Undergraduate Program

Baccalaureate Program

Director of Undergraduate Programs
Robert H. Greenlee

Introduction

In order to meet the challenge of today’s rapidly changing technologies, mechanical engineering students are well-grounded in the basic principles of analysis, design, experimentation and computer utilization. A range of technical electives enables students to develop and specialize in their fields of interest. After graduation, mechanical engineers will conceive, plan and design a wide variety of devices, machines and systems for energy conversion and utilization, automation and robotics, environmental control, material processing and handling, manufacturing and CAD/CAM, dynamical systems, fluid flow and other purposes. They will be active in creative design, applied research and development and management.


Program Goals

The principal goal of the B.S.M.E. program is to provide students with the fundamentals of mechanical engineering so that they have a solid base for an engineering career. This includes building a sufficient knowledge base, exercising creative and analytical capability, and developing communication skills so that the graduates can continue to expand their learning as their fields of interest and the scope of mechanical engineering evolve. Our core courses are intended to provide a broad base so that those who terminate their formal education with the B.S.M.E. degree can continue to grow intellectually. Likewise, the base provides insight into fields that students may choose to study at the graduate level.

This goal is met by a curriculum in which fundamental knowledge of earlier years is applied in later engineering courses. Specifically, the goals for the B.S.M.E. program at the University of New Mexico are closely linked to the criteria set forth by ABET. The following statement has been adopted by the Mechanical Engineering Faculty to represent our educational goals.

Outcomes

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University will provide students with a quality mechanical engineering education. Each Mechanical Engineering student will demonstrate the following by the time of graduation:
a.  an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
b.  an ability to design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data;
c.  an ability to design a system, component, or process that meets desired needs;
d.  an ability to function in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams;
e.  an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
f.   an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
g.  an ability to communicate effectively;
h.  the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context;
i.   a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning;
j.   a knowledge of contemporary issues;
k.  an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Objectives

The Department of Mechanical Engineering will produce graduates who:
a.   Have the educational background necessary to compete successfully with peers who graduated from other institutions;
b.   Have an educational foundation which allows them to continue the growth of their careers.


Cooperative Education

To complement their formal course work with practical experience, mechanical engineering students may elect a cooperative education program in which they are employed full time by an industrial or governmental agency for a part of the year. They are full-time students for the remaining part of the year. Students who need financial aid or who wish to gain engineering experience will find this program attractive. The Department of Mechanical Engineering does not offer technical elective credit for cooperative education.


Planning for Graduate Studies

For those mechanical engineering students wishing to continue their education at an advanced level, the Mechanical Engineering Department offers the M.S., M.E.M.E. and Ph.D. degrees. More information on the graduate programs may be found in the Graduate Programs section.

The Mechanical Engineering degree has proven to be excellent preparation for graduate engineering programs as well as for other professional programs such as law, business administration, medicine and dentistry.


Admission to Baccalaureate Program

Students must be admitted for study at the University of New Mexico and must have completed approximately one year of the freshman year subjects before applications are processed for admission to the Baccalaureate Program in Mechanical Engineering. Approval from the ME Department is required. Applicants must consult the appropriate undergraduate departmental advisor for evaluation of academic work before admission can be completed.

At least 18 semester hours of freshman year technical subjects (Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics and Chemistry) are required by the School of Engineering for admission into degree programs. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 in those technical courses is required for admission to undergraduate study in Mechanical Engineering. A total of 26 semester hours (technical plus non-technical courses) applicable to the B.S.M.E. degree is also required for admission with a grade point average of at least 2.20. All applicants must have completed English 101 or its equivalent before admission. All courses required in the B.S.M.E. program must have grades of C- or better for satisfying both admission and graduation requirements, except a C (or better) in Core Curriculum courses is required.

Students transferring from other units or the School of Engineering must have a grade point average of at least 2.50 on all required technical course work applied towards the B.S.M.E. degree before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.

Transfer students from other universities or from other colleges at the University of New Mexico must complete at least 18 semester hours of required technical (Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Chemistry and Physics) courses applicable towards the B.S.M.E. degree at the University of New Mexico with a grade point average of at least 2.75 before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.

For all transfer students, a grade point average of 2.20 is required for all (technical plus non-technical) courses taken at the University of New Mexico that are applicable towards the B.S.M.E. degree before being admitted to Mechanical Engineering.


Advisement

Upon admission to the ME program (until graduation), each student will be assigned to one of the faculty members for advisement. Students in the ME program are required to seek advisement from their designated advisor each semester during the pre-registration period. The purpose of this session is to help the student with any problems he/she may have in his/her program of studies. Students will not be allowed to register until they have consulted with their advisor.

Policy on D or D+ Grades

Students admitted or readmitted to the Mechanical Engineering degree program may not apply a course toward the B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering if the highest grade earned in the course is a D+ or less, regardless of where that grade was earned.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science Program in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.


Curriculum in Mechanical Engineering

Hours required for graduation: 130

Freshman Year First Semester Hrs.

