Undergraduate Education

Mechanical Engineering BS

Mechanical engineering is a very broad field that provides opportunities for interesting and challenging work in every phase of modern technology. At South Dakota Mines, undergraduate students interested in a career in mechanical engineering (ME) follow a curriculum that culminates in an ABET-accredited BS degree in mechanical engineering. The ME curriculum is designed to give the student a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering and science within the major areas of mechanical engineering: manufacturing, mechanical systems, and thermal science and energy. View more details about the curriculum in the online catalog.

Beyond this basic foundation, the curriculum also develops:

• the various aspects of engineering design, including design theory and teamwork;
• an effective integration of computer technology;
• communication skills and effective presentations; and
• improved understanding of engineering theory through hands-on laboratory experience.

In their senior year, the students select from course electives that best reflect their interests and career objectives. Students may select courses from one or more of the following general areas:

• Manufacturing, e.g., control, design, development, and manufacture of diverse equipment and processes
• Thermal science/energy (e.g., design of power systems and heating/air conditioning systems)
• Mechanical systems/design (e.g., design of machines and structures, and systems design) 

Students may participate in the Cooperative Education Internship Program. In some instances, credits earned during the co-op may be applied toward department elective requirements. The mechanical engineering department does not offer a minor.

We encourage you to apply to the ME program now.

Mission

The mission of the mechanical engineering program is to prepare our graduates for leadership roles in the mechanical engineering profession by:

• offering a quality education by fostering a distinctive curriculum and accentuating design and project-based learning;
• committing to individual development while emphasizing the values of teamwork in a culturally diverse and multidisciplinary environment; and
• encouraging undergraduate and graduate research and nurturing creative solutions to complex engineering problems.
  
  

The Bachelor of Science degree program in mechanical engineering at South Dakota Mines is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Mechanical Engineering Program Criteria.

Information on program objectives and student learning outcomes can be found on our Accreditation and Assessment webpage.