Program Offerings
• Bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Accelerated master’s in Mechanical Engineering (earn your bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in as little as five years)
• Master of science degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Minors: Robotics, Sustainable Engineering, Computer Science, and Petroleum Systems
• Certificates: Engineering Management and Leadership, Six Sigma Greenbelt, Technology Innovation, Petroleum Systems, and Esports
*The BS in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers are problem-solvers, with a focus on problems that involve motion. Nearly every product or service in our modern world has been affected by mechanical engineering, from the sensors in your car to the satellites in the sky.
At South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, our mechanical engineering students learn in a project-based environment, made easier in our top-tier laboratories and shops. Our curriculum carefully blends high level theory and the practical skills needed to help our students become world-class design engineers.
Unlike many mechanical engineering programs, Mines mechanical engineering seniors take on capstone design projects in multidisciplinary teams, giving students a taste of how mechanical engineers work in the real world. This experience greatly benefits students as they enter the workforce.
What does a mechanical engineer do?
Mechanical engineers design, develop, build and test mechanical systems, ranging from individual components in small devices to large pieces of equipment on machines as large as NASA's next generation Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Mechanical engineers use their individual creativity, their knowledge base and the ability to analyze systems to create and maintain the devices and machines found throughout society. Individual tasks undertaken by a mechanical engineer might include:
• Analyzing a problem to see how mechanical and thermal devices might solve the issue
• Designing or redesigning devices using analysis and computer-aided design
• Developing and testing prototypes
• Developing custom medical devices
• Overseeing the manufacturing process
First-Year Courses
The SD Mines undergraduate mechanical engineering program offers project-based engineering design curriculum which provides students with an educational experience through teaching and learning, research and development, and service and social responsibility.
Students choose an emphasis in one of the three areas in mechanical engineering: thermal science, solid mechanics and controls or robotics.
Required first-year courses for Mechanical Engineering students include:
• Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
• Design for Manufacturing
• Calculus
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Programming for Engineers and Scientists
Course Curriculum
Link to Catalog
Internships and Co-ops
On average, 77 percent of mechanical engineering students have applicable work experience when they graduate, thanks to internships and co-ops. For these co-ops and internships, students receive an average salary of $18.45/hour. Mines mechanical engineering students have worked co-ops and internships with some of the following companies:
• NASA
• Caterpillar
• Garmin
• Bobcat
• Kiewit
• LafargeHolcim
• Boeing
• John Deere