CHEM 121 General Chemistry 3  
CHEM 123L General Chemistry Lab 1  
ENGL 101 Composition I: Exposition 3  
ME 160L Mechanical Engineering Design I 3  
MATH 162 Calculus I 4  
  Core Humanities Elective 3  
    17    
Freshman Year Second Semester    
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 3  
CHEM 124L General Chemistry II Lab 1  
ENGL 102 Composition II: Analysis and Argument 3  
PHYC 160 General Physics 3  
MATH 163 Calculus II 4  
CS 151L Computer Programming Fundamentals for Non-Majors 3  
    17  
Sophomore Year First Semester    
ME 260L Mechanical Engineering Design II 3 (2-4)
CE 202 Engineering Statics 3 (3-0)
PHYC 161 General Physics 3 (3-0)
MATH 264 Calculus III 4 (4-0)
ME 217 Energy, Environment & Society 3 (3-0)
    16 (15-4) 
Sophomore Year Second Semester    
ME 306 Dynamics 3 (3-0)
ECE 203 Circuit Analysis I 3 (3-0)
MATH 316 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations 3 (3-0)
ME 318L Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 4 (3-3)
  Core Writing and Speaking Elective 3  
    16 (15-3)
Junior Year First Semester    
ME 317L Fluid Mechanics 4 (3-3)
ME 301 Thermodynamics 3 (3-0)
CE 302 Mechanics of Materials 3 (3-0)
  MATH Elective (4) 3 (3-0)
ECON 105 Introductory Macroeconomics 3 (3-0)
    16 (15-3)
Junior Year Second Semester    
ME 302 Thermodynamics II    
-or-      
ME 314 Design of Machinery 3 (3-0)
ME 360L Mechanical Engineering Design III 3 (2-3)
ME 357 Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations 3 (3-0)
ME 370 Engineering Materials Science 3 (3-0)
ME 352L Materials Laboratory 1 (0-3)
   Core Second Language Elective 3 (3-0)
    16 (14-6)
Senior Year First Semester    
ME 320L Heat Transfer 4 (3-3)
ME 459 Mechanical Engineering Design IV 3 (3-0)
ME 380 Analysis and Design of Mechanical Control Systems 3 (3-0)
  ME Engineering Science Elective (1) 3 (3-0)
  Core Fine Arts Elective 3 (3-0)
    16 (15-3)
Senior Year Second Semester    
ME 460 Mechanical Engineering Design V 4 (2-3)
   Technical Elective (3) 3 (3-0)
    ME Technical Elective (2) 3 (3-0)
   ME Engineering Science Elective (1) 3 (3-0)
  Core Humanities Elective 3 (3-0)
    16 (14-3)


FSAE Option

FSAE is a program in which the students design, build, and test a racing car. Students wishing to pursue the Formula SAE option, substitute the following curriculum for the second semester of their Junior year and both semesters of their senior year. All three FSAE courses must be completed for this option.

Junior Year Second Semester      
ME 302 Thermodynamics II    
 -or-      
ME 314 Design of Machinery 3 (3-0)
ME 360L Mechanical Engineering Design III 3 (2-3)
ME 357 Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations 3 (3-0)
ME 370 Engineering Materials Science 3 (3-0)
ME 352L Materials Laboratory 1 (0-3)
ME 406L Formula SAE Racecar Design 4
(3-0)
    17 (14-6)
Senior Year First Semester    
ME 320L Heat Transfer 4 (3-3)
ME 459 Mechanical Engineering Design IV 3 (3-0)
ME 380 Analysis and Design of Mechanical Control Systems 3 (3-0)
ME 407 Formula SAE Racecar Fabrication Lab 3 (3-0)
  Core Fine Arts Elective 3 (3-0)
16 (16-0)
Senior Year Second Semester    
ME 408 Formula SAE Racecar Test Lab 3
(1-0)
  Mechanical Engineering Elective (1) 3 (3-0)
  Mechanical Engineering Elective (3) 3 (3-0)
  Core Humanities Elective 3 (3-0)
  Core Second Language Elective 3 (3-0)
    15 (16-0)

(1) Mechanical Engineering Science Electives includes all Mechanical Engineering elective courses 300 level and above except for: ME 455, ME 456, ME 484, ME 485, ME 488, or ME 407/408 FSAE. Undergraduate Problems, ME 451/452, ME 463, and Special Topics Courses ME 461/462, must be approved by the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Advisor to be used as a Mechanical Engineering Science Elective.
(2) Mechanical Engineering Technical Electives include all Mechanical Engineering elective courses 300 and above.
(3) Technical Elective may be selected from the mechanical engineering technical or science electives or from appropriate upper division (300 level and above) courses from Math/Statistics, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and Engineering. Technical Electives may not be taken on the CR/NC grading option.
(4) Math Elective course must be selected from MATH 311, 312, 313, 314, 321, or STAT 345.

