Mechanical engineers design, build and analyze motor vehicles, aircraft,
heating and cooling systems, watercraft, manufacturing plants, industrial
equipment and machinery, robotics, medical devices, alternative energy and more.
Mechanical engineering is an incredibly broad field, offering a variety of
opportunities in the engineering, technology and other industries.
The average starting salary for Cockrell School students who go into
mechanical engineering after graduation is $71,484. For more information on
average mechanical engineering salaries across the country, visit
EngineerSalary.com.
Mechanical Engineering Fields
Basic Engineering
Mechanical engineers deal with the mechanics of motion and the transfer of
energy.
Applied Mechanics
Applied Mechanics looks at shock and vibration, dynamics and motion, and
fracture and failure in components.
Fluids Engineering
There are mechanics involved in anything that flows — air, water, sand, oil,
etc. Fluids engineers design and build systems that control or utilize flow,
such as pumps, turbines, compressors, valves, pipelines and fluid systems in
vehicles.
Heat Transfer
Heat moves in systems all around us, from computers, to automobiles, to
ventilation systems. The field of heat transfer deals with combustion, power
generation and transmission systems, process equipment, electronic devices,
thermal controls in manufacturing, environmental controls, biotechnology,
aerospace applications, transportation equipment and even cryogenics.
Bioengineering
Nearly every part of the human body may be described in mechanical terms.
Bioengineering deals with artificial organs, biomechanics, biomaterials,
bio-instrumentation, biotransport processes, human factors, medical devices,
biomedical modeling and biological systems.
Tribology
Tribology deals with interacting surfaces in motion. It looks at friction,
lubrication and wear. Any products which involves two surfaces rubbing against
one another is the concern of a tribologist.
Energy Conversion
Our world is incredibly dependent on the conversion of energy into useful
forms. A mechanical engineer is extremely important in this conversion.
Internal Combustion Engines
IC engines are not only used in automobiles, but are also used in aircrafts,
marine vessels and even some stationary applications such as electric
generators.
Fuels & Combustion Technologies
Some mechanical engineers specialize in fuels and combustion systems. In
addition to working with combustion systems, they also deal with fuel
processing, alternative fuels, fuel handling, transportation and storage.
Power Engineering
Mechanical engineers work in power engineering in the design and production
of electricity-producing systems.
Energy Resources
In addition to working in the conversion of energy, mechanical engineers may
also work in finding and developing new forms of energy.
Advanced Energy Systems
Mechanical engineers develop new energy systems such as power cycle devices,
fuel cells, gas turbines and many others.
Solar Engineering
Mechanical engineers develop solar energy collectors and new and innovative
ways to utilize solar energy.
Nuclear Engineering
Mechanical engineers may design and develop nuclear reactors and components,
such as heat exchangers, radioactive waste systems and new fuel
technologies.
Petroleum Engineering
The petroleum industry has been an important part of our lives for quite a
while. Mechanical engineers work on oil and gas drilling and production,
offshore and arctic operations, hydrocarbon processing, synfuels and coal
technology, materials, equipment design and manufacture, fuel transport, new
fuel technologies and pollution control.
Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering
Much of our energy sources already comes from offshore sources. Mechanical
engineers design and build ocean structures, systems, hyperbaric chambers, life
support equipment, marine vehicles, submersibles and ROV's, propulsion systems,
remote sensing systems, moorings and buoys, ship structures and ocean mining
equipment.
Environment & Transportation
Getting from one place to another is something that affects every person
every day of their lives. Mechanical engineers work to move us and our goods
quickly and more efficiently. In addition, the effect that transportation, and
other factors, have on the environment is something that concerns us all.
Aerospace & Automotive
Mechanical engineers design propulsion engines and structural component
systems, crew and passenger accommodations and life support systems. They also
develop the equipment used to build automotive, aircraft, marine and space
vehicles.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental conditions normally deal with a mechanical process, the
movement of heat, noise and pollutants through soil, water and air. Mechanical
engineers can study the effects of these processes and work to reduce their
impact on the environment.
Noise Control & Acoustics
ound is very much a mechanical phenomenon. It deals with the movement of
vibrations through solids, liquids and gasses. A background in mechanical
engineering can help to solve acoustical problems in noise control, industrial
acoustics, and acoustic materials and structures.
