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Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Science
This degree produces the thinkers and designers who are concerned with controlling the principles of motion, energy, and force through mechanical solutions. The program emphasizes solid mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid sciences, and energy systems. A solid core of other engineering, math, and computer science coursework ensures well-rounded graduates.
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org
Requirements Accordion Open
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
The full policy can be viewed here.
Overview Accordion Closed
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
- At least 60 units of engineering requirements
- At least 43 units of mechanical engineering requirements
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements
- For this major the liberal studies prefix is ME
- Elective courses (including 22 units of liberal studies requirements) to reach an overall total of at least 125 units
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
Minimum Units for Completion | 125 |
Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 362 |
University Honors Program | Optional |
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-S | Recommended |
Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
Mechanical engineering is a diverse and broad discipline of engineering that applies the principles of mathematics, physics, and science for the analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools. It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. This exciting engineering field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials science, and structural analysis to name a few. Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, automobiles, space vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, robotic devices, wind turbines, medical devices, and much more.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- 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.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- 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.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Details Accordion Closed
Major Requirements
This major requires 103 units distributed as follows:
- Engineering Requirements: 60 units
- Mathematics and Science Courses: 27 units
- Computer Science and Engineering Courses 33 units
- Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements: 31 units
- Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements: 6 units
- Mechanical Design
- Fluid and Thermal Sciences
- Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements: 6 units
Take the following 103 units:- Engineering Requirements: 60 units
Engineering Requirements (60 units)
Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements (31 units)
Take the following 31 units, which provide an overview of the two branches of mechanical engineering - solid mechanics and thermal and fluid sciences - and give you background for further specialization:- CENE 253*, CENE 253L* (4 units)
- MAT 362 (3 units)
- ME 240*, ME 365*, ME 392, ME 395*, ME 450, (ME 440 or ME 465), ME 495 (21 units)
- ME 386W* which meets the junior-level writing requirement (3 units)
*Prerequisites and/or corequisites to Engineering coursework which must be completed with grades of "C" or better. In addition, ENG 105 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
You must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.65 in MAT 136, MAT 137, CS 122, PHY 161, PHY 262, CENE 251, MAT 238, and ME 240, in order to enroll in 300-400 level courses. The calculation of this GPA will include any transferred coursework from other institutions.
Mechanical engineering undergraduate students who have completed all required foundational courses with a "C" or better but have a GPA in those courses that are below the acceptable GPA for enrollment in upper divisional courses may repeat up to two of the foundational courses in which they earned a "C" to meet the minimum GPA requirement. Students may only repeat a required course in which they earned a grade of "C" one time for it to count toward the foundational coursework GPA.
Any ME course required for the Mechanical Engineering major may only be repeated one time. Petitions for second repeats presented to the ME department will typically be denied and may be considered only in very rare and exceptional cases such as death in the family or extended illness.
Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements (6 units)
- Select coursework from either the courses listed here or from other 300, 400, or 500-level mechanical engineering courses with approval from your advisor and department. We encourage you to gain expertise in one of the two primary branches of mechanical engineering, by means of the following groupings (6 units).
Generally these courses have the ME prefix; the only exceptions allowed are the listed EE and CENE courses due to their significant ME content. You can also use ME 500-level courses as depth electives, as a qualified senior with departmental approval.
Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements (6 units)
- To gain breadth in fields related to mechanical engineering select upper-division (300-400 level) courses in engineering (including any course listed above as a depth elective), natural sciences, business, or mathematics. No more than one lower division course (100-200 level) can be used as a breadth elective. You must get approval from your advisor and department for these courses. (6 units)
Please note that you can't have more than two grades of "D" in your engineering and computer science courses. Furthermore, all prerequisite and corequisite courses for your engineering courses must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and start a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at NAU.
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Major Requirements
This major requires 100 units distributed as follows:- Engineering Requirements: 60 units
- Mathematics and Science Courses: 27 units
- Computer Science and Engineering Courses 28 units
- Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements: 31 units
- Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements: 6 units
- Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements: 6 units
Take the following 100 units:- Engineering Requirements: 60 units
Engineering Requirements (60 units)
Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements (28 units)
Take the following 28 units, which provide an overview of the two branches of mechanical engineering - solid mechanics and thermal and fluid sciences - and give you background for further specialization:- CENE 253*, CENE 253L* (4 units)
- MAT 362 (3 units)
- ME 240*, ME 365*, ME 395*, ME 450, (ME 440 or ME 465), ME 495 (18 units)
- ME 386W* which meets the junior-level writing requirement (3 units)
*Prerequisites and/or corequisites to Engineering coursework which must be completed with grades of "C" or better. In addition, ENG 105 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
You must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.65 in MAT 136, MAT 137, CS 122, PHY 161, PHY 262, CENE 251, MAT 238, and ME 240, in order to enroll in 300-400 level courses. The calculation of this GPA will include any transferred coursework from other institutions.
