations such as noise.

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