For further information contact:
Undergraduate Coordinator
Mechanical Engineering, Room 200
MSC01 1150
1 University of New Mexico-0001
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-1325


Honors Program

Students with a major (B.S.M.E.) average of at least 3.50 are encouraged to enroll in the Honors Program. ME students may graduate with General Honors or with Department Honors or both. Information is available from department advisors and the University Honors Center.


Courses

ME 160L. Mechanical Engineering Design I. (3)



ME 217. Energy, Environment and Society. (2)



ME 260L. Mechanical Engineering Design II. (3)



ME 301. Thermodynamics. (3)



ME **302. Applied Thermodynamics. (3)



ME 306. Dynamics. (3)



ME 314. Design of Machinery. (3)



ME **317L. Fluid Mechanics. (4)



ME 318L. Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. (4)



ME **320L. Heat Transfer. (4)



ME 350. Engineering Economy. (3)



ME 352L. Materials Laboratory. (1)



ME 353L. Fluid Mechanics Lab. (1)



ME 354L. Heat Transfer Laboratory. (1)



ME 357. Introduction to Mechanical Vibrations. (3)



ME 360L. Mechanical Engineering Design III. (3)



ME **365. Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Systems. (3)



ME 370. Engineering Materials Science. (3)



ME **380. Analysis and Design of Mechanical Control Systems. (3)



ME 400 / 500. Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering. (3)



ME 401 / 501. Advanced Mechanics of Materials. (3)



ME 404 / 504. Computational Mechanics. (3)



ME 405 / 505. High Performance Engines. (3)



ME 406L. Formula SAE Racecar Design. (4 [3])



ME 407. Formula SAE Racecar Fabrication Lab. (3)



ME 408. Formula SAE Racecar Test Lab. (3 [1])



ME 416 / 516. Applied Dynamics. (3)



ME 419/ 519. Theory, Fabrication, and Characterization of Nano & Microelectromechanical Systems (NEMS/MEMS). (4 [3])



ME 421/ 521. Thermal System Design and Optimization . (3)



ME 429/ 529. Gas Dynamics. (3)



ME 451–452. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3, 1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ME 455. Engineering Project Management. (3)



ME 459. Mechanical Engineering Design IV. (3)



ME 460. Mechanical Engineering Design V. (3)



ME 461 / 561–462 / 562. Special Topics. (1-4, 1-4, no limit Δ)



ME 463. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. (3)



ME 471 / 571. Advanced Materials Science. (3)



ME 474 / 574. Modeling, Simulation and Synthesis of Electromechanical Control Systems. (3)



ME 480 / 580. Dynamic System Analysis. (3)



ME 481 / 581. Digital Control of Mechanical Systems. (3)



ME 482 / 582. Robot Engineering. (3)



ME 483 / 583. Statistical Methods for Improving Product Quality. (3)



ME 484 [484/584]. Computer Aided Design. (3)



ME 485 / 585. Modern Manufacturing Methods. (3)



ME 486 / 586. Design for Manufacturability. (3)



ME 488 / 588. Design and Manufacturing in Industry. (3)



ME 500 / 400. Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering. (3)



ME 501 / 401. Advanced Mechanics of Materials. (3)



ME 504 / 404. Computational Mechanics. (3)



ME 505 / 405. High Performance Engines. (3)



ME 506. Boundary Element Methods in Engineering. (3)



ME 512. Introduction to Continuum Mechanics. (3)



ME 516 / 416. Applied Dynamics. (3)



ME 519 / 419. Theory, Fabrication, and Characterization of Nano & Microelectromechanical Systems (NEMS/MEMS). (4 [3])



ME 520. Advanced Thermodynamics I. (3)



ME 521/ 421. Thermal System Design and Optimization . (3)



ME 522. Solar Engineering of Thermal Systems [Heat Conduction]. (3)



ME 523. Convection. (3)



ME 529/ 429. Gas Dynamics. (3)



ME 530. Theoretical Fluid Mechanics I. (3)



ME 534. Boundary Layers. (3)



ME 540. Elasticity. (3)



ME 544. Mechanics of Inelastic Continuum. (3)



ME 551–552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ME 556. Entrepreneurial Engineering. (3)



ME 559. Design Project. (3)



ME 561 / 461-562 / 462. Special Topics. (1-4, 1-4, no limit Δ)



ME 571 / 471. Advanced Materials Science. (3)



ME 574 / 474. Modeling, Simulation and Synthesis of Electromechanical Control Systems. (3)



ME 580 / 480. Dynamic System Analysis. (3)



ME 581 / 481. Digital Control of Mechanical Systems. (3)



ME 582 / 482. Robot Engineering II. (3)



ME 583 / 483. Statistical Methods for Improving Product Quality. (3)



ME 585 / 485. Modern Manufacturing Methods. (3)



ME 586 / 486. Design for Manufacturability. (3)



ME 588 / 488. Design and Manufacturing in Industry. (3)



ME 591-592. Seminar. (0-1, no limit Δ)



ME 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



ME 634. Turbulent Flows [Turbulence and Turbulent Boundary Layer Flow]. (3)



ME 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809