Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics BSME / MSME
Major: Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) & Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 229.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-ops (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.1901
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2141
About the Program
The BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering is an accelerated degree program that provides academically qualified students the opportunity to develop technical depth and breadth in their major and an additional complementary related area, earning two diplomas (BS and MS) within the typical duration of earning the bachelor's degree alone. A natural progression from the student’s undergraduate courses, with the necessary technical prerequisite understanding and skills, prepares students for graduate-level studies. Students can still enjoy the benefits and rewards of the Drexel co-op experience and gaining research experience by working with research faculty. Salaries for students with MS degrees can range up to 25% higher than those with BS degrees alone.
For more information, visit COE Special Programs or the BS/MS webpage.
Admission Requirements
Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 and have taken coursework sufficient to demonstrate a readiness to take graduate coursework. Specifically, students must have earned a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA in the following seven courses (or their equivalent) presented in List #1 and at least one of the courses in List #2.
List #1:
• Introduction to Thermodynamics (MEM 210)
• Fundamentals of Materials (MATE 220)
• Linear Algebra (MATH 201)
• Differential Equations (MATH 210)
• Foundations of Computer Aided Design (MEM 201)
• Statics (MEM 202)
• Dynamics (MEM 238)
List #2:
• Fluid Mechanics I (MEM 220)
• Mechanics of Materials I (MEM 230)
• Introduction to Controls (MEM 255)
• Thermodynamic Analysis I (MEM 310)
Degree Requirements
| General Education/Liberal Studies Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| COM 310 [WI] | Technical Communication | 3.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
| PHIL 315 | Engineering Ethics | 3.0 |
| UNIV E101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| General Education Requirements ** | 12.0 | |
| Mathematics Requirements *** | 4.0-10.0 | |
| Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry and Calculus I | ||
| OR | ||
| Calculus and Functions I and Calculus and Functions II † | ||
| OR | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
| MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
| MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | 4.0 |
| MATH 210 | Differential Equations | 4.0 |
| Physics Requirements *** | 4.0-8.0 | |
| Preparation for Engineering Studies and Fundamentals of Physics I | ||
| OR | ||
| Fundamentals of Physics I | ||
| PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
| PHYS 201 | Fundamentals of Physics III | 4.0 |
| Chemistry Requirements | 3.5-7.5 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I | ||
| OR | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4.5 |
| Engineering Design Requirements | ||
| ENGR 111 | Introduction to Engineering Design & Data Analysis | 3.0 |
| ENGR 113 | First-Year Engineering Design | 3.0 |
| ENGR 131 | Introductory Programming for Engineers | 3.0 |
| or ENGR 132 | Programming for Engineers | |
| Engineering Economics Requirements | ||
| CIVE 240 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3.0 |
| Materials Requirements | ||
| MATE 220 | Fundamentals of Materials | 4.0 |
| Mechanical Requirements | ||
| MEM 201 | Foundations of Computer Aided Design | 3.0 |
| MEM 202 | Statics | 3.0 |
| MEM 210 | Introduction to Thermodynamics | 3.0 |
| MEM 220 | Fluid Mechanics I | 4.0 |
| MEM 230 | Mechanics of Materials I | 4.0 |
| MEM 238 | Dynamics | 4.0 |
| MEM 255 | Introduction to Controls | 4.0 |
| MEM 260 | Thinking Like a Mechanical Engineer | 3.0 |
| MEM 261 | Introduction to Mechatronics for Mechanical Engineers | 3.0 |
| MEM 310 | Thermodynamic Analysis I | 4.0 |
| MEM 311 | Thermal Fluid Science Laboratory | 2.0 |
| MEM 321 | Fluid Mechanics II | 4.0 |
| MEM 330 | Mechanics of Materials II | 4.0 |
| MEM 331 | Experimental Mechanics I | 2.0 |
| MEM 333 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3.0 |
| MEM 345 | Heat Transfer | 4.0 |
