Mechanical Engineering Major

The undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering provides students with a solid foundation and the necessary skills to assume leadership roles in industry and government agencies. The major also offers a number of opportunities for students intending to continue their education in graduate school. Mechanical Engineering impacts society by developing innovative technologies through design and synthesis of mechanical components and systems. Mechanical engineers are recruited in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, power generation, environmental, electronics, bioengineering, agriculture, food processing, and consulting firms, among many others. Because of the variety of fields that are relevant to this profession, the undergraduate program covers a broad range of subjects, including dynamics, materials, thermal/fluids, vibrations, controls, computer-aided engineering, design and manufacturing. The innovative curriculum at UC Merced provides a rich educational experience that exposes students to engineering fundamentals, laboratory skills and advanced computational tools to solve realistic engineering problems.

The program also prepares students to pursue graduate work in engineering or other disciplines. Mechanical Engineering is an evolving discipline that adapts to the current needs of society. Some of the exciting current areas of research include advanced energy systems, sustainable energy, autonomous vehicles, biomechanics and biosensors, nano/micro-technology, computational modeling, design optimization and complex systems. The programs at UC Merced emphasize a highly interdisciplinary approach; thus the curriculum offers several technical electives in topics inside and outside the Mechanical Engineering program, and a culminating design experience.

The Mechanical Engineering program at UC Merced is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Mechanical Engineering Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from our program demonstrate the following:

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.

Programs

• Mechanical Engineering, B.S.