Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics BSME

Major: Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 190.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.1901
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2141

About the Program

The role of the mechanical engineer in today’s society is rapidly changing. Advances in manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure systems, materials, communications and high-performance computing have introduced new demands, opportunities and challenges for mechanical engineers. What was once an individual endeavor has now become a team activity. Today’s industries require that mechanical engineers possess diverse interdisciplinary skills, a global viewpoint, entrepreneurial and managerial abilities and an understanding of the forces governing the marketplace.

Traditionally, mechanical engineers have been associated with industries like automotive, transportation and power generation, and with activities involving the design, analysis, and manufacturing of products useful to society. While today such activities are still dominated by mechanical engineers, the spectrum of opportunities for these professionals has expanded tremendously. For example, mechanical engineers are involved in the design and analysis of biomedical instrumentation, electronic components, smart structures and advanced materials; they are involved in sophisticated studies of human motion, control of satellites, and the development of more efficient energy-transfer techniques.

Drexel’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) prides itself on providing its students with a comprehensive program of courses, laboratories, design projects, and co-op experiences. The MEM curriculum is designed to balance technical breadth (provided by a set of fundamental required core courses) with technical depth (provided by optional concentrations that emphasize particular fields within the profession). Thus, the MEM program not only prepares its graduates to become successful mechanical engineers needed in industry and government, but also provides an excellent springboard to pursue graduate studies in medical sciences, law, business, information technology, and any other disciplines where technological and analytical skills play an important role.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics of Drexel University is to transfer and acquire knowledge through: (a) the education of engineers for leadership in industry, business, academia, and government; and (b) the establishment of internationally recognized research programs. This mission is accomplished by the delivery of an outstanding curriculum by the participation of our students in one of the nation’s most prestigious co-operative educational programs and by the scholarly activities of the faculty.

Program Educational Objectives

• Our graduates will be successful in careers that deal with the design, simulation, and analysis of engineering systems, experimentation and testing, manufacturing, technical services, and research.
• Our graduates will enter and complete academic and professional programs in engineering, business, management, law and medicine.
• Our graduates will communicate effectively with peers and be successful working with and leading multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Our graduates will recognize the global, legal, societal and ethical contexts of their work.
• Our graduates will advance in their careers; for example, assuming increasing levels of responsibility and acquiring professional licensure. 

Student Outcomes

The Department’s student outcomes reflect the skills and abilities that the curriculum is designed to provide to students by the time they graduate. These are:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts
• 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
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies

Additional Information

The Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

For additional information about this major, visit the Mechanical Engineering program page or contact the MEM Department.

Degree Requirements 

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

General Education Requirements.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.

‡

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 co-op, Spring-Summer

*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

†

 See degree requirements.

4 year, 1 co-op, Fall-Winter

*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

†

 See degree requirements.

5 year, 3 co-op, Spring-Summer

*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

†

 See degree requirements.

5 year, 3 co-op, Fall-Winter

*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

†

 See degree requirements.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Mechanical engineers are employed in a growing number of areas, including aerospace, automotive, biomechanics, computer systems, electronic entertainment, energy, environmental, health care, manufacturing, nuclear technology, and utilities.

Most mechanical engineering graduates begin full-time employment immediately upon graduation. However, there are a number of graduates who go on to pursue master’s and/or doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering. The graduate schools that Drexel’s mechanical engineers have attended include Harvard, UC Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Facilities

Instructional Laboratories

Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) supports instructional laboratories to provide hands-on experience with engineering measurements and to augment classroom instruction in the areas of mechanics, systems and controls, thermal fluid sciences and design and manufacturing along with a college-supported machine shop to aid senior design.

Specialized Laboratories

BIOMEMS Lab and Lab-on-a-Chip

Develops miniature devices for biological and medical applications using microfabrication and microfluidics technologies. Our research projects are highly multidisciplinary in nature and thus require the integration of engineering, science, biology, and medicine. Projects are conducted in close collaboration with biologists and medical doctors. Our research methodology includes design and fabrication of miniature devices, experimental characterization, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation.

Computer-aided Design Lab (CAD)

Provides access to software such as AutoCAD, ANSYS, Abagus, CREO, and SOLIDWORKS either in the 42 workstation lab which is available by card access 24/7, or over any network connection using our CITRIX server. Computations are performed on a virtual pc running at the server, and students can use any smart device for input and display.

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Group Laboratory (TAMG)

Through experimental, analytical, and computational investigations, TAMG develops insights into the deformation and failure of materials, components and structures in a broad range of time and length scales. To accomplish this goal, TAMG develops procedures that include mechanical behavior characterization coupled with non-destructive testing and modern computational tools. This information is used both for understanding the role of important material scales in the observed bulk behavior and for the formation of laws that can model the response to prescribed loading conditions.

Electrochemical Energy Systems Laboratory (ECSL)

Addresses the research and development needs of emerging alternative energy technologies. ECSL specializes in the design, diagnostics, and characterization of next-generation electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems; particularly fuel cell and battery technology. Current areas of research include polymer electrolyte fuel cells for stationary, portable, and transportation areas of next-generation flow battery technology for intermittent energy storage, load leveling and smart-grid applications. ECSL uses a comprehensive approach, including advanced diagnostics, system design, materials characterization, and computational modeling of electrochemical energy systems.

