2010 / 2011 College of Engineering Programs

Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline. Mechanical engineers are concerned with the analysis and design of structures and mechanisms, such as robots or the International Space Station. Mechanical engineers are also concerned with the flow of fluids, including air and water, and the transfer of heat, as in the air conditioner in your car or in the engine of a jet plane. Some other examples of where mechanical engineers apply their knowledge of structures, mechanisms, fluids, and thermal science are the fabrication of physical structures on electronic microchips (such as those found in automobile air bags) and the improvement of medical ultrasound equipment. The knowledge learned in mechanical engineering also prepares students to specialize in any of the fields that employ engineers, such as environmental engineering, electric power- and energy-system engineering, electronics packaging, acoustics and noise control, structural and materials engineering, product manufacturing, thermal and fluids engineering, chemical and petroleum processing, automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, bioengineering, micro- and nano-technology, robotics, and automation.

BS in Mechanical Engineering

At the undergraduate level, Boston University offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with the option to concentrate in one of the following areas: Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Energy Technologies & Environmental Engineering, or Nanotechnology. Graduates are prepared for a careers in mechanical engineering, develop lifelong learning skills, and advance the science and technology of mechanical engineering through multidisciplinary research in selected focus areas. Our students develop technical skills required for immediate entry into industry or graduate school, but also become leader’s in tomorrow’s world and prosper in a society whose problems will require increasingly multidisciplinary solutions.

Students completing the undergraduate program in mechanical engineering develop competence or acquired knowledge in a variety of areas, including engineering tools, communication skills, modeling and formulation, design of individual components and multicomponent systems, professional ethics, mechanical systems, laboratory exploration, computer usage, and more.

Most of the engineering science courses come from the two major stems of mechanical engineering: (1) energy and fluids, and (2) structures and motion in mechanical systems. During their sophomore and junior years, students take four first-level courses from the structures/motion stem (including two courses in engineering mechanics, mechanics of materials, and materials science) and three first-level courses from the energy/fluids stem (including fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer). In their senior year, students have the opportunity to broaden and deepen their technical background through four advanced elective courses.

The required mechanical engineering design experience is integrated throughout the curriculum, beginning in the sophomore year and increasing in scope in each subsequent year. In the sophomore year, one engineering science course per semester requires a design project. In the junior year, major design projects are required in two courses (one from each engineering-science stem) as well as in a special two-credit design course each semester. The special design courses introduce students to formal design methodologies, the use of CAD systems, and the professional aspects of engineering, including safety considerations and professional ethics. In the senior year, a design project is required in the instrumentation course. Also in the senior year, the design experience culminates in a two-semester capstone design sequence that builds on previous coursework, and in which small student teams work on major individual design projects. As part of the design experience, the professional aspects of engineering are stressed, including professional ethics, teamwork, and oral and written communications.

Students in the Mechanical Engineering Program gain experience in laboratory settings through experiments associated with all of their natural science courses (in the freshman and sophomore years) and with most of their engineering science courses (in their sophomore and junior years). Laboratory experience culminates in the senior year with an intensive mechanical measurements and instrumentation course.

Computer experience for mechanical engineering students begins in the freshman year with the required college-wide introductory computer course. It then continues throughout the curriculum, being required for some homework, projects, or laboratories in most subsequent engineering courses. Students gain experience in programming in MATLAB; and using commercial software packages for CAD, spreadsheet analysis, finite element analysis, and graphical-interface-driven laboratory systems for data acquisition, data analysis, and instrument control.

A total of 134 credits is required for graduation for students matriculating before September 2009, and 136 credits for students matriculating September 2009 or later.

