Technical electives in the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering curriculum provide the student with an opportunity to pursue areas of particular interest. Because of the breadth of technical areas in which mechanical engineers work, at least 3 of these credits must be in a basic science. The remaining technical electives demonstrate technical depth and are typically courses at or above the 400 level which are taken after much of the basic engineering science has been mastered and comprise a minimum of 12 credits. Although the majority of the technical depth electives are drawn from the Mechanical Engineering department, courses from other departments and colleges can be selected with the approval of the departmental advisor.
Students can choose towards the end of sophomore or early junior year to pursue an Aerospace concentration or a minor in Biomedical Engineering to focus their upperclass studies. For those pursuing the degree without a concentration or minor, there are certainly other opportunities to focus the technical electives. One suggestion is to look at the faculty research interests and projects as those often provide opportunities for undergraduate students. However, the technical elective program can also be structured to meet individual interests and students are encouraged to discuss their educational objectives with their advisor early in the junior year to develop an agreed selection of technical electives.
Since there can be some modifications from year to year, students should check their specific UDSIS information as to progress in the degree program. The following courses are acceptable towards the basic-science technical elective (as noted) but the list is not exhaustive and other courses can be approved by the academic advisor:
BISC 207-699; CHEM 104-699; CISC 200-699; PHYS 300-699
In general, the following courses are acceptable for technical elective depth(as noted), but, all technical electives should be approved by the student's academic advisor:
BISC 306, 400-699; CHEG 400-699 (except CHEG 595); CHEM 321, 322, 331, 400-699; CIEG 331, 351, 400-699; CISC 400-699; CPEG 400-699; EGTE 444, 456; ELEG 320, 400-699; GEOL 400-699 (except GEOL 422); MSEG 400-699 (except MSEG445); MAST 600-699 (except MAST 673); MATH 315, 389, 400-699; MEEG 400-699 (except MEEG 401); PHYS 309, 313, 400-699; STAT 400-699; UNIV 401, 402.
For the Aerospace Concentration, the students must take MEEG432, plus any three of the following three credit courses: MEEG411, MEEG419, MEEG423, MEEG481, MEEG624, MEEG636, MEEG655, CIEG401; note: Independent study and Senior Research can be approved by the department, and additional courses for satisfying this requirement, such as MEEG435 and certain experimental courses (MEEG467, for the specific section(s) please contact your advisor!) have also been approved by the department.
For the Minor in Biomedical Engineering, students must take the following required courses: MATH243, PHYS201 or PHYS207, and BISC207 or BISC208. One additional course must be selected from: BISC306, BISC401 or HESC220. Also, two of the following three-credit technical electives must be taken: MEEG482, MEEG483, MEEG484, MEEG485, MEEG486, MEEG612 or ELEG471. Note: Independent study, Senior Research and additional courses for satisfying this requirement can be approved by the minor advisor.
For the undergraduate student, MEEG600-level courses are considered honors courses in Mechanical Engineering. For the course list of all MEEG400-level and MEEG600-level courses, go to http://chico.nss.udel.edu/CourseDesc/ and select MEEG4 or MEEG6 as the Course Number under Search Course Descriptions.
For the list of intended MEEG technical electives to be offered in the next academic year, go to http://www.me.udel.edu/Academics/TE_fall_spring.pdf.
(Remember, undergraduates may not take 800 level courses without special permission.)
