Mechanical Engineering
This is the 2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin
Other editions:
COLLEGE: Engineering
MAJOR: Mechanical Engineering
DEGREE OFFERED: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
HOURS REQUIRED: 129
MINIMUM cumulative gpa: 2.0 for graduation
MINOR AVAILABLE: No
CHIEF ADVISER: Jeffrey Shield
DESCRIPTION
Professors: Barton, Cole, Farritor, Gogos, Reid, Robertson, Shield, To
Associate Professors: Nelson, Zhang
Assistant Professors: Gu, Huang
Lecturers: Coen-Brown, Dick, Halvorsen
Mechanical engineering is concerned with all forms of energy conversion and transmission; the flow of fluids and heat; the development, design, and operation of machinery and equipment, material structure and properties; and transportation processes. The course of study is designed to give the student fundamental preparation to enter the fields of research, design, operation, production, sales, or management.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is structured into three major academic areas: thermal-fluid science engineering, systems and design engineering, and materials science engineering. From these three major areas, a student can develop an emphasis area of study by utilizing the various technical elective courses in the major academic areas or an emphasis area could be directed toward studies in aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, robotics, biomedical engineering, computational methods, and others depending upon the technical courses available and the interest of the student.
Mission and Objectives
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska is to impact society locally and globally through our educational programs, research, and service, developing knowledge and sharing our expertise in the best traditions of land-grant universities. We strive for excellence in teaching and learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, seek to develop novel educational opportunities, grow our public and private support for research and education, and expand our scholarship, outreach and service.
Program Educational Objectives
Within a few years of graduation, our mechanical engineering graduates are expected to:
1. have started successful careers based on their education or have completed a professional degree or a graduate degree in engineering or related field;
2. have begun life-long learning and development in order to remain current in their knowledge and skills and to advance in their careers; and
3. have established a record of professionalism, leadership, respect and integrity in working to serve humanity and to use resources responsibly.
Student Outcomes
The educational program leading to the BS in mechanical engineering ensures that students attain the following outcomes:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
- an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
- an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
- an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
- an ability to communicate effectively;
- the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
- a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;
- a knowledge of contemporary issues;
- an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for the Degree (Lincoln campus)
First Semester Hours
CHEM 111 Chemistry for Engineering & Technology4
CHEM 109 and 110 may be substituted for CHEM 111. Only 4 credits count toward graduation.
MATH 106 Analytic Geometry & Calculus I5
ACE Electives6
Choose one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 elective courses.
Total 15
Second Semester Hours
CSCE 155N Computer Science I: Engineering and Science Focus3
MATH 107 Analytic Geometry & Calculus II5
MECH 130 Intro to CAD3
PHYS 211 General Physics I4
PHYS 221 General Physics Lab I1
Or, instead, PHYS 222 General Physics Lab II (1 cr) may be taken in the Third Semester
Total 16
Third Semester Hours
ENGM 223 Engineering Statics3
ENGR 20 Sophomore Engineering Seminar0
IMSE 206 Engineering Economy I3
JGEN 200 Technical Communication I3
MATH 208 Analytic Geometry & Calculus III4
PHYS 212 General Physics II4
Total 17
Fourth Semester Hours
ENGM 325 Mechanics of Elastic Bodies3
ENGM 373 Engineering Dynamics3
MATH 221 Differential Equations3
MECH 200 Engineering Thermodynamics3
METL 360 Elements of Materials Science4
Total 16
Fifth Semester Hours
ELEC 211 Elements of Electrical Engineering I3
ELEC 231 Electrical Engineering Lab1
MATH 314 Applied Linear Algebra (Matrix Theory)3
MECH 310 Fluid Mechanics3
MECH 342 Kinematics & Dynamics of Machinery3
Communication Studies Elective3
Choose one course from the following: COMM 210, COMM 283, or COMM 286 (ACE 2).
Total 16
Sixth Semester Hours
IMSE 321 Engineering Statistics & Data Analysis or STAT 380 Statistics & Applications3
MECH 300 Thermal Systems & Design3
MECH 343 Elements of Machine Design3
MECH 350 Intro to Dynamics & Control of Engineering Systems3
MECH 380 Mechanical Engineering Measurements3
Total 15
Seventh Semester Hours
MECH 370 Manufacturing Methods & Processes3
MECH 420 Heat Transfer3
MECH 446 Mechanical Engineering Design I3
The capstone design sequence must be taken in the order shown in the curriculum and should be taken in the last two semesters of the program (MECH 446 and MECH 447).
MECH 488 Kinematics & Machine Design Lab2
Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective3
Design and technical electives must be chosen from a list of approved 400-level mechanical engineering elective courses. Consult adviser for suggested choices.
ACE Elective3
Choose one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 elective courses.
Total 17
Eighth Semester Hours
ENGR 400 Professional Ethics1
MECH 447 Mechanical Engineering Design II2
MECH 487 Thermal Fluids Lab2
Mechanical Engineering Design Elective3
Design and technical electives must be chosen from a list of approved 400-level mechanical engineering elective courses. Consult adviser for suggested choices.