Curriculum for students matriculating in September 2009 or after

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 301 Engineering Mechanics I 4 cr
ENG EK 156 Design and Manufacture 2 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr
SECOND SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations 4 cr
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory 4 cr
ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra 2 cr
Natural science elective 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Junior

FIRST SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
ENG ME 302 Engineering Mechanics II 4 cr
ENG ME 303 Fluid Mechanics 4 cr
ENG ME 304 Energy and Thermodynamics 4 cr
ENG ME 359 Introduction to CAD and Machine Components 2 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (14 CREDITS)
EMG ME 366 Probability and Statistics for Mechanical Engineering 2 cr
ENG ME 419 Heat Transfer 4 cr
ENG ME 305 Mechanics of Materials 4 cr
ENG ME 306 Materials Science 4 cr
ENG ME 360 Product Design 4 cr

Senior

FIRST SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 310 Instrumentation and Theory of Experiments 4 cr
ENG ME 460 Electo-Mechanical Systems Design 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 461 Mechanical Engineering Capstone Experience 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

Curriculum for students matriculating in September 2008 or January 2009

Freshman

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

SECOND SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
CAS MA 226 Differential Equations 4 cr
ENG EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory 4 cr
ENG EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra 2 cr
Natural science elective 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Junior

FIRST SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
ENG ME 302 Engineering Mechanics II 4 cr
ENG ME 303 Fluid Mechanics 4 cr
ENG ME 304 Energy and Thermodynamics 4 cr
ENG ME 366 Probability and Statistics for Mechanical Engineering 2 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (14 CREDITS)
ENG ME 407 Computer-Aided Design and Manufacture 4 cr
ENG ME 419 Heat Transfer 4 cr
ENG ME 305 Mechanics of Materials 4 cr
ENG ME 306 Materials Science 4 cr

Senior

FIRST SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 310 Instrumentation and Theory of Experiments 4 cr
ENG ME 413 Machine Design 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 414 Capstone Experience 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

Curriculum for students matriculating prior to September 2008

Freshman

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 (16 CREDITS)
CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus 4 cr
CAS PY 212 Physics II 4 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 EK 307 Electric Circuit Theory 4 cr
Core elective 2 cr
Natural science elective 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

Junior

FIRST SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
ENG ME 311 Engineering Design Using CAD 2 cr
ENG ME 302 Engineering Mechanics II 4 cr
ENG ME 303 Fluid Mechanics 4 cr
ENG ME 304 Energy and Thermodynamics 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (18 CREDITS)
ENG ME 312 Fundamentals of Engineering Design 4 cr
ENG ME 400 Engineering Mathematics 4 cr
ENG ME 419 Heat Transfer 4 cr
ENG ME 305 Mechanics of Materials 4 cr
ENG ME 306 Materials Science 4 cr

Senior

FIRST SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 310 Instrumentation and Theory of Experiments 4 cr
ENG ME 413 Machine Design 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

SECOND SEMESTER (16 CREDITS)
ENG ME 414 Capstone Experience 4 cr
Social science/humanities requirement 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr
Advanced elective 4 cr

Advanced Electives

These electives provide additional depth or breadth in either mechanical engineering science or another advanced technical or professional subject. Students must select courses that are on the list of acceptable courses found on the back of the Mechanical Engineering program planning sheet.

Core Electives (for students matriculating prior to September 2008)

Core elective courses can be selected from the following:

Engineering courses at the 100 level or higher (ENG EK 280 and MET EK 311, EK 312, EK 317, and EK 318 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.)
Natural science courses listed under the Natural Science Requirements that exceed the minimum requirements for the student’s degree program
Mathematics courses not used to satisfy the mathematics requirement that have CAS MA 123 as a prerequisite. CAS MA 142 (Linear Algebra) is also acceptable.

Navy ROTC courses: 2 credits of core elective credit may be satisfied by one of the following:

OTP NS 102 Naval Ships Systems I
OTP NS 201 Naval Ships Systems II
OTP NS 301 Navigation and Naval Operations I
OTP NS 302 Navigation and Naval Operations II

MEng in Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Mechanical Engineering is a professional master’s program aimed at:

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

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.

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.

Structured Course Requirements for MEng in Mechanical Engineering

The 32 credits must be selected as follows:

Three courses (12 credits) must be Mechanical Engineering Core courses
Two courses (8 credits) must be Engineering Management courses
Three 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)

