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Department of Engineering

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is a challenging profession concerned with the design, development, manufacturing and control of structures, machines and mechanisms. The undergraduate mechanical engineering program at USM is broad-based, but there are opportunities to specialize (especially by working on senior projects). Computer simulations as well as hands on and laboratory activities are integrated throughout the curriculum. Internships and co-ops are strongly supported and are offered by USM industrial partners and are available to the students at all levels.

The undergraduate mechanical engineering program is built on a foundation of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. The goal of the program is that students be technically competent, have good communications skills, be able to work as part of a team or independently, function well in a multi-skills setting, and be prepared for a lifetime of learning and professional growth. The mechanical engineering program is in the process of seeking ABET accreditation (for details and a timetable please contact the department).

Courses & Requirements

General Requirements 

    MAT  152D Calculus A

    MAT  153    Calculus B

    MAT  252    Calculus C

    MAT  350    Differential Equations

    MAT  380    Probability and Statistics

Computer Science

    COS   160    Structured Problem Solving: Java

    COS   170    Structured Programming Laboratory

Basic Science

    CHY  113K Principles of Chemistry I

    CHY  114K Laboratory Techniques I

    PHY   121K General Physics I

    PHY   114K Introductory Physics Laboratory I

    PHY   123    General Physics II

    PHY   116    Introductory Physics Laboratory II

Engineering

Several engineering courses are common to both majors, referred to as part of the Engineering Core. Due to the subject nature of those courses, they are listed in the degree requirements of each major instead of under the general requirements.

Technical Electives

A technical elective is a course with 3 or more credits, at or above the 300 level, that is not a required course of the major. Five technical electives are required for all bachelor of science in engineering degrees, with at least 2 in the major, and at least 4 in engineering disciplines. EGN electives are general engineering courses that contain both electrical and mechanical elements; they are applicable to both majors. The fifth required technical elective may be chosen from physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, general engineering or other technical disciplines. Permission from the student’s advisor is required for any course outside engineering to be counted as a technical elective.

For graduation, engineering majors must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in engineering courses.

Permission from the student’s advisor is required before taking any course outside USM to satisfy a requirement of the major.

University Core Curriculum requirements are outlined elsewhere in this catalog. Some requirements of the engineering degrees also satisfy Core Curriculum requirements.