Mechanical engineering undergraduate students who have completed all required foundational courses with a "C" or better but have a GPA in those courses that are below the acceptable GPA for enrollment in upper divisional courses may repeat up to two of the foundational courses in which they earned a "C" to meet the minimum GPA requirement. Students may only repeat a required course in which they earned a grade of "C" one time for it to count toward the foundational coursework GPA.
Any ME course required for the Mechanical Engineering major may only be repeated one time. Petitions for second repeats presented to the ME department will typically be denied and may be considered only in very rare and exceptional cases such as death in the family or extended illness.
Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements (6 units)
- We encourage you to gain expertise in one of the two primary branches of mechanical engineering, by means of the following groupings (6 units).
- 500-level courses in mechanical design (6 units)
- 500-level courses in fluid and thermal sciences (6 units)
- We encourage you to gain expertise in one of the two primary branches of mechanical engineering, by means of the following groupings (6 units).
Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements (6 units)
- To gain breadth in fields related to mechanical engineering take the following (6 units):
- 300- or 400-level course in engineering, natural sciences, business, or mathematics (3 units)
- 500-level course in engineering, natural sciences, business, or mathematics (3 units)
Please note that you can't have more than two grades of "D" in your engineering and computer science courses. Furthermore, all prerequisite and corequisite courses for your engineering courses must be completed with grades of "C" or better.- To gain breadth in fields related to mechanical engineering take the following (6 units):
General Electives
Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 125 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
By the numbers
663
Enrolled students$85,880
Median annual pay in 20179%
Job growth to 2026More resources
Design4Practice Accordion Closed
Mechanical Engineering requirements Accordion Closed
Liberal Studies requirements Accordion Closed
- Foundation English composition: ENG 105 (4)
- Foundation mathematics: MAT 136 (4)
- Distribution requirements:
- Science/lab science: PHY 161/L (4) and CHM 151 (4)
- Distribution elective: PHY 262 (3)
- University requirements:
- Junior-level writing: EGR 386W (3)
- Major capstone experience: ME 486C (3)
- Liberal studies distribution requirements (18)—Social and Political Worlds (6); Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry (6) and Cultural Understanding (6)
- University Diversity Requirement (6)—This requirement may be satisfied by taking liberal studies distribution courses that are cross-listed in the US Ethnic Diversity and Global Diversity blocks.
Electives
Breadth electives (6 Units) Accordion Closed
Depth electives (9 Units) Accordion Closed
- Contact the department to see when the ME undergraduate courses are tentatively going to be offered.
- Contact the department to see when the ME graduate courses are tentatively going to be offered.
Courses Accordion Closed
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Mechanical Engineering Depth Electives Tab Open
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General Depth Electives Tab Closed
-
Breadth Electives Tab Closed
Mechanical Engineering Depth Electives Accordion Open
- ME 358-System Dynamics
- ME 423-Flight Dynamics
- ME 451-Renewable Energy Systems
- ME 454-Finite Element Analysis
- ME 455-Vibrations
- ME 463-Biomechanical Engineering
- ME 465-Machine Design II
- ME 467-Manufacturing Processes
- ME 467L-Manufacturing Processes Lab
- ME 473-Biomaterials
- ME 475-Adaptive Materials and Systems
- ME 482-Advanced CAD/CAM
- ME 484-Kinematics
- EE 325-Engineering Analysis II
- EE 458-Automatic Controls
- EE 403-Electric Drives
- ME 425-Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics
- ME 435-Wind Energy Conversion Systems
- ME 435H-Wind Energy Engineering Honors
- ME 440-Fluid Mechanics II
- ME 441-Compressible Flow
- ME 442-Aerodynamics
- ME 451-Renewable Energy Systems
- ME 456-Engineering Modeling of Nonlinear Systems
General Depth Electives Accordion Closed
- CENE 376
- CENE 436
- CENE 438
- CENE 460
- CENE 477
- CENE 536
- CENE 560
- CENE 577
- EE 380
- EE 401
- EE 402
- EE 403
- EE 410
- EE 458
- EE 459
- EE 484
- EE 502
- EE 503
Breadth Electives Accordion Closed
- AS 301
- AS 302
- BBA 201
- BBA 303
- BBA 305W
- BIO 301
- BIO 485
- CENE 333
- CENE 336
- CENE 420
- CENE 438
- CENE 450
- CENE 470
- CENE 599
- CHM 320
- CM 403
- ECO 284
- ECO 285
- ECO 281
- ECO 464
- ECO 473
- ECO 486
- EE 325
- EE 364
- EE 380
- EE 401
- HON 293
- MAT 226
- MAT 335
- MAT 411
- MAT 431
- MGT 301
- MGT 303
- MS 301
- MS 302
- PHY 301
- PHY 331
NAU’s Mechanical Engineering program may lead to professional licensure/certification. State information can be found at NAU’s Professional Licensure by State table.