Mechanical Engineering Core Courses

ME 503 Kinetic Processes in Materials*
ME 504 Polymers and Soft Materials*
ME 505 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics*
ME 508 Computational Methods in Materials Science*
ME 507 Process Modeling and Control*
ME 508 Computational Methods in Materials Science*
ME 510 Production Systems Analysis*
ME 514 Simulation*
ME 515 Vibration of Complex Mechanical Systems*
ME 516 Statistical Mechanical Concepts in Engineering*
ME 519 Theory of Heat Transfer
ME 520 Acoustics I*
ME 521 Continuum Mechanics*
ME 522 Underwater Acoustics
ME 523 Mechanics of Biomaterials*
ME 524 Skeletal Tissue Mechanics*
ME 526 Simulation of Physical Processes
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 541 Classical Thermodynamics
ME 542 Advanced Fluid Mechanics*
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 570 Robot Motion Planning
ME 579 Microelectronic Device Manufacturing*
ME 580 Theory of Elasticity
ME 581 Experimental Techniques in Solid Mechanics
ME 582 Mechanical Behavior of Materials*
ME 702 Computational Fluid Dynamics
ME 704 Adaptive Control of Dynamic Systems
ME 706 Acoustics and Aerodynamic Sound
ME 707 Finite Element Analysis*
ME 709 Turbulent Flows*
ME 710 Dynamic Programming and Stochastic Control*
ME 713 Viscous Flows
ME 714 Advanced Stochastic Modeling and Simulation*
ME 715 Waves in Fluids*
ME 718 Advanced Topics in Nanotechnology
ME 720 Acoustics II*
ME 721 Acoustic Bubble Dynamics
ME 722 Wave Propagation in Solids
ME 723 Waves in Random Media
ME 724 Advanced Optimization Theory and Methods*
ME 725 Queuing Systems*
ME 726 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering I*
ME 727 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering II*
ME 729 Non-linear Acoustics and Sonic Booms
ME 732 Combinatorial Optimization and Graph Algorithms
ME 733 Discrete Event and Hybrid Systems*
ME 740 Vision, Robotics, and Planning*
ME 741 Fluid-Structure Interaction
ME 742 Bio-Fluids and Structural Mechanics
ME 743 Multiphase Flow
ME 745 Computational Aeroacoustics
ME 755 Communication Networks*
ME 761 Experimental Modal Analysis and System Identification
ME 762 Non-linear Control of Mechanical Systems*
ME 765 Production System Design*
ME 766 Advanced Scheduling Models and Methods*
ME 778 Micro-machined Transducers
ME 780 Perturbation Methods in Mechanics
ME 788 Soft Tissue Biomechanics

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.

MS Mechanical Engineering

The Master of Science (MS) degree program in Mechanical Engineering is designed to provide a solid basis for technical expertise in the student’s chosen sub-field, as well as provide a stepping-stone to the PhD in Mechanical Engineering. As opposed to the MEng program, 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

To receive the MS in Mechanical Engineering, a student must complete 32 credit hours at the 500 level or higher. This requirement can be completed in a single full-time academic year. For non-thesis students, eight of these credit hours must be 700-level courses. For all students, at least 20 credits must be ME courses and at least 24 credits must be taken at Boston University. To graduate, a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) must be attained.

Credit cannot be given for two or more courses having significant overlap (including overlap with courses that had been taken to fulfill the candidate’s undergraduate degree requirements).

Core Requirements (3 courses, 12 credits)

Students are encouraged to fulfill this requirement by choosing two courses (8 credits) from one of the six Concentration Areas below and one course (4 credits) from a different Concentration Area. These guidelines are intended to provide each student with core competency as well as breadth in exposure within mechanical engineering. However, a student may instead elect to fulfill the Core Requirement with an alternative selection of three graduate-level ME courses that constitute an individually designed program of study. This program of study must be approved by the student’s advisor.

1. Concentration Area Lists

Solid Mechanics/Materials: ME 503, ME 504, ME 505, ME 508, ME 515, ME 521, ME 524, ME 532, ME 534, ME 545, ME 580, ME 581, ME 582, ME 707, ME 722, ME 742, ME 761, ME 780, ME 788
EMS/Nanotechnology: ME 504, ME 508, ME 521, ME 534, ME 555, ME 560, ME 579, ME 718, ME 778
Biomechanics/Biomaterials: ME 504, ME 521, ME 523, ME 524, ME 726, ME 727, ME 788, ME 742
Acoustics: ME 520, ME 522, ME 706, ME 715, ME 720, ME 721, ME 722, ME 723, ME 729, ME 745
Thermofluid Sciences: ME 516, ME 519, ME 521, ME 527, ME 541, ME 542, ME 702, ME 709, ME 713, ME 715, ME 741, ME 742, ME 743
Dynamics, Systems, and Controls: ME 501, ME 507, ME 510, ME 514, ME 518, ME 526, ME 544, ME 561, ME 570, ME 704, ME 710, ME 714, ME 724, ME 725, ME 732, ME 733, ME 740, ME 755, ME 761, ME 762, ME 764, ME 765, ME 766

2. Mathematics Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)

Each student must take one course from the approved list.

