Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Catalog Year 2024-2025
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Mechanical engineering offers interesting and challenging career opportunities in research, design development, manufacturing, testing and
marketing for either private or government. As a mechanical engineer, you may work on products such as engines, transmissions, compressors,
pumps, computer disk drives, CAD/CAE software, oil field drilling rigs, missiles, space satellites, earth moving equipment, container manufacturing
machines and medical equipment.
Bachelor of Science (BS) in 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 which demonstrate the ways in which scientific knowledge is applied in the
design and development of useful devices and manufacturing processes.
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Academic advising is mandatory for all ME/BS and pre-engineering students. The College Advising hold is placed every semester on each
undergraduate student’s account despite the GPA. The ME department wants to make sure you are on a right track and needs to see your every
semester to advice on classes and career path. The advising hold is released after the advising meeting. The academic advisor may change every
semester depending on your year of study and academic standing. To schedule an appointment please call 303-315-7500 or email
[email protected]
Students admitted to the College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC)
who have declared a major are required to meet with an advisor in their specific
department and should contact that department to schedule an appointment.
Students admitted to the College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC)
who have not declared a major are required to meet with the CEDC advisor.
Mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
Visit the department website here
North Classroom 2024
303-315-7500
College of Engineering, Design and Computing
University of Colorado Denver
t 303 315 7170
f 303 315 7173
[email protected]
GENERAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES
All CU Denver CEDC MECH students are required to complete the following minimum general graduation requirements:
1. Complete a minimum of 128 credit hours.
2. Achieve a minimum 2.0 CU cumulative grade point average (GPA) and 2.0 minimum GPA in engineering coursework.
3. Complete all college and major requirements.
4. Residency: complete a minimum of 30 CEDC hours as a declared CEDC student in good standing at CU Denver.
5. Terminal Residency: complete at least the final two semesters as an enrolled CEDC student.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES
Students are responsible for meeting with the faculty advisor in their department to confirm major requirements. Students completing the Mechanical
Engineering B.S. Degree are required to complete the following minimum program requirements:
1. Complete 24 semester hours of CU Denver Core Curriculum coursework.
2. Complete a minimum of 31 semester hours of required mathematics and basic science courses with a grade of C- (2.0) or better in each course.
3. Complete a minimum of 73 semester hours of MECH core curriculum coursework, including 12 credit hours of elective coursework in an
approved mechanical engineering track. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Courses
Credits
Notes
* Course prerequisites change regularly. Students are responsible for consulting advisors and the class schedule in the student portal for prerequisite information. *
Required CU Denver Core Curriculum Coursework
24
CU Denver Core Curriculum
Required Mathematics and Basic Sciences Courses
31
MATH1401 Calculus I
4
*Prerequisite: Placement; fulfills CORE Mathematics
MATH2411 Calculus II
4
*Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 1401
MATH2421 Calculus III
4
*Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 2411
MATH3195 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
4
*Prerequisite: C- or better in MATH 2411
ENGR 1130 Engineering Chemistry with lab
5
*Prerequisite: High School chemistry or CHEM 1000 recommended
PHYS 2311 & 2321 General Physics I with lab
5
*Prerequisite: MATH 1401
PHYS 2331 & 2341 General Physics II with lab
5
*Prerequisite: PHYS 2311 and *Co-Requisite: MATH 2411
Required Mechanical Engineering Courses
73
MECH 1025 Mechanical Engineering Graphics and CAD
3
*Prerequisite: High School Geometry and Algebra