| MEM 351 | Dynamic Systems Laboratory I | 2.0 |
| MEM 355 | Performance Enhancement of Dynamic Systems | 4.0 |
| MEM 360 | Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering Design | 3.0 |
| MEM 361 | Engineering Reliability | 3.0 |
| MEM 423 | Mechanics of Vibration | 4.0 |
| MEM 431 | Machine Design I | 3.0 |
| MEM 435 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing | 4.0 |
| MEM 491 [WI] | Senior Design Project I ‡ | 3.0 |
| MEM 492 [WI] | Senior Design Project II ‡ | 3.0 |
| MEM 493 [WI] | Senior Design Project III ‡ | 3.0 |
| COE/MEM Elective (Any COE or MEM course 300 level or higher) - MATH 592 or MATH 593 satisfies this requirement | 0.0 | |
| MEM Electives (Any two MEM courses 300 level or higher.) | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Math Elective (Any 1 course from MATH 291, MATH 300, MATH 321, MATH 322, or MATH 323) | ||
MEM 591 counts as 3.0 credits of UG Math Elective and 3.0 credits COE/MEM Elective as shared coursework | ||
| Free Electives | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Master's Degree Requirements | ||
| Graduate Core Courses | 12.0 | |
| Select 2 courses in each of 2 Core Areas: | ||
| Core Area: Mechanics | ||
Subject Area: Solid Mechanics | ||
| Theory of Elasticity I | ||
| Continuum Mechanics | ||
Subject Area: Advanced Dynamics | ||
| Advanced Dynamics I | ||
| Advanced Dynamics II | ||
| Core Area: Thermal & Fluid Sciences | ||
Subject Area: Heat Transfer | ||
| Conduction Heat Transfer | ||
| Convection Heat Transfer | ||
or MEM 613 | Radiation Heat Transfer | |
Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics ^ | ||
| Foundations of Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Boundry Layers-Laminar & Turbulent | ||
| Core Area: Systems & Control | ||
Subject Area: Robust Control Systems | ||
| Robust Control Systems I | ||
| Robust Control Systems II | ||
Subject Area: Non-linear Control Theory | ||
| Theory of Nonlinear Control I | ||
| Theory of Nonlinear Control II | ||
| Core Area: Manufacturing | ||
| Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip | ||
| Nondestructive Evaluation Methods | ||
| Data Analysis and Machine Learning for Science and Manufacturing | ||
| Manufacturing Processes I | ||
| Graduate Math Courses | ||
| MEM 591 | Applied Engr Analy Methods I | 3.0 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Applied Engr Analy Methods II | ||
| Applied Engr Analy Methods III | ||
| Graduate Electives ^^ | 27.0 | |
| Total Credits | 229.0-247.0 | |
- *
Upon matriculation, students are assigned one of two co-op cycles: fall/winter or spring/summer. All ME/ME BS/MS students will be switched to the spring/summer co-op when they are admitted to the BS/MS program, if not already on that cycle.
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.
- **
- ***
-
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.
- ‡
If a student chooses to pursue a graduate thesis in place of senior design, they will need to replace the 9.0 undergraduate credits from MEM 491 [WI] , MEM 492 [WI] , MEM 493 [WI] with 9.0 credits from 400+ level MEM courses.
- ^
Consult the Thermal and Fluid Sciences area advisor for other options.
- ^^
- Graduate Electives
- Students can take all 9 electives from MEM graduate courses.
- Any MEM graduate course is eligible to serve as electives. This includes those core courses that you do not use as core courses but use as elective courses.
- This also includes MEM I699 Independent Study and Research, and MEM 898 Master’s Thesis.
- If students do not want to take all 9 elective technical courses from MEM, they may take a maximum of 7 non-MEM courses.
- Each non-MEM course to be used as technical elective needs be approved by listing it on the Plan of Study (GR-1 form) and the Graduate Advisor signing the form to approve it.
- To ensure you will receive the MSME degree, please consult with the Graduate Advisor before taking non-MEM graduate courses.
- Graduate courses at the 600 level from these four College of Engineering Departments (CAE, CBE, ECE and MSE) are automatically approved to serve as non-MEM technical elective courses.
- Students may register for MEM I699 Independent Study and Research (3.0 credits per term) to serve as electives, up to 9.0 credits.
- Students on the thesis-option typically register for MEM 898 Master’s Thesis for 3 terms, and they count as 3 elective courses.
- †
Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.
