Mar 28, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2019-2020 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2019-2020 [Archived Catalog]

Mechanical Engineering Curriculum


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Baccalaureate Programs

Freshmen or sophomores who have identified mechanical engineering as their major may follow the baccalaureate program below in lieu of the general core engineering program. Dual major programs which lead to a single baccalaureate degree embracing two fields are also available and are described in more detail in the MANE Handbook (emailed to studentswhen they declare a major in MANE, and available from the MANE Student Services Office, JEC 2012).

First Year


Fall (17 credits)


  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 3 below)

Spring (17 credits)


  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
     
    (See footnote 3 below)

Second Year


Fall (17 credits)


  • STSS 4100 - Professional Development II Credit Hours: 2
    (See footnotes 1 and 4 below)

Spring (15 credits)


  • SoE  Engineering Design Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnotes 1, 5, and 6 below)

Third Year


The Arch Summer Semester* (15 credits)


*For students who have applied for and been granted an exception, the Arch Summer courses would be taken during the fall or spring semester. For instructions on the exception process go to: http://info.rpi.edu/arch/students/#ExceptionProcess

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 3 below)

Fall OR Spring (17 credits)


  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 6 below)

Fourth Year


Fall (16 credits)


  • HASS Core Elective Credit hours:  4
     
    (See footnote 3 below)
  • MANE 4XXX Technical Elective Credit hours:  3
     
    (See footnotes 1 and 9 below)
  • MANE 4XXX Computation Elective Credit hours:  3
    (See footnotes 1 and 9 below)

Spring 15 credits)


  • SoE/S 4XXX Technical Elective II Credit hours:  3
    ( See footnotes 1 and 9 below)
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective  Credit Hours: 4
     (See footnote 3 below) ​

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Electives


The HASS Core for engineering students (described under “School/School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences”, elsewhere in this catalog) is based on institute and School of Engineering requirements.  Students must be certain that they understand these graduation requirements.

Beyond meeting these requirements, MANE students are encouraged (but not required) to:

  • choose at least one HASS course that further develops their ability to make informed judgements that consider the impacts of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and/or societal contexts; and
  • take HASS courses that will improve their communication skills beyond the one required HASS communication-intensive course.

Students desiring minors in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences must consult the school or department in which the courses are offered to obtain further infomation and specific requirements.

Footnotes


  1. These required courses may be taken in any order in the academic year shown (or in a previous year) given the prerequisites are met.
  2. Choice of ENGR 1200 Engineering Graphics and CAD, ENGR 1400 Engineering Communication, or CIVL 1200 Engineering Graphics for Civil Engineers; ENGR 1200 Engineering Graphics and CAD is preferred for Mechanical Engineers.
  3. The five HASS Core Electives may be taken in any semester; it is recommended to schedule one in each of the first two semesters and one in the Summer Arch.
  4. For a list of courses that satisfy the PD II requirement refer to the link “Professional Development II Courses” on the Registrar’s “Academic Planning” Web page.  It must be completed before the capstone design course.
  5. Choose from ENGR 2050 Introduction to Engineering Design and MANE 2220 Inventor’s Studio I; both have ENGR 1010 Professional Development I embedded in them.
  6. These courses may be taken in the Arch Summer semester (if the summer schedule permits).
  7. These laboratory courses may be taken any semester in the junior or senior year, provided all prerequisites have been completed.
  8. Mechanical Engineering students may alternatively take MANE 4220 Inventor’s Studio II, MANE 4210 VTOL Aircraft Design, or MANE 4230 Air Vehicle Design, or MANE 4250 Space Vehicle Design, as alternative capstone design experiences, provided all prerequisites have been completed or given permission by the instuctor.
  9. Computation and Technical Electives
  • The Computation Elective must be chosen from the following list of courses: MANE 4240 Introduction to Finite Elements (fall, spring, and summer), MANE 4140 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (spring only), MANE 4280 Design Optimization (fall only), or MTLE 4500 Computational Methods for Materials Design (spring only).
  • The first Technical Elective must be taken from any upper-level (4000 or above) MANE course.
  • The second Technical Elective may be selected from any upper-level (4000 or above) course in the School of Engineering or the School of Science.  An independent study course, such as a design project or an undergraduate research project in the School of Engineering or the School of Science may also be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • Computational and Technical Electives may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis.

 

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