Department of Mechanical Engineering

Degree Offered

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Major Offered

Mechanical Engineering

Departmental Requirements

In addition to the prerequisites, departmental candidacy is required for entry into 300- and 400-level courses. Candidacy is achieved by successfully completing all required 100 and 200 level CEEGR, CHEM, MEGR, MATH, and PHYS courses with a combined grade point average of at least 2.50, and completing ENGL 110. Only courses graded C (2.0) or better may be transferred to offset degree requirements. Both the cumulative grade point average and the College of Science and Engineering grade point average must be at least 2.50 for graduation. Before completing the design sequence (MEGR 487) students must take a comprehensive exam (for details, refer to the ME Student Handbook).

Taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination is required for the degree. This degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

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In order to earn the bachelor of science in mechanical engineering degree with a major in mechanical engineering, students must complete a minimum of 180 credits including at least 45 credits in the core curriculum. A cumulative 2.5 grade point average is required, in addition to a science and engineering grade point average of 2.5, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

Forty-five credits in humanities, including:

ENGL 110 College Writing: Inquiry and Argument ............ 5
ENGL 120 Introduction to Literature ....................... 5
PHIL 110 Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking . 5
PHIL 220 Philosophy of the Human Person ................... 5
Choose one of the following two courses: .................. 5
HIST 120 Origins of Western Civilization
HIST 121 Studies in Modern Civilization
Social Science I (not economics) .......................... 5
Social Science II satisfied by CEEGR 402
Ethics (upper division) ................................... 5
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299) ......... 5
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399) ........ 5

Interdisciplinary satisfied within major. Senior Synthesis fulfilled by MEGR 487, 488, 489.

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II. Major Program Requirements

Sixty-seven credits in mechanical engineering, including:

MEGR 105 Engineering Graphics and Design................... 3
MEGR 106 Machine Shop...................................... 1
MEGR 181 Innovative Design ................................ 2
MEGR 210 Statics .......................................... 4
MEGR 230 Dynamics ......................................... 4
MEGR 281 Engineering Methods .............................. 4
MEGR 304 Data Acquisition and Instrumentation ............. 4
MEGR 321 Thermodynamics ................................... 5
MEGR 324 Heat Transfer .................................... 5
MEGR 350 Materials Science ................................ 5
MEGR 371 Machine Elements ................................. 5
MEGR 435 Dynamic Systems .................................. 5
MEGR 438 Control Systems .................................. 4
MEGR 487 Engineering Design I ............................. 3
MEGR 488 Engineering Design II ............................ 4
MEGR 489 Engineering Design III ........................... 3
Engineering Electives (approved by the department) ........ 9
Choose one of the following two courses ................... 4
MEGR 322 Thermodynamics II
MEGR 372 Machine Elements II

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III. Other Major Department Requirements

Sixty-one credits in math, science and engineering, including:

MATH 134 Calculus I ....................................... 5
MATH 135 Calculus II ...................................... 5
MATH 136 Calculus III ..................................... 5
MATH 232 Multivariable Calculus ........................... 3
MATH 233 Linear Algebra ................................... 3
MATH 234 Differential Equations ........................... 4

PHYS 121 Mechanics ........................................ 5
PHYS 122 Electricity and Magnetism ........................ 5
PHYS 123 Waves and Optics ................................. 5
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I .............................. 4
CHEM 131 General Chemistry Lab I .......................... 1

CEEGR 221 Strength of Materials I ......................... 4
CEEGR 331 Fluid Mechanics ................................. 4
CEEGR 402 Engineering Economy ............................. 3
EEGR 315 Elements of Electrical Engineering ............... 5

Please Note:

1. A minimum of 45 credits in core curriculum courses is required for graduation.
2. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination is required for graduation.

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Sample Study Plan (4 years)

MEGR 105 - Mechanical engineering major courses
MEGR/ E1 - Mechanical engineering junior/senior electives
MATH 134 - Basic math and science courses
ENGL 110 - University Core curriculum

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Course Descriptions & ABET Course Syllabi

MEGR 105 Engineering Graphics and Design 3 (ABET syllabus)
Technical sketching. Isometric, orthographic, auxiliary, and sectional views. Dimensioning. Introduction to computer-aided drafting (CAD) and solid modeling. Includes design project using CAD. Three two-hour sessions per week. Laboratory. (fall, winter)

MEGR 106 Machine Shop 1 (ABET syllabus)
Manufacturing processes including casting, welding, forging, plastics forming and metal cutting. Lab includes industry tours and hands-on machine shop projects focusing on fundamental theory and operation of precision measuring instruments, hand tools, metal lathes and CNC mills. Pre- or co-requisite MEGR105 (fall, winter, spring)

MEGR 181 Innovative Design 2 (ABET syllabus)
The design process, including performance prediction and prototype construction and testing. Includes a guided class project, team evaluation of an existing engineering design, and a major team design project. Final exam will consist of an oral presentation and performance demonstration of the team design. Two two-hour sessions per week. Laboratory. (fall, winter)

MEGR 210 Statics 4 (ABET syllabus)
Vector algebra. Equilibrium of forces and moments, distributed forces, hydrostatics, friction, virtual work; all applied to simple bodies. Four lectures per week. Prerequisites: MATH 135, PHYS 121. (fall, winter)

