BS Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineer is concerned with satisfying the needs of society using a combination of material, human and economic resources. Mechanical engineering covers a wide spectrum of activities in the engineering profession. These activities include the conversion and transmission of energy and associated power processes; the kinematic, dynamic, strength, and wear considerations, as well as economic aspects of the development, design, and use of materials, machines, and processes; and the analysis, synthesis, and control of entire engineering systems.

The program offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Colorado Denver can be completed in the afternoon and evening hours to accommodate both working and traditional students. The department seeks to graduate a diverse population of students with bachelor's degrees who within a few years of graduation are able to:

1. Be employed by a diverse group of industries, research laboratories, and educational institutions
2. Pursue careers in engineering, interdisciplinary areas, research, and education
3. Pursue postgraduate education and advanced degrees

The mechanical engineering curriculum begins with a strong emphasis on mathematics, physics, and chemistry. It continues with a concentration in engineering sciences, including solid and fluid mechanics; thermodynamics, heat, and mass transport; materials; and systems analysis and control. It concludes with laboratory and design courses that demonstrate the ways in which scientific knowledge is applied in the design and development of valuable devices and manufacturing processes.

The mechanical engineering program may be roughly subdivided into two-year groupings. In the first two years, the program emphasizes the fundamentals of mathematics and basic science that are essential for an understanding of most branches of engineering. In the last two years of the program, the curriculum emphasizes engineering science and design and provides technical electives in the following areas:

• thermodynamics
• heat transfer
• fluid mechanics
• solid mechanics
• motorsports engineering
• bioengineering
• dynamics and controls
• computer-aided design and manufacturing
• composite materials
• additive manufacturing
• material science
• computational solid and fluid mechanics
• design engineering and science