3. Advanced Study Requirements (8 credits)

Thesis: ME 900 (Research) and ME 901 (Thesis)
Non-Thesis: Any two courses offered by the mechanical engineering department (i.e., any course with “ME” preceding the course number), with the exception of ME 900/ME 901.

4. Engineering and Physical Science Electives (2 courses, 8 credits)

Each student must complete two graduate-level courses in engineering and physical sciences to fulfill the Elective Requirement and must obtain his/her advisor’s approval to count these courses towards that requirement.

5. Structured Course Requirement

Students electing the thesis option must complete at least 20 credits of structured courses. Those electing the non-thesis option must complete at least 24 credits of structured courses. (Unstructured courses include ENG ME 900 Research, ME 901 Thesis, and ME 951 Independent Study.)

Admission and Financial Aid

Students with undergraduate training in engineering, mathematics, physics, or other natural sciences are invited to apply for admission to the graduate programs in the Mechanical Engineering Department. 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.

Ordinarily, all students who are admitted with financial aid will be supported to the completion of their degree. Financial aid consists of tuition, fees, and a cost-of-living stipend. Continuing support is contingent upon the student’s progress and performance. Students are expected to apply for all external scholarships for which they are eligible.

Applications for admission to these graduate programs 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. An electronic application is available.

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

The PhD program in mechanical engineering provides both post-bachelor’s and post-master’s applicants the opportunity for study in a broad range of areas, many of which overlap with other disciplines within the College and the University. ME faculty members boast international reputations and provide students with opportunities for research in:

Acoustics and Vibrations
Biomechanics
Computational Science and Engineering
Dynamics, Robotics, Systems and Controls
Thermofluid Sciences, Energy and Sustainability
Materials
MEMS and Nanotechnology

Course Requirements

PhD Handbook

Post-Bachelor’s Students

must complete all departmental requirements for the Master of Science degree
required to complete a minimum of 64 credits applicable to their degree  (32 credits must be structured courses,  28 credits of which must be at the 500 level or higher ; a minimum of 16 credits of research/dissertation is required).

Post-Master’s Students

develop a curriculum in consultation with faculty advisor
required to complete 32 credits applicable to their degree, all of which must be at the 500 level or higher
a minimum of 8 credits of research/dissertation coursework is required.

Residency Requirement

Each student must satisfy a residency requirement of a minimum of two consecutive regular semesters of full-time graduate study at Boston University. Full-time study in this context means full-time commitment to the discipline as determined by the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs.

Qualifying Examination

must pass a comprehensive examination covering basic knowledge in an area of specialized study
limited to two attempts
ME Subject Qualifying Examination

Mathematics Requirement

Mathematics Requirements

Dissertation Prospectus Defense

Within one year of becoming a candidate, the student is expected to present an oral dissertation proposal to the prospective dissertation committee and obtain approval for the written dissertation prospectus.

Dissertation

A PhD candidate is expected to prepare and carry out an independent and original research project in partial fulfillment of the dissertation requirement.
The dissertation committee must consist of College of Engineering (tenured or tenure-earning) faculty.

Final Oral Examination

Students shall present themselves for a final oral examination in which they must defend their dissertation as a worthy contribution to knowledge in their fields and demonstrate mastery of their field of specialization as related to the dissertation.
The Examining Committee is composed of at least five members of which two must be (tenured or tenure-earning) faculty from the student’s academic department/division.

Time Limit

Both the postbachelor’s and post-master’s programs must be completed within five years of the individual’s acceptance into PhD candidacy.

Advisor

Candidates for the PhD degrees are required to have as an advisor a member of the graduate faculty in the department/division of their major field.

Admission Information

Grad Admissions information, including the online application, can be found on the College of Engineering Graduate Programs website. Please click here for instructions and general information.