MEGR 230 Dynamics 4 (ABET syllabus)
Vectors applied to kinematics and kinetics. Particle, system of particles, and rigid bodies related to translation, rotation, plane motion, relative motion, forces, impulse-momentum, work-energy. Four lectures per week. Prerequisites: MEGR 210. (winter, spring)

MEGR 281 Engineering Methods 4 (ABET syllabus)
Modern methods using computers to solve problems encountered in mechanical and civil engineering. Examples are stress analysis and beams (numerical integration, matrix methods, systems of simultaneous equations), stability of mechanical systems and columns (differential equations). Four lectures per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 230. Pre- or co-requisite: MATH 234. (fall, spring)

MEGR 291-293 Special Topics 1-5
MEGR 296 Directed Study 1-5

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MEGR 304 Data Acquisition and Instrumentation 4 (ABET syllabus)
Introduction to computer based data acquisition, including D to A and A to D conversion, real time operating systems, digital filtering, sensor selection and sensor interface design. Three lectures, one laboratory per week and a final design project. Prerequisite: MEGR 281. Pre- or co-requisite: ECEGR 315. (spring) (formerly titled Basics of Computer Aided Engineering)

MEGR 321 Thermodynamics 5 (ABET syllabus)
Thermal properties of ideal and real gases, liquids, vapors and mixtures. Conservation of energy. Second law. Conversion of thermal energy to work. Power, efficiency, cycles, air-conditioning, compressible gas flow. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. (fall)

MEGR 322 Thermodynamics II 4 (ABET syllabus)
Continuation of MEGR 321. Thermodynamics applied to ideal and real cycles, internal and external combustion engines, fans, blowers, compressors, nozzles, refrigeration, air-conditioning. Second-law analysis. Design problem. Four lectures per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 321. (winter)

MEGR 324 Heat Transfer 5 (ABET syllabus)
Heat transferconduction, convection and radiation. Conduction in one and two dimensions, steady state and transient. Forced and natural convection with phase change. Radiation between two or three black and gray bodies. Heat exchangers. Design problem. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 321. Pre- or co-requisite: CEEGR 331. (spring)

MEGR 350 Materials Science 5 (ABET syllabus)
Atomic structure. Metallic bond. Structure of metals and non-metals. Equilibrium diagrams. Time-dependent transformations. Relation of structure to properties. Elastic and plastic deformation. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. (winter)

MEGR 371 Machine Elements 5 (ABET syllabus)
Advanced strength of materials including combined loading, beams, columns, connection forces and stress concentrations. Introduction to statistics and reliability. Introduction to finite element analysis. Material failure including static failure theories, fracture mechanics and fatigue. Design problem. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CEEGR 221. (fall)

MEGR 372 Machine Elements II 4 (ABET syllabus)
Continuation of MEGR 371. Fasteners, welds, springs, bearings, gears, shafts, lubrication, clutches and brakes. Design problem. Four lectures per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 371. (winter).

MEGR 391-393 Special Topics 1-5
MEGR 396 Directed Study 1-5

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MEGR 426 Heat/Ventilation/Refrigeration 3
Psychometrics; space heating and cooling loads; air conditioning; fans and ducts; heat exchangers; solar systems; refrigeration. Four lectures per week. Prerequisites: MEGR 321, MEGR 324.

MEGR 435 Dynamic Systems 5 (ABET syllabus)
Modeling of mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical linear and non-linear systems. Introduction to computer modeling and simulation using existing symbolic computer programs. Laplace transforms, stability criteria, and frequency response. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: ECEGR 315 and MEGR 281; Pre- or co-requisite: MEGR 324. (fall)

MEGR 438 Control Systems 4 (ABET syllabus)
Feedback control system analysis. Proportional, integral and derivative control. Control system design, compensation. Root locus, Nyquist and Bode plots. Analog and digital simulation. Four lectures per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 435. (winter)

MEGR 471 Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery 3
Analysis and synthesis of mechanisms based on combinations of linkages and cams. Considers geometry of motion, velocity and acceleration profiles, and associated forces. Uses manual analytical and graphical methods as well as more advanced computer methods. Four lectures per week. Prerequisite: MEGR 230.

MEGR 487 Engineering Design I 3
MEGR 488 Engineering Design II 4
MEGR 489 Engineering Design III 3 (ABET syllabus)
Group design project focusing on the integrative aspects of engineering subject matter. The project focuses on: (1) philosophy of design, a creative approach, and a comprehensive design project; planning, organizing and leading an engineering project; exercising judgment and considering economic factors; and (2) integrated aspects of creative design and analysis; case studies; design of a novel device or system. Format consists of classroom lectures and individual design team meetings each week. The three courses must be taken as a continuous sequence. Fulfills the senior synthesis core requirement. Prerequisites: department permission. (487, fall; 488, winter; 489, spring)

MEGR 491-493 Special Topics 2-5
(recent offerings)
MEGR 492 Energy and Environment 3 (ABET syllabus)
MEGR 492 Engineering Vibrations 3 (ABET syllabus)
MEGR 493 Advanced Engineering Materials 3 (ABET syllabus)
MEGR 493 Engineering Methods 3 (ABET syllabus)
MEGR 493 Introduction to Combustion
MEGR 493 Introduction to Finite Elements 4 (ABET syllabus)

MEGR 496 Independent Study 1-5
MEGR 497 Directed Reading 1-5
MEGR 498 Directed Research 1-5

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Please direct questions or comments to balayj@seattleu.edu