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
5 year, 3 coop Co-Terminal
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHEM 101 | 3.5 | CHEM 102 | 4.5 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | VACATION | |
| ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
| ENGR 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGR 113 | 3.0 | ||
| MATH 121 | 4.0 | ENGR 131 or 132 | 3.0 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | ||
| UNIV E101 | 1.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
| PHYS 101 | 4.0 | (UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 14.5 | 19.5 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MATH 201 | 4.0 | COM 310 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| MATE 220 | 4.0 | MATH 210 | 4.0 | ||||
| MEM 202 | 3.0 | MEM 201 | 3.0 | ||||
| MEM 260 | 3.0 | MEM 210 | 3.0 | ||||
| PHYS 201 | 4.0 | MEM 238 | 4.0 | ||||
| MEM 261 | 3.0 | ||||||
| 18 | 20 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MEM 230 | 4.0 | MEM 220 | 4.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| MEM 255 | 4.0 | MEM 330 | 4.0 | (GR) Graduate Core Course | 3.0 | ||
| MEM 310 | 4.0 | MEM 331 | 2.0 | ||||
| MEM 360 | 3.0 | MEM 355 | 4.0 | ||||
| MEM 591 (counts as UG MATH Elective) | 3.0 | MEM 592 (counts as UG COE/MEM Elective) | 3.0 | ||||
| (GR) Graduate Core Course | 3.0 | ||||||
| 18 | 20 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CIVE 240 | 3.0 | MEM 333 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| MEM 321 | 4.0 | MEM 345 | 4.0 | (GR) Graduate Elective | 3.0 | (GR) Graduate Elective | 3.0 |
| MEM 311 | 2.0 | MEM 351 | 2.0 | ||||
| MEM 435 | 4.0 | MEM 423 | 4.0 | ||||
| (GR) Graduate Core Course | 3.0 | (GR) Graduate Core Course | 3.0 | ||||
| (GR) Graduate Elective | 3.0 | (GR) Graduate Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 19 | 19 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MEM 361 | 3.0 | MEM 492*** | 3.0 | MEM 493*** | 3.0 | ||
| MEM 431 | 3.0 | (UG) MEM Elective | 3.0 | (UG) General Education Electives | 9.0 | ||
| MEM 491*** | 3.0 | (UG) MEM Elective | 3.0 | (GR) Graduate Electives† | 6.0 | ||
| PHIL 315 | 3.0 | (UG) General Education Elective** | 3.0 | ||||
| (UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | (GR) Graduate Electives† | 6.0 | ||||
| (GR) Graduate Electives† | 3.0 | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | 18 | |||||
| Total Credits 229 | |||||||
- *
Upon matriculation, students are assigned one of two co-op cycles: fall/winter or spring/summer. All ME/ME BS/MS students will be switched to the spring/summer co-op when they are admitted to the BS/MS program, if not already on that cycle.
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.
- **
- ***
If a student chooses to pursue a graduate thesis in place of senior design, they will need to replace the nine (9.0) undergraduate credits from MEM 491 [WI] , MEM 492 [WI] , MEM 493 [WI] with nine (9.0) credits from 400+ level MEM courses.
- †
Graduate Electives:
- Students can take all 8 electives from MEM graduate courses.
- Any MEM graduate course is eligible to serve as electives. This includes those core courses that you do not use as core courses but use as elective courses.
- This also includes MEM I699 Independent Study and Research, and MEM 898 Master’s Thesis.
- If students do not want to take all 9 elective technical courses from MEM, they may take a maximum of 4 non-MEM courses.
- Each non-MEM course to be used as technical elective needs be approved by listing it on the Plan of Study (GR-1 form) and the Graduate Advisor signing the form to approve it.
- To ensure you will receive the MSME degree, please consult with the Graduate Advisor before taking non-MEM graduate courses.
- Graduate courses at the 600-level from these four College of Engineering Departments (CAE, CBE, ECE and MSE) are automatically approved to serve as non-MEM technical elective courses.
- Students may register for MEM I699 Independent Study and Research (3.0 credits per term) to serve as electives, up to 9.0 credits.
- Students on the thesis-option typically register for MEM 898 Master’s Thesis for 3 terms, and they count as 3 elective courses.