Multiscale Thermofluidics Lab

Develops novel scalable nanomanufacturing techniques using biological templates to manipulate micro- and nano-scale thermal and fluidic phenomena. Current work includes enhancing phase-change heat transfer with super-wetting nanostructured coatings and transport and separation through nanoporous membrances.

Biofabrication Laboratory

Utilizes cells or biologics as basic building blocks in which biological models, systems devices and products are manufactured. Biofabrication techniques encompass a broad range of physical, chemical, biological, and/or engineering process, with various applications in tissue science and engineering, regenerative medicine, disease pathogeneses and drug testing studies, biochips and biosensors, cell printing, patterning and assembly, and organ printing.

The Program for Biofabrication at Drexel integrates computer-aided tissue engineering, modern design and manufacturing, biomaterials and biology in modeling, design, and biofabrication of tissue scaffolds, tissue constructs, micro-organ, tissue models. The ongoing research focuses on bio-tissue modeling, bio-blueprint modeling, scaffold informatics modeling, biometric design of tissue scaffold, additive manufacturing of tissue scaffolds, cell printing and organ printing.

The facilities at the Biofabrication Laboratory include:

• state-of-the-art computer-aided design/engineering/manufacturing (CAD/CAE/CAM) software, medical image processing and 3D reconstruction software, and in-house developed heterogeneous modeling and homogenization software
• proprietary multi-nozzle cell deposition system for direct cell writing and construction of tissue precursors and micro-organs
• proprietary precision extruding deposition system for fabrication of 3D bipolymer tissue scaffolds
• commercial available 3DP free-form fabrication system for bio-physical modeling
• plasma instrument for surface treatment and surface functionalization
• MTS universal testing system
• laboratory for cell and tissue culture study

Complex Fluids and Multiphase Transport Lab

Conducts both experimental and modeling studies on heat/mass transfer and multi-phase flows, as well as transport phenomena in additive manufacturing and energy systems. Current projects range from basic studies in interfacial transport in directed-assembly of functional materials and nanostructure-enhanced two-phase heat transfer to design of innovative dry cooling power plants and electrochemical energy storage systems.

Laboratory for Biological Systems Analysis

Applies system level engineering techniques to biological systems with emphasis on:

• The development of bio-robotic models as tools for investigating hypotheses about biological systems
• The use of system identification techniques to evaluate the functional performance of physiological systems under natural behavioral conditions
• The design of systems that are derived from nature and use novel techniques, such as electro-active polymers, to achieve superior performance and function

Advanced Design and Manufacturing Laboratory
This laboratory provides research opportunities in design methodology, computer-aided design, analysis and manufacturing, and materials processing and manufacturing. Facilities include various computers and software, I-DEAS, Pro/E,ANSYS, MasterCAM, Mechanical DeskTop, SurfCAM, Euclid, Strim, ABQUS, and more. The machines include two Sanders Model Maker rapid prototyping machines, a BridgePort CNC Machining Center, a BOY 220 injection molding machine, an Electra high-temperature furnace for metal sintering, infiltration, and other heat treatment.

Biomechanics Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on experimental modelling studies of the mechanical properties of human joints, characterization of the mechanical properties of biological materials, studies of human movements, and design and development of joint replacements with particular emphasis on total ankle replacement. Facilities include a 3-D kinematic measuring system, Tensile testing machine, joint flexibility testers, and microcomputers for data acquisition and processing.

Combustion and Fuels Chemistry Laboratory
Investigate chemical and physical factors that control and, hence, can be used to tailor combustion processes for engineering applications. Facilities include continuous spectroscopic reaction monitoring systems, static reactors, combustion bombs, flat flame burner systems, flow reactors, and complete analytical and monitoring instrumentation.

Research is conducted in the areas of (1) low temperature hydrocarbon oxidation, (2) cool flames, (3) auto-ignition, (4) flame instabilities, (5) flame structure, (6) flame ignition, and (7) flame extinction (quelching). New ways to improve fuel efficiency in practical combustors and recover waste energy in the transportation sector are also being explored.

Composite Mechanics Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on the characterization of performance of composite materials. Current interest includes damage mechanisms, failure processes, and time-dependent behavior in resin-, metal-, and ceramic-matrix composites. Major equipment includes servo-hydraulic and electromechanical Instron testing machines, strain/displacement monitoring systems, environmental chambers, microcomputers for data acquisition and processing, composites fabrication facility, interferometric displacement gauge, X-radiography, and acoustic emission systems.

Nyheim Plasma Institute (Formerly A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute)
The Nyheim Plasma Institute was formed in 2002 to stimulate and coordinate research projects related to plasma and other modern high energy engineering techniques. Today the institute is an active multidisciplinary organization involving 23 faculty members from 6 engineering departments working in close collaboration with School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Heat Transfer Laboratory
The heat transfer laboratory is outfitted with an array of instrumentation and equipment for conducting single- and multiphase heat transfer experiments in controlled environments. Present efforts are exploring the heat and mass transfer process in super-critical fluids and binary refrigerants.

Precision Instrumentation and Metrology Laboratory
This laboratory is focused on activities related to precision measurement, computer-aided inspection, and precision instrument design. Facilities include 3D Coordinate Measuring Machine (Brown & Sharpe) with Micro Measurement and Reverse engineering software, Surface Profilometer, and Laser Displacement Measuring System.

Program Level 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

Mechanical Engineering Faculty

Emeritus Faculty