For undergraduate students who matriculated prior to January 2009, manufacturing engineering can be studied as a Bachelor of Science degree. Students who matriculate after September 2009 can pursue manufacturing engineering as a concentration in the Mechanical Engineering BS program.

The Manufacturing Engineering Program is one of the three undergraduate programs offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Our students are educated in the foundations and practice of manufacturing engineering and prepared to lead fulfilling professional lives, participate in lifelong learning, and assume roles as contributing members of society. Students learn to advance the science and technology of manufacturing through innovative research programs, and enhance the collaboration between industry and academia through department-led strategic partnerships in manufacturing.

A component of the manufacturing engineer’s job is to make the process of technological change as orderly, profitable, and socially acceptable as possible. Solutions must address multiple issues, including economics, ethics, safety, and societal concerns. The Manufacturing Engineering curriculum provides students with the breadth of knowledge and experience needed to solve such problems.

Manufacturing Engineering courses build from fundamental engineering principles to conventional and innovative professional practice. The curriculum is comprised of multiple subthemes within an integrated package. In the common core, students learn the basics in science, mathematics, and engineering science. Additional engineering science and application-specific technologies are introduced during the junior year. Hands-on laboratory experiences demonstrate practical applications in areas such as robotics, numerical control, and materials processing. Technical focus and competence are established through systems, manufacturing, and technical electives that allow students to specialize in diverse areas such as design, materials, green manufacturing, and management science. The entire educational experience culminates in the senior capstone design project, where our students work on site in real companies to solve real problems, providing the ultimate opportunity to develop communication, leadership, and team-building skills essential to professional practice. In addition, Manufacturing Engineering offers a Four Year Co-op Program, affording our undergraduates the exciting opportunity to work in industry for eight months and still graduate on time, further strengthening the link between academia and industry, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

A total of 134 credits is required for graduation.

Required Courses

Freshman

First Semester (16 credits)

• CAS CH 131 Principles of General Chemistry 4 cr
• CAS MA 123 Calculus I 4 cr
• CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar 4 cr
• ENG EK 100 Freshman Advising Seminar
• ENG EK 127 Engineering Computation 4 cr

Second Semester (16 credits)

• CAS MA 124 Calculus II 4 cr
• CAS PY 211 Physics I 4 cr
• CAS WR 150 Writing and Research Seminar 4 cr
• ENG EK 130/131/132 Introduction to Engineering 4 cr

Sophomore

First Semester (18 credits)

• CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus 4 cr
• CAS PY 212 Physics II 4 cr
• ENG EK 156 Design and Manufacture 2 cr
• ENG EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I 4 cr
• Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Second Semester (18 credits)

• CAS MA 226 Differential Equations 4 cr
• ENG ME 266 Manufacturing Operations Management 2 cr
• ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory 4 cr
• Natural science elective 4 cr
• Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Junior

First Semester (18 credits)

• ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra for Engineers (or CAS MA 142) 2 cr
• ENG ME 305 Mechanics of Materials 4 cr
• ENG ME 306 Materials Science 4 cr
• ENG EK 409 Engineering Economy 4 cr
• ENG ME 345 Automation and Manufacturing Methods 4 cr

Second Semester (16 credits)

• ENG ME 304 Energy and Thermodynamics (or ENG EK 424) 4 cr
• ENG ME 407 Computer Aided Design and Manufacture 4 cr
• ENG ME 308 Statistics and Quality Engineering 4 cr
• Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Senior

First Semester (16 credits)

• ENG ME 415 Product Design 4 cr
• Systems elective 4 cr
• Manufacturing elective 4 cr
• Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Second Semester (16 credits)

• ENG ME 495 Senior Design Capstone 4 cr
• ENG ME 465 Materials Processing 4 cr
• ENG ME 420 Supply Chain Engineering (or ME 550) 4 cr
• Advanced elective 4 cr

Related Courses

Electives

Electives are intended to provide additional technical and professional depth in areas of special interest to individual students. Students must take one systems elective, one manufacturing elective in which students focus their studies on a particular discipline within manufacturing engineering, and one advanced elective in any engineering discipline. Specific courses to fulfill these requirements can be found on the student’s program planning sheets.

The Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Manufacturing Engineering is a professional master’s programs for students seeking to further their careers in industry. MEng programs are suited for:

• Graduating senior students who want a one-year master’s in engineering before they look for industrial jobs
• Mid-career professionals who want to switch careers and would like to complete a one-year master’s degree between jobs
• Industry professionals who want exposure to engineering and management to further their careers

Curriculum

Master of Engineering students are required to complete a minimum of 32 credit hours applicable to the degree according to the program planning sheet. No master’s thesis is required. All 32 credits must be at the 500 level or above.

