Mechanical Engineering Fields of Study

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is considered by many to be the most general branch of engineering, providing a wide choice of careers in industry, government agencies and educational institutions. Mechanical engineers find employment throughout the world in a broad range of industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, manufacturing, climate control, power generation, medicine, transportation and materials. In contrast to the static creations of most other engineers, mechanical engineers design and build dynamic products, which involve motion, by applying principles of mechanics, thermal sciences and mathematics. Familiar examples of products created by mechanical engineers are systems for energy conversion, such as power plants, internal combustion and jet engine that convert chemical, nuclear, or thermal energy into mechanical energy, as well as systems for transporting energy, such as heat exchangers, gears, and mechanical linkages.

Biomedical Engineering How to create advanced medical equipment and devices, such as artificial limbs, catheters, or implants, as well as how to better understand the human body dynamics and bone and lung properties.

Engineering Design How to integrate formal problem solving techniques with emerging computer and information technology to apply modern methods of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to real-life projects.

Fluid Mechanics How to design fluid-transfer systems, missing processes, and aerodynamic bodies by understanding the behavior of liquids and gases.

Manufacturing and Control Systems How to plan and perform manufacturing processes and design machines such as robots, automation equipment, and artificial intelligence systems.

Mechatronics How to combine mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to design and build sophisticated machines and devices.

Solid Mechanics, Materials, and Structures How to create high-quality, light-weight, long-lasting devices by proper use of material properties and the principles of mechanics.

Thermal Sciences How to design engines and other combustion systems, power plants, heating and cooling equipment, by applying the principles of heat transfer and thermodynamics.