Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.

FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credits)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Common First-Year Curricula

All students majoring in an engineering program offered by the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (excluding engineering & management majors) take courses that are part of a common curricula during the first year. Therefore, students may defer the selection of a major field of study until the sophomore year. Beginning with the junior year, a significant amount of specialized material is incorporated into each curriculum. In the senior year, coursework is concentrated in the student’s chosen field. Courses in humanities and social sciences are taken throughout the 4-year program as part of the Clarkson Common Experience.

During the first year, students majoring in an engineering program offered by the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (excluding engineering & management majors) must complete the following courses:

• CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
• ES100 Introduction to Engineering Use of the Computer (2 credits)
• ES110 Engineering & Society (3 credits)
• MA131 Calculus I (3 credits)
• MA132 Calculus II (3 credits)
• PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
• PH132 Physics II

Core Requirements

Students majoring in mechanical engineering are required to complete the following courses:

• ES220 Statics (3 credits)
• ES222 Strength of Materials (3 credits)
• ES223 Rigid Body Dynamics (3 credits)
• ES250 Electrical Science (3 credits)
• ES260 Materials Science & Engineering I (3 credits)
• ES330 Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
• ES340 Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• ES499 Professional Experience 
• MA231 Calculus III (3 credits)
• MA232 Elementary Differential Equations (3 credits)
• MA330 Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credits)
• ME201 Introduction to Experimental Methods in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (1 credits)
• ME212 Introduction to Engineering Design (3 credits)
• ME301 Experimental Methods in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (1 credits)
• ME310 Thermodynamic System Engineering (or ME455 Vibrations & Control) (3 credits)
• ME324 Dynamical Systems (3 credits)
• ME326 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
• ME341 Mechanics of Machine Elements (3 credits)
• ME401 Advanced Experimental Methods in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (1 credits)
• ME411 Introduction to Heat Transfer (3 credits)
• ME442 Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method (3 credits)
• ME445 Integrated Design I (3 credits)
• ME446 Integrated Design II (3 credits)
• ME455 Mechanical Vibrations & Control (or ME310 Thermodynamic System Engineering) (3 credits)

Core Electives

The following are electives students are required to complete for the mechanical engineering major. Students must select a 3-credit engineering elective in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or engineering science. Typical courses include ME444 Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD), ME443 Optimal Engineering, ES380 Biomechanics, ME390 Additive Manufacturing or ME429 Welding and Metallurgy.

Professional Electives

This requirement can be satisfied with upper-division courses in mathematics, physics, other engineering disciplines and mechanical engineering (e.g., STAT383 Applied Statistics, MA339 Fourier Series and Boundary-Value Problems).

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students majoring in mechanical engineering are required to take at least 15 credit hours to satisfy the Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives requirement. This, for mechanical engineering majors, must include ES110 Engineering & Society and a course in economics, such as EC350 Engineering Economics.

Free Electives

Students majoring in mechanical engineering have at least 6 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

Any undergraduate student at Clarkson can get involved in hands-on research with a faculty expert. Research experiences for undergraduate mechanical engineering majors include both on-campus research in the fall and spring semesters and paid summer internships funded by government agencies or foundations. Learn more about research at Clarkson.

Twice a year, nearly 200 employers come to campus to recruit undergraduate Clarkson students for internships and co-ops. In Spring 2020, more than 100 companies were looking for mechanical engineers. Many students who have internships or co-ops with companies they meet at one of our Career Fairs receive full-time job offers before graduation. Learn more about co-ops and internships.

Our undergraduate mechanical engineers are among the most active students on our hands-on, competitive SPEED (Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) teams. Any major can join any of our 13 SPEED teams. Mechanical engineers represent our department on a number of teams like Baja SAE, SAE Clean Snowmobile, Formula SAE/Formula SAE Electric and Human-Powered Vehicle.

You'll find leadership opportunities and lifetime friendships through over 200 student groups. Explore all clubs and organizations.

Biomedical Engineering Minor

As various fields of medicine and healthcare increasingly depend on advances in technology, graduates with combined expertise in biomedical engineering principles and knowledge of biological sciences will be in high demand. Learn more about the biomedical engineering minor.

Business Minor

The business minor provides broad exposure to the foundations of major business functions and is an excellent complement to a technical major. Learn more about the business minor.

Electrical Engineering Minor

An electrical engineering minor provides a foundation in energy systems, basic electrical science and digital design. Learn more about the electrical engineering minor.

Manufacturing Engineering Minor

This minor expands your knowledge of manufacturing‐related topics, such as production management, statistical quality control and manufacturing processes. Learn more about the manufacturing engineering minor.

Materials Engineering Minor

Increasing demands on the mechanical and environmental durability of national infrastructure require improving the strength and useful life of steels, concrete, ceramics and other engineering/structural materials. Learn more about the materials engineering minor.

Robotics Minor

The minor in robotics provides a solid and coherent introduction to the field with four required core courses and three elective courses. Learn more about the robotics minor.

Or Choose From a Range of Other Minors

Clarkson has a wide range of minors, concentrations and professional advising tracks. We'll help you design an education that meets your goals and interests. Learn more about minors, concentrations and tracks.