MECH 1045 Manufacturing Processes Design
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 1025
MECH 1100 Fundamentals of Computational Innovation
3
*Prerequisite: High School Geometry and Algebra
MECH 1200 Fundamentals of Engineering Design Innovation
3
*Prerequisite: High School Geometry and Algebra
Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Catalog Year 2024-2025
Required Mechanical Engineering Courses (Continued)
MECH 2023 Statics
3
*Prerequisites: PHYS 2311 *Co-Requisite: MATH 2411
MECH 2024 Introduction to Materials Science
3
*Prerequisite: ENGR 1130
MECH 2033 Dynamics
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 2023
MECH 2034 Properties of Engineering Materials Lab
1
*Co-Requisite: MECH 2024
MECH 3010 Elementary Numerical Methods
3
*Prereq: MECH 1100*Co-Req: MATH 3195 or (MATH 3191 and MATH 3200)
MECH 3012 Thermodynamics
3
*Prerequisites: MATH 1401 and PHYS 2311
MECH 3021 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 3012, MATH 2421 and MECH 2033
MECH 3027 Measurements
3
* Prerequisite: ELEC 3030 and MATH 3195 or (MATH 3191 and MATH 3200)
MECH 3028 Measurements Lab
1
* Co-Requisite: MECH 3027
ELEC 3030 Electric Circuits and Systems
3
* Prerequisite: PHYS 2331 and MATH 2421
MECH 3031 Fluids/Thermal Lab
1
*Co-Requisite: MECH 3021
MECH 3032 Electric Circuits and Systems Lab
1
*Co-Requisite: ELEC 3030
MECH 3035 Design of Mechanical Elements
3
*Prereq: MECH 1200, MECH 3043, and MECH 2024; Co-Req: MECH 1045
MECH 3042 Heat Transfer
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 3021
MECH 3043 Strengths of Materials
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 2023
MECH 4023 System Dynamics
3
* Pre-requisites: MECH 2033, MECH 3010, *Co-Requisite: MECH 3043
MECH 4035 Senior Design I
3
*Prerequisite: 43 hours of MECH courses, including MECH 3035
MECH 4045 Senior Design II
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 4035
MECH 4142 Thermal Systems Design
3
*Prerequisite: MECH 3010, MECH 3012, and MECH 3042
Engineering Technical Electives: choose four approved by your advisor
3000+ level engineering track electives taught within the Department of
Mechanical Engineering.
12
Check individual courses for prerequisites
Total Program Hours:
128
SAMPLE ACADEMIC PLAN OF STUDY
The following academic plan is a sample pathway to completing degree requirements for this major. Students should tailor this plan based on previously
completed college coursework (e.g., AP, dual/concurrent enrollment, and transfer credit), course availability, and individual preferences related to
course load, schedules, or add-on programs such as minors or double-majors. UCD core curriculum courses, as well as MATH and PHYS courses, can
be completed during summer semesters to reduce Spring/Fall course load. Students deviating from this plan must fulfill course prerequisites and must
meet with the faculty advisor in their department to confirm degree requirements.
Year One
Semester 1
Semester 2
CRS
MATH 1401: Calculus I
MATH 2411: Calculus II
4
ENGR 1130:Engineering General Chemistry
PHYS 2311/PHYS 2321: General Physics I w/Lab
5
MECH 1025: Engineering Graphics and CAD
MECH 1045: Manufacturing
3
ENGL 1020: Core Composition I
ENGL 2030: Core Composition II
3
MECH 1100 Fundamentals of Computational Innovation
MECH 1200 Fundamentals of Engineering Design Innovation
3
Total c/h:
Total c/h:
18
Year Two
Semester 3
Semester 4
CRS
MATH 2421: Calculus III
MECH 2033: Dynamics
3
MECH 2024: Materials Science
MECH 2034: Properties of Materials Lab
1
MECH 2023: Statics
MECH 3012: Thermodynamics
3
PHYS 2331/ PHYS 2341: General Physics II w/Lab
ELEC 3030/MECH 3032: Electric Circuits & Systems w/Lab
4
UCD Core Curriculum Course
MATH 3195: Linear Algebra & Differential Equitation
4
Total c/h:
Total c/h:
15
Year Three
Semester 5
Semester 6
CRS
MECH 3010: Elem. Numerical Methods & Programming
MECH Technical Elective
3
MECH 3021/ MECH 3031 Fluid Mechanics w/Lab
MECH Technical Elective
3
MECH 3027/MECH 3028: Measurements w/Lab
MECH 3035: Design Of Mechanical Elements
3
MECH 3043 Strength of Materials
MECH 3042: Heat Transfer
3
UCD Core Curriculum Course
UCD Core Curriculum Course
3
Total c/h:
Total c/h:
15
Year Four
Semester 7
Semester 8
CRS
MECH 4023: System Dynamics
MECH 4045: Senior Design II
3
MECH 4035: Senior Design I
MECH Technical Elective
3
MECH 4142: Thermal Systems Design
MECH Technical Elective
3
UCD Core Curriculum Course
UCD Core Curriculum Course
3
UCD Core Curriculum Course
Total c/h:
Total c/h:
12