Rail Transportation
Mechanical engineers design, build and maintain rail systems which help move
people and goods every day. New developments are being applied to develop a new
generation of locomotives for freight, passenger and transit services.
Solid Waste Processing
Solid waste processing is an important part of environmental protection.
Mechanical engineers develop solid waste processing facilities, and work in
areas related to recycling, resource recovery and waste-to-energy biomass
conversion.
Manufacturing
Mechanical engineers are critical in making a product become reality.
Manufacturing Engineering
About half of mechanical engineers work for a company that makes something,
whether it be consumer goods, transportation or industrial equipment. The work
is as varied as the products that are produced.
Materials Handling Engineering
Handling materials can be challenging when the material is costly, exotic or
dangerous. Some mechanical engineers specialize in materials handling,
transportation, handling equipment or hazard control technologies.
Plant Engineering & Maintenance
Manufacturing plants often need to be updated. Mechanical engineers are
crucial in this process.
Process Industries
A process engineer changes materials from one form to another so that they
can be used in new and interesting ways. A mechanical engineer will design and
build the machines that heat, cool, liquefy, harden or soften substances.
Textile Engineering
Textile companies seek out mechanical engineers in the design and production
of the machines and plants that handle fabrics, weave or knit fabrics,
manufacture apparel and handle the finished products.
Materials & Structures
Mechanical engineers have to use a variety of different materials when making
a product. The design and production of these materials is also an important
process for a mechanical engineer.
Materials Engineering
A materials mechanical engineer focuses on properties of materials and their
effect on design, fabrication, quality, and performance. They work to create
materials which can be cast, forged, stamped, rolled, machined or welded.
Non-Destructive Evaluation
Nondestructive testing is necessary to determine the quality of a device
without dismantling it. Mechanical engineers use x-rays, ultrasound, magnetic
particle inspection, infrared and other techniques.
Pressure Vessels & Piping
Pressure vessels and piping are critical in many industries, and mechanical
engineers develop materials that resist fatigue and fracture, plan the
fabrication of equipment, perform inspections and tests, and design
components.
Systems & Design
Most mechanical engineers work in the design and control of mechanical,
electromechanical and fluid power systems. Design engineers take into account a
truly wide number of factors in the course of their work, such as: product
performance, cost, safety, manufacturability, serviceability, human factors,
aesthetic appearance, durability, reliability, environmental impact and
recyclability.
Dynamic Systems & Control
Dynamic systems need to be controlled. Typical applications of DSC include
novel transducer designs, biomechanics at the cellular and human scale, dynamics
and control of power and vehicle systems, and innovations in signal and
information theory. These engineers are needed in a vast number of areas —
aerospace and transportation, biomedical equipment, production machinery, energy
and fluid power systems, expert systems and environmental systems.
Fluid Power Systems & Technology
Hydraulic and pneumatics systems are in everyday use. Mechanical engineers
are needed to design and build these systems that could be used in automotive,
aerospace, manufacturing, power industries and any situations that call for a
flexible and precise application of power in large amounts.
Information Storage & Processing Systems
With the vast amounts of data that are stored in computer systems today,
mechanical engineers are needed to design and manufacture the devices to store
this data. They are normally involved in hard disk technologies, data storage
and equipment, wear and lubrication in data storage devices, micro-sensors and
controls.
Microelectromechanical Systems
Microelectromechanical systems combine computers with tiny mechanical devices
such as sensors, valves, gears and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips.
Mechanical engineers are needed for the design and development of these
high-tech devices.
M.S. Mechanical Engineering Degree Options:
M.S. - Thesis: 24 hours of coursework + 2 semesters of Thesis
M.S. - Report: 30 hours of coursework + 1 semester of Report
M.S. - Coursework: 36 hours of coursework
Students generally follow the thesis option, which requires thirty semester
hours of credit, including six hours in the thesis course. Students who are
appointed as teaching assistants or research assistants are expected to choose
the thesis option. The report option requires thirty-three semester hours,
including three hours in the report course. The option without thesis or report
requires thirty-six hours of course work. For all three options, at least
eighteen hours (including the thesis or report, if any) should be in the major
area; and at least six hours should be in a supporting area. The supporting
courses may be in mechanical engineering but must represent a specialty distinct
from the major courses. Some areas of study have required core courses.