Senior Elective3
Senior electives may be either another mechanical engineering technical elective, another mechanical engineering design elective, or, with prior written approval of your adviser, a 300 or higher level engineering, science, or math course.
ACE Elective6
Choose one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 elective courses.
Total 17
Total Credit Hours Required129
OTHER
Laboratories
Brief descriptions of some of the laboratories in the department are given below.
Design, Modeling, Measurements, and Controls Laboratories. Several laboratories in these areas support the undergraduate and graduate work in mechanical system design, machinery dynamics, basic measurements, and mechanical system controls. The laboratories contain a wide variety of instrumentation equipment, bench models of control mechanisms and systems, analog computers for simulation studies, shaker system and dynamic recording equipment for machinery vibrations, microcomputers, and extensive areas for project activity.
Graduate Student and Staff Research Laboratories. These laboratories, extensions of those described above, are equipped for research in the fields of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, turbulence, flow visualization, computational fluid mechanics, measurements, turbomachinery and engine research, combustion, metallurgy and corrosion, microcharacterization of materials, mechanical design, dynamics, and controls.
Materials Laboratories. Undergraduate facilities are available to support instruction in modern metallographic techniques, X-ray diffraction methods, mechanical testing of materials, materials processing, thermal analysis, heat treatment of ferrous and nonferrous materials, and the evaluation of materials-environment compatibility. Additional research facilities are available to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in the area of powder metallurgy, thin film structures, gas analysis and corrosion of metallic and nonmetallic materials, analytical electron microscopy, and the study of phase transformations in alloys.
Thermodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, and Heat Transfer Laboratories. These laboratories are equipped with a variety of facilities for demonstrating of and experimenting with the basic concepts of fluid flow and energy conversion. Available equipment includes wind tunnels, engines, turbines, pumps, compressors, a complete air-conditioning unit, heat exchangers, thermal radiation systems, and numerous fluid flow devices.
COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
College Admission
College Admission
College Entrance Requirements
Students must have high school credit for (one unit is equal to one high school year):
1. 4 units of mathematics: 2 of algebra, 1 of geometry, 1 of precalculus and trigonometry.
2. 4 units of English.
3. 3 units of natural science that must include 1 unit of physics and 1 unit of chemistry (chemistry requirement waived for students in construction management).
4. 2 units of a single foreign language.
5. 3 units of social studies.
6. Students having a composite ACT score of 28 or greater (or equivalent SAT score) will be admitted to the College of Engineering even if they lack any one of the following: trigonometry, chemistry, or physics.
7. Students having an ACT score of 19 or less in English (or equivalent SAT score) must take ENGL 150 or ENGL 151.
A total of 16 units is required for admission.
Students must have an ACT (enhanced) score of 24 or greater (or equivalent SAT). Students who lack entrance requirements may be admitted based on ACT scores, high school rank and credits, or may be admitted to Pre-Engineering status in the Division of General Studies. Pre-engineering students are advised within the College of Engineering.
Students who lack entrance units may complete precollege training by Independent Study through the UNL Extended Education, in Summer Sessions courses, or as a part of their first or second semester course loads while in the Division of General Studies or other Colleges at UNL.
Students should consult their adviser, their department chair, or the Office of the Dean if they have questions on current policies.
Other Admission Requirements
Students who transfer from other colleges or universities must meet the freshman entrance requirements and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 for Nebraska residents. Nonresidents must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 unless they are transferring from an accredited engineering program, in which case a 2.5 grade point average is acceptable. Students who do not meet this requirement must enroll in another college at the University and achieve a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average in the first 12 hours or more of course work taken at UNL. They may then be considered for admission to the College of Engineering.
The College of Engineering accepts courses for transfer for which a C grade or above was received. Grades of D from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Lincoln, or Omaha may be transferred to fulfill requirements, however, students are strongly encouraged to repeat those courses. All transfer students must adopt the curricular requirements of the undergraduate bulletin current at the time of transfer–not that in use when they entered UNL.
College Degree Requirements
Grade Rules
Grade Appeals
In the event of a dispute involving any college policies or grades, the student should appeal to his/her instructor, adviser, and department chair (in that order). If a satisfactory solution is not achieved, the student may appeal his/her case through the College Academic Appeals Committee on his/her campus.
Bulletin Rule
Students must fulfill the requirements stated in the bulletin for the academic year in which they are first admitted at UNL. In consultation with advisers, a student may choose to follow a subsequent bulletin for any academic year in which they are admitted to and enrolled as a degree-seeking student at UNL in the College of Engineering. Students must complete all degree requirements from a single bulletin year. The bulletin which a student follows for degree requirements may not be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation.
| Quick Points | |
|---|---|
| Attribute | Value |
| College: | Engineering |
| Degree Offered: | Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
| Hours Required: | 129 |
| Minor Available: | No |
| Chief Adviser: | Jeffrey Shield |