Structured Course Requirements for MEng in Manufacturing Engineering

The 32 credits must be selected as follows:

• 3 courses (12 credits) must be Manufacturing Engineering Core courses
• 2 courses (8 credits) must be Engineering Management courses
• 3 courses (12 credits) may be Engineering/Science electives (any 500/700 level engineering or physical science course, with no more than one course from the approved list of Engineering Management courses)

In addition to these course requirements, students must complete a project experience, approved by the student’s academic advisor.  The project requirement could be met by completing a project in one of the courses used to satisfy the above course requirements, or by working in one of the college’s research laboratories.

Manufacturing Engineering Core Courses

• ME 507 Process Modeling and Control*
• ME 510 Production Systems Analysis*
• ME 514 Simulation*
• ME 518 Product Quality*
• EC 524 Optimization Theory*
• ME 526  Simulation of Physical Processes
• ME 527  Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing
• ME 529  Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials and Processes
• ME 531 Phase Transformations
• ME 532 Atomic Structure and Dislocations in Materials
• ME 534 Materials Technology for Microelectronics
• ME 535 Green Manufacturing
• ME 544 Networking the Physical World
• ME 545 Electrochemistry of Fuel Cells and Batteries*
• ME 555 MEMS: Fabrication and Materials*
• ME 560 Precision Machine Design and Instrumentation*
• ME 573 Solar Energy Systems
• ME 579 Microelectronic Device Manufacturing*
• ME 704 Adaptive Control of Dynamic Systems
• ME 714 Advanced Stochastic Modeling and Simulation*
• ME 725 Queuing Systems*
• ME 740 Vision, Robotics, and Planning*
• ME 755 Communication Networks*
• ME 778 Micro-machined Transducers

Engineering Management Courses

• ME 502 Intellectual Assets: Creation, Protection, and Commercialization*
• ME 517 Product Development*
• ME 525 Technology Ventures*
• ME 550 Product Supply Chain Design
• ME 583 Product Management*
• ME 584 Manufacturing Strategy*
• ME 703 Managerial Cost Accounting

* Offered at least every two years

For more information, please contact the College of Engineering Graduate Programs Office at 617-353-9760, or apply now.

The Master of Science (MS) degree program in Manufacturing Engineering is designed to provide a solid basis for technical experitise in the student’s chosen sub-field of manufacturing, as well as provide a stepping-stone to the PhD in Manufacturing Engineering.  As opposed to the MEng degree, students in the MS program are required to complete and defend a research-based thesis.  The MS will typically require two years to complete.

Curriculum

Master of Science students are required to complete a minimum of 32 credit hours applicable to the degree according to the program planning sheet. A research-based  master’s thesis is required. All 32 credits must be at the 500 level or above.

Structured Course Requirements for MS in Manufacturing Engineering

The 32 credits must be selected as follows:

• 3 courses (12 credits) must be Manufacturing Engineering Core courses
• 2 courses (8 credits) may be Engineering/Science electives (any 500/700 level engineering or physical science course, with no more than one course from the approved list of Engineering Management courses)
• 1 course (4 credits) must be a Math course from an approved list
• 2 courses (8 credits) may be unstructured MS thesis courses
• A written research-based thesis must be completed

Alternative Master of Science Programs in Manufacturing Engineering

In addition to on-campus study, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the following means to attain a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering:

• Distance Learning Program
• Dual Degree Program with the School of Management (MS/MBA)
• International Master’s Degree Program in Global Manufacturing

Please see the Master’s Programs website for more information on graduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Applications for the Manufacturing Engineering Program are welcomed from scientists and engineers interested in pursuing careers in engineering for manufacturing. Students are selected for the program on the basis of demonstrated scholastic ability, potential for success in the program, maturity, and motivation. Results of the Graduate Record Examination are required as part of the application; applicants for the MS/MBA dual degree program must submit both the Graduate Record Exam and the Graduate Management Admissions Test.

Exceptionally capable students who have completed four semesters of calculus and two semesters of calculus-based physics and have completed a bachelor’s degree in a field other than engineering will be considered for admission to the graduate program in this department. Such students should apply by the normal procedure and should expect to take some additional undergraduate coursework that will not carry degree credit.

Applications for admission may be obtained from the College of Engineering Graduate Programs Office, 48 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215; tel: 617-353-9760; email: enggrad@bu.edu; College of Engineering Graduate Programs website: www.bu.edu/eng/grad. An electronic application is available on the web at www.bu.edu/eng/grad/apply.

Financial Aid

A wide range of financial aid is available to exceptional students, including graduate fellowships, research assistantships, and college teaching fellowships. International applicants who want to be considered for admission and financial aid must submit their application no later than December 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. U.S. citizens and permanent residents (domestic applicants) who want to be considered for admission and financial aid must submit their application no later than January 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. Application deadlines for admission without financial aid are April 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester for both domestic and international applicants. Applicants who do not require financial aid are encouraged to apply by the early deadline of January 15, for